Easy, fun Christmas gifts (and crafts)

Hi peeps...Just wanted to share some fun Christmas things we have been making/doing here at my house (even though I haven't been playing with paint lately :(  ) I really wanted to focus on making some things with my girls this year, putting some thought and time into it...instead of just grabbing items at the store just to give "something." There's 4 dance, teachers, regular teachers, soccer coach, mailman, trash guys, etc. I never know what to get these people, I mean, you can only get so many Starbucks gift cards...so anyway....here are a few easy, fun gifts to make and fun crafts to do with your little ones.

First up is the simple but genius "cookies in a jar"which I got from here (I just used choc chips). I had enough ingredients on hand to make 4 of these...and they are too cute!

Next I wanted to make a hot chocolate treat for the girl's class.  I made these last year also but didn't have a blog then.  Wilton decorator bags, hot cocoa mix, sprinkles, marshmallows.  Easy. Cute.

Yesterday I made Candy Cane Sugar scrub.  I got the idea from here. Here are the ingredients you will need:

For a smallish pintish size jar you will need (ignore the big jar in the pic):
2 Cups of white sugar
some coconut oil
some olive oil (perhaps)
red food coloring
peppermint essential oil

First batch I mixed up the sugar with about 1/2 cup of coconut oil and 1/2 cup of olive oil until I achieved the texture I wanted...you can always add more sugar or more oil! Then I divided the mix, dyed one half red and added the peppermint to that half.  Then you layer the white and red in a clean jar, packing it down as you go...

sorry about my finger in the pic

 

 The second batch I made, I realized that the olive oil was turning my sugar yellowish and that just the coconut oil would work fine because it smells sooooo good.  So I just used that.

I'm not going to say "easy peasy" because I hate that saying...but it is! Speaking of little trees...

I am obsessed with little trees this year....I saw a bunch of different colored ones on Pinterest and knew I had to get some and color them! These are the good ones to get if you are going to do this.  I got them at Michaels with a 50% off coupon so they cost about $10 for the big bag of different sizes.  The dollar store ones did NOT bleach out for me, even after hours, days in the bleach.

After a short while...few hours maybe for all of them...this is what they looked like...

See the dollar store one in the back? Grrrrrr....
So I decided to color them up using my different ink sprays from all different companies (yes I have many) and it was SO fun.  I was supposed to wait for my daughter's to get home to do this but I couldn't stop.  I think I left them 4.  Well, we can always get more! Here are some pics....

Now I am not sure what to do with them but I think glitter may be involved....
I think this post has gone on too long so I will continue tomorrow. Have a great day!
Sarah

Some really exciting news (for me) and a pretty quick gift idea!

Hello...I haven't posted in two weeks I just realized! We had company in my art (guest) room, Thanksgiving...a birthday, Christmas craziness, ect. so I have been missing my messy little world. I do have some really exciting news though: starting in Jan 2014 I will be on the Genuinely Jane Studios design team!!! They manufacture and sell real wood "books" in different shapes to alter or take apart for limitless art/craft projects.  They also have a store selling all kinds of supplies for art! Go check them out if you haven't already. I love their products and I can't wait to get to play with some goodies in the new year!

 I got a chance to play with some ICE resin by Susan Lenart Kazmer over the weekend with my 8 year old daughter and it was SO easy and SO fun! I had bought this tube a few months ago at Hobby Lobby ($11.99 but used my 40% off coupon).

 I took out all my bezels that I had been hoarding and mixed up the resin.  You depress both tubes with your thumbs, mix it up and wait 5 minutes. Easy right?  I also took a tooth pick and pulled out a few of the air bubbles.  Then you decide what you want to put in the bezels and fill em up.  The package says it takes about 12 hours to dry/cure. You can add some things, let the resin dry, then add more to have a layered effect but we were too impatient to wait for that!  My daughter and I had a blast playing with these...we put gears, glitter, metal words..and even ice cream sprinkles! I want to try adding paper  and sentiments next time.  You have to seal them first so the resin doesn't ruin it and I just wanted to keep it really simple for the first time.  We added some pretty ribbon and mailed them off to a few special people for Christmas.  Easy, fun, inexpensive!

