Mixed Media Monday - Joy to the World

Happy Monday, Norma G. here!! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend with your family and friends.  I got to catch up with some friends and even did a little shopping here and there.  It's hard to believe that Christmas is only one week away, YIKES!!  I still have a bit more shopping to do and a whole lot of wrapping ahead of me.

Alright, it's time for one of my very favorite things, a little Mixed Media fun!

This week I have a cute little altered box to share with you:

This is a small wooden box that I found at Michaels.  It was on clearance for .84 because the lid is broken off.  I've been wanting to create a shadow box project for awhile and knew that this little box would be perfect.  I used a TON of different materials to create multiple layers of beautiful details on this piece.

I started with the Sleigh Cling Stamp.  You can also find this image in the Winter Cling Stamp Set.  I stamped the sleigh on some plastic packaging with Stazon.  (I really like when I can upcycle something that would normally just go in the trash.)  I left a lip on both the top and bottom so I could adhere it the box.  Next I started working on the box, I used Golden Gel Medium to attach vintage sheet music to the inside of three sides.  I attached a scrap piece of blue scrapbook paper for the top.  Then I randomly stamped snowflakes in various shades of blue on the sheet music.  For a little sparkle, I applied a thin layer of glue and sprinkled Blue Diamond Fairy Dust.

For the bottom I used a scrap of beautiful gold sequence fabric.  I like the way the sequence reflects off of the plastic and adds a beautiful effect to the background.

A winter scene wouldn't be complete without some trees right?!  I used the trees from the Pines Cling Stamp Set.  I stamped the larger tree with Close To My Heart ink in Ponderosa Pine and embossed with Green Tinsel.  For the smaller tree, I used Tim Holtz Iced Spruce Distress Ink and embossed with Antique Gold.  I fussy cut both trees leaving a lip on the bottom for attaching to the box.

Here's another look into the box.  So with the inside complete, I began working on all of the little details that finish off the project.

I created a cute little snowflake banner to hang on the top with my sewing machine.  I really wish I had a circle punch for this part but since I don't, I had to improvise ;D  I used my Cricut George cartridge to cut four 3/4" circles and four 1/2" circles.  Next I stamped various snowflakes with varying shades of blue and embossed with Blue Tinsel.  Then I carefully ran the circles through my sewing machine to create the banner.

For the angel, I used the Build A Shrine Stamp Set, she's stamped in CTM Black ink and embossed with Antique Gold.  I used a white gel pen to highlight the wings and TH Distress markers to color in her face.  For the star, I used a gold gel pen.  I also flanked the angel with a stamp from the Flourish Elements Cling Stamp Set.  I cut the banner with the Cricut Stand & Salute cartridge and it's cut at 1".  The sentiment is from the Wise Men Cling Stamp Set and is embossed in black.  The edges of the banner are distressed with TH Old Paper Distress Ink.

I added silver tinsel around all of the edges, some sheer ribbon, miniature snowflake ornaments, bling and beaded trim to complete the project.

The tag is from my stash, I like the pop of red plus it kinda pulls out the red thread on the snowflake banner.

Here's one last look at my little altered Christmas box :D  If you'd like to recreate this box, you could use any box you have lying around like, you could even add a little battery operated tea light in the inside.

Okay here's a recap of the supplies I used on this project:

5x5x2.5 box

Vintage Sheet Music & Blue Scrapbook Paper 

Blue Diamond Fairy Dust

Gold Sequence Fabric

Plastic

PWP Stamps: Sleigh Cling Stamp/Winter Cling Stamp Set, Pines Cling Stamp Set, Snowflakes/Holiday Greetings Cling Stamp Set/Snowy Cling Stamp Set, Build A Shrine Stamp Set, Flourish Elements Cling Stamp Set, and Wise Men Cling Stamp Set

Inks: Close to My Heart Black & Ponderosa Pine, Tim Holtz Old Paper & Iced Spruce Distress Ink, Color Box Aqua & Glacier Ice

Embossing Powders: Green & Blue Tinsel, Black and Antique Gold

Gel Pens: White & Gold
Tim Holtz Distress Marker: Scattered Straw

Cricut Cartridges: George & Stand & Salute

Beaded trim, sheer ribbon, silver tinsel trim, bling & miniature snowflake ornaments

3-D embellishment tag

Golden Gel Medium, Glossy Accents, Elmers glue and Beacon 3-1 Craft Glue

Don't forget to enter the Pin your wish list contest, you have til the 20th to enter.  Just click on the link for all the details!!

