My Card Organization File

For this month's project for Simply Crafty SVG's, I picked this file because I really needed a file to keep the cards in that I'm not going to give to the troops {I just started sending my cards to the overseas troops and, when I get more information about it, I'll be sure to share it.}  I realized I really make a lot of cards!  This file was the perfect vessel to keep the cards neat, clean, and easy to find.  Plus, I can see at a glance which type of card I need to make because my stash is low {there are five tabbed file folders that come in the kit so you can make as many as you want.}  I named my files after the project was finished.  Here is my organizer, I hope you like it!

What I Used to Make my Project:
Chipboard, medium weight {three pieces of 12 x 12}
Simply Crafty SVG's Greeting Card Organizer
DCWV Linen Closet Stack {the old stack - discontinued}
Matching green and brown card
Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Seventeen
Bling, Recollections Bling Stickers

I have to tell you, this was the second one I made.  The first one was too warped to use.  See, I'm used to using gesso on just about everything that isn't a card, so I gessoed my chipboard after I cut it out with my Silhouette.  Even though I put the chipboard under a gallon bottle of water, it still warped.  And then it got worse once I put the patterned paper on it.  It was so bad, I literally could not get the top of the organizer on!  The more I tried to fix it, the worse it got.  I finally had to admit defeat and start from scratch.  It's so bad I can't even show you.  This time I left the chipboard natural; the file cut better and was a dream to assemble.  And I just got my order of white and black chipboard so I don't have to make myself crazy anymore if I want my project to be a different color.

I cut out the box and the lid, as well as the panels to decorate the box.  I assembled the box according to the PDF instruction file {included with EACH file - no more guessing!}  Once I was done with the box, I felt it needed a bit more bling.  The paper I used has an iridescent shine to it and I had nothing iridescent except glitter and, after my fiasco making the first box, there was no way I was taking any chances with this one.  Off to the craft store I went, and I found the perfect bling - and they were already in a line, so all I had to do was cut the lines apart and attach them to the box! Happy dance!

Then the next dilemma hit me.  I'm not good at the print and cut feature on the Silhouette.  I've tried and succeeded in making a HUGE mess out of

everything.  So, due to my incompetence, I used a computer generated title and, instead of using the perfectly fine label file that comes with the kit, I cut out my label using Spellbinder dies.  I'm really happy when I can mix my craft supplies, especially when they come out as beautifully as this did.  I blinged the label, then attached it to the box.  In order to ensure a good stick, I put the box, with some support in the middle, under some heavy books while the label dried.  Lastly, I cut out the file folders, using heavy white card. I suspect I'll need more of the folders but, for now, five is fine.

My organizer, complete with files

Simply Crafty SVG's has so many cool files for organization, and the biggest selection of FREE cut files I've ever seen!  I know I've said it before but having that PDF file to walk you through the assembly of your project is the best thing ever.  How many times have you bought a file, or downloaded a freebie, and had NO idea what was the best way to make the project?  Simply Crafty SVG's has taken that confusion away!  And the files on the site are beautiful; not just your average file, but files that look stunning when you are through.  And, if you mess up as I did with my first box, no worries - you can just cut another.  Thanks for stopping by, Christi

I am entering my Card Organization File box in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenge - #363, Anything Goes
TTCRD - Anything Goes
Crafting from the Heart - M, #200, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Inside the Box {literally!}
Not Just Cards - M, Anything Goes
Altered Eclectics - M, Anything Goes
The Creative Crafters - #2, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Happy National Craft Month page

So Christmas is 6 months Away. . .

and I have started on my cards! Honestly, I probably won't make another until after Halloween (my favorite holiday!) but, I like to delude myself sometimes. One of my very favorite things about JittoBear is their "alternative" items.  They make things for the quirky, a tad off crowd as well as the standard chipboard die cuts. I have had this adorable chipboard cut since I began designing for JittoBear and I am so glad I finally got a chance to use it. I truly think this fits my style, don't you? Cute little cared with a cute little attitude ~

