Can of Christmas

This Christmas I have some smaller sized gifts and of course gift cards to wrap. I made some Christmas cans to use as wrapping.

I started with a pop top can, you have to find one with the right type with a ridge on the bottom, to enable you to use the type of can opener that cuts the lid ( or bottom in this case) off without sharp edges.

Just decorate the can anyway you'd like. I used some scrapbook paper, and glittery stars and snowballs.

The cans are the perfect size for gift cards, small ornament exchanges, candy, diamonds
 ( hint, hint).

Just glue the bottom back on, add a tag and you're set. It's fun to see the surprised looks on the kids' faces when they can't figure out how you got their gift inside the can once they pop off the top.



Christmas Blocks

I Love Christmas ! It will be here way too soon though. I'm just wondering which of the dozens of projects I want to dive into will actually get done this year. This is a Christmas block that I made for a swap I was in. I'm obsessed with snowmen right now.

I had a black block left over from Halloween projects that I didn't want to save for next year. So I've started a Christmas block with some fun colors and my favorite.........buttons! Was so happy to even find a little brown rectangular button for the trunk, in my jar of old buttons. Not sure where this one will end up, but I'm thinking it's looking a little whimsical. I'm liking it so far.



Halloween Crafts

Have been working on some artist trading blocks for a couple different swaps I'm in, and one for my sister's anniversary. She was married on Halloween it's her favorite holiday. Just sharing a couple pics from a few. 

Also made jack-o-lanterns out of milk jugs that turned out to be fun to make. The pics don't show how cute they are outdoors from a distance. I think I will buy orange lights after Halloween for next year's jugs.

Halloween Dinner

Last night I had a bunko get together at my house. We always have a great time. My friend Sheryl asked if she could bring the main dish, she has a meal that she loves to make for Halloween. It's so hard to find things that aren't just kiddie school party things for Halloween. So I thought I'd share a picture of what she brought. Such a cute idea. Thanks Sheryl!!!

Christmas Advent Swap: Snowmen Galore

I've been busy, busy, busy finishing up items for this fun Christmas Advent swap. I had to make 25 matchboxes with a little gift inside. I will get 25 different boxes, for the 25 days in December till Christmas. I will admit it was fun but I'm seeing snowmen in my sleep.

simple white boxes

snowmen

here's the back

all 25 finished!!

Can't wait for December :)

Farm Fresh

My sister has a backyard chicken coop with about 14 hens. They lay both brown and white eggs. They're loads of fun for her and we all enjoy the bounty of the nest. You can check out her little farm at http://girly-qfarms.blogspot.com/ 
A couple of months ago she tore down her front fence and has the boards waiting be used for kindling wood this winter. I rummaged through and found a few boards to make some signs out of. Since it was her wood I decided to make her sign first.

After pulling out some very rusty nails and using a wire brush to clean the board I noticed it was cracked and wouldn't last long in that condition. Didn't take much of a tug for it to break in two.
I will admit that I painted several layers on one end before finally coming up with colors that I liked and the right size.

Not sure if she'll put the sign on her coop, in her kitchen or where, but she liked it and it was fun to make.



Halloween Block

Thought I'd post a Halloween block I'm working on. Not sure who it's for yet. I don't feel like it's finished. Needs something on top and maybe a base. i know I have some skulls around here somewhere, I think they'd be perfect on the top,need to search my goodie box.

I Love the background on this block, just newspaper that was leftover from another project. it's colorful fro paint splatters.

She's smiling, but trust me she's an ornery ol'witch

I think I could put scrabble letters on everything!!

Can't wait to make more holiday blocks, especially with Christmas right around the bend :)

Altoid Tin Haunted house

Altoids Haunted House



I am currently in a swap using  wood, tin, or glass to make a house. I used an Altoids tin to make a haunted house. I sprayed newspaper with Color Mists and covered the outside of the tin. I also used some of the newspaper for the tree on the back of the tin. I painted the windows, and used an index card for the roof.

The inside of the house has a spider web on tissue paper,and a witch using an image from a birthday card.



This was a fun house to make. The tin was rather small to work on, but it was rewarding.

My Birthday Block

About 6  months ago I sent off a red block for a birthday block round robin. After all these months it has returned home.

Still some red under all the fabulousness, but definitely not the plain block I sent off. I'm not sure who added which things. The pics don't actually capture all the layers and uniqueness of all the artwork on it.

Everyone needs flowers for their b-day

This shoe is more 3 dimensional than it looks

Yummy cupcake

 One view complete w/ birthday candle and a lil bubbly

adorable surfing kitty :)

My Birthday banner and colorful base.

Thanks ladies for a wonderful block to celebrate my birthday!!

Bottlecap Snowman

During one of those nights I just couldn't sleep I was trying to organise some of my mess and came across a pack of bottle caps. It reminded me of a cute Christmas ornament I'd recently seen. Just a simple snowman. A little paint and a ribbon was all I needed. So simple the kids could whip these out in practically no time at all.



Book Wreath

I have seen several versions of book wreaths on Pinterest and decided to give it a whirl. I wasn't prepared to make one so I improvised for the backing, instead of using a foam wreath form I cut a family size pizza box lid to use for the base.

Next I tore pages from a couple of paperbacks that nobody in our house was interested in reading. Rolled them into tubes, folded one end over about 1/4 inch and stapled it.

Next thing I did was break out the trusty old glue gun. I started in the middle and glued tubes around the circle filling in spots as I saw the need in each consecutive row (Of course I burned my fingers for proof I was using said glue gun ). A few one inch strips folded accordion style glued over the sloppy inner circle helped it look more finished. All I need now, is a trip to the craft or fabric store for some festive ribbons and bows to use for each season. It only took about 2 hours for me to figure out what I wanted to do and complete the whole wreath. I think I'll try making another one with some variations in size and colored paper. For now I'm pleased with this one:)



Jar Fairy

I've been begging for the housecleaning fairy to visit my home. She never seems to make her way, I decided to set a fairy trap and lo and behold I caught one. Doesn't look like the housecleaning type, more like the court jester breed. She looks amazingly just like my daughter when she was about five. I'll keep her safely tucked away in this jar and feed her now and then.........I think she only eats ketchup.



Birthday Block

I am involved in a round robin for birthday, artist trading blocks. For the past few months I received a different person's birthday block to contribute to. This is Aileen's block which is now finished, I didn't add much to it since it was so full already. I didn't get pics of the entire block. Trust me it's amazing, full of creative ideas.

The side of the block had this birthday gal on it that I just had to add gold eyelashes to.

On the front and back I added a few paper clay buttons. There really wasn't much room left after seven ladies had done their magic.



Hard to imagine that just a few months ago it was just a plain wooden block:)

Paperclay Buttons

Just a couple quick photos of some paperclay buttons I made.

Not sure what I'll use them for but they were fun to make and I have an almost sick (yes! I said almost) obsession with buttons right now. I think I'll use the  little face one for some kind of button girl.