Homegrown Hospitality

CHA Season

For my crafty friends, it it "CHA" season so my head and neck have been facing down for the past two weeks and my fingers have been sticky, tacky, inky and stained...but the work is done.

Every CHA season I work on a project or 10, I feel like I have created my most favorite project ever, and then each CHA comes and goes, and it happens again.  Alot of it has to do with a awesome products I am working with but most of it comes from God.

Truly, it is my hands doing the work, Tim's products embellishing the process but the inspiration that NEVER SEEMS TO STOP..comes from God...that is again, why I call much of my work HEart.

HE is the source...ART is what my hands create.

Now, I am not sure when I can give you a little peek, but I am going to sneak you a look, and then if I busted, I will take it down... More peeks soon...as well as a new class announcement...eek, it is a a good one...on-line and in-store...

oh, okay, a little peek at that too..
okay, gotta go or I am going to bust myself!

Repurposed

When unpacking the Christmas decoration boxes a few weeks ago, I came across last years Daily December tags: This morning as I was tinkering around with a little plain ol' tree in my entry way, I got an idea.

I took the tag off of the ring and inked the edges, added a little "chit chat" sticker that reads "memories" and placed it underneath the word "holiday" and replaced the tag string with a longer piece of twine...Then I took the red ball jar that I spray painted a few years ago.. and tied the "re-purposed" tag on the mouth of the jar, stuffed my tree into the jar and placed it on the kitchen counter
Fah Lah Lah...

Cross One Off Your List

Was it not was just about 6 months ago when I started reminding you (and myself) of the upcoming holidays...

and dang it..

here we are.

Sunday morning was rainy and the perfect time to create a quick and easy way to make "Gift Card" giving a little more fun than just "here is the card"

I started with a large 4" x 9" manila tag from one of my most favorite places and folded it up a few inches Then I stamped the large Blueprint Tree by Tim Holtz onto the tag using Black Archival Ink. I used the heat dryer on it for few a seconds to make sure the ink was dry...Then I grabbed a few fah lah lah lah lah colors of Distress Ink Pens to color in my tree. 
Start with a light color, like Peeled Paint.  Scribble a little color out onto a craft mat and using  a water brush, color in your tree and dry it Then using the brush tip of the same Peeled Paint & a darker color, like Forest Moss, add in a little more color onto your tree Highlight the right edges of the tree, ornaments and star using Pumice Stone.
Next, add a little color to the star and ornaments
Add some aging to the edges of the tag by using "Walnut Stain" ink and a blender
Next, using a small hole punch and a few brads, punch a hole on each edge of the top of the flap and attach a brad to each side to create a pocket
and okay, so I am not a glittery type of girl, but adding just a little stickles to the ornaments and the star adds just the right amount of Fah Lah Lah Next, just add a peace of twine to the top, insert a gift card into the pocket and hang from the tree and cross one of your list!
Merry Christmas...

Tim Holtz/SA Christmas Blueprint	Idea-ology Paper Strings	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Fasteners	Ranger Non-Stick Kraft Sheet	Ranger Heat It Craft Tool
Jet Black Archival Ink	Tim Holtz Distress Markers	Distress Ink - Walnut Stain

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Black Hawk Down

I win the bad blogger award because I was black hawk down with no camera.

gulp.

My camera died in Pennsylvania and like a good & patient girl, I waited until the black Friday sales to see what I could find.  PEOPLE...that was ALOT of days with no camera...but I am back in business.  The slight problem is I find myself very hesitant to pick it up with my inky, painty, glue-n-sealy fingers so the cross I just re-purposed...did not get alot of step by step photos.Here is all I got for ya:

1. I took the hardware off by simply placing a screwdriver under it and gently popped it off...super easy!  I left the little pookies there so that I could pop it back on when I was done. 2. I used Picket Fence Crackle Paint by Tim Holtz/Ranger and brushed it lightly over the entire cross and base to add a crackle (duh!) but to also add that wood-grainish texture to it.  (NOTE: the entire process was very similar to the Faux Woodgrain Finish I did on the frame HERE)
3.  I dried the Crackle and then added Pewter Distress Stain over the surface which gave it a slight pink tinge & I did not like where it was going so I wiped it off with a baby wipe and added another layer of white..JUST HERE & THERE to add to the texture. Then using brown acrylic paint on a DRY paper towel, I simply swiped the paint over the surface applying different amounts of pressure.  This made it so some spots were darker than others. I repeated this until I achieved the look I wanted. It really was that easy.  I did however have a baby wipe on standby to wipe off any spots that were to heavy.