 
What I Used to Make my Card:
Bite Me JittoBear Chipboard
Kraft Card Base
KaiserCraft paper from Yuletide Paper Pack
Distress Paint in Gathered Twigs & Fired Brick
Golden Acrylic Paint in Quinacridone Red
Birds Cards Cut File - Santa's Hat Circle (I only used the Santa Hat portion)
Ranger Glossy Accents
Scrap of Red Cardstock
Scrap of White Cardstock

First, if you have an electronic cutting machine, like a Silhouette, you HAVE to go to Birds Cards and take a look at the amazing cut files that Bird shares FREE! And the designs are always so cool!! OK, the first thing I did was gesso the

chipboard (truthfully, I had gessoed this a long time ago) and decided what colors I wanted to paint my gingerbread man and the saying.  I used Distress Paint in Gathered Twigs for the happy little bitten gingerbread guy and Fired Brick for the saying.  I was happy with the brown paint, and I liked the matte look on the gingerbread, but, I wanted a more red red for the saying. So, I broke out my acrylics and painted over the Fired Brick with Quinacridone Red. I like the shine of the acrylic next to the matte of the Distress Paint.  I have also decided no more gesso on the chipboard unless I know I need it - lemme tell you, that white stuck out like a sore thumb and I saw new white spots every day I looked at it! I think I finally have them

all covered, but if you see one, don't tell me! I used one of Birds Files for the Hat, it's called Santa's Hat Circle, ungrouped the files and just used the hat.  Cut the hat out of red cardstock and the trim and the pom pom, glued it together and then used Glossy Accents  to cover the red part of the hat.  It felt the hat needed a little pop since the card is so brown.

Next step was picking out the background paper. I wanted a holiday themed paper, but, I  didn't want it to over power the chipboard.  And no Santa's or anything jolly - just wouldn't fit.  I found the paper I used in the KaiserCraft Yuletide Paper Pack. I don't have the exact name of the paper as it was cut off

long ago, but I felt the music background added something as well as being subtle enough to not overpower the gingerbread man.  I like all the textures on this card; the shine of the acrylic paint, the matte of the gingerbread man and the pop of the hat.  Well, there you go - my first holiday card of 2015.  Now I must go back to making the birthday cards.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed the gingerbread man! Please consider becoming a follower on my blog - I am trying to get 100 new subscribers in 2015. Blessings, Christi 

I would like to enter my Gingerbread Man Card in the following challenges:
Ink on my Fingers - Sunday Stamper, #358, No Stamping
Natalie & Amy's Challenge - (M) #33, Christmas
Brown Sugar Challenges - #139, Anything Goes
Loves Rubber Stamping - #154, Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - wk of 6/2 - 6/8, Always Anything Goes
ABC Christmas Challenge - K is for Keep it Simple

Whew, finished just in time for our daily storm!! Stay safe everyone!! :)

Sparkle Happy Birthday Card

June begins the birthday Bonanza for my family and friends - I am swamped with birthdays for the next 2 months, so I decided to use one of the JittoBears awesome Happy Birthday sentiments on my first card of the "season". I'm pretty proud as I typically wait until the last minute to make my cards - well, at least one is done!

You can see the sparkle on the Happy Birthday and a little on the image

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Numerous Distress Markers
Pale Yellow Shimmer Paper
White Cardstock for Image
JittoBear Happy Birthday Chipboard
Crafty Individuals Stamp - CI-367
White Gel Pen
Wink of Stella in Clear

The Crafty Individuals stamp is a brand new one for me - I have loved their stamps from afar, since they are located in England, but was lucky enough to find this lovely one on Amazon, so I scooped it up!  I used the good old "huff" technique on this card. I colored the stamp with Distress Markers (sorry, I was so busy I didn't make note of the ones I used), taking care to try to color each flower, butterfly, etc. a different color. You never know what the image is going to look like when you finally stamp it which is half the fun! After I colored the image, I huffed on it a few times (a huff isn't to dry the ink, but to re-wet it a little bit) and stamped it on scrap white card.  I loved the way it came out, looks sort of like a watercolor painting!  I spritzed the stamp with a bit of water and stamped it again a few times until the ink ran out.  I set the image aside to fully dry.