 

Here they are all done...this is from one tube:

Have a great day!
Sarah

Bluuuue Peacock

Happy Thanksgiving evening! Hope you all had a great one (if you celebrate it).  I'm here to share a mixed media canvas I just finished using lots of texture, glass bead gel and some rub n buff.  I've been dying to try that stuff but wasn't sure how so I just went for it and rubbed on the peaks of the texture.  I didn't want to overdo it so maybe next time I will add a touch more, or try a different color.  Inka Gold also seems like it would have a similar effect.  I also added some thread that matched the colors in the image, I'm starting to really like the way thread adds texture. Some embellishments and I was done.  This was so fun to paint.  I was experimenting with shadows and color variations but really just love this blue color silk glaze.  I've only had one art class ever so I am learning it all myself by trial and error. Lots of error! But the fun is in the experimenting! I was inspired by the inkido blog that requires the use of thread or string.  I'm also going to enter into Limor Webber's FB group for this month's challenge calling for us to create using a technique or idea that makes us nervous to use.  So for me it was the rub n buff and the attempt at painting shadows.  Thank you and have a great weekend! Sarah xoxo

Christmas altered box

Good morning...I want to share a box I just made for the Flying Unicorn's round robin for this month.  I followed Sue who made the most incredibly beautiful box  and I had no idea what I wanted to make.  I kept thinking of gingerbread houses...initially that's what I was going to make, but I started it off kind of shabby chic and I really liked the blue/white combo and then added the pops of red (birds).  Here are the pics of the beginning:

 I adhered the patterned paper and ripped pieces to collage on the roof.

 I am going to enter this in the Frilly and Funky Christmas decoration challenge.

Also would like to add it to Scrapping4fun for the color challenge....hooking up with The Memory Nest for their anything goes link up.

Lastly, Frosted Designs is having a challenge where you can use one or all 11 of there "11 item challenge." On this project, I used lots of buttons, paper layering and flowers.

A layout and an ATC

Happy happy Tuesday...just wanted to share a recent layout of my littlest...love these Webster's papers!

I entered into a mojo Monday challenge at the Flying Unicorn, but I didn't win ;(

Last week I had the chance to go into my daughter's school to share my paper craft/art hobby in the form of ATC's.  My daughters love to make these so I thought it would be perfect for the fourth graders for the Great American Teach In. I am preparations for a papercrafting/art journaling class for kids, I have come up with many quick, fun  projects that will encourage the children to explore their creativity while also keeping it affordable for the parents.  Just waiting for the word from my neighborhood clubhouse and then my classes will begin. I am so excited and so inspired by the kids, they are not afraid to take risks and will try anything artistically. Here is a quick little ATC I made up before the class...so easy and fun! Thanks for stopping by!

Too Cool

It's Monday and creeeping ever so slowly toward the holidays but being in the 80's still here in Tampa, I keep losing all track of time! I really must get started on some Christmas projects but I guess it's good to slow down and appreciate November/Thanksgiving as well! I created this layout over the weekend for the 123 Challenge Blog.  They give you 3 "ingredients" you must use on your layout, makes it challenging and fun! This month they have provided the color teal, the word "cool" and stamping.  This is the first layout I've done of my husband, it was about time!  We were at Steak N Shake and he was being silly wearing the paper hat.  He is always clowning around like that! I haven't done too much with this style I used (stamping/washi tape/kind of simple) so I wanted to try something different.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! xox Sarah

Autumn Time Altered Box

The other day I was sitting watching my daughter play soccer and saw this...

Not very common around these parts....made me a little home sick for MA...miss those gorgeous fall colors and the crisp fall feeling in the air....Then I got a prize pack in the mail from Bo Bunny from a Blog Hop with their beautiful "Autumn Song" collection.  This is what I created:

I just HAD to use that paper with the leaf I loved it so much.  So I created an altered box with the leaf as the main feature....

Here is the inside of the box where I added more paper and some embellishments.
  I really wanted to give this to my mom as a gift so I added a picture of her and my stepfather to make it more personal.  Thanks for visiting!
Sarah

I would like to enter this into the Frosted Designs challenge, where the theme is "giving a gift."
I am also entering it into the Dreamweaver challenge whose theme is "celebrations," and I am celebrating autumn with this gift. Lastly is the Scrapping 4 fun challenge which is "anything goes."

FYI: Scrapping4funchallenges is a blog I have recently discovered and they are having a design team call for scrappers with the term being Jan-April 2014. I am going to apply because I think they seem like a really fun place to be a part of, with oodles of talented DT members and great challenges. I  would be thrilled with an opportunity to make some creations for them. Maybe you would like to apply as well?  They are accepting applications until November 29th.  

Always Be Happy

Good Morning! I am having a blast participating in a round robin at the Flying Unicorn.  I am on the layout team and had to go second...this is my layout inspired by Marilia Lopes.  I really love the Forum over there, the ladies are so welcoming, encouraging and inspiring...beautiful things to look at daily, not to mention the incredible store that has everything for scrapping/mixed media fun! Be sure to check it out if you haven't, you wont be sorry!

Here is my L/O of my daughter on her first day of first grade...she loves pink so I had to make it as pink as possible! I used 13 Arts papers and Shimmerz color (background is green texturez~ LOVE) and of course lots of Prima.

