Christmas Cards

I love holidays. Its the perfect excuse for baking and crafting. The mummie cupcakes are a perfect example of this. I've also made candy corn cookies, Valentine's cupcakes with X's and O's and I remember helping my mom make Easter basket cupcakes. But I think the best and my favorite holiday for baking and crafting is Christmas.

About 3 years ago, I decided to start making our Christmas cards. Our first Christmas as a married couple we bought pre-made cards, and they were cute, but not us. We had a hard time finding cards that just wowed us. Now, what I have created may not wow you, but they were representative of who we are, and what we were doing that year. So here is my Christmas card collection so far. :)

"Ornaments"

This is a simple ornament design, and each of the sparkles on the ornaments was "colored" in with glitter for even more bling!

 

 

"Let It Snow"

 This is a stamped snowflake motif with small crystals randomly in the flakes.

"Peace on Earth"

The text is printed on kraft cardstock, then stamped in gold with the vine. The inside is printed. We were going for vintage simplicity.

 

 

 

Until next time...

 

 

A Feather Fondness

Almost 4 years ago, I grew a great fondness for peacocks and their feathers. My husband and I were planning our wedding and were trying to come up with our colors and a non-theme theme. I was in an interior design history class studying the Art Nouveau period, when my professor showed a picture of a beautiful Tiffany vase with peacock feathers on it. I fell in love with it, and knew exactly the direction our wedding should go in. We pulled our colors from the eye of the feather--blues and greens--and kept the decor simple, showcasing the feathers in key components: my bouquet, the cake topper, simple table arrangements, and the stationary.

We were also on a tight budget for our wedding. We had to be smart in our decisions, but still wanted the day to reflect our personal styles. So I decided to design our wedding stationary, which would be both inexpensive and personalized.

We used a contemporary style, also reflective of our personal style and the wedding. The set consists of a Save the Date card, the invitation, an RSVP card, and a Rehearsal Dinner invitation.

The wedding only escalated my fondness for the feathers. They are also present in our home decor. Most recently, I created some art pieces for our wall in our main room. I took canvas and dry-brushed a bronze background, then spray-glued peacock feathers onto the canvas. It gave just enough color and texture to our walls.

 

We also recently took a trip to New Orleans for vacation. In need of a fabulous bag for a night out, I once again found inspiration in peacock feathers. I took an ordinary hand bag with clasp and transformed it into something unique and awesome. Peacock feathers were glued to the face of the back, and topped of with a jewel. Perfect for that romantic dinner for two!

 

The bag was bought at a local super store, but I modified it to fit my needs, then embellished it with the feathers.

I have a few other peacock pieces that I'll share, including some stationary that can be customized, should you also share a fondness for the beautiful feathered friend.

Until next time.....

 

My Early Beginnings

I don't think I ever had a light bulb go off that I was a creative person. I just always was. And I remember playing make-believe a lot, using my imagination constantly. My poor little brother. I can only imagine how he felt being dragged into my play schemes. I remember once we were "cooking" in our yard, making mud cakes, cupcakes, etc., and somehow, I ended up with mud in my mouth. No, I wasn't eating our concoctions, my brother got his revenge and threw it at me. I just happened to open my mouth at the opportune moment. Victory for him! Yes, I was very mad, but I didn't stop with our play times. We often had "school sessions" but I think I was a nice teacher. :)

I don't have many early memories of actually making things, but as I've said before, if we couldn't afford it or I didn't have it, I would do the best I could to make it. And I've always loved color. I get asked a lot what my favorite color is, and I never have a concrete answer. I don't have one. There are probably some colors I gravitate towards, but not a favorite. I love color.

When my brother and I were growing up, we shared a room, but as we grew into adolescence, it became necessary to put up a divider. My parents used a bamboo wall (the kind you use in your garden) and hung a opaque shower curtain so we couldn't see through it. It was great because my brother and I could still talk to each other but we had our privacy.

 

I hated the white shower curtan though. White. No color. So I got it in my head that I would paint it. I had a good collection of acrylics at the time, so I painted it, with all the great little doodles that Junior High-ers have. Smiley faces. Cool Beans. Jesus Freak. You get it. And, thus I had color in my room. Acrylic paint actually doesn't stick well to shower curtain material, so over time it began to flake off. But, hey, a new opportunity to paint again! Woo hoo!

 

In High School, I finally got tired of my childish doodles, and replaced the shower curtain with a colored one, which was much classier. But I would say that is probably my first indicator of my ability and desire to create and decorate. That, and the fact I was constantly rearranging my bedroom furniture. I habit I have yet to break.

So when I make things, its a true passion. And I do it to the best of my ability. And that's what makes it great.

Until next time...