Then I took my sentiment, the chipboard Happy Birthday from JittoBear.  I have to let you all know, this is an amazing value - you get 10 different Happy Birthday cuts in a pack, all different fonts and all different sizes!  Plus, if you see something you want in chipboard just ASK them and get a quote! Anyway, I

typically coat my chipboard with gesso, but this time I just used it raw.  I used a Distress Marker, Seedless Preserves I think, and colored the chipboard.  I let it dry (and it dried lighter than it went on, so keep that in mind) and used some white gel pen to lighten the color up just a little more.  When it was done the color was so awesome (the white gel pen sort of melted into the purple) but I needed some sparkle.  I took my trusty Wink of Stella pen in Clear and covered the whole Happy Birthday, then highlighted certain areas on the colored stamped image.

Lastly, I cut a piece of the light yellow shimmer card, cut it down to size and mounted both my sentiment and image on that, then mounted that onto the blank white card base.   

Thank you so much for stopping by! Please consider becoming a follower as I am trying to get 100 new blog subscribers this year.  Be sure to let me know what you think of my creations in the comment section and leave your blog info so I can leave you some blog love in return.  Have a great day! Christi

I would like to enter my Sparkle Happy Birthday Card in the following challenges:
Ink on my Fingers - #357, Anything Goes
Allsorts - #312, Happy 6th Birthday Allsorts!
Simply Papercraft - #5, Anything Goes
Seize the Birthday  - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday - #86, Anything Goes, No Patterned Paper

Bird in a Birch Tree Shadow Box

I love birch trees - always have.  I remember being fascinated as a child at how the bark just peeled off.  So when I saw the cut out on JittoBear's website I knew I had to get it!  I know it's officially spring, but it is snowing (yes, it is really snowing - and not just a flurry either! We got about 5 inches) here in my area of Colorado, so I felt that a nice spring scene just wasn't going to do it for me. So, here is my Bird in a Birch Tree Shadow Box:

You can see how I made the trees look like Birch Trees

What I Used to Make this Project:
Shadow Box 8" x 6"
Golden Acrylic Paint in Carbon Black
Birch Tree Cut Out
Gesso
Tim Holtz Distress Marker Spritzer
Tim Holtz Distress Marker in Black Soot
Red Cardstock
Black Cardstock 
Brown Cardstock
Martha Stewart Paper Punch - Bird
Silhouette Machine for Frame
Crafters Pick The Ultimate Glue

I have had this shadow box for years - and I have more somewhere in this house - I bought them off of eBay when I still lived in Connecticut - it was so long ago I think I was still married! The only issue with the boxes is the glass does

All Taped Up!

not come out, so it can be a bit tricky to paint.  But, I taped the glass panel on the box up and painted the wood black, letting it dry in between coats.  I must of painted this box 800 times (it felt like 800 times) - I kept finding spots I missed! But, better that I got to fix them then be embarrassed later when I give the gift.

Once I had the box painted, I set about making a frame for the inside. The birch tree chipboard doesn't quite go to the top of the window, so I measured the inside (the best I could) and made a few frame templates with my Silhouette machine to make sure I got the correct size. After I cut the frame, I set it aside and set about making the birch trees look like birch trees.

I used white gesso, brushed it on, and then used my finger to swipe the gesso,

Bare Trees

while leaving some of the chipboard brown showing through.  After I felt they looked pretty good I spritzed 
the trees with the Ranger Spritzer and Black Soot marker. I thought I took a picture of the trees before I out them in the shadow box, but either the camera ate it, or I forgot. I'm betting it was the camera. Next, I just punched the bird out of the red cardstock and assembled the piece.  Lastly, I used a piece of dark brown cardstock as my backdrop, it was just glued on to the back of the shadow box.

