Sunday 4 September 2011

Welcome Christmas… inspiration

hello there I hope you’re having a fabulous weekend. I am having a pj day just for me, I need to do a bit o tidying up and then I can craft. I attended a fabulous training event in Leeds yesterday and met with lots of fellow demos.
We got to peek at new products coming on 1st of October and we saw some very exciting projects.
I only have 7 places left for my next Virtual Hostess Club , if you want to join us please click on Spread the Cost Button at the top of my blog.
Today I am  sharing a project I made a while ago when Moira my demo friend from France visited me. I saw a cute  idea in one of the SU publications and knew I wanted to make a similar project.
wreath main
I used a 12 x12 box frame from Wilkinson’s Online and plenty of designer paper rosettes as well as scallop circle rosettes. I had a hard time making this  and I went from I hate it to I love it again for many, many  hours. To be fair I think the Champagne we had during making this wasn’t helping much either. A few days after we struggled with those my good friend Heather posted this fabulous VIDEO on her blog. I only wish she did it before we started on ours LOL, that trick she shows you is amazing !!!
I used Jolly Holly papers along with some Elegant Soiree papers and Baja Breeze card. We made the rosettes using 2 methods, one was by scoring long pieces of card at 1/2cm then accordion pleat and made some of them by crimping the strips first and then folding. The second method was the fastest and it ensured that we didn’t have a lot of bulk in the frames when overlapping some of the rosettes.
Once all the rosettes were completed we stuck them straight to the cardboard base, we looked at adding a card stock base but the neutral of the base really made everything pop, but we didn’t want a bare back so we added LOTS and LOTS of shimmer paint and shimmer spray to it. We stained the frame as well using a mixture of soft suede reinker with shimmer paint and isopropyl alcohol. You can see it a tiny bit in the shot below it really sparkles IRL.
wreath frame
So after working on it for nearly two evenings it was finally done, and looking rather good. The next morning we started taking photos and I went to hang mine on the living room wall, I popped it on and left the room to get my camera. Just as I reached the door I heard this loud BANG!!!
I knew exactly what had happened
bust frame_
Luckly the glass didn’t shatter and hubs was able to put the frame back together for me.
If you’re attending the GNPE Harrogate show next weekend you will be able to see it in flesh as it will be part of our display.
Here it is all back together,  not the greatest of photos as taking pictures of glass is hard.
main 
You can see Moira's example on her blog HERE which turned out way cuter than mine she also used a different sentiment. We had lots of fun making them for sure.
Oh and I have to mention my latest adventures with my Thermie, he was one week old yesterday and he already changed all our lives, I am so glad to be able to eat a completely additive and preservatives free diet with so much ease, a lot cheaper too.
I have ventured into making my own cleaning  paste and washing powder.
c
Above you can see my new cleaning paste I use around the home, it works like the popular ciff, gumption and other brands, is a fabulous stainless steel cleaner, very kind to the environment and smells divine. I love lemon in everything. For years I have been using vinegar for my cleaning (cheap and very effective) but DH always complained about the smell now we haven’t got that problem. I love my little thermie.
Ok thank you much for stopping by see you next time. hugs xxx
Shop Stampin' Up!

14 comments :

  1. Better get mine on my blog now eh, I was waiting on you! Glad to see your hubbie sorted the frame. What a lot of laughs we had making this and I particularly remember your love/hate relationship with the frame. Bisous. Moira

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is BEAUTIFUL!!!! WOW!!! I can't wait to make a Christmas (and maybe Halloween version:) Thanks for the "props". Miss you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lovely, so sorry the frame fell. glad that it could be fixed.This would work for any holiday.

    Janett

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Christmas wreath is unbelievable! So beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Christmas wreath is so beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dear Gale, I love my Thermi too. please send me the Receip of this Wonderful Thing,
    Greetings from Germany, Ute

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thats gorgeous Monica. You know I'm a glutton for a Christmas project!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, that's fabulous. I really must have another go at making these accordion flowers - I gave up after not being able to get mine to stay together (not the right glue!). Thanks for the link to the tip about using twine to hold them together!
    Love, Andrea xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful! So colorful and festive! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Just gorgeous Monica! I have been thinking of attempting one of these myself. I do have trouble with the accordion rosettes myself, must check out the link to the tips! TFS such a beautiful creation.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Monica what a stunning wreath for christmas. Now I will have to CASE your fabo idea. Thanks for the link to the video on Heather's blog.....finally I can get my fan flowers to stick. Like everyone else without the string thay keep popping open or you end up holding them for ages with glue everywhere. TFS Cheers Donna Zammit

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful Christmas project, Monica! As for your cleaning stuff, better get a label on that - I thought it was lemon curd!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Monica
    Fabulous Flowers and thanks for the video link....it makes it soooo easy.....
    hope you are well Monica....
    Hugs sylvie
    xxx

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment, I really apreciate it as I love hearing from you. Hugs Monica xxx