Looking Back: Holiday 2016

The last photoshoot of 2016, and what a great way to end the year. 

For this shoot I worked with local photographer Raelyn Ramey as well as three other local businesses - Peach Polka Dot (Megan) who produces flower crowns, Acanthus Apparel (Alyssa) a local screen printing company, and The Pink Revolver (Melissa) who is another handmade clothing company specializing in up-cycled garments. 

Christmas Photos :: A Quick Look at a Simple Gift

Each year, me & the mom's club (as we like to call our little group of mothers) like to get together and have the girls photographed for their grandparents. Unfortunately, each Christmas, budgets also tend to get very tight for each of us. This year, for the FIRST TIME :), I was confident enough to give them a photograph of the girls that I took. We brought them together on a sunny day, laid down a white sheet facing one of the huge picture windows & snapped away. 

Happy Festivus to the rest of us.

Good morning! It's so close to Christmas & I'm really excited to hand so many of my family members a little something I've handmade them. No I didn't pair it with lots of store bought goodies... why? Simply put, because more isn't better. I love Christmas for so many reason: the snow, the family, the thoughtful gifts, the unnecessary acts of kindness, the feeling of a global community. I also have many things I really dislike: my house gets trashed and crowded from all the gifts, my daughter can have streaks of "needing" everything or being sad that wishes don't get delivered to your lap, i DO NOT like to shovel. 

So this Christmas I am focusing on the things I love, and trying to save some stress for myself and others too. Less present, more meaning, more time spent DOING and less time spent GETTING. 

With that said, here are some of my handmade Christmas items. 

<3

my niece syd loves octopuses. and orange. 

Last but not Least: Photo Frames

Here are my last two Christmas Photo Frames....

The frames are painted with magnetic paint so these can stick on them. This set says "sorry we party." 

This set says "long hair don't care."

These are my go to girls for all occasions where ruckus might be found. 

Scrapping

Over at "Creating the Crafty Life" they post weekly challenges. This week I've been having quite a bit of fun working on them. 

This first one was the card challenge. 

On this card I worked for the first time with a mask. Although its a bit hard to see you can see it peeking from behind the images on the right. I will say, I didn't feel like they stuck as well as I expected. I had to ink quickly and keep smoothing it down. User error or design flaw I'm not completely sure. Can you see the little photos inside the glass pieces? One says Holiday Wishes, the other is a candle. Glossy Accents really adheres the paper to these well. It only takes about 5 seconds and I can cut!

This was the color challenge. We were able to create anything using the color burgundy, which was really fun. I am really enjoying how CCL incorporates lots of different people who enjoy crafting. For example (jewelry making, clay creation, scrap book, needlework, etc). So even though I entered a tag, others will create something completely different. 

USED: Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium papers, white acrylic paint dabber (for snow drift), Rock Candy Stickles, pop up foam pieces,  and of course my favorite Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. 

 The Layout Challenge

Though I've done the other two challenges in Christmas themes, I found that I was leaning toward an album I've been working on for quite some time. It is mostly filled with senior photos and high school memorabilia form my cheerleading days, but I had senior photos that also needed to be included. Did I mention this is also my first run at embossing? I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Broken China and it really made a subtle/dainty difference to the layout. 

Lots of pretty flowers from Iamroses. I have grown quite fond of using these. 

Picket Fence cut from the Monsters cartridge on my Cricut. Its really suppose to be a bit spooky but with some white crackle paint and Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo, it looks much more whimsical.

Homemade Christmas Pt2

As I said before, I  certainly love making my gifts custom...

This particular frame is a christmas present for a friend who has a very bright&colorful personality. She enjoys hoola hooping, has been involved in many charity events for children, & has a super big heart. 

For her frame I chose a blue base of acrylic paint, then crackled the multi-toned topcoat using Martha Stewart crackle.  

A close up of the crackled effect. 

A CLOSER close up. hehe

Love how that blue came through.

I got a nice package from I am roses this week. After witnessing the gorgeous work of a truly great crafter // katie from Memories to Keepsakes, I wanted to check them out. Lovely product and great customer service from this company. I would certainly recommend them!

I also used some silver stickles in the flowered corner...

This frame came out lovely. Its very simple and bright. If I find a pretty butterfly before wrapping time, I'll definitely add it. 

Gearing up for the big day: Christmas

Breaking for a photo op

On our way to the Christmas Tree farm

Lily chose this as our Christmas Tree...

... but then decided it wasn't the best one. 

Finally found one that was pretty and NOT sold already, yay!

Got it!

Mom approved. 

They told her she could put all the brush she was carrying around into the burn pile, she declared that she loved fire. I can't blame her though, it smelled wonderful. 

Ended our day by going to see Santa Claus and buying a very pretty red holiday dress. 

Photo Frame Christmas Gifts

Custom Frames 

I used:

Acrylic Paint 

Martha Stewart Crackle Paint

Modge Podge 

Old book pages

Recycled Scrabble Tiles

E6000

Tim Holtz Distress ink in Vintage Photo

A HOMEMADE Christmas

Spent some time yesterday getting into the holiday spirit by working on my oh so long list of Christmas projects. I have always enjoyed creating gifts rather than buying. Even an altered gift will show more care than something quickly purchased. 

Well anyways, I made my first Christmas card of the season with G45's Christmas emporium paper. 

Holiday Skirt

As I mentioned after Halloween, my daughter becomes significantly attached to clothing items for whatever reason. It may just be a phase or her way of putting her foot down and being able to control something?  I haven't quite figured that out.

There was one particular skirt she seemed to like more than the others. (she sure does love them all though)... and it had become pretty stained. I told her she wouldn't be able to wear it anymore, which included a lot of tears. It was a complete breakdown. 

What could I do though? 

I had to do something.