Snow Globes

I saw a fun tutorial the other day that showed how to make these cute snow globes.

Since my oldest granddaughter, Alessondra, loves Owls, I thought it would be fun for both of us to make an Owl snow globe.

First, you can find these plastic snow globes at Michaels, on sale about $4.00.

There are 3 pieces. The globe, the removable base and the screw on bottom.  I chose to make "water-less globes,  instead, I  added loose glitter and snow flakes.

I added glitter to the top of the base (I glued this glitter down), then I started adding all my elements.

I needed something to attach the sticker to, so I put a battery operated tea light in.  It also gives it a cool glowing look and can be used as a night light.

We attached a mini sled, jingle bells, and some snow balls, glueing them all down to the base.

I die cut a large scallop piece from cardboard and painted it red, then added some of the snow texture.
After screwing on the bottom piece, I glued it to the red cardboard, then added a green piece of scrap paper, then a red bow.

Of course, I had to make me a  pink, shabby chic globe.  I found a bag of bottle brush trees, in 3 different sizes. (Remember, they can't be too tall, or your globe won't fit over you tree.)  They were in the miniature village pieces at Michaels.   I painted the tree a baby pink, then added snow texture and pink candy gems.

I then glued a crystal angel, snow flakes and snow balls.  I also mixed some pink glitter with snow flake glitter.   I used a pink bling piece to top the tree.

Again, another cut scallop piece out of cardboard, painted it pink and added snow texture.  I used 2 pink trims that I bought on one of my favorite etsy sites:

PrettiesbyAlease.

I stamped a Christmas sentiment and die cut a label and placed it on the front of the globe.

My last snow globe was a fun, traditional one.  I glued colored crystals on the tree, snow texture and topped it with a bow and bling.  Another miniature sled and snowman was added.

I placed on the scalloped base and used gingham ribbon and red crystals to embellish the base of the globe.  Roses were added to the center of the bow.

My 3 year old granddaughter had to get in on the crafts and she made her a little Christmas scene on a base.  (She kept adding things, so they all wouldn't fit under a globe, but she didn't care.)

We finished the day with eating chili at our son's and DIL's house and made Christmas cookies.

I think equal parts of the dough were eaten and baked!

It was a perfect day of making fun memories and crafts.  I am so blessed with a husband of 41 years, 2 wonderful sons and daughter in laws, and 4 beautiful granddaughters.  I can't wait for all of us to be together on Christmas day.

Make some memories and happy crafting,

Cindy(or Nindy, as my grandkids call me- it's a cross between Cindy and Nanny)

Crafty Snow Day

The "craft stage" is set today.  It's less than 20 degrees outside, a moderate snow storm taking place, a crockpot full of black-eyed peas with ham hocks is cooking, (ok, yuck, I don't like black-eyed peas, but my husband does-I'll eat the fried potatoes and corn bread) and a fire in the fireplace.

I have just 2 trees up this year.   My main tree is 16 foot, but not this year.  With my shoulder surgery, there is no way I could reach to hang all of the ornaments it takes to fill that tree.  So I put up a smaller tree.

I chose chrystal and white this year for a snowy , winter wonderland look.

My second tree is my seasonal tree that is up all year.  I change it with the different seasons.  At Christmas, I have a more shabby chic tree and fill it with pictures of my 4 granddaughters.  The girls love seeing their pictures hanging on the tree.

So with both trees up and decorated, I wanted to craft today.

For my birthday, my sister gave me a bag of old clothes pins to decorate.  She was getting ready to throw them away, so I'm glad I had them on my birthday wish list.

After a couple of good coats of gesso, they were ready to transform.

I lightly dry brushed a couple of the pins with a light pink and a baby blue.  I found this cool sparkle texture paint and I put a light coat of this on the pins, flowers and ribbons.  It looks like this:

It gives a pretty snowy look with a golden sparkle.

I colored my own seam binding and scrunched it up so it would have a wrinkled look.  These were so easy to make and it was a chance for me to use up some scraps.

Of course I like the shabby look, so pastels are a must.   I made some purple ones too and I love how they turned out.

I am making some snow globes tomorrow, so I used some of my Christmas embellishments to make a holiday pin.

You can use these to put on top of packages or to wrap you laces around to put on display.

Enough crafting today; going to go ice my shoulder and get ready to watch "The Sound of Music"- the live version with Carrie Underwood.  What a great way to end a beautiful, snowy day.

Thank you God for the beautiful picture you painted today with the snow and the ability to use your gifts to create for others for one more day.

Happy crafting.

Cans of love

There are very few gifts that can be a home decor item and house the gift itself.

Decorated gift cans are certainly not a new idea, and I didn't come up with this unique gift idea myself.  But, these are so easy to customize and it's easy to make it "a one of a kind."

You start with a new, clean and empty paint can.  You can get these at Lowes or Home Depot for around $4.00. (Make sure you get the can opener, which are free and usually sit on the paint counter.)

We had 2 baby showers recently at our women's bible study, (withintheword.com), so I knew immediately that I wanted to make one for each baby.  One is having a little boy (she has 2 precious girls) and the other is having a little girl ( she has a "special delivery" darling little boy and this is her first pregnancy!)  We have all prayed for a long time , so this is a miracle baby!!!

All you need is scrapbook paper, contact paper,  or even wrapping paper will do.  I used double sided tape to adhere the paper to the can.  Then just gather flowers and other embellishments and glue them on the can.  (I use Fabric tac and find that it holds better than a glue gun.)  I love when I have a theme.  Isabella's room is going to be all the Disney princesses, so I found the perfect pink paper with castles and "princess words."  I just printed her name with a "girly font" and put it behind a frame.

I also decorate the paint can openers and attach with a ribbon long enough that makes it possible to open the can.

I wrapped the core with a ribbon, then glued flowers, beads and bling to the top.  Of course it is glittered up!

I added paper to the top of the can along with a heart appliqué and flowers.  Flat back pearls are perfect to add around the base.

The next baby theme was "vintage bike."   One thing about boys, you can't add all the "stuff", so I have to back off a little to make sure it's masculine.  This doesn't mean though, I can't add little trinkets.

I started with some burlap fabric and stamped vintage bikes on it with a distressed brown ink.  I used fabric tac to attach the fabric to the can.

I die cut a bike and used metallic embossing powder to make it look more vintage.  I stamped this darling baby sentiment on a die cut frame.

I added twill ribbon and cut out a paper measuring tape.   I stamped a strip of card stock with the same vintage bike stamps that I had used on the burlap fabric.

I tied different ribbons and natural yarns to both sides of the handle.

On the top of the can lid, I added stamped card stock and added more burlap.  I had a little pink bicycle, that I easily  painted blue to match the theme colors.

The lid opener had ribbon, flower and fibers added.

From the baby showers, I had a couple of custom orders for future baby showers. I've completed one of them.  It was another fun baby girl can and I love the nursery colors.

The opener turned out really cute with roses, glass beads and small diamond broach.

I did something a little bit different for the lid.  I purchased a drawer pull and took out the long screw that was in the center of it.   I glued it on a metal flower, added pearls, and then glued to top of lid.  I covered the hole with a small diamond button embellishment.

I added more ribbons and fibers to the side of both handles.

When the can is complete, I place coordinating colored tissue paper and the gift.  These would be great for all occasions, ages and holidays.  I can't wait to make some Christmas themed cans.

My shoulder is "slowly" making progress.   I'm still having to go to physical therapy twice a week and the surgeon is worried about a " frozen shoulder."   I'm sure with crafting , retail therapy and physical therapy, I will  be back to 100% in a few months.  Nothing like sliding your credