’ Christmas 2013
volume 4, no. 2
Dear Reader, When I was a little girl, one of the things I loved best about Christmastime was making up my wish list for Santa. I would spend all my free time under the twinkling lights of the tree with the Sears catalog. I’d quickly skip all those boring pages up front, the ones filled with clothes, socks and underwear, and I’d flip straight to the toys section. I memorized those pages and filled my list with all sorts of fabulous things. I remember being particularly fascinated by a toy cow that you could really milk with its tiny udders! As wonderful as the gifts are at Christmastime, the most magical part isn’t the giving or even the receiving. It is celebrating and sharing the gift of love, family, and hope. I know you are awfully busy getting ready for the big day. I do hope you can give yourself a little gift of time and enjoy these pages of inspiration!
happy crafting!
Contents
10 18 28 34 44 52 62 68 76 86 88 94 96 104 106
spool hat ornaments christmas art embroidered pillowcases sugar cookie ornaments felt house wrapping paper letters tips from jenny & aaron g r a n n a ’s f l o w e r globe art pom pom necklace pom pom bouquet book club embroidered pendant faux french locket spray paint tips
inspired friends chrissie grace
ashlee park
tammy gilley
Chrissie Grace is the colorful artist behind Chrissie Grace Designs, offering a combination of faith-based and inspirational items. She has written four books with Northlight Publishing, and teaches art to elementary children. She is a wife, a mother, a coffee-lover, a beach girl at heart, and she loves to laugh!
Ashlee Park has been a vintage collector and nostalgia buff since she was a child. She has a quirky vintage style, and her few thrifting obsessions include mid-century vintage ceramic animals, vintage dishes, feedsack fabrics, vintage linens, hankies, and children’s books. Ashlee frequently repurposes thrifted vintage items in her craft projects. Artsy-fartsy since she was a little girl, it’s no surprise that Ashlee’s background, as well as her degree, is in fashion. She loves to style everything from people to pets, and of course, her home. Ashlee lives in a very colorful little ranch house outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, with her hubby, three crazy cats, one devilishly handsome dog, and eight wiley chickens. Most days you can find Ashlee on her blog, My So Called Crafty Life, where she shares her projects, favorite artists, vintage lovelies, her fuzzy babies, and what’s new with her Etsy shop. mysocalledcraftylife.com
Tammy Gilley is one of those people with so many passions that it’s quite impossible to pick just one. These passions have led to many opportunities including studying in France, working on special events at a local flagship department store, orchestrating the holiday parade in downtown Portland and even meeting The-Big-Guy-in-the-Red-Suit himself! (Oh yes, Virginia, he does exist!)
Chrissie creates a wide variety of items such as original paintings, mixedmedia mosaics, wood cutouts and hand-sewn pillows. To learn about Chrissie, do some shopping, and find inspiration, visit her website at www.chrissiegrace.com
These days, you’ll find Tammy in her sunny studio playing with color, stitching, painting, doodling, cutting and pasting. Follow her playful and creative adventures at www.tammygilley.com
jenn mcglon
julie geiger
kerrie more
Jenn McGlon is a self taught artist with a passion for all things vintage. She creates mixed media pieces, paintings and a charming collection of clay sculptures called “the lulettes.” Jenn lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her husband, two boys and two funny dogs. When she is not creating art, Jenn loves to decorate and hunt for vintage treasures. shop: noodleandlou.etsy.com blog: noodleandlou.blogspot. com
Julie Geiger has cultivated a love for all things fabric since she was a small girl. One of her earliest sewing memories is wrapping fabric scraps around her dolls and stapling them closed, since she couldn’t figure out how to thread a needle. As the owner of Prairie Point Junction Quilt Shop in Cozad, Nebraska, Julie gets to combine her passions for fabric, creativity and teaching. Wool felt holds a special place in Julie’s heart due to the versatility of the medium. She loves to create pillows, runners, ornaments, stockings, penny mats, faux foods and more. A special area of her shop is dedicated to Wool Felt Central, where you’ll find inspiration for a variety of creative projects, including a series of sugar cookie inspired ornaments. You can find Julie online at www.prairiepointjunction. com or www.woolfeltcentral. com.
If you were to ask Kerrie what she loves more, reading or crafting, she would have a hard time choosing. Living out in the country, with only three very-fuzzy television channels, her childhood was fueled by trips to the library and long afternoons immersed in creative projects. As a school librarian, she spends her days helping students navigate the world of information as well as find good books to read. Kerrie is very proud to be part of a book club that has been meeting for sixteen years and recognizes the way that reading inspires kinship. Kerrie considers herself blessed to call northwest Montana her home and marvels each day at the beauty outside her window. She and her husband recently built a mountain cabin where she retreats to enjoy nature, get lost in a good book or crochet her heart out. You can take a peek at www.kerriemore. com.
You love to make things. In fact, you are always making something. It’s what makes you happiest. You are most inspired by ideas that are fresh, approaches that are ingenious, & designs that are lovely. Welcome! You are home.
inspired ideas is your magazine.
{crafthappy}
’ Christmas 2013
volume 4, no. 2
Amy Powers ......... Magazine Creator Pam Keravuori ..... Idea Generator Illustrator Kerrie More ......... Editor Word Smith Book Reviewer LETTERS TO THE EDITOR & SUBMISSIONS: Email amy@inspireco.com or send correspondence to: Amy Powers, Inspired Ideas Magazine, 5213 Tulip Leaf Court, Centreville VA 20120 Š Copyright 2013 by Inspire Co. LLC All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission of copyright owner. All images contained within have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of all the artists concerned and no responsibility is accepted by the publisher, Inspire Co., for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that the projects within this magazine are original.
Please respect the generosity of the artists contributing to this magazine. Do not reproduce projects featured here for resale. They are for personal use only. Published projects are reprinted with permission. Enjoy!
10
inspired ideas
Noodle & Lou’s
Spool Hat
ornaments
I
adore old sewing baskets filled with vintage trims, threads and buttons. The time-worn wooden spools always get me with their sweet labels and old thread. These treasures were just the inspiration I needed for this project. Spool hat snowmen, nutcrackers and soldier ornaments are perfect for the whole family to create together! Making ornaments each year is such a fun tradition. I hope you will enjoy making these as much as I did!
by jennifer mcglon Christmas Ch h ri r i sstt m maa s 2013 201 20 13 3
1111
12
inspired ideas
Getting Started You’ll need assorted sizes of wooden ball knobs (the craft balls with a flat bottom and hole.) Find little packs of them sold in the wood crafts section of your local craft store. Choose your size depending on the size of the spools you’ll be using. Vintage spools of thread are ideal for this project. You can usually find inexpensive bags of old sewing supplies at thrift shops and garage sales. I was lucky enough to have a large stash of them from my Nana’s sewing basket, but you can also buy new wooden spools from craft supply stores and websites.