Here are a few close ups:

Thanks for looking and have a great day!
I am also going to add this to the Inkido challenge that calls for thread or string on the layout. I used some random string from my towel!
Sarah

A Whimsical Layout for SATW

Hello and happy...Tuesday? I am so off this week with it being Veteran's Day yesterday (Thank You to all the former and current service members) and my daughter staying home from school today...I am a little lost! Anyway, just wanted to share a fun, whimsical layout I made for the Scrap Around The World November challenge inspired by the super-fun rainbow moodboard. I was so inspired to create something with rainbow colors, I loved every picture! I also just adore every page that is in the challenge so far, I know I would have a hard time choosing a winner! I do seriously love rainbows, and had never seen one until I was almost 30, now in Florida I see them often and sometimes even double rainbows! Thanks for stopping by today...

Here is my fun layout...

Unfortunately I couldn't pick up the bling on top of my daughters head so it just looks like she is lost in the clouds...which is ok! It was really fun to play around . Here is a closer one:

This was her dance recital costume from last year and I thought she'd look even more like a Vegas showgirl with the big flourishy bling on her head...but...can't pick up it with the camera ...have to work on that! Have a great week!
Sarah

Let Go Art Journal Page

I can't believe it's the beginning of Nov. already, it is still hot in the 80's here in Florida...I so miss the New England autumn! Here is an art journal page I created using lots of color and hot glue.  I am entering into the scrapki-wyzwaniowo challenge that is all about using your imagination and creating a page that reflects the inner craziness or beauty.  Thanks for looking! xoxo Sarah

Believe in Magic

Happy Monday everyone....just wanted to share an art journal page I created over the weekend based on the theme of "letting go" while learning to let go my hatred of my handwriting by journalling all over the background of the page.  It was so fun to get messy...I have only dabbled in art journalling and it has been a few months since I've done anything with it, but I LOVE using bright colors and adding texture and playing.  SO FUN. I encourage everyone to do it! There's a little less pressure (for me) when it's not a canvas and not everything has to be "just right." It's just experimenting to see what you get when you combine colors, mediums, etc. I made this based on two Facebook groups that I belong to.  Limor Webber's Mixed Media group and Mixed Media Mondays with Tracy Weinzapfel.  Check them both out if you haven't already, the are both filled with great people and beautiful inspiration.  Thanks for stopping by.  Please follow with Google and Bloglovin ~
Sarah

Live In Color

Hello friends...today I would like to share a canvas I created based on a challenge from 13 Arts about symmetry. They sell fabulous products for mixed media and art journaling.  Here is their moodboard for this month:

I was immediately inspired colors of the peacock and butterfly.  I wanted to create something symmetrical based on the theme itself but as I was creating this, I remembered a magazine article I read that said a woman's beauty is based scientifically on how symmetrical her features were.  There was much evidence to support this but the whole time reading I was shaking my head.  Symmetry is beauty but not the only beauty.  So I veered off the symmetrical path so to speak and wanted then to create something that was not completely symmetrical.  To rebel against the notion that symmetry= beauty.  I had so much fun making this, I think I am the happiest when creating with mixed media, color and texture.  I used paint, spray ink, gesso, stencils, chipboard, metal and of course modeling paste. I am also entering this in the One Little Word challenge because I love my Ronda Palazzari stencils! Hopefully my post makes sense to some of you...thanks for reading!

 

Close up of the texture

Sarah
Also entering in SWAT for masking 
Boy Meets Girl for texture

Halloween Fun!

Ok I am finally getting into the Halloween spirit (it's hard when it's 90 outside every day!) I have made a few ATC's, a tag, a canvas and a layout. In addition we have finally decorated and the girls and I have been baking some spooky Halloween goodies.  I don't think we are going to have a party this year, but may be going to see Selena Gomez instead ;) Here are the fun, silly, things I have created...see a trend with the vintage little witchies? They are my fav for sure. Have a great day!

These are two ATC's I made for a fun swap over at Scraps of Darkness kit club.  The girls over there are so fun and supportive of each other, not to mention extremely talented!~

Next here is a tag I made, also for a swap with Monica at Scraps of Darkness...great kit club I have been a member of for about 6 months.  They send cool papers & embellies to your door every month and make creating a breeze! This is like the third tag I have made so I have a long way to go....

I am going to submit this for the challenge at Frilly and Funkie where you have to create something Halloweenish without using orange and also for the Inspired By blog challenge.

Next is a canvas I made, trying to experiment with distress paint, collage and crackle medium. It didn't come out as I planned but think it is fun anyway, it's all part of the process... Making a mess and having fun and if you learn something...great!

Entering this into the Dreamweaver blog challenge and over at the Papercraft Star challenge. Both challenges are for a Halloween themed project. Last I am sharing a quick little layout I made of my girls from last year, dressing up as a zombie cheerleader and a zombie prom queen.  They are standing with their friend who was a regular ole princess.

Thanks for taking a look!
Sarah