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my Bird in a Birch Tree shadow box.  If you have a moment, please stop by the JittoBear site and see all the ready made chipboard cuts they have.  And remember, they specialize in custom cuts - they can make you anything (I have a few customs that I have yet to use). Also, please consider subscribing to my blog and help me meet my goal of 100 subscribers ~ Fondly, Christi

Another look - sorry about the glare - it's a constant struggle!

I would like to enter my Bird in a Birch Tree Shadow Box in the following challenges:
Allsorts - #310 - Use 2 Die Cuts (the trees and the bird) NOTE: I wasn't sure if my project would be OK to enter, but I saw no where on the challenge site that said your entry must be a card, so here it is!
Brown Sugar Challenge Blog - #145, Layers
Moving Along With the Times - Birds and/or Feathers
2 Creative Chicks - M, #26, Anything Goes (no cards) 
Animal Friends Challenge - M, Use a Bird
Design Team Showcase - #12, Anything Goes - project made for a DT you are on (voting starts 5/23)
Through the Craft Room Door (wk ending May 11, 2015) Always Anything Goes
Clear it Out Challenge - Anything Goes
Decorate to Celebrate - Anything Goes

Congratulations on your Mini Human!

Most of my friends are finished with the baby making, but I love this chipboard die cut from JittoBear SO much I just had to use it. And who knows, maybe there is a mini human in the making that I don't know about yet?

So cute!!!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Large White Card Base (8 1/2 x 5 1/2 - folded 8 1/2 x 11 in half)
Copies of Vintage Ads
Adhesive
Congratulations on your.... by JittoBear Chipboard
Embossing Powder - black
Embossing fluid
Vellum

I had so much fun making this card!  I typically don't make cards this large - I pretty much stick to square cards or A2 sized cards and I have decided that more bigger cards are in my future! I have been collecting vintage ads for years now and I love going through old magazines and clipping the ads out that I find funny (and there are LOTS of them!).  I had an idea already of how I wanted the card to look, so the first step was to pick out some vintage baby ads, scan  them and print them.  I just used regular copy paper to print them on since I knew I'd be pasting them onto a piece of cardstock.

The background

So I took my scanned and printed ads, cut them out and arranged them on the card base.  Once I was happy with the layout I glued them all down.  Set the card aside to dry (I actually put it under a piece of tile so the card wouldn't warp) and got started with the sentiment.  I wasn't sure how I was going to use it at first, so it was lightly coated with gesso, but that really didn't make any difference in this case. I embossed the saying a few times and then colored any edges that didn't get embossed with a black Sharpie.

Then I had to decide the hardest part - I was concerned the sentiment didn't

stand out enough, so I cut a piece of vellum and put it under the sentiment. I couldn't decide which version was better, so I asked some friends which card they liked best, with or without the vellum and got NO help because the answers were tied (note to self, ask and ODD number of friends next time!). I felt that the vellum helped the sentiment be a little easier to read, so I went that route.  I envision that this card could be framed and become part of the decor in a baby's room.  All in all, except for the drying time, this card only took about 30 minuets to make.

Thank you SO much for stopping by - I love your comments and thoughts! Please consider becoming one of my followers (choose any media you prefer) as I am trying to reach my goal of 100 new followers in 2015.  Also, you have to go over to the JittoBear site and check out all the cool ready made chipboard cuts as well as how easy (and inexpensive!) it is to get custom chipboard! There are always new designs being made - stay tuned for some cool summer chipboard cut outs!

Another look - this one has the flash used so you can see the embossing

I want to enter my "Mini Human" card in the following challenges:

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps - #277, Black and White

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - #32, Q is for Quick

Dazzling Diva Challenge - #72, Mother's Day
Simon Says Stamp, Wednesday Challenge - Clean & Simple
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Monochromatic
Sister Act Card Challenge - #103, Always Anything Goes

Where did I find these awesome challenges??? At Challenges for Days!! Have a look and follow us!

We Are All Mad Here . . .

I knew that.  I have been seeing so many really cool quotes and as I was watching one of my TV shows, I saw one of the characters had this tattooed on her arm.  It's from Alice in Wonderland and after the saying popped up in a few more places, I decided the universe was telling me something. . . or maybe that was just the cat. . .Anyway, I chose to use this chipboard bubble frame from JittoBear to make my quote pop out and express how really mad we all are. . .