Christmas C Ch h rrii st stm stma maa s 20 2013 2 01 13 3
1133
Painting the Faces The flat side of your ball will be the top of your head. I liked the raw wood for my fellas but if you want to use a base “skin” color, go ahead and paint them. When dry, use a pencil to sketch out your face. I chose to make nutcrackers, snowmen and soldiers. Don’t be afraid if you think you can’t draw! These can be as simple as you like– dots for eyes, simple little circles for cheeks. The pencil allows you to play with the design. You can erase what you don’t like and start over. You can totally do this! I used acrylic craft paints and a little “spotter” brush to paint these. The tiny paint brush will give you more control when painting small details. After you’ve painted your cute face and it has dried, you can erase any visible pencil lines.
1144
inspired iin nsp spir piirred ed iideas deeaass d
Adding String Grab some twine, and let’s make the loop for hanging your ornament. You need enough length to go through the center of your thread spool and have some left at the top for hanging. Place a dollop of hot glue into the hole on top of your head. Now stuff the ends of your loop into the hole. Use a pipe cleaner or old pencil to help. Add a little more glue into the hole. You just want to keep the glue in the hole so that you still have a flat surface for your spool to rest on. Let dry for a few minutes.
Christmas C Ch h rii st s t ma stma mas 2 2013 20 0 13 13
1155
The Spool Hat Match a thread spool to go on top of your ball piece. I really like the old thread left on the spool. It gives it so much character. If they are blank, you could paint them. Use little trims and bits of fabric scraps or sewing notions to decorate your spool. Simply glue them on with your glue gun. Your hat is ready! Your twine loop is going to fit right through your thread spool. A pipe cleaner is a great help again. Simply run it through the center, and it will help push your twine through. Place a little glue between your head and hat and push into place, making sure to pull your loop all the way through. Let the glue dry and guess what? You are done, and it’s adorable! I can see it now – a whole little tree of these charming characters!
1166
inspired iin nsp spir piirred ed iideas deeaass d
Christmas Ch h ri r i sstt ma rist m a s 2013 20 0 13 13
1177
18
inspired ideas
Featuring 8� x 10� prints from five talented artists: Chrissie Grace Catherine from Red Shoes Jenn from Noodle and Lou Sarah from Hearts and Needles Lori from Fresh Picked Whimsy For more information and to purchase, visit www.etsy.com/listing/167664945/christmas-art-collaboration-winter-art
Christmas 2013
19
18
inspired ideas
Meaningful
mixed media art
I
’ve been making Christmas trees out of salvaged wood, similar to this project, for a couple of years. This time, I wanted to take a more mixedmedia approach. What I love most about this project is that there is so much room for variation... the lettering, the palette used, the size and shape of the tree. I also like that this project combines painting witha little sewing. You can even scan the original art and create Christmas cards, ornaments, or gift tags!
by chrissie grace Christmas Ch C h rrii ssttma t ma m a s 20 2013 2 01 13 3
1199
1. Using an 11 x 14 sheet of canvas paper (or acrylic paper), paint the entire piece with either black gesso or black acrylic paint. Let it dry completely. 2. Print out the words of the phrase you’d like to use. Each word should go on a separate line. Local print shops can print larger letters if desired, or you can even freehand your own letters!
2200
iinspired in nsp spir ired ed iideas deeas d as
3. Use a white colored pencil to sketch a star at the top of your paper. 4. Choose a different scrapbooking paper for each word. 5. Cut each word out and space out on your 11� x 14� sheet of black paper. Be sure to allow enough room to draw a rectangle around each word with the white pencil. Also, leave room on the bottom for the trunk of the tree. 6. Use graphite paper to transfer the outline of your letters onto the scrapbooking papers, then cut the letters out. 7. Cut out a square for the trunk of the tree.
Christmas C Ch h ri r ist i st stm maa s 2 2013 20 01 013 13 3
2211
2222
iinspired in nsp spir ired ed iideas deeaass d
8. Use a paint brush and Mod Podge to adhere your letters and trunk to your surface. I secured them and then applied a coat of the Mod Podge on top of each letter as well. Let dry completely before continuing to the next steps. 9. Using paint colors to complement your choice of papers, paint each word background a different color, using the rectangle you drew in white pencil as a guide. Leave a tiny margin all around each letter so that it has a black outline. Your paint strokes will appear uneven, and that is good. We are not looking for smooth, perfect paint in this technique. Let all your paint dry. 10. Outline your star, and fill it with a thick, clear-drying glue using a paintbrush. Sprinkle fine glitter over the star. Pour off the excess glitter and rereturn to glitter bottle. Let glue dry completely.
Christmas Ch C h ri r i st stm maa s 2 2013 20 0 13 01 13
2233
2244
iinspired in nsp spir ireed d iideas deeas d as
11. Use a 1” circle punch to cut out lots of circles from a complementary scrapbook paper. Determine where you’ll place the dots, and use Mod Podge to adhere them. If some circles overlap the edges, that’s okay! When the Mod Podge dries, simply trim the circles that overlap the edges. 12. Use white paint to cover the whole background. Leave a tiny black margin around the star, each circle, and the word boxes. Your white paint should have obvious stroke marks. 13. Once everything is completely dry, it’s time to move over to the sewing machine. If you are comfortable using your free-motion foot, outline the word boxes with a thread color of your choice. If not, you can just use your walking foot to outline the boxes. I love the look of adding another texture to the piece. Another option is to hand sew with a needle and embroidery thread. 14. Outline the circles by stitching with another thread color. I chose turquoise. I add a little gold star sticker to the middle of each circle to pull the whole piece together.
Christmas Ch C h rrii sstt m maa s 2 2013 20 0 13 13
2255
15. Last but not least, frame your artwork. I found this wooden frame at Goodwill and gave it a couple coats of turquoise spray paint. Another fun thing to do is scan your original artwork and use it for your Christmas cards or gift tags this year!
2266
iinspired in nssp pired iirred ed iideas deaass de
Make It Yours hold special Use words that r family. meaning to you
Christmas 2013
27
28
inspired ideas
Mr. & Mrs. pillowcases
I
t’s no secret that I am a vintage hoarder! Vintage linens are one of my biggest weaknesses because of their beautiful prints and fabrics. Without a doubt, my favorite vintage items to collect are his-and-her pillowcases. I have always wanted to find a holiday-themed pair but have never had the luck of finding any. So, I thought it would be fun to make a pair myself– with Santa and his missus. After all, Santa makes me happy! Grab yourself a cup of cocoa and your favorite Christmas movie, and whip up a set of Mr. and Mrs. Claus cases for your own bed!
by ashlee park Christmas 2013
29
Materials • • • • • • • • •
30
Pillowcases Embroidery Pattern Tape or Light box Fabric Marking Pen Embroidery Hoop Embroidery Needle Embroidery Floss Scissors Ric Rac or Fun Trim
inspired ideas
Step 1: Mark Pattern Print out the pattern. Lay it out in the middle of the pillowcase edge. Use a light box to trace the pattern. If you do not have a light box, you can tape the pattern and the pillowcase to a window and trace it from the light coming in. Use a disappearing ink pen or a wash-out fabric marking pen.