Thank you so much for joining us today!  We love reading your comments so keep them coming!!  You can also share your beautiful creations with us on Flickr, so don't be shy!!

Have a Beautiful Day!!!

What's Up Wednesday: Easy Mass Production Christmas Cards

Hello there peeps!

It's Shay here today.  First, did you see our cool new contest: pin it to win it?  You could be one of three to win!  And if you need some inspiration on which stamps to pin, did you see Norma's ornament HERE or Julie's canvas HERE?  Keep on checking back all month for more amazing holiday projects from Norma and Julie!

I know that the holidays are almost upon us.  Perhaps you need a little help with getting some pretty cards out pronto?  With a single stamp, ink, patterned paper, a punch and a little bling you can mass produce several cards and have them ready to mail or give out in no time.

I chose solid block type images: the snowflake block from Holiday Greetings cling stamp set or Snowy cling stamp set; the holly block from Holiday Greetings cling stamp set or Holiday Greenery cling stamp set; and wise men block from Wise Men cling stamp set to stamp in three colors which coordinated with the patterned paper I picked out.

For these cards I wanted to play with non-holiday patterned paper in non-traditional colors.  We all have beautiful patterned paper that with a holiday stamp can be transformed for the holidays.  I went with a white cardbase to make these cards even more streamlined and inexpensive.

I found with the snowflake and holly stamps I could cut a strip of 2" height from the patterned paper and still have plenty of the patterned showing.  I adhered three blocks onto my strip of patterned paper and then adhered a strip of coordinating punched paper to the bottom.  Next, I adhered the whole strip to the cardbase and cut off any overhang.  Last I added some jewels to the blocks for that holiday sparkle (a slightly larger jewel was placed on the center block).

The Wise Men card is a bit different in that the stamp is taller than the snowflake and holly block stamps and has more negative space.  Because of the differences, I cut a strip of  3" from patterned paper and also added a banner style sentiment strip cut from white cardstock to place over some of that negative space.  The sentiment comes from Holiday Greetings or Holiday Script--excellent stamp sets for this time of year!

Snowflake card (bonus: could be used for any winter holiday):

Holly card:

Wise Men card:

Without a doubt you could stamp the cardbase for more color and interest, but this design is so easy and quick that you could crank out a ton of cards without much trouble and then add your own touches and embellishments as you desire.  Buttons, sequins, sprays/mists, pearls and brads are just a few things you could use.  If you love to sew, sew your layers with matching thread or be even more bold by using metallic thread!  You can also add a sentiment of your choice or put the sentiment inside.  Merely change up the colors and patterned paper each time for a unique card each and every time!

I hope you ink up some Paper Wings Productions stamps and create your holiday cards!  We would love to see what you make with Paper Wings Productions stamps.  Add your projects to our flickr group, to Pinterest, comment with a link on this post or even email pictures to us!

Take flight,

Shay.

Supplies:

Snowflake card

Stamps: Holiday Greetings or Snowy

Ink: Jenni Bowlin for Ranger in lemon drops, stick candy and chewing gum 

Cardstock: Georgia-Pacific in white

Patterned Paper: Neapolitan 6x6 paper pad from Dear Lizzy by American Crafts

Other: border punch by EK Success; clear jewels

Holly card

Stamps: Holiday Greetings or Holiday Greenery
Ink: Jenni Bowlin for Ranger in lemon drops, seed packet and chicken feed
Cardstock: Georgia-Pacific in white
Patterned Paper: Sketchpad 6x6 paper pad from Amy Tangerine by American Crafts
Other: border punch by EK Success; clear jewels

Wise Men card

Stamps: Wise Men and Holiday Greetings or Holiday Script

Ink: Jenni Bowlin for Ranger in seed packet, chicken feed and cough syrup; Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger in broken china

Cardstock: Georgia-Pacific in white

Patterned Paper: Memoir 6x6 paper pad by Studio Calico

Other: border punch by EK Success; clear jewels