What I Used to make My Project:
JittoBear Chipboard "bubble" frame
5 x 7 panel
Gesso
Twinkling H20's in Mystic Blue, Meridian Blue, Dragon Fire, Purple Sage, Mulberry and Blue Flame
White Cardstock
Twinkling H20's in Periwinkle
Various Embellishments

Cool huh??

I first gessoed the bubble frame and the panel - I lightly gessoed the frame since I knew I'd be using the H20's, and they are water activated.  I had painted the frame and also just sort of swished the H20's on the panel, not sure exactly what I wanted for a background.  I decided I didn't like the darkness of some of the H20's on the panel, so my intention was to gesso over it and start again.  Well, a happy accident occurred when I put the gesso on the H20's it reactivated the colors but only just enough for them to appear almost pastel!  I liked that so I kept it.

I felt that white cardstock was a bit too bright for the printed words, so I first

printed them on a piece of colored cardstock.  Well, the print faded immediately and I wanted the words - needed the words - to be darker.  So I switched to plain old white card, printed my saying on that, and used Mulberry H20's to soften the starkness of the white.  So now everything blended well.

Look how sparkly the H20's made the bubbles

Nothing is glued down yet...

Then the fun part! I started going through all my bits and bobs, pulling out gems, brads, stickers, anything that I felt would add to the piece.  I had pulled a bunch of embellishments out that I thought may fit the theme and/or the

Testing. . .

color scheme, and then put the panel up where I thought my cats couldn't reach it - well, I wasn't so lucky.  I'm not entirely sure which cat did it (I am 95% sure it was Sylvester), but when I walked into my studio the next day I saw that the panel, and everything else, was no longer where I left it. And of course it is the worst part of the room, with all boxes, paper packs and general disarray, so I can't find all the original pieces, and probably never will.  So I took a deep (really, really deep) breath and started again, pulling out goodies to put on the panel.  I made a few nods to Alice and then just filled in some of the spaces with gems, beads, buttons and anything else I felt worked.  So, there you have it! 

Be sure to check out the JittoBear "Custom Orders" area on the website - you can get whatever you want designed and cut out!! Love this option! And be sure to look at the "Products" tab, there are always new designs being added in pre-cut shapes, the bubble frame was pre-cut and I already have an idea on how I want to use it again.  I am going to attach a wall hanger to the back and put this up in my studio.  I love giving myself gifts & I hope you find some time to make yourself something fun! Fondly, Christi

One last look

I am entering my wall hanging"We Are All Mad Here" into the following challenges:
Simply Create, Too - (2w) #83, No Digi's or Stamped Images
Crafting with an Attitude - (2w) #2, Freestyle/Fantasy
Stamps & Stencils - Anything Goes - April Challenge
2 Creative Chicks - Anything Goes (no cards) April Challenge
Ladybug Crafts - Anything Goes, April Challenge
Virginia's View Challenge - (m,5/18) #14, Layers and Dimension
Dazzling Diva - #70, Mood Board or Anything Goes
Creative Moments - #65,  Anything Goes/Anything But a Card
Decorate to Celebrate - #97, Anything Goes

Spring Bouquet with JittoBear!

I have been fighting something lately - I can go one day feeling fine and the next day I am in bed all day - yuck! Not how I wanted to welcome spring! But, making this easy project gave me a bit of brightness in my week and I hope it inspires you to get colorful!

Colorbox Petal Point Ink Pad - Enchantment
Gesso
Chipboard Bouquet
Round Doilies
Clear Embossing Powder
Canvas, 8 x 10
Pattern Paper to Cover Canvas (I used Daisy D's Veranda Dot #15207) 
Various Twinkling H20's 
Golden Acrylic Paint
Scalloped Oval Punch by Family Treasures (about 2" across)

I started this project by covering the chipboard flowers with gesso and letting it

dry.  I took the Colorbox Enchantment ink pad and used the individual petals to color the flowers, then I embossed them with clear embossing powder. Since

the inks are so moist I didn't need embossing fluid.  I realized I didn't have the green I wanted to color the stems with, so I mixed my own with Golden Acrylic paints that I had and I came up with a color green that I feel perfectly captures a spring green.