Step 2: Embroider Insert your fabric into the embroidery hoop and tighten down. Embroider your design. I like the texture of chunky embroidery, so I used all six strands of floss on all my areas except for the eyes and mouth where I used three strands. I used a simple backstitch to outline details like the eyes. For larger areas, such as the clothing, I used a seed stitch to fill the space. For the beard on Santa and Mrs. Claus’ hair, I used French knots. I also used French knots for the eyes and the buttons on their clothing. For the letters, I used a simple backstitch to outline and dotted the letters with French knots. These are the stitches I like to use, but experiment with your own favorites for a design that is truly unique. Christmas 2013
31
h s i ll e b m tep3: E
e inside h t o t m ac or tri e and either r c i r r u Pin yo our pillowcas fter you y A edge of or hand stitch. u are yo e machin r pillow cases, w and u wash yo dd a fluy pillo s! a um ready to ons of sugar pl si enjoy vi
S
32
inspired ideas
Christmas 2013
33
3344
iinspired in nssp pir ireed d iideas deeas d eas as
Prairie Point Junction’s
Sugar Cookie felt ornaments
W
hip up a batch of these darling sugar cookie ornaments. They’re perfect for decorating your tree, adorning a wreath, attaching to a package, or displaying on your favorite vintage plate.
by julie geiger
Christmas C Ch h rrii st stm maa s 2 2013 20 01 13 3
3355
Materials ½ yard of Buttercream wool blend felt for ornament base. (Makes at least 12 ornaments). Assorted wool blend felts in your favorite colors. A 12” x 18” piece of each color would make several ornaments, especially if you’re mixing and matching colors. For the traditional colored ornaments we used National Nonwovens wool blend felt in: Barnyard Red, Old Gold, Reets Relish, Grassy Meadows, and Mustard Seed. For the Sugar Plum ornaments we used: Pink Violet, Blue Snow, Peacock, Blue Spruce, Hydrangea, Driftwood, and Storm Clouds. 2 skeins of DMC floss 739, or floss to match your base color. Assorted embroidery floss to match your felt. We used DMC floss in the following colors. Traditional: 3777, 783, 469, 895, 3829. Sugar Plum: 3608, 162, 3810, 3815, 304, 414, 317. Embroidery Needles. Our favorites are Clover Gold Eye Embroidery Needles Size 3-9. Roxanne’s Glue Baste It Small, sharp scissors Freezer Paper
36
inspired ideas
Kits Available!
Visit Julie’s site woolfeltcentral.com to purchase a bundle of all the felt you need for this project! Take 20% off your regular priced order online at woolfeltcentral.com when you use code INSPIRE13. Offer valid through December 31st, 2014.
Preparing the Felt For the projects in our Sugar Cookie series, we prefer to use wool blend felt straight off the bolt. The flat texture allows the stitching details to show and gives the cookie shape a firm body. However, if you want to pre-wash the felt to get a bubbly texture, submerge colors individually in hot water, squeeze out excess water, and dry in the in dryer until damp. Find detailed instructions on the tips page of our website at www.prairiepointjunction.com Christmas 2013
37
Cutting Out Shapes • Trace the desired shapes onto paper side of the freezer paper. A mechanical pencil works well for tracing. For each design, trace one of the outer sugar cookie shape and one of each of the frosting shapes. • Cut loosely around drawn shape. • Iron waxed side of freezer paper to wool felt. Refer to the color diagrams for fabric selection, or mix and match colors as desired. Since wool felt does not a have a right or wrong side, it does not matter which side of the felt the freezer paper is ironed to. These designs have not been reversed, so you will in effect be ironing the freezer paper to the “right” side of the felt. Keep this in mind if using a wool with different textures on front and back.
• Cut out shape on traced line. Small pointed-tip scissors work best for this step.
3388
iinspired in nsp spir ired ed iideas deeaass d
Assembling Shapes • Center frosting shapes on one layer of sugar cookie shape. Adhere with tiny dots of GlueBaste It. Don’t get carried away with the glue. A small dot in just a few places is sufficient. The glue gets very hard when it dries, so be sure to position glue in areas where you won’t be doing a lot of stitching. • Whipstitch frosting to one layer of sugar cookie using tiny, hidden stitches with one strand of matching floss. • Cut narrow strips, about 3/16 of an inch wide, of an accent color for the stripes on the ornaments. Place strips on ornament and trim to fit frosting area. • Use one strand of matching floss to stitch a zig-zag across the strip of felt. • Lay completed cookie on top of a piece of Buttercream wool felt. Adhere with small dots of GlueBaste It. Carefully cut around the shape to create a backing for your design. This is an easy way to get an exact match to the shape. • Blanket stitch layers together using two stands of floss.
Christmas C Ch h rrii st s t ma m a s 20 2013 2 0 13 3
3399
Sugar P lum Variation Change the color palette to include delightful pinks, purples, and aqua. Embellish with seed beads to create a fun Sugar Plum variation of this project.
40
inspired ideas
Sugar Cookie Pattern
Christmas 2013
41
I was blessed to attend French General’s Chateau Getaway in Auty, France. While on my French journey, I set out to photograph numbers throughout the country to use for a perpetual calendar. Farmer’s markets, house numbers, street signs, and plenty of ephemera provided my inspiration.
In June 2012,
My shop was asked to decorate a room at our town’s Robert Henri Museum for their Holiday at the Henri event. I used my number photos to create a unique advent banner to decorate the room. Another special part of the journey included a photo op on Rue de Robert Henri in Paris. From his humble childhood in Cozad, Henri went on to become a noted painter spending much time in Paris. Much to the thrill of the director and patrons of the Henri Museum, I incorporated these photos into decor for the room On your next vacation, why not capture some special photos, not only to reminisce about your own journey but also to add a personal twist to your holiday decor.
42
inspired ideas
Photo by Pam Keravuori Christmas 2013
43
44
inspired ideas
Little Felt Houses for you and me
W
hen I first saw Brenda Walton’s Country Cottage Die from her Favorite Things line of Christmas dies for Sizzix, I knew immediately what I wanted to do. The precision cut makes it a perfect project to create in felt. The scalloped roof and embroidered details really make this project special. If you don’t already own a Sizzix machine, this is the project to motivate you to get one!
by amy powers
Christmas Ch h rriist i sstt ma m a s 20 2013 0 13 13
4455
4466
inspired iin nsp piirreed d iideas deeas deas as
The Sizzix machine makes precision cuts in material by applying pressure to steel blades. It makes a project like this a snap! Use the Sizzix machine and Brenda Walton’s Country Cottage Die to cut out the pieces for this project. The Country Cottage Die cuts: • House shape • Base • Roof (fold the felt and line up on the die along the fold line) • Door • Porch roof • Shutters • Scalloped Roof • Chimney (I omitted) Begin by choosing the different colors of felt you’d like for part of the house. You’ll run each piece of felt through the Sizzix machine separately. Reinforce the house, roof and base felt pieces with Pellon Fusible Interfacing, in mid-heavy weight before running them through the Sizzix machine.
