Upcycled Brass Christmas Ornament

November 29, 2023Leave a comment

A Simple Christmas Ornament Make Over.

I ran across a couple of brass Christmas Ornaments from several years ago.

I was cleaning out my excess Christmas decorations when I found them.

I first threw them away before retrieving them from the trash.

They’re not especially valuable.

Simple Christmas Ornament Makeover

They were a 1982 Norman Rockwell promotional ornament from McDonald’s.

Because 1982 was a significant year (for me) I couldn’t throw them away.

So, I decided to try painting them. (I had nothing to lose.)

*Disclosure: This blog uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

Simple Christmas Ornament Makeover

Here’s what I did to update the ornament:

Lightly sand the ornament with an extra fine sanding block* to remove dirt and grim.
The sanding smoothed the ornament and removed the brassy gold finish. Sanding also made the ornament silver, which I liked better.
Paint the ornament with a multi-Media paint* that will adhere to the metal.
I used Deco Art’s Multi-Media Paint in Birch.
Once the paint dries, lightly sand the ornament to expose the details.
While sanding, I made sure not to remove all the white paint from the face of the ornament. I like the “snowy look” of the white.
It’s also probably a good idea to spray the ornament with a matte spray sealer*.

Now the ornament looks great and compliments the other decorations on my Christmas Tree.

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Santa’s Letter Box

November 20, 2023November 20, 20233 Comments

Santa's Letter Box using Sizzix Slotted Box die

Create a Holiday Mailbox for letters to Santa using the Sizzix Slotted Treat Box Die by Eileen Hull*.

A fun project to make for Christmas!

Santa's Letter Box using Sizzix Slotted Box die by Eileen Hull.

To say I have a lot of Holiday Scrapbook paper would be a understatement!

Paper crafters have a tendency to “save” their special scrapbook paper

for just the right project.

We also have a tendency to hoard said special paper.

Santa's Letter Box using Sizzix Slotted Box die by Eileen Hull.

Sometimes its fun to use what you have on hand.

I dug deep into my hoarded Graphic 45 Christmas Scrapbook paper

to make the Santa Letter Box.

One of my favorite tips…

Before I die-cut the mat board, I like to use the Xyron Creative Station* to add adhesive to the back of the paper. It gives the paper a complete layer of adhesive with no bubbles. It really is easy to use.

Santa's Letter Box

When making the Santa Letter Box…

I adapted the box by adding 1″ strips of matboard* around the existing box lid. The extra strips allowed the box to have a lip that fits over the edge of the box.

Santa's Letter Box

I added three additional layers of graduated sized matboard to the lid for dimension using foam tape.
I glued thrifted gold cording around each layer to cover the Foam Tape*.
A wood knob painted red completes the lid.

Santa's Letter Box

For the base of the letter box, I used an old metal lamp base.

(At least, that’s what I think it is.)

We found it in my Dad’s garage while cleaning it out a few years ago.

It’s fun to use old things in unusual ways.

Santa's Letter Box

The Santa Letter Box adds a little Christmas Magic to your Holiday Decorating.

Materials Used: (*affiliate links)

Sizzix Slotted Treat Box Die by Eileen Hull*
Big Shot Plus Manual Die-Cutting Machine*
Sizzix White Matboard*
Holiday Scrapbook Paper
Xyron Creative Station*
Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Vintage Photo*
Ink Applicator*
Black Foam Tape*
Gold Cord
Tombow Mono Aqua Liquid Glue*
Wood Knob
Vintage Base from an old lamp

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Eileen Hull Educator Team, I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas. The view and opinions are my own.

How to Create a “Merry” Holiday Banner

November 3, 2023November 2, 2023Leave a comment

How to make a “Merry” Banner to add to your Holiday Decorations.

Now that the weather has turned cooler, I’m starting to plan my Holiday decorating.

If you love banners and quick and easy projects, this one’s for you.

Materials Used: (*affiliate links)

StyletechCraft products brought to you by ATSM Craft*

Directions:

Cut the scrapbook paper slightly larger than the wood banner pieces.
Place the scrapbook paper design side up in the Xyron Creative Station®*.

Turn the handle of the Creative Station to run the paper through. As it runs through, it adds complete adhesive covering on the underneath side of the paper.

Adhere the paper onto the front of the Wood Banner.
Place the Wood Banner onto the Cutting Mat* and cut the excess paper using a Craft Knife*.
Use a Sanding Block* to smooth any rough edges.

I cut the letters “MERRY” using the Fresh Mix Font from the Silhouette Store and a Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die Cutting Machine*.

Lay the Transfer paper over the vinyl and gently rub with a vinyl scraper tool.

Place the Vinyl Transfer Tape* and vinyl onto the banner.
Rub over Vinyl Transfer Tape* and gently remove from the vinyl.

Paint the wood beads with red and green acrylic paint.
String the banner and wood beads onto ribbon or twine.

I wanted to keep the banner pieces simple.

But you could add Holiday Flowers and embellishments to make it special.

“This is a sponsored post. As a member of the StyleTechCraft Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas. The views and opinions are my own.

“Autumn Leaves & Pumpkin Please” Album

October 22, 2023October 20, 2023Leave a comment

Autumn Leaves & Pumpkins Please Album

Autumn Leaves & Pumpkins Please

I love all the beautiful colors of Fall.

As the saying goes, Fall is my favorite color.

They make such a bright and cheery Fall album.

This simple album is the perfect place to add all your apple picking,

leaf peeping, trick-or-treating pictures this Fall.

The “Autumn Leaves & Pumpkins Please” album was made using

Eileen Hull’s Field Notes Journal Die by Sizzix*.

I used paper from Echo Parks “Fall Fever” Collection*.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Eileen Hull Educator Team, I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas. The view and opinions are my own.

Autumn Leaves & Pumpkins Please Album

Materials Used: (*affiliate links)

Autumn Leaves & Pumpkins Please Album

A few tidbits of information:

Before I die-cut the mat board, I like to use the Xyron Creative Station* to add adhesive to the back of the paper. It gives the paper a complete layer of adhesive with no bubbles. It really is easy to use.
The spine of the album comes with three sections. I cut the first section off to make the album thinner. It leaves two holes to add binding.
I wanted to try something different with how I added the pages to my album. I inserted two mini book rings through the holes to hold my pages.
The mini book rings are approx. ¾” and with a little maneuvering they fit in the two side holes.
I used the cut off section to mark where I would need to punch the holes on my pages.

Autumn Leaves & Pumpkins Please Album

I wanted to make my album vertical instead of horizontal.

I love how versatile the Field Notes Die* is.

Autumn Leaves & Pumpkins Please Album

I created the word “autumn” using a Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die Cutting Machine*.

I cut it the letters out using StyleTechCraft Gold Chrome Vinyl*.

StyletechCraft products brought to you by ATSM Craft*