To change the metal embellishment from purple and orange :all I did was dry brush over the purple paint with red acrylic paint, and gold paint over the orange.  Then using the White Picket Fence Crackle, I LIGHTLY brushed over the leaves and petals, dried it and popped it back on. I am pretty sure I hear angels sing when I look at it. and if you are wondering...I did call the other Aaron Brothers in our area to find more crosses and there are none.

boo.

Best Day After the Day After Purchase Ever!

Black Friday?

nope...

Didn't do it.

Okay, well husband tried on Thursday at 4:30 but it is not worth repeating.

Insert Thanksgiving...

It was a great day of food, family, football and stitching and we were fast asleep by, oh..7:30 pm (well, with random texts from friends having fun in line at Target)

Black Friday was spent with family and a few good ol' Lifetime Hallmark Channel movies...and then...I waited till the coast was clear and on Saturday, I dashed to Aaron Brothers just before my "until 2pm only extra 25% of off." coupon exploded in my hands..

and picked up something I had not planned on picking up...but with the 50% and then the additional 25%, I bought this "Tim Holtz'd" it and whahlah.. and it was the best day after the day after Thanksgiving EVER.

I hope that you enjoyed your holiday...now onto Christmas!

BRING IT ON!

Create Art & Count Blessings

Start with a blank tag and layer on strips of newsprint, Tim Holtz District Market Tissue paper, and dictionary paper using Glue-N-Seal. Use a dryer to dry and then add hints of color using Distress stain in Antique Linen and Distress Ink in Rusty Hinge & Walnut Stain to reflect the beauty of Fall colors.Create coordinating pieces to adhere to your tag using ribbon, floral trim and your spray inks in Fall colors...like Butterscotch & Pure Sunshine

Make sure to dry each piece you create..Color your ribbon by spraying your ink onto a surface... Drop it into the color and move it around...and dry it and just look at it together for a minute (and smile) Add the floral trim piece to the bottom edge of your tag.  To adhere the flower trim, use Glue-n-Seal or Glossy Accents to secure into place. Time to add a sentiment.  I always use my favorite Grunge letters and add color to them using ink but you can use whatever you have.  Stickers, chipboard, die cuts, etc....  Here is what I did next...

While my letters were drying,I decided to add a little fall detail by stamping the Tim Holtz Mini Blue Prints Leaf image here and there on my tag.I adhered my sentiment "We Give Thanks" and decided that the letters were just a little too light so I grabbed a Black Distress Marker and....
added a little ink here and there and smudged it in with my finger...
added the ribbon... and called it done. Now just sit back, enjoy your work and count your blessings.

Here is what I used:

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Movers and Shapers Sizzix Die- Tag and bookplates	Tim Holtz/SA Mini Blueprints	Ideaology Lavish Trimmings	District Market Tissue Wrap - Terminology	Dylusions Ink Spray - Fresh Lime
Adirondack Color Wash Butterscotch	Dylusions - Pure Sunshine	Dylusions - Postbox Red	Distress Ink - Wild Honey	Distress Stain - Antique Linen
Distress Ink - Walnut Stain	Distress Ink Pad - Rusty Hinge	Tim Holtz Distress Markers	Tim Holtz Non-Stick Micro Serrated Scissors	Ranger Heat It Craft Tool
Ranger Non-Stick Kraft Sheet	Glue-N-Seal	Jet Black Archival Ink

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Grip Tape Snowflakes

I now know why I have spent many an hour at the local skate parks and why I know where all of the local skate shops are...So that I would know what to do should a roll of grip tape fall into my lap.

When my husband found a roll of clear grip tape from a job site, he knew. He did not know what I would do with it, he just knew that I would do something.

Cut a piece, remover the backing and fold it together so that you have one piece that has grip tape on both sides.