Christmas Ch C h rrii st stm maa s 2 2013 20 0 13 13
After you’ve cut the house shape from the reinforced felt, cut and discard the tabs and extra roof piece, using the photo above as a guide. While these pieces are useful for making a paper house, we won’t need them when making our felt house.
4477
4488
inspired iin nsp spir piirred ed iideas deeaass d
Using embroidery floss, stitch details to your house such as the shutters and the door. A French knot is a perfect door knob! Sew the porch roof in place. You may find that you need to snip off the tabs. Fold each of the house corners at a right angle and sew either a blanket or whip stitch along the edge. This will help the house stand on its own better. Sew the same seams along the edges of the base. Attach the roof to the house using a quick whip stitch. This stitch will be covered by the shingles.
Christmas Ch h ri r i sstt ma rist m a s 2013 20 0 13 13
4499
Using a paintbrush and tiny amounts of felt glue, attach the shingles to the roof. Start at the bottom and work your way up, overlapping the shingle pieces slightly. Five rows of shingles should cover your roof. Stitch a blanket stitch along the roof line to attach the top-most shingle pieces.
5500
inspired iin nsp spir piirred ed iideas deeaass d
Get busy making a whole village of lovely felt homes! These would make a wonderful homemade gift, especially for neighbors! You can even personalize it by embroidering the family name on the house. Be sure to add the date, too! To make the house into an ornament, simply sew a loop of thread or narrow ribbon through the rooftop.
Christmas Ch C h rrii st s t ma mas 2 2013 20 01 13 3
5511
5522
iinspired in nsp pir ireed ired d iideas deas de as
Vintage
Ephemera
O
ne of my absolute favorite things about the holidays is wrapping presents! I love to use scraps of vintage wrapping
paper to embellish my kraft paper packages. However, I have to hide the gifts in the closet until Christmas morning, because if they get put under the tree, my cats think they are for them and try to shred the packaging. So, this year, I thought I would make something fun to showcase some of my favorite vintage wrapping paper– that
is harder for little paws to destroy. These fun decoupaged letters are such a blast to make! They show off my favorite papers beautifully, and hey, everything’s better with a little glitter right?!
by ashlee park Christmas 2013
53
5544
inspired iin nssp pir ireed d iideas deaass de
Materials • • • • • • • • • • •
Vintage Wrapping Paper Paper Mache or Wood Letters Paint Decoupage Medium in Matte Finish Glitter Paint Brushes Scissors Ruler Pencil Glue (E-6000) Little Vintage Ornaments or Miniatures
Step 1: Paint The first thing you will need to do is paint your letters. Paint a couple of coats on each letter and let dry.
Step 2: Layout Lay a letter face down onto the wrong side of your wrapping paper. Trace the letter with your pencil. Next, mark in an eighth of an inch from the edge of your outlined letter all the way around. Cut out your letter using the inside mark as a guide. Repeat with the other letters you have.
Christmas Ch C h rrii stma stt maa s 2 2013 20 0 13 3
55 55
5566
iinspired in nsp spir ired red ed iideas deeas d eaass
Step 3: Decoupage Now you are ready to decoupage your letter. Brush a layer of decoupage medium onto the front of your painted letter, as well as the backside of your paper letter. Carefully lay your paper letter onto your painted letter. Gently smooth out any air bubbles until the paper is centered and flat.Let dry for a few minutes before applying a layer of medium on the letter to protect it. Allow to dry completely.
Step 4: Glitter Place a clean piece of paper on your craft table to collect the glitter. Lay your letter flat on the table face up. Dip your brush into the medium and generously dab onto the edges of your letter. Hold the glitter bottle over the letter and sprinkle glitter generously onto the wet medium. Tap o the excess glitter and let dry.
Christmas C Ch rrii st stm maa s 20 2013 2 0 13 3
5577
Step 5: Embellish To add some whimsy, glue a few little Christmas miniatures to your letters. Once they are dry, display your letters in a favorite spot for an extra special touch of Christmas cheer!
58
inspired ideas
Christmas 2013
59
W
e have a tradition in our family that started way before Elf on the Shelf. In fact, this tradition started with my great grandparents, I believe. Every year at Christmas, Santa sends our elves to keep an eye on us and report back to him on our behavior. These elves are invisible to children. If you ever say you don’t believe in them, they will go back to the North Pole and never come back. I inherited the elf that my mom had when she was a little girl and that my grandmother had before her. Each Thanksgiving Shaun, the elf, would magically show up. I always knew he had arrived because he would bring me a little gift like new pajamas or a holiday book. Never wanting to dissapoint Shaun, I would always try to be extra good. Occasionally I would misbehave and was extra dissapointed when I heard my mother exclaim that Shaun was noting it in his book.
60
I do not have any children of my own yet, but the tradition will continue with them, as well as my future nieces or nephews. Until then, Shaun continues to arrive on Thanksgiving to spend the holidays with us, only now he brings me vintage Christmas aprons.
inspired ideas
Christmas 2013
61
62
inspired ideas
Painting, Making, Sculpting & Escaping into Mixed Media
A
s artists our career together has been of the make-it-up-as-you-go variety. But there is one thing that has always been certain: We are always at our absolute happiest when we’re doing the things that we’re good at. And knowing this, we try like heck to be good at a lot of things! And in art, being “good” is totally relative. When we say good, we more or less mean interested, or inspired. When getting creative, variety is essential. For us that’s what mixed media is all about. In putting together these projects— with bits of sculpture, some jewelry making, lots of painting, drawing, assembling, cutting and even making some faux sweets—the one constant is that we loved the creative process. The only way to unearth your undiscovered talents is to try something new. We don’t think it’s lofty to say that we think you can find yourself through the artistic process. And we’ve got all the confidence in the world that you’ll not only make some great art in following along with these projects, but you’ll also make some great discoveries about yourself and how much talent you’ve yet to realize. Happiness truly does come with doing the things that you are good at—and doing them often. So if your creative curiosity brought you here, you’re halfway there. The rest of the way is in the painting, the making, the sculpting and the escaping into mixed media.
Excerpted from Mixed Media Masterpieces by Jenny Heid and Aaron Nieradka Reprinted with permission from Page Street Publishing Company.
Christmas Ch ri 2013
63
tips from Jenny & Aaron
Here’s a simple way to transfer an image to another surface. Lay tracing paper over the image and trace the lines with a pencil. Press hard to ensure the lines transfer. Then, flip the tracing paper and transfer the image onto patterned paper by rubbing with a smooth, blunt object. We use the back end of a Sharpie marker. Be sure to rub hard and thoroughly for an even transfer.
