Altered Tin Swap

I wanted to share some of my tins from the swap that I'm in this month on 2Peas. I did 10 (only 5 are shown) and they are all decorated inside and out and then stuffed with tiny treasures. My favorite is the Halloween tin. It turned out so cute and made me ready for Autumn! I can't wait to go pick out big gorgeous orange pumpkins for my porch!

Papers I used Basic Grey, Tim Holtz, the new Basic Grey basics, and clip art I purchased from http://www.etsy.com/shop/sabinesydney She has wonderful stuff! All the gems and bling were set with my new I-Rock tool. It's awesome.

I've been on a decorating binge.

It started with cute new curtain panels for the family room from World Market, and has snowballed into new drapes for 4 other rooms! How does that work? I found some awesome decorator fabric on clearance at Wal Mart for $4.98 a yard and I couldn't pass it up. It's the perfect red and I love the pattern. I stitched up these simple panels in about an hour. Didn't even use an iron. Don't tell my grandmother.

New curtain panels are an easy way to freshen your decor. I love looking for deals on yardage of fabric for panels, sometimes I don't even sew. Fold and clip, or swag and hot glue? I've done it! About 3 yards per panel is what I figure considering my rod heights, that also gives me extra yardage to puddle on the floor so I don't have to hem.
WM can be a great resource for fabric. Unfortunately I think most stores are getting rid of their fabric section. So keep you eyes open for some great deals right now. (Don't go walking through WalMart with your eyes closed like you usually do.)

Altered Frame

Saturday my scrapbook group had an "Altered Frames and Fondue" night, we all worked on frames and dipped stuff into chocolate and cheese. It was awesome! All 9 girls made wonderful artistic frames. I wish I could show you them all, every last one was truly amazing. I did have to endure a little ribbing that night for having a mini bird nest and tiny eggs in my scrapbook tote, but what can I say. Hehe!


Here are a few pictures of my finished frame. I used K and Company and 7 gypsies paper, Tim Holtz tattered flower die and some other little odds and ends. I'm planning on adding some Altered Frames to my Etsy shop soon.

Book Thong Swap

Started working on my book thongs today for the 2Peas swap I am hosting this month. These are so much fun and so easy to make. It's a great craft for using left overs from other projects and easy enough for kids! You just need ribbon, ribbon end crimps, assorted beads, buttons, charms, jump rings, wire and your basic jewelry tool kit.
Happy summer reading!

Mystery Challenge!

Saturday night one of the girls in my Meeet Up Scrapbook group handed me a wonderful little goodie bag full of oddities for a Mystery Challenge. We were to come up with a project featuring some of the items in the bag. I knew the project would have to be grunge/Tim Holtz inspired when I pulled out the first red wire with silver connectors. Here is the finished project.

New Finds At Michaels!!!



I was so enamored by these new charms and findings at Michaels today. It took me back to digging through my Grandpa's "junk drawer" for little treasures. I just had to come home with a few to add to some of my mini albums. But I also came home with some great inspiration for making my own "junk charms" from things around the house and garage.
Tutorial to come!!!

I have been so busy moving and reorganizing my studio. It's close to being done and I wanted to give you a little sneak of how it is turning out. The book case is an Expedit from Ikea. I love it!

Christmas 2009

Here's a little of what we've been up too this holiday season!

The $10 Snow Village



I started with 5 messily painted little village houses I found at WM for $1. I've seen these garish knock off Christmas houses at everywhere this year. Even thrift stores, garage sales and drug stores. I decided to do an all white snow village but the possibilities are endless. How about a pastel pink or blue glittered village for a little girls room? So cute!

To do this project you will need:

Village houses and trees
1 can of grey primer
1 can of flat white or off white paint
small bottle of acrylic white pearl paint (found in the craft paint section)
glitter fine clear or white
Glass glitter such as diamond dust
Faux snow flake
glue to adhere glitter (I used marthas brand)


Prime all pieces let dry, spray each house white and let dry over night. As soon as the paint is nice and cured you can glitter each piece. I dry brushed my houses with some pearl paint before I used the glitter for a little extra depth. Apply the glue in sections and sprinkle with glitter. I did the fine stuff first and then went back with the diamond dust in some sections. Spritz with a watered down aging solution if you want a vintage look. (aging solution can be as simple as burnt umber acrylic paint and water in a spritz bottle, Tattered Angles has a line of glitter mist that have pigments and sparkle. Very cool stuff.) Seal with clear sealant if desired.



The Church was a experiment with aging solution. Now that it is finished I kind of like the vintage looked of it. I will probably go back in and try to duplicate the look with the other pieces. First I need to buy back ups in case the aging project goes awry.

I arranged my snow village in cloches but of course villages look wonderful anywhere and they don't need to cost a fortune to be a lovely addition to your holiday decor.

Kimba is Having a Holiday Home Tour Party

Click above or on the link on my sidebar to join in the festivities!

Here is a little unfinished holiday cheer from my foyer. I still have an advent calendar garland sitting in my workroom waiting to be strung on the banister. It's a little late for that, don't you think? Oh well, maybe I'll throw it up there today and pretend we've been playing along since Dec. 1.

For the foyer table I re-purposed my wire Halloween tree and wrapped a piece of plywood and a town house cracker box for the faux presents. That was my "green living" move of the week. Sweet eh?

These are actual real gifts I stacked here because I'm sick of my bedroom looking like an elf yakked up.

Tomorrow I'll show you my finished thrifty snow village. Don't forget to join the Holiday fun over at Kimbas.