Nutcracker Sweet

Happy Saturday, everyone! Here's a little guy I made for the holidays, I plan to use it as part of a larger nutcracker mantle display. He's made from a Mini Nutcracker Kit and he's cute as a button, only standing 2.75 inches tall.

The nutcracker kit has nine pieces to decorate and assemble. I decided to stick with the traditional red/black/gold color scheme and set about painting the individual bits with acrylic paint. Once assembled, that tiny dowel threads through the lever which opens and closes the jaw just like a full sized one. Very clever!

Once he was put together I added a tiny snip of gold dresden trim to his sleeves and chose a GSL Bagatelle Box 1.5 x 4 Inch to display him in. 

The box was lined and covered with paper from Graphic 45's Twas The Night Before Christmas collection. 

Final details include a painted wood turning for the top of the box and a round wooden disk for him to stand on to give him a little more height.

This cute little project was finished in an afternoon. Happy holidays and thanks for stopping by!

GSL Products Used

Mini Nutcracker Kit

Bagatelle Box 1.5 x 4 Inch

Other Supplies Used

Tacky glue

Acrylic paint

Gold dresden trim

Graphic 45's Twas The Night Before Christmas

Wood turnings

 

 

 

 

 

Memories of Portugal

Happy Saturday everyone! My husband and I recently met a few friends in Portugal, somewhere we have never been before. We had a really great time eating, shopping, seeing the sights and more eating! While waiting for a food tour to start in Lisbon, we found ourselves in a section of town with lots of jewelry supply shops and I fell in love with the blue and white cabochons that are reminiscent of the gorgeous tiles that adorned so many buildings and brought some home to play with. Here is what I made as a reminder of our great time in Portugal.

This project started with a GSL Half Scale Arch Front Room Box, which very easily assembles using a bit of tacky glue.

 

I had two really pretty blue mosaic scrapbook papers in my stash and chose the larger print one for the facade of my little display. I have found the easiest way to paper around an opening in one of these pieces is to glue the paper to the chipboard then use an exacto knife to cut the opening. 

I chose the smaller blue mosaic paper for the back wall, a blue star print paper from Authentique Latest and Greatest for the ceiling and walls and a wood print from MME Necessities for the floor.

The display counter was made from a Bagatelle Box 1.5 by 4 inch which, once assembled was covered in a neutral gray paper from Tim Holtz. I glued five of the pretty Portuguese tile cabochons to the front of the box.

With the display counter in place, I glued on the front of the room box. 

To make a focal piece for the front of the display I decoupaged a blue and white rabbit image from a piece of tissue paper that was also brought back from our vacation. I chose a GSL Arliss Frame cut down to size a bit to fit this project. I traced the interior of the frame onto cardboard, cut that out, primed it with white acrylic paint then decoupaged the rabbit image onto the cardboard circle using Mod Podge.

One of the things we tasted on our food tour was a famous Portuguese egg tart known as pastel de nata. I made a few out of polymer clay, baked them off then browned the edges with pastel chalks.

I painted the custard onto the center of the tart shells then added a drop of Glossy Accents to give them a shiny finish.

There were tins of fish for sale everywhere (and I brought home my fair share)! I made a few by painting dollhouse brick edges with silver acrylic paint and gluing on printed images shrunk down to size. 

Here's the finished display. I also added some blue and white mini pottery and a porcelain bottle of port which is actually a king's cake feve.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Gypsy Soul Laser Items Used

Half Scale Arch Front Room Box

Bagatelle Box 1.5 by 4 inch

Arliss Frame

Other Items Used

Tacky glue

Mod Podge

Glossy Accents

Acrylic paint

Small and large blue mosaic scrapbook paper

Authentique Latest and Greatest scrapbook paper

MME Necessities Wood scrapbook paper

Tim Holtz gray and blue papers

Portuguese tile cabochons

Rabbit image

Polymer clay

Pastel chalk

Dollhouse bricks

Printed images

Miniature porcelain

May Day

Happy May Day!
 When I learned that my first post for this month was on May 1st, the thoughts that came to mind were centered around May Day Celebrations. Memories from my childhood of dancing around the Maypole and crowning the May queen; as well as the tradition of hanging May baskets, are the inspiration behind todays project.

I begin with a Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Bagatelle Box 1.5 x 4 (coming soon). There are many size options available for this box. I chose this size to accommodate a basket handle that would be able to hang from a door knob (as is tradition) when complete. I paint the top and bottom edges of the pieces with antique linen Distress paint and allow to dry. The interior faces of the box sides are then covered with decorative paper to mimic a pretty spring lining for the "basket." I prefer to adhere the decorative papers prior to constructing the box. When this method is selected, be sure to keep the interlocking tabs free from paper. The photograph below shows how I have covered some of the surfaces.

Once the adhesive on the lining pieces is dry, I glue the box together and set aside. 

Next, I ink pieces of Distress woodgrain cardstock with Distress Oxide ink in scattered straw and fossilized amber. Drying the inks with a heat tool between layers. When I am satisfied with the coloration, I then use Distress Ink in brushed corduroy and walnut stain to give the cardstock the look of real wood by accentuating the wood graining.

These pieces are cut into strips that will be woven together to create the "basket."

The edges of each strip are inked with coordinating inks to hide the white core that is exposed when the strips are cut, then I begin to weave the pieces together, using the bagatelle box sides as guides.

I continue the weaving to completely surround the box base. 

With the basket portion complete, it is time to begin filling it with flowers. Tradition has it that May baskets are filled with the blooms gathered at the end of April's showers. To start, I use the fringing method to cut a piece of peeled paint colored card stock, creating a serpentine of "grass" that will assist in filling the basket. I add a thin line of quick dry glue along the bottom edge of the grass piece and secure it into place.

With the grass in place, I begin arranging the flower pieces that have been colored with Distress inks in shaded lilac, wilted violet, and bundled sage. I also add some leafy stem diecuts that have been painted with peeled Paint Distress paint. All of the various pieces are glued into place. 

The final step is attaching the basket handle. Due to the length of the basket base; as well as wanting the basket to be able to hang from a door knob, as is tradition, I cut two strips of the same width from the remaining inked piece of woodgrain cardstock. (Note: I have inked both sides of this piece of woodgrain cardstock so that when viewed, the underside of the handle looks the same as the top. This is important since the handle bends and slips into the sides between the box and the woven paper giving exposure to both sides simultaneously.) These two pieces are overlapped and glued together at the top. I add a stamped and colored butterfly to the handle to complete the project. 

I am off to deliver this May Day Basket to its special recipient, and carry on this wonderful tradition.

I hope that the coming days are filled with May flowers and perhaps they inspire you to create something beautiful. 

Thank you so much for stopping by, I truly appreciate it.

~Ann

    

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts used:
Bagatelle Box 1.5 x 4 (coming soon)