Rustic Canvas and Burlap Tags ~ DIY Holiday Hop

Here's a wee project I created for Petaloo's Holiday Hop with Canvas Corp. Be sure to check out the Petaloo blog to see all of the great holiday projects and for a chance to win a great prize pack.

I enjoy working with fabric and creating textile pieces but it always seems to take a back seat to paper crafting. So I was pleased for the excuse to blow the dust off of my sewing machine to create some rustic tags with elements from Canvas Corp.

Don't worry, you don't actually need a sewing machine for these. You can easily stitch them together by hand, or even glue them together.

Simply layer a couple of swatches of burlap and canvas, fray the edges, add a vintage image and some pretty Petaloo elements.

My images are printed on canvas, but you can stitch through paper if you like the look of those zig-zags.

I think these are going to make really pretty additions to my holiday packages.

Want to create your own? Here are the elements I used:

Textured Elements Burlap Pointsettias
Botanica Sugared Blooms
Botanica Sugared Minis
Botanica Pine Picks with cones and berries

Canvas, burlap and twine from Canvas Corp

Vintage images

Tiny vintage charm ornaments

I made some tiny ornaments.




They are quite small, around the 1" mark, but I think that adds to their charm.



Little wooden charms from Gina's are the base. I simply painted the pieces white, glued the image to the base, added the top frame and filled with some Diamond Glaze.



I wrapped some Dresden trim around the edges to create a polished look. A little bit of glitter... because apparently I am incapable of creating anything without the sparkly stuff.



Want to make your own? Here's the supply round-up:

Wooden Charm - Circle Large
Wooden Charm - Circle Small
Wooden Charm - Dome Large
Wooden Charm - Dome Small
Diamond Glaze
ribbon
vintage images
clear glitter
white acrylic paint
assorted Dresden borders
1cm white paper roses

Fairy Garden Baubles

I got my hands on the sweetest handblown glass baubles this past summer and filled them with tiny fairy gardens. I've been holding off posting them because I thought they would make darling holiday gifts.

They are filled with moss, handmade toadstools and pretty paper flowers and butterflies. They are really, really sweet.

I have about a dozen and will be posting them in the etsy shop over the next week or so.

You can find this specific bauble listed HERE.

Also listed for the holidays, thimble trees!

Hope your holiday shopping is going well. So far, mine seems to be a series of unfortunate events ;)

Have a great day, lovelies!

Holiday Tart Tin Ornament Tutorial

I'm hosting a kids workshop this weekend and we'll be making some holiday gifts. This is one of the items they can choose from. A rusty tart tin ornament. 

I've made a short video tutorial and encourage you to create your own heartfelt, handmade gifts.

Instructions for rusting the tins is available HERE

The free collage sheet of sweet words can be found HERE

Enjoy.

Supply list:
metal tart tin
wired pip berry stems
moss
flat head jewelry posts
beads
bottle brush trees
floral embellishments
acrylic snowflakes

glue

Be a twinkly light

There's a lot going on the world right now. Terrible, unthinkable, things. Frightening things.

I'm not going to post about them.

Instead, I'd like to encourage you to make something nice, spread kindness and be a glimmer of light. Below you'll find some sweet words to help you along. Download, create, and make someones day a little bit brighter.

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." —Aesop

Thinking of you.

Nichola

Pocket and Tag Christmas Countdown Organizer

I am disorganized.

There is no doubt about it.

Given the opportunity to create a sort of advent calendar with Alpha Stamps new Victorian Christmas Tags Kit and Library Pocket Organizer Box* I thought 'What better way to get my holiday butt in gear!'

So here is my box gussied up and filled with pretty altered tags and pockets.

The finish on the box was soooo easy! I gave it a crackled paint finish, wrapped some burlap and Mini Red Pip Berry Garland* around it, then finished it with a wee bunch of Fancy Red Holly Berries and Miniature Pinecone Picks* You don't need any fancy products to achieve a crackle finish. HERE is a tutorial for the finish. For this project I didn't even do a base coat of paint. Just a layer of glue then a white paint.

Now, as for all those tags and pockets. The front of all those bits and bobs are pretty as a picture and numbered with Faux Metal Number Plates 1 to 25*  (which I love BTW). Here's the part where I get organized. I thought that each day could have a little note, a reminder for what needs to be done, written on the back or attached with a clip.

"Make sugar cookies"
"Tidy the guest room"
"Write holiday cards"
"Prepare packages for mailing"

Here's a good look at the front of all those pockets, tags and Library Pocket Tabbed Dividers*.

So maybe, just maybe, if I give myself gentile reminders I'll actually get the cards and sugar cookies done this year. The goal being to get everything done piece by piece instead of the panicked last minute insanity that usually takes over.

And if my plan fails and I'm still a hot mess this holiday season? Well I've still got something pretty to show for it ;)

Here's all of the supplies in one place

Or an itemized supply list below:

Victorian Christmas Tags Kit
Prima - A Victorian Christmas 3x4 ATC Pad*

Prima - A Victorian Christmas Scrapbook Paper Set 

Library Pocket Organizer Box*

Faux Metal Number Plates 1 to 25* 

Library Pocket Tabbed Dividers*

Mini Red Pip Berry Garland* 

Fancy Red Holly Berries Mix

Miniature Pinecone Picks* 
Lacquered Holly & Berry Picks*

Tim Holtz Long Mini Brads
Gold Sweeper Fringe 

Burlap ribbon from Fall Fiber Set

Notes from the North Pole

I M P O R T A N T

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Attn: North Pole Representatives and Christmas Helpers

2015 has been an exceptional year and we are pleased to announce that Santa's "Nice List" numbers are higher than they have ever been.

In order to facilitate the distribution of Nice List Notifications to good (and mostly good) children, Mr. Claus is requesting your assistance. 

"Notes from the North Pole", a two page digital download, is available HERE. The PDF includes:

• an official "nice list notification"
• a North Pole envelope template
• elf sized postage stamps
• three notes of encouragement from the North Pole Review Department + 2 blank notes
• three memos from Santa
• a short thank-you note from Santa for Christmas eve refreshments

That is a small letter, not a giant hand.

Please note:

• Any grunging, sparkling, distressing, tearing, smudging or embellishing is to be done in your own workshop. 

• Final letters can NOT be mailed through the silly muggle post. If your notifications require mailing, sending inside a full sized envelope with a note of explanation is suggested.

Mr. Claus is grateful for your assistance and appreciates your contribution in the creation of holiday magic.

Thank you

"Notes from the North Pole"

Edit: Christmas Helpers who prefer print form, hard copies are available via Alpha Stamps.