64
inspired ideas
Our secret for making three dimensional cupcake frosting? Basecoat the frosting on each cupcake. While that paint dries, mix the frosting colors with molding paste using one part paint with two parts molding paste. This will be your frosting mixture. Apply frosting mixture to your cupcake using a #8 round brush. Let dry overnight.
Christmas 2013
65
d craftbook Mixed Media Masterpieces with Jenny & Aaron by Jenny Heid and Aaron Nieradka (Page Street Publishing Co.) Jenny and Aaron of the popular blog Everyday is a Holiday, combine years of crafty experience to serve as our “glittery guides” in continuing– or starting–a fun-filled journey with mixedmedia. Painting, sculpting, tracing, speckling, distressing, crackling, sewing, lettering… Set perfection aside! Jenny and Aaron assure us that if we love what we’re doing, anything we create is sure to be a masterpiece. The nostalgic “Heirloom Bride and Groom Vintage Photo Assemblage”, inspired by the classic cake toppers we all love, would be a unique and personal anniversary gift for someone special. (Get creative and adapt this fun project for other black-and-white photos stashed in the drawer!) The art-journal project, “When I Grow Up and Have a House” delights all of us who remember the childhood joy of drawing cozy little houses with pointed roofs. As a matter of fact, this uplifting art-journal project will most likely find a prominent place on the wall of my real house! Are you hungry? A recurring motif throughout this book is baking–sweet subject matter such as frosted cupcakes, mini-donuts and layered cakes will surely leave you satisfied. Careful attention was paid to each detail, and the step-by-step directions, accompanied by dreamy photographs, will not disappoint. So roll up your sleeves, gather your supplies and enjoy creating your first masterpiece from this “delicious” collection. –Kerrie More
6666
iinspired in nsp spir ired ed iideas deeas d as
My memory for minute childhood details is uncanny. In my mind’s eye I can honestly see exactly what my Christmas looked like at 2 years old, and possibly when I was only 1! So this Christmas memory of mine reaches way back to when I was just a teeny tiny little girl, and since it spans a few years, I guess you could say it was my first foray into creating traditions. In early December the day would come that was nearly as magical for me as Christmas day itself. It was the day when my parents would bring down the Christmas decorations. Among all of that enchanted stuff, there was one object I just couldn’t wait to get my hands on. It was this little clear Lucite cube with an itty bitty Santa Claus inside…and it played music! I’d wind it up, and Santa would slowly twirl to the tinkly music box version of Here Comes Santa Claus. This was MY box, my responsibility, and I took it upon myself to make it my job to decide precisely where and how it would be displayed each year. Having a Christmas decorating “job” made the Holiday ten times more magical for me. It was destined that I’d grow up to be the collector and decorator that I am. I truly believe that I’m that same little girl today.
–Jenny Christmas 2013
My earliest Christmases are the most vivid on my otherwise faded memory spectrum. My parents did Christmas BIG. My two brothers and I received far too many gifts, and as a holidaymagic-making team, my parents were without equals. My Dad was in charge of the decorations…the lights, the wreaths, the tree. My Mom could feed and tame armies with all the work she did in the kitchen. Christmas morning would arrive, and we were there to greet it far too early in the morning. At first light, one by one, we’d creep into my parent’s bedroom and slip under the covers to snuggle. All five of us in one bed with the covers pulled all the way up over our heads! My Mom and Dad would playfully whisper to us, “What do you think Santa brought?” And my brothers and I would each make our guesses. Mom and Dad would make sounds like, “Hmmmm...” and “Ahhhh,” smirking conspiratorially at each other. Then, after we couldn’t take one more minute of anticipation, my Dad would throw off the covers, and we’d fly downstairs to go see exactly what Santa brought!
–Aaron67
6688
iinspired in nsp spiirred ed iideas deeas d eas as
Noodle & Lou’s
Gift Toppers
W
rapping Christmas gifts is one of my favorite parts of the holidays. I crank up the Christmas tunes, surround myself with boxes, tapes, piles of ribbons, tags and pretty papers and go to town! Even the most simple, little gift can look like a million dollars when wrapped with some creativity and care! These sweet gift toppers are just what you need to take your gift to the next level...and they are super fun to make!
by jennifer mcglon Christmas 2013
69
Gather up your materials. You’ll need pipe cleaners, glue (I like a hot glue gun), scissors, thread, buttons and that stack of old Christmas cards and gift wrap you didn’t know what to do with! I prefer to use vintage gift wrap and cards (because I love the look) but you can use anything on hand!
70
inspired ideas
Organizing your paper ahead of time helps a bunch. Decide what paper you are using and cut rectangles (a tad bigger than the size your petals will be) out of the papers.
Christmas 2013
71
Select your coordinating pipe cleaners and make loop shapes for your petals. I like 5 or 6 petals at the most. You can make your petals tiny or big. Just take the end of the pipe cleaner and wrap it around the base of your shape to secure. Leave a little tail on all but one of your petals and a long tail on that last petal. This allows you to secure all your petals together.
Add your hot glue to the back side of your loop. Place on top of your pre-cut paper or card and press into place. The hot glue is dry in just seconds, and now you can cut the excess paper. Let’s attach all our petals to each other now. Hold your petal with the long tail. Add a petal by twisting its little tail onto that first petal. Continue in the same fashion... twisting each tail onto another petal until you have them all attached in a circle. Aren’t pipe cleaners fun!?
72
inspired ideas
Use big buttons or vintage earrings to decorate the center of your flower. Use embroidery floss or twine to secure. I just tie a little knot on the back... perfect!
Christmas 2013
73
Ta-da! You have a super darling gift topper that will make any family member or special friend feel like a super star! Leave a long tail with your thread and wrap it around your gift’s ribbon or use fun washi tape to attach it to your gift You can get so creative with this idea. What else can you find around your house to make these adorable toppers? Child’s art, old book pages, handwritten letters? newspapers, magazines? Are those creative juices flowing!?
74
inspired ideas
n
o ti a r i p Ins
n one i r e e flow om, d a m and es. My m on my h g n i l x d is dar ewelry bo re all pile fuh t d e j I foun ranna’s ousins w Granna’s ries. G c y o of my aunts and , after m ing mem nd , a ar ed sister arent’s b es and sh s fabrics ’t p n ri ou grand elling sto the fabul est? I did not ,t o ut ’m neral o drawn t ’t it the c ore, and I f s nk of sn I was chenille. I eing it be like to thi gh I se hi faded ber ever ehind it. ck in her irlb a m g reme the story e made b with her f h g s o sure mething igglin away. g – s y t o a it as s sorority d g the nigh l in schoo and craft s friend
My
Christmas 2013
75
76
inspired ideas
World Love Globe art
I
’ve been collecting vintage globes for a few years now, and they had started
to collect dust at the top of an armoire. I had been admiring fun painted globe projects, but decided that I wanted to create something that could be used as wall décor. Like many other crafters, I’ve been on a big pallet-art kick, so naturally a rustic wood backdrop for the globes was appealing.
by chrissie grace
Christmas Ch C h rrii st stm maa s 2 2013 20 0 13 13
7777
1. Find a globe. You could buy a new one, but I prefer vintage ones. I have a collection of vintage globes that I have collected over the years from thrift and antique stores. 2. Using an X-Acto knife or a box cutter, cut the globe in half. It should come apart very easily. Set aside the metal globe holder for another repurposing project.
