Christmas gift ideas...

My daughter and I have started our Christmas projects~

Handmade guarantees one of a kind for us...

Some have shared that they love my little Etsy treasures,
but are never quite sure what to do with them.
Over the next several posts I will share what we do!

The color transfers that I began making from my original

watercolor paintings have so many possibilities!
You can make transfers from your own art or photos
by purchasing the transfer materials from sewing & quilting stores.

I've made several framed pieces for a local gift store~

They sell very quickly... which is perfect, but I can't keep up!

I purchase empty (glass-free) frames from a local frame shop.

They often make tiny frames~ sometimes in odd sizes,

from left over moldings. Most of these frames were $5. or less.

My primitive stitch-ability! (eh-em... or lack of...)

Thankfully, my simple sewing talent adds character!

(giggle!)

I keep little totes of fabric scraps...

They make perfect backgrounds~

After I size them to fit a frame

I add buttons to dress up the empty areas.
We have also added vintage keys, charms, pieces of
worn, fabric measuring tape... feathers, shells etc.~
That way your frame doesn't have to be the perfect fit.

Alaina and I LOVED this chunky little frame~

Have had it in our stock for a few years...

This little owl is a perfect fit!
He's stitched to an upholstery fabric sample~

Made some new tags yesterday~

I love to add a little thank you tag to my Etsy orders!

Red and pale blue are so fun together... touch of vintage.

Hope your weekend is wonderful and filled with creative things!

Gift Tag Time!

My daughter and I LOVE to have
Christmas craft days!

We turn the house into an artists dream...
ONE BIG STUDIO!
We have rubber stamps here~
mounds of paper scraps there~
punches n' paints~
ephemera and photographs~
fabric n' buttons...
GLITTER!!!!
a nightmare for anyone else who lives here!

These cute mini file folders will be
the perfect size for wallet portraits...

Double sided papers are sweet for these...

Last December I made buttons & tags
with tissue papers...
This is a different look...

Thin coat works best...
Try not to move it around once it is in place
tissue paper becomes very weak...

I put a solid tissue layer on the back...
Once it dries I will write a Christmas message
with a fine tip black marker.

Held to the light...

This tag is going on an antique glass trivet.
They hang their colorful trivets against windows...
The light flows through them so beautifully.

Hope you're having time for some holiday fun!

Tags...Afternoon Cut & Paste...

One of a kind tags...

Just finished 25 gift tags...
I like to include a few with all of my Etsy purchases.

Original illustrations from vintage books...

When I send a wool felted piece out~
they have a handwritten tag...with my signature.

I use the original page because most of the
books are copyright protected...

Some of the antique papers that I used
were copied~ they're pre-1900's and very brittle.

Sweet pup!
That's the basket I would have selected!!!
LOVE Forget-Me-Nots

Happy Friday!

Michelle Scissors-Hand...

When I mentioned that I liked old papers...
I should have said LOVED!

Forget Me Nots are my FAVORITES....

Some of the images are from 1870's!
I've been finding things dated 1840's in the piles!

The originals are too fragile to use.
I had to make copies...
Now I get to cut them all out!

So many ideas...so little time!

For now the needle felts are waiting for
my chick yellow to arrive.
This mound will take me a few evenings to trim.

What fun! Every time I look at an image
I find it even more beautiful...

And More Tags...

This was a photocopy transfer...
Handwritten note with rubber stamp details~

Photocopy transfer of the little boy...
Rubber stamps of sugar goodies...and GLITTER!

Tag to the far right is clip art with
tone on tone words rubber stamped to create
a background texture~

Layers~
Photocopy transfers, handwriting misc. words,
rubber stamp words and clip art.

The deer...
Scrapbook paper w/white rubber stamp ink.
White gel pen to write with...

Michigan map & glitter in the water!

December 25...
Scrapbook paper & rubber stamps

Memories...
Tissue paper with rubber stamps~

Photocopy transfers & clip art.

Even the tiny rubber stamps that you find
at a dollar store or in the bargain bins at
craft stores can make beautiful
background repeats...(girl on rocking horse)

A page of music & rubber stamps...more GLITTER!

I promise to move onto something new!
Hope you make a few!

Remember...
These will be great in scrapbook pages
after their jobs are finished as package labels!

Finished Stained Tags...

Stained Tags...

The numerous photos will be your guide...

The top tag is how they come in the package.
The bottom ones I crinkle up in a ball
over and over...

The same tags with the stain color I made
to match a favorite wrap I found...

The tags have a leather-look...

Paint the mixture on...

Wipe off the excess...

Don't wipe the excess off on these...

Allow to dry & dress up!

I share them in a little bit~