What to do with Decorative Tape

If you're like me, you went crazy for the new decorative tapes on the market:  Washi Tape, Fabric Tapes, Tim Holtz tissue tapes, etc.  So now I have a bin full, but have yet to use it.  I don't make cards, so I needed some inspiration.  I finally got some...

Years ago my sister had sent me two flameless candles, about 3" high.  Although they are a cute idea, I never used them because they were just too plain.  As I was packing the Christmas decorations away I came across them and brought them down to my studio.  That's when it hit me to wrap them in some decorative tape.

The one on the left is from Victorian Roses by Laughing Elephant.  For the candle on the right I used Madison Avenue Monogram "A" tape on the bottom and some Pink Alice in Wonderland tape from Japan above it.  Too cute!  Now I love them!

Don't be a horse's Backside

I saw a great idea on Craftgossip.com (a super source for ideas!) using the front end of plastic animals as hooks.  I bought some dinosaurs from the dollar tree, but they were hollow.  You need to use solid figurines.  I found some plastic horses on ETSY, Perennialcrafts.  They are great.  After cutting them in half, I added double ended screws I found at Lowe's and they're ready to add to a board as wall hooks.  I screwed one into an unfinished wood tag for the picture below (far right), But after the amputation, the backsides called out to me...

A gift tag for that someone special who just needs a little reminder?   I glued the plastic horse's ass onto a wooden tag, 3 1/4" tall, that I painted and sanded, and added a silk ribbon (cut from a thrift store shirt).   A note on the back reads  "Remember not to be one."

Sometimes I get weird ideas that I talk myself out of, but this was too fun to pass up.

Happy New Year Y'all!!!!

My little grandaughter came to me with a tear running down her face on Christmas day. When I asked her what was wrong, she said Christmas is so sad after all the gifts are open. Welcome to life, little girl.

So sad to take down all the Christmas decorations, yet so sad to leave them up. I do love seeing other people's Christmas trees through their front windows, so I'm glad others leave theirs up.

I had some fun making some Valentine's Day cards:

Candyland Christmas Tree Decor

I took my daughter to "Decorator's Warehouse - Texas' #1 Christmas Store" to oooooh and aaaaaah.  It was beautiful.  So many fabulous ways to decorate if you have the BIG BUCKS!!!  My daughter fell in love with the Candy land scene - pastel colors, candy, cupcake and ice cream shapes and lots of glitter.

But many things they can make, I can make better.  So I bought an ice cream cone, a lollipop, and a cupcake and went to work.  Here's the Lollipop:

I made four of them.  Each took a half yard of upholstery trim that I had to remove the cloth edge from.  I used a hot glue gun to form the spiral, then glues a painted wooden craft stick to the back.  I sprayed tacky glue and covered it in sprinkles.  When it dried I sprayed it with polyurethane and added a ribbon (I used a large eye needle with the ribbon threaded in it to poke through the spiral).

I also finished a cupcake, and I'm so proud of if I'm placing the original next to it in the picture for comparison...

The pink frosted one of the left is a Raz ornament I purchased.  The one on the right is mine.  I bought the cupcake holders and made a cardboard insert to strengthen it.  Then I needle felted yellow roving onto a Styrofoam ball.  I cut another Styrofoam ball in half and placed that in the bottom of the cupcake, glued the felted ball on top, then glued on pom poms and sparkles - eh Voila!  I like mine much better!!!  I made six of different pastel colors.  I can't wait for my daughter to see them.

Christmas Time is Here!

I receive a newsletter from May Arts ribbon (www.mayarts.com).  They sell wholesale only, but they have a fun Blog with lots a ideas, tutorials, giveaways and challenges.  I finally decided to participate in a challenge.

May Arts sent me four ribbons and I was to create a Christmas project using each of them.  Here it is:

  I call it "The Gnomes at Home for Christmas"

I found these Gnome couples for sale a few years ago and fell in love - The lady reminds me of my image of the perfect Grandma:  A big smile and a big lap to hold the grandchildren on.

I made these boxes last year:

They didn't sell in my little stall in "Wishes and Dreams".  Wrong clientele - mainly people looking for Jewelry, purses, and commercially made stuff.  I'm putting these up for sale in my ETSY shop...

Cannon Pro 9000 Mark II - Great Printer!!!

My Epson Artisan finally gave up printing my heavy card stock tags, so I got a new printer for Christmas (a bit early, I know).  After much research, and some advice from Melissa Walker, creative genius behind the creations for sale at Immortal Visions on ETSY, I settled on the Cannon Pro 9000 Mark II.  It's strictly a printer, but prints my heavy card stock beautifully without a moment's hesitation!!!!!!  It will also print wide/long paper.  I love it!!

I'm keeping my Epson for the scanner and to print standard weight papers.

Speaking of Immortal Visions, check out these awesome Christmas tags I bought from her - they're just gorgeous!!   Here's the link to her store...  http://www.etsy.com/shop/ImmortalVisions?ref=seller_info

Here's the last of this season's Halloween creations - I have started on Christmas, finally.  I was thinking of the theme...It was a dark and spooky Christmas.  What do you think?

Christmas Tag Freebie

I have been spending many hours playing with Photoshop Elements.  I just finished some Christmas tags and added a link so you can download and print them.  The one shown includes an image from The Christmas Carol, illustrated by Arthur Rackham, one my favorite illustrators!