After I painted the stems and leaves, I decided I needed to add something more to the piece and JittoBear came to the rescue with the doilies - there are four to a pack and perfect for SO many things - I took me longer to figure out what design to use than to actually make it! So I finally pick out my doily, gesso it (even though I realized after I didn't have to) and painted it with some

beautiful shimmery colors of Sparkling H20's.  They are perfect for shipboard and the iridescence really looks so pretty.  I then used my printer and printed off my sentiment, used a paper punch (remember those!?) to punch it out and set it aside.

The paper was a bit too much, so I swiped some gesso around it to tone it down a bit.  Then, I wrapped the paper around my canvas like you'd wrap a present, but I used a staple gun to attach the paper to the canvas- my first time using one, I am so proud!  I then attached

everything to the covered canvas and here is the final product!  I hope you take some time to pop over to the JittoBear store, and Esty site, to take a look at the awesome products they offer - and they specialize in customer orders!!! You can get anything done in wood or chipboard, anything! Thank you so much for popping by, I hope there is some spring in your world today! Fondly, Christi

And here is another look at the final piece ~

I am entering my Spring Bouquet in the following challenges:
Southern Girls - #107,  *Punching Above Your Weight
Simply Papercraft - #1, Anything Goes! 
Crafty Gals Corner - #12, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday's Challenge - Anything Goes
Creative Knockouts -#82, Spring is in the Air
Mixed Media World - (m) #1, Anything Goes 
Dazzling Diva Challenge - #67, Spring or Anything Goes
Through the Craftroom Door - Always Anything Goes (wk of March 24)
NBUS Challenge - #4 (Never used the chipboard elements before)

My Newest Design Team ~ My secret revealed

If you have been reading my blog you know I LOVE playing with chipboard.  A while back I saw a DT announcement for a cute little company called JittoBear (you have to read how the company got it's name - it is beyond adorable and totally something I would do!) and I applied.  I am thrilled to announce I was chosen, one of four new Design Team members, out of more than 300 applicants! That makes me happy, feel honored, but it also scares the hell out of me.  But, fear is a great motivator!!

I just have to let you all know that JittoBear is not your run of the mill chipboard company - they will make almost anything you ask for out of either veneer or chipboard (I have some really cool stuff, made for me especially, for some projects later on) as do my teamies.  They are super easy to work with and I am really excited to start showing off my creations - stay tuned, the fun starts in March, 2015.

 

Seeing Stars at Anything But a Card

The theme this month at Anything But a Card is "Celestial" - one of my favorite themes - in fact, I suggested it! I love using the sky and stars as inspiration and, if you have been reading my blog for a while, you know how I LOVE making wall hanging with quotes.  So, here is my Celestial creation:

How I made my Project:
12 x 12 Paper Studio Chipboard Icon Square
Black Mulberry Paper, PSX
Silhouette Cameo
Saying from Silhouette Store, Designs by Kolette
Assorted Silver Star Eyelets
Light Grey Cardstock
Silver Cardstock 
Moon Image
Diamond & Stardust Stickles
Plastic Star Beads

Placement picture

 I had originally wanted the black mulberry paper to be smooth, but, there was a line down the middle from being in the package for so long (it came from my stash & I have had it for years) so I cut a piece about 14 x 14 and crinkled it up instead of trying to get the line out.  I cut the saying out of copy paper (good thing I did because a cat decided that he'd rather eat the letters than let me use them) so I could start figuring the placement of the hanging.  When I started, I didn't know what moon I was going to use, so I just used a piece of scrap paper in place of the moon to help with the placement. 