78
inspired ideas
3. Turn the globe halves over. Inside the middle of each one will be a metal circle about the size of a silver dollar. Carefully cut it out and remove it from the cardboard layer of each of the globe halves. 4. Turn the globe halves over and find the hole in the center where the base is attached. Use that hole as a guide to cut each piece in half again, quartering the globe. 5. Next, match two quarters together to form a half-globe. One half will be the Northern Hemisphere, the other the Southern. Run a bead of Weldbond glue along the cardboard indent of the bottom half of the globe all the way across. Fit these pieces back together.
Christmas 2013
79
8800
iinspired in nsp spired ired ir ed iideas deeaass d
6. Clamp the ends of both sides and lay the piece aside for 24 hours to dry and set completely. 7. While your globe is drying, you can create your wood background.
Christmas Ch C h rrii st stm maa s 2 2013 20 01 013 13 3
•
Cut four pieces of pallet wood that are 16” across.
•
I like to mix and match the wood pieces.
•
Cut two more pallet pieces measuring 14” in length. Using Weldbond, glue them vertically to the back of the four pieces of pallet wood as braces to secure them.
•
Put heavy weights on the braces and let that dry overnight, too.
•
Insert two eye screws into the back of the wood. Wrap hanging wire between the two eye hooks.
8811
82
inspired ideas
8. After your globe has dried and you have removed the clamps, write your phrase on the globe. I simply freehanded the words using a Sharpie marker. Don’t worry if you make a mistake. A little rubbing alcohol and a Q-Tip will take it right off. If you aren’t confident with your freehand lettering, you can always use a stencil and trace your letters. 9. Using white acrylic paint, fill in your letters. I applied only one coat because I rather like the look of the globe showing through a bit. Apply two coats if you want it more opaque. 10. After the paint has dried, use a black paint pen to trace over all the letters. 11. Use Weldbond glue to lay a thin layer of glue all the way around the back of the cut globe. 12. Press the globe-half down in place and hold firmly for a couple of minutes while the glue has time to set.
Christmas 2013
83
84
inspired ideas
Christmas has always been my favorite, but when I had my own children, it became even more magical to see it through their eyes! One of my favorite traditions is making Christmas Eve boxes for my kids. The night before Christmas, when we get home from Christmas Eve service, we each get cozy new pajamas and a movie. We slip into our new pajamas, make hot chocolate with marshmallows and watch a Christmas movie together before bed.
Christmas 2013
85
easy gift
8866
iinspired in nsp spirred ed iideas deeaass d
Sweet Pom Pom Necklace
T
iny pom poms become adorable charms when added to a necklace. Leave the chains long on these simple necklaces and they resemble exclamation points. Isn’t that the point of a rad accessory anyway? Experiment with layering different colors (even metallics) or lengths of thread or try stringing multiple mini pom-poms on one strand.
Materials • •
• • •
Fork Embroidery thread (or yarn, baker’s twine, metallic string) Scissors 30 inches of leather string or chain Hot-glue gunr
1. Make a pom-pom using embroidery thread and the fork wrap method described here. 2. Experiment with wrapping styles if desired. 3. Leave at least 6 inches of tying thread on your pom. 4. Tie the threads of the finished pom around the center of the leather string or chain in a double knot. 5. Dab the knot with hot glue to secure it.
Excerpted from Pom-Poms!: 25 Awesomely Fluffy Projects by Sarah Goldschadt and Lexi Walters Wright. Reprinted with permission from Quirk Books.
Christmas C Ch h ri rist i sstt m maa s 20 2013 2 01 13 3
8877
make it!
8888
inspired iin nsp spir ireed ired d iideas deas de as
Pom Pom Bouquet
A
single pom-pom bloom can brighten a potted houseplant. A bouquet will make a mod mantel statement. Best of all, these posies won’t droop! Create a pretty holiday arrangement to add a bit of color to a wintry day.
Materials •
• • • •
5 to 13 pom-poms (thin cotton fabric, yarn, felt, or tissue paper) Scissors Floral stem wire* Wire cutter* Hot-glue gun
*Floral stem wire comes precut. Use wire cutters to trim pieces to the desired length. Or, for a natural touch, use real branches for your fluffy “flowers.”
1. Make as many pom-poms as desired out of fabric, yarn, felt, or tissue paper in any color using your favorite pom pom making method. (See the book Pom Poms! to learn more methods) Consider choosing only two methods and three materials to keep your bouquet looking harmonious and elegant. Less is more—fewer types can create a big impact. 2. Cut the tying strings off each pompom. Trim the floral stem wire to varying lengths. 3. Dab hot glue onto the floral wire at least 0.25 inch from the end. Gently press the center of the pom around the wire, making sure it reaches the midpoint of the pom and doesn’t fall off. Repeat with each pom.
Excerpted from Pom-Poms! 25 Awesomely Fluffy Projects by Sarah Goldschadt and Lexi Walters Wright. Reprinted with permission from Quirk Books.
Christmas Ch C h rrii st s t ma m a s 2013 20 2 0 13 13
8899
pom pom 101 “Cardboard C” Method Trace the template to create the pom size you need. Teeny or ginormous poms can be made by enlarging or reducing the template on a copier. Just remember that the bigger the C, the more wrapping material you’ll need.
2. Starting at one end of the C, pinch yarn against cardboard to keep it in place. Then wrap yarn snugly around both templates, continuing until you are 0.5 inch from the other end. Repeat at least four times to create a full fluffy pom. 3. Holding the yarn-wrapped templates with one hand, insert a scissor blade between the two pieces of cardboard at one end. Slice through the wrapped yarn along the entire outside edge. Pinch together the still-wrapped but uncut section as you snip along the template. Rest the template on the table for the next step.
for the template • parchment paper • pencil • cardboard • scissors for the pom • at least 8 yards of wrappable material (see page 64 for ideas) • one 24-inch piece of tying material, folded in half 1. Create a pattern using the template. Transfer the pattern onto two pieces of cardboard and cut out two cardboard C’s. Stack them one atop the other.