Insert Big Shot...
Die cut snowflakes.  Notice that I missed a few of the edges? It is okay because I trimmed this one into a smaller snow flake, duh. Then, using Tim Holtz Picket Fence Crackle Paint, I swiped the brush back and forth until I got enough paint on the flake.. Then I grabbed my BRAND NEW JAR OF DRY STICKLE ROCK CANDY GLITTER...and I dropped it.  So, instead of FREAKING OUT...I drew a heart in it, swept it up and poured in all back in the jar...including the dust. Then I sprinkled just a little onto my snowflake, dried it, punched a hole into the top, added a string and smiled. Now, I am not real sure that you will run out to a skate shop and buy some grip tape, but you can do the same thing I did and use cardboard or sandpaper! Happy Holidays!

Pumpkin Time

Guess what?

I made a video to show you how I took a real pumpkin and turned it into a real cute pumpkin by stamping several different images onto newsprint paper, ripping them up into strips, adhering them onto a real pumpkin, adding a little extra detail, stamping a leaf and adding color with a Distress Marker and putting it all together to create a real cute pumpkin...

and guess what else?

My head was in front of the camera THE WHOLE TIME.

I really need to stick to what I know how to do, which is taking something I already have and making it into something else...

I stamped out images onto newsprint using several of my Tim/Stampers Anonymous stamps and Distress Ink in Rusty Hinge.

and then just like a present, I simply wrapped up a block of wood. (this way, I can unwrap it later and make it into something else!) &  I used a little Spiced Marmalade Distressed Stain to define the edges a bit

I decided to try using a little Antiqued Bronze Metallic Distress Stain just to add a little sheen..and then I added one thin coat of Glue-N-Seal to the entire block.  This not only seals the paper, it blended the colors together to create the perfect orange pumpkin color.

Now, while my block was aside drying, I stamped out a few leaf images and added a bit more color using Distress Markers.  Dry the images and trim out.  Now, add a thin coat of Glue-N-Seal to the leaf, pinch the bottom together and dry to obtain a real leaf look
Next I grabbed a bunch of the new Tim Twine (it is really called paper string) and I tripled up the strands and tied it onto my block, again, just like wrapping a present.

Here is the important part: After you have it all tied on, flip the block over & use a hammer to flatten the bottom where the string crosses over or else your pumpkin will not sit flat. Using Glossy Accents, add your leaves and trim your Tim twine (say that fast!)
and now just look at your cute little pumpkin block, smile and go make more.
Here's what I used:

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It's Almost October....

and time for a little "Create@Home" Tutorial to welcome in your little spooky's!  Click here for the step by step tutorial on this project!

Happy Creating!

Uncommon Courage

This past weekends message at church was all about "Standing Courageously For the Truth" and if you were there or watched it on-line then you know it was jammed packed with ALOT of things and it would take me 74 blog posts to cover it, so in a nut shell, here it is...

This is a hot topic right now in our little home sweet home because TODAY, Jack is going to be learning about "Conspiracy Theory's" in his "History Through Film" class.

Again, TRUTH MATTERS and as a parent I have to reinforce that.  Does an 11th grader with an open mind need to learn about conspiracy theory's?  Maybe, maybe not...but I am going to stop here because I could be walking into a can of worms..and I do not like worms, especially those big gross green disney-character looking ones that eat tomatoes.

So back to the message..just a little more...

it all takes courage.

Something I personally battle with DAILY, sometimes...HOURLY!

There it is...the Truth about me. (I suppose that was courage right there by admitting that to you..) You might not know it or think it if you are around me, but it is there, more than ever and I tell you, ever since I "FULLY SURRENDERED" that damn red suited guy likes to sprinkle my day with doubt, anxiety and anything else he can muster up to toss in my path.. Sometimes I can karate chop it away..and sometimes I can't and that is what I am working on. (It is okay, you can call me a "fraddy cat.")

The thing that helps me get through this crap (and it is crap) is prayer and art.  The more anxiety, the HARDER it is to get up, but I make myself do it...and the more powerful I create.   This is yesterdays harvest:

I am finding comfort, peace and meaning through my art and I want to suggest that if you are in a spot that is not comfortable..try creating.  Many times I just work on getting the base of a project down so that when I am inspired, I can go out and create HEart.

I am using old marquee letters as my base.  I start by layering on tissue wrap and dictionary paper using Glue-n-Seal. Make sure to dry....

Then I add swipes of crackle paint  and while those are set aside, I use color wash and distress stain to add color to dictionary paper so that I can tear out hearts and just those steps starts to take the crap away...then when I am ready to create, I have all of the pieces and parts I need to create a piece of HEart!