His eyes sparkle

I began setting the eyelets (I proceeded to crack the glass I had on my desk - I guess I forgot how hard you have to bang to get an eyelet to set!) and placed them in various places. I have both large silver stars and smaller ones - I chose to use both.  Keep in mind the mulberry paper is funny - it isn't like regular paper - it can be easy to tear once there is a hole.


After I printed the moon I decided to use, which I found at The Graphics Fairy, on some light grey cardstock, I cut it out by hand. I could of cut it out with my Silhouette, but I like that the moon isn't perfect.  I used Stickles to make his eyes sparkle.  I cut the saying out of silver cardstock and finalized the placement of everything.

Filled eyelets & a star bead

I thought I was done, but I didn't feel that the wall hanging had enough sparkle. 

You can see the empty eyelets

I noticed that I could see the chipboard through the eyelets, so I filled them in with Stickles - I used one "color" in the big stars and another in the small stars, but to be honest, you can't really tell - I had to add that glitz!  I was still not thrilled so I went through my bead stash and chose these really cool plastic star beads.  I glued a few of them around and I finally think it's done.

And again - I like this picture because you can see his eyes sparkle

I really love this and the saying is a favorite of mine so instead of giving this away, I am giving it to myself as a holiday gift :) I know I'll love it!! I hope you gained some inspiration & enjoyed the break from all the holiday crafts. There is still time to enter your very own celestial creation at Anything But a Card - come join in the fun! I hope you and yours have a happy, healthy, wildly wonderful holiday ~ Christi

I am entering my wall hanging in the following challenges:
Allsorts (2 weeks) - Last Minute Gifts (for ME!)
Use Your Stuff (end of Dec) - Anything Goes ~ 2nd Entry
Decorate to Celebrate - #90, Anything Goes ~ 2nd Entry
Word Art Wednesday - #163, Anything Goes 
A Little Bit Crafty (end of Dec) - Anything Goes

Glitter "Putz" House

I grew up with these cute little sparkly houses that would get set up on top of the television at Christmas time with bulbs in the back of them to light them up and that angel hair stuff as snow.  I loved these houses and I loved to play with them.  I don’t know where they disappeared to (probably hanging out with the elves somewhere) but I don’t have any of them.  So I was so happy to discover many patterns for little houses available in the Silhouette store; one of them caught my eye as it really looked like the little glitter houses from my childhood.  It was called a “Putz” house – I had no idea there was a name for these houses let alone collectors and websites that helped you restore them.   After more research and many patterns I decided that I would try to make one of these houses for my Mom for Christmas, hoping it brings back good memories for her as they do me.  So I made the Putz house, which is designed by  Samantha Walker.  There are even instructions on her site, which I didn’t find until I was almost done (of course), but they are very good directions and every easy to follow.  So please join me on this journey to create a glittery Putz house ~

Ta da! I had originally neglected to put the vellum in the windows - but it makes a HUGE difference!

What I Used to Make my House:

Silhouette CAMEO Machine
Glitter Putz House cut file by Samantha Walker (Silhouette Store)
12 x 12 piece of medium weight chipboard
Loose glitter in Hot Kiss by The Art Institute
Loose glitter in Dazzling Diamonds by Stampin’ Up!
Glitter Glue (the bottle is blank so I have no idea who made it)
The Crafters Pick “The Ultimate” glue
Spray Adhesive by 3M
Glitter Paper by Core’dinations “Glitter Silk”
Ranger Wendy Vecchi Ink in Potting Soil and Red Geranium
 

Gessoing the chipboard

OK, I never even thought about using glitter paper until I couldn’t get an even coat of glitter on the house.  I cut all of the pieces using one piece of chipboard and put everything to the side except for the main house.  I spread the glue all over it and dumped the glitter all around the glue and it never dawned on me that I would have an issue with the glitter.  Well, I did.  Not only did I get glitter in places that should NEVER be glittered, the color of the glitter was uneven.