90
4. Holding the folded tying thread taut, slide it between the two pieces of cardboard, starting at the middle gap in the C. Pull each end of tying thread around the template until they meet across from the gap. Pull tightly around the center of the pom and tie a knot. Flip the pom over and tie a double knot, binding the two halves together. 5. Pull off the cardboard templates. Fluff your pom-pom and give it a haircut.
Excerpted from Pom-Poms! 25 Awesomely Fluffy Projects by Sarah Goldschadt and Lexi Walters Wright. Reprinted with permission from Quirk Books. inspired ideas
Fork Wrap Method Raid your kitchen’s utensil drawer to create delicious pom-pom morsels. The smaller the tines, the tinier the pom. Large serving forks will produce more substantial balls. This method is ideal for delicate wrapping materials like fishing line and colorful filaments.
1. Wrap the yarn around the tines of the fork 40 to 75 times, keeping in mind that more wraps make for fluffier poms. Snip the yarn from the skein. 2. Slip one end of the tying thread underneath the wrapped yarn, between the two middle tines. Slip the other end above your wrapped yarn in the same space between the two middle tines. 3. Pull the two ends of the tying yarn tightly, knotting once, and then flip the pom over and double-knot in the middle. Slide the yarn bundle off the fork. 4. Use scissors to slice through all the loops on either side of the middle knot. Snip off the tying string. Fluff and shape your pom.
Excerpted from Pom-Poms! 25 Awesomely Fluffy Projects by Sarah Goldschadt and Lexi Walters Wright. Christmas 2013 Reprinted with permission from Quirk Books.
91
d craftbook Pom-Poms!: 25 Awesomely Fluffy Projects By Sarah Goldschadt and Lexi Walters Wright (Quirk Books) There’s just something so happy about a pompom! I remember it fondly as one of my first, and favorite, craft projects. Well, the pom-pom has grown up! This fresh take on a cherished classic will provide endless hours of creative bliss. The book successfully shows us that pom-poms are perfect for home décor, personal accessories, and of course, entertaining. Whether the subtle and simple pillow project catches your eye, or the outrageously adventurous cowl is more your style, there’s something for everyone in this whimsical collection. This innovative book introduces numerous fun, new methods for making pom-poms as well as interesting new materials with which to experiment. How about pom-poms made out of t-shirts, coffee filters, or brightly colored fabric scraps? Each project is attractively presented with vibrant photographs, easy-to-follow directions and all of the necessary templates. The possibilities are endless in this visual feast of pom-pom playfulness. (You will probably want to buy this book for the hedgehog project alone!) Get your friends together, gather some of the unique and innovative materials, and have a pom-pom party!
9922
--Kerrie More inspired p ideas
A collection of meaningful decorations, such as this tree made by Charlotte Lyons and a velvet ornament bought in Oxford, England, make a sweet vignette. Photo by Pam Keravuori.
Christmas 2013
93
d bookclub by Kerrie More The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (Little Brown and Company)
Childless and middle-aged, Jack and Mabel leave the comforts of city life to escape a growing sense of loneliness. Far away from the reminders of a lost baby, Alaska offers a fresh start, beckoning hearty folks to accept the challenge of homesteading in a vast, unknown land. Overwhelmed by the endless work, the punishing elements, and the growing sense of isolation, Jack and Mabel wonder if they can endure. In a moment of rare playfulness, the couple celebrates the year’s first snowfall by building a snowman-the likeness of a child complete with mittens and a scarf. The snow child melts, but elusive glimpses of a blonde girl running through the trees stir Mabel’s longings once again. In a story that blurs the lines between reality and fairy tale, unpredictable twists dash the reader’s predictions at every turn. Enchanting descriptions of this rugged land convinces us in the power of nature, as well as friendship, to heal even the most broken heart.
9944
iinspired in nsp spir ired reed d iideas d aass de
Blackberry Winter
Glaciers
by Sarah Jio (Plume)
by Alexis M. Smith (Tin House Books)
When a rare May Day snowstorm occurs, it is known as a “Blackberry Winter.” After an unexpected blanket of snow covers the city of Seattle on May 1, 2010, newspaper writer Claire Aldridge is prompted to write a story about the storm, and its predecessor, which struck 75 years earlier. What she discovers is the story of a three-year old boy that wandered into the snowstorm all those years ago-- never to be seen again. Unable to get the story out of her mind, Claire becomes obsessed little Daniel Ray, his single mother, Vera, and the events of that cold, snowy night. As she digs deeper, she realizes that perhaps the assignment was a twist of fate – a story only she was meant to tell. Who doesn’t love a compelling mystery-- especially when it’s infused with a touch of romance and a bit of history? Clear the calendar; stoke the fire, and settle-in. With chapters that alternate between past and present, the author expertly balances the tension between what we know, and what we can’t wait to find out.
With flowing, spare prose Smith creates fluid movement between a young woman’s life in Portland, Oregon, intertwined with her childhood memories growing up among the glaciers of Alaska. Twenty-something, and working to salvage damaged books in the library’s basement, Isabel is attracted to old things, items with a past that perhaps have a scratch or two. Not unlike the shy colleague who fixes her computer and captivates her with the possibility of a past worth knowing. Similar to the vintage dresses she lovingly collects, Isabel yearns to find a place among the modern, changing world. She finds contentment in saving items cast-off by others and searches through dusty thrift stores for items with a story, and as we follow Isabel through the events of a single day, the reader experiences something quite similar. We find a treasure— sweet and timeless, looking for a home. Ultimately, this little book is about stories – the stories we tell ourselves to make it through the day and the stories we share with others to let them into our hearts.
Christmas Ch C h ri rist i st s tma tm maa s 20 2013 2 0 13 1
9955
9966
iinspired in nssp pired ireed ir d iideas deas de as
Tiny Stitches Pendant
O
h, I just love a little bauble, don’t you? Something pretty dangling from a shiny silver chain around my neck, or to tied onto a lovely bit of ribbon and pinned to a lapel. That’s where my bliss lives. I’m like a magpie– attracted to the prettiest little treasures, which I then string into a necklace or stitch into a bit of sweetness. Lately, I’ve been stitching a lot of tiny motifs, so I created a tiny sampler of them. As I stitched, my magpie-self thought, “Hey, these would make sweet necklaces!”
by tammy gilley Christmas Ch C h rrii ssttma t ma mas 2 2013 20 01 13 3
9977
Materials • Pendant (etsy shop: Kailea) • White linen or other embroidery fabric • Embroidery floss in various colors • Batting • Small, simple drawings to stitch • Needle • Scissors • Pencil • Ribbon, ball chain, or a string of beads to hang your pendant around your neck
Tammy’s Tip I prefer a not-so-shiny finish, so to give my locket a distressed look, I soaked it in a bit of vinegar.
9988
inspired iin nsp spiirreed d iideas deeas d eaass
Getting Set Up Start by tracing your pendant back onto a bit of white linen (or other fabric of your choice). Then draw a small motif onto your fabric with a sharp pencil.
