Christmas Cards 2017 Angels

Something Round

I thought i'd play along with this week's mixed media monday challenge. The theme this week is Make Something ROUND. When i think round - a wreath was the first thing that popped into my head. I wanted to try making a wreath like one i saw online - using vintage papers twirled into a cone shape. it took a bit of trial and error to figure out the best way to make the cones. I secured them with mini glue dots that came on a cool roller dispenser.

I cut a piece of cardboard into a rough circle, laid down some double sided sticky tape and placed the cones on the backing. I created a paper ruffle for the center. and added a velvet leaf and leaf shaped button to the the middle of the ruffle. small wire twisted into a hook attached to the back with a giant sticky dot and easy peasy - hung it up!

I got the idea from someone else - i am afraid I forget who. I saw these original images and saved them as a reference. Next time i will save the link so i can give credit to the artist who created them. Here are the images that inspired me. Aren't they cool?

Here are some other cool wreath like paper art:

(again - please - not my work - but i forget where i saw the images.)

Les Belles Fleurs Chandelier

My third workshop at the Artistic Affaire was with Kristen Robinson. We were given this fluffy tulle "kit" to work with!It contained ribbons and papers and vintage images and pearl buttons and rhinestone brads and even rosarie chain with crystal beads.
It contained a metal wreath form to be used as the "base" for the chandelier. The first step was creating little tulle flowers - by gathering up long strips with a needle and thread. Then we created little blue centers for the flowers with shiny blue elastic ribbon and pearl buttons.
We created flowers with cupcake papers and attahced them to banner triangles and hung them with ribbon from the wreath. We made more flowers with printed blue paper and copies of script writing - copied double sided - what a cool idea!
Here is the chandelier hanging in my guest bathroom. The cream and blue works perfectly with the tile and wall colours. (i need new towels!) I added my vintage plant stand to the counter - and filled it with all the goodies i swapped and purchased at the artistic affaire. Topping the stand is the bird box i received from Mariasela. Thanks Kristen for a great workshop. Check out her blog for some more how-to's.

Home Sweet Home wreath

Our first class at the Artistic Affaire mini retreat was with Amy Powers. and she is the most delightful instructor. After insisiting that we all leave stress and insecurities aside and just have fun - we dove in. Our tables were set with the supplies for our wreath. An mdf (fiberboard) circle and house shape and a cute pink box filled with the fabric and flowers and buttons and doodads - all thoughtfully packaged with ribbons and tags and little jar with flowers on top.

Here you can from the instrutors table - a wreath in progress - you merely tie fabric strips around the wreath form and tie a couple of knots. If you have a dominant colour - then space it equally around - and leave space at the bottom where the house goes. She had balls of fabric strips to choose from - in addition to those included in our kits. Included in our kits were little plaster birds that Amay made by hand attaching them to a springy wire - so they could fly over the house. She showed us hot to paint them, and add a little party hat.
After tying on the fabric strips, we created flower clusters with the petals from a hydrangea silk flower - stacking a few different sized petals and adding a button. The wooden house shape could be collaged as we liked with papers provided - or our own stash. I added some vintage images to the window and doors.

Here is another student's wreath in progress - i love the butterfly - it is a nice touch. And the pom-pom trim on the roof - adorable!

Here is another sample wreath - this one has pretty floral paper on the house:

The house was glued to the wreath with wood glue. Then the whole thing was coated with tacky glue and sprinked with sugar crystal glitter.

Here is me with my completed wreath! Thanks Amy...!!