Uneven glitter :(

  There were parts of the house that were darker than others because of the unevenness of the glue.  Finally I thought if maybe I used spray adhesive I could get the glitter to be nice and cover evenly.  Luckily, that worked well enough for me, because if it didn’t this post would never have been written.  I used the Hot Kiss glitter for the body of the house and when it came time to glitter all the little windows and the door I realized how much easier the process would have been had I used glitter paper instead of loose glitter. So I used a different color of the glitter paper, I guess you’d call it a pink, for the

The construction

windows and the door and cut out the hanging snow in I guess what you’d call white.  I set them aside to tackle the roof and the chimney.

The roof was inked up using Wendy Vecchi’s Potting Soil.  I just wiped the ink pad all around the roof and then tried to do the same with the chimney using Red Geranium.  It worked wonderfully on the roof, but miserably with the chimney – I think because there were so many bends on the chimney I couldn’t get the ink pad close enough to the chipboard.  So I just put a few drops in a tiny cup and used a paint brush to finish the chimney off.  By now I had found the directions since I had no idea how to attach the chimney to the roof.

Once everything was dry, I adhered the windows and the door to the main

My snow & chimney drying

house and glittered the roof with the Dazzling Diamonds (before attaching it) – the glitter was supposed to look like snow, but too much of the brown showed through to get the look I wanted.  So I had to move on to the chimney since it was my plan to use the no name glitter glue on the roof to make it look more like icy snow but I needed to attach the chimney first.  Another hiccup – I could not get the little tabs on the chimney to attach to the roof the way it said to in the directions.  I ended up using masking tape and more glue (on the inside, where the chimney attached to the roof) than I should have, but it is attached now.  I put the hanging snow around the chimney and used a rubber band to keep it all inline (a loose rubber band – too tight and the chimney would be crushed and so would the house).  I let the house sit overnight.  I think we both needed a break.

Roof & chimney close up

Finally, the last step was to attach the hanging snow (I am not sure if it supposed to be icicles or snow; snow is easier to spell) onto the roof and the roof to the house.  At this point the roof still had the initial glitter “that should look like snow” on it and it was amazing how much glitter came off and once again ended up in the oddest places.  But I persisted.  I had to put the roof under a large book overnight because it warped so much, but it worked fairly well – there is one part that no matter what I did I could not get the hanging snow to completely adhere to the roof, but at this point I am just trying to get the house done so I can finally clean up all the glitter.  But I tried everything to get the dumb thing to stick – nope.  It’s ok; I know when I am beaten.  And the roof won

Roof "scallops"

that round. The last step was to make that icy snow on the roof – the rest of the house was all put together and holding its own, so I get the no name glitter glue and test it out.  Clogged.  I clear the nozzle.  Clogged. I cut the tip down a bit and begin to put the glitter glue in scallops all over the roof.  Didn’t matter that the glitter glue was coming out a tad fast, as the drips that occurred actually look better to me than the nice & neat scallops I tried to doodle with the glitter glue.  In retrospect I think if I had used my brain and the glittered cardstock, things would have gone much smoother.  But, Mom is going to love it and she won’t even notice all the glitter that ends up on her floor (hehe).  I hope to make one of these a year (at least) and eventually have a village for my Mom to enjoy!  Thanks for stopping by & I hope your holiday plans are going smoothly ~ Christi

Another view of the finished house

Difficult to get a good picture of it lit

I tried everything to get these pictures to stay even - they look fine in my view, but they get wonky in the "real" view - Sorry! 

I would like to enter my glitter "Putz" house in the following challenges:
Use Your Stuff Challenge Blog (2w) - #166, Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge (1w) - Anything Goes 
*That's Crafty Challenge Blog (1/2/15) - Anything Goes
Stuck on Us Sketches (2w) - Anything Christmas Die Cut Challenge
Crafts 4 Eternity - #206, Anything Goes Christmas
Decorate to Celebrate - #90, Anything Goes
*That Craft Place - Anything Goes, Christmas
Eclectic Ellapu (m)- purple team, Anything Christmas (not a card)(runs til 2/1/15)
*Silhouette Challenges (m) - #20, Anything Goes

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Where did I find these awesome challenges!?!? At Challenges for Days!! An easy to read, easy to understand list of challenges that is posted every day ~ check it out!!