Stitch Doodling Sometimes doodling right onto my fabric makes me freeze up, so I start on paper. Simply outline your pendant shape several times onto paper, and doodle away! It’s a very small and non-intimidating canvas. Just doodle what you like. Try a stem of bing cherries. Try a silly little bird. Doodle little flowers, a birdcage, a smiling sun, your favorite cocktail, whatever! Even if you think you can’t draw, you can do this. I promise you, once you get started, the doodles will come easily.
Christmas C Ch h ri r i st s t ma mas 2 2013 20 0 13 13
9999
A Tiny Sampler If you have some favorite embroidery stitches, you could choose a few of them and do something a little more abstract that showcases your stitchery prowess. I simply drew two curvy lines into my round outline, then I did a few lines of chain stitches, running stitches, back stitches and French knots.
Finishing Up Once you’ve stitched your motif, you’re practically finished! • Trim your linen to a little more than ¼” around the pendant outline. • Cut a piece of batting the size of the pendant mounting insert. Take a running stitch along the outer edge of your piece. • Place the batting between the insert and the back of your embroidered piece. • Pull the running stitch tight, and tie ends firmly. • Place your piece into the frame. • Attach the back. • Attach a length of ribbon, some ball chain, or a string of beads, and enjoy!
1100 00
inspired iin nssp piirreed d iideas deeaass d
Christmas C Ch h rrii sstt m maa s 20 2013 2 01 13 3
1101 01
It’s a tradition: every Christmas, baking a yule log. To be precise, baking Julia Child’s Buche de Noel.
Oui, tres bien!
W
hen I was a little girl, I would watch The French Chef with my mother on PBS. Oh, how I loved Julia, her
pearls and her jovial self. I loved the way Mom wrote down each recipe, with notes in the margins of her legal pad with tips Julia might have given to do this or that. I loved the way Mom laughed at Julia’s little asides. I wanted to be just like Mom and Julia. During one episode, Julia made her Buche de Noel. Mom and I were swooning. And that’s when the tradition began. We made our first yule log when I was about eight-years-old. We made it during the day on Christmas Eve to eat by the Christmas tree that evening after dinner.
102
inspired ideas
In the early days, I mostly sifted flour, licked bowls, and tastetested. As I grew older, I became more and more involved in the process. When I came home from college, and later when I spent the holidays with my folks as an adult, every Christmas Eve you would find Mom and me in her kitchen, yule-logging. We’d have a bit of egg nog or a glass of champagne as we made meringue mushrooms and chocolate buttercream frosting. We would laugh and chat and sip. Julia would have loved being in the kitchen with us. After I lost my mom a few years ago, I made my first buche de noel in my own kitchen. I was terribly sad, and I had thought I might not be able to do it anymore. I invited my 12-year-old niece to join me, and we had a wonderful time! At Thanksgiving the next year, she said, “You know, Aunt Tammy, I was in a bakery and saw a yule log the other day. It wasn’t nearly as nice as ours!” I love that! I still get a bit teary around the buche de noel preparations, but I am so grateful for the memories, the tradition, and the sharing of it all with my sweet family. Tammy Gilley
Christmas 2013
103
whip it up
1104 04
iinspired in nsp spirred ed iideas deeaass d
Faux French Pendant
G
lossy, colorful French lockets are perfect in every way, except for the fact that they cost $100. Follow these steps and make your own for pennies. The secret? Colored nail polish! Simply apply a layer of nail polish to the face of a locket and, voila! Instant glam. Source thrift shops for inexpensive lockets. Add small stones and beads (I strung a flower charm onto one of mine) to personalize your pendant.
Excerpted from InstaCraft: Fun and Simple Projects for Adorable Gifts, Decor, and More by Alison Caporimo Reprinted with permission from Ulysses Press.
Christmas C Ch h rrii sstt ma m a s 20 2013 2 01 13 3
1105 05
sp r a y p a i n t 101
E
verything you need to know about spray-painting, I’ve jotted down right here. Follow these ten tips and get
started—you might not be able to stop.
106
inspired ideas
1 Pick Your Primer
6 Shake It !
2 Know Your Brand
7 Test It
Use a gray primer before applying dark-colored spray paints. For pastel colors, opt for a matte white primer.
My favorite spray paint brand is Ironlak—which offers so many beautiful colors like the peachy “Volcano” and powdery blue “Atmosphere” hues used for the Checkmate Chess Jars (opposite)—but hardware store-bought Krylon works, too!
3 Set in the Sun
Place your spray-painted items out in the sun to cut the dry time in half.
4 Box Them Up
To avoid getting spray paint all over yourself on a windy day, arrange your objects inside a box before spraying. If you’re spraying a lot of small objects, lay them down next to each other and spray all at once.
5 Wipe Away Dust
Go over the object with a rag right before spray-painting to prevent a speckled color.
Christmas
Really! Shake the can for at least 30 seconds for the smoothest application possible.
Before applying to your project, spray a bit of paint on a piece of newspaper to make sure everything is coming out smoothly.
8 Go side to side
Spray from side to side in sweeping motions, holding the can about 6 to 8 inches away from the object, for complete color.
9 Less is More
Multiple thin coats of paint are better than one thick layer. Spray a ine mist all over your project. If you notice an area that needs more paint, wait 10 minutes for the project to dry and then go at it again.
10Store Smartly
Spray-paint valves can get clogged if they are not used for a while. To prevent this, hold the can upside down and spray for 5 seconds before putting on the cap and storing.
Excerpted from InstaCraft: Fun and Simple Projects for Adorable Gifts, Decor, and More by Alison Caporimo Reprinted with permission from Ulysses Press. 2013
107
d craftbook Instacraft: Fun & Simple Projects for Adorable Gifts, Décor & More By Alison Caporimo, Photoraphy by Meera Lee Patel (Ulysses Press) Whether you are an advanced crafter or just beginning to explore your creative side, you are sure to appreciate the variety of projects in Instacraft. When you want to whip-up something quickly, with a few materials already on hand– this is your go-to guide! In fact, these nonintimidating crafts have a sophistication that will appeal to adults, with a skill-level appropriate for teens and children alike. Each design lends itself perfectly to adaptation allowing us to add our own special flair—such as the clever “Checkmate Chess Jars” with handles made from stray chess pieces. Once you start making them, you’ll begin scouring your house for other interesting items with which to embellish these adorable containers. Sometimes the ideas are so amazingly simple, you find yourself saying, “Of course!” The pencil vase just begs to adorn a favorite teacher’s desk, and the brick bookends are perfect for any book lover. The crisp, bold photography and wellwritten directions enhance the projects beautifully. I was particularly drawn to the entertaining comments, inspirational quotes and glimpses into the author’s world-which make for a well-rounded crafting, and reading, experience. --Kerrie More
1108 08
inspired iin nsp spir ireed d iideas deeas d eas as
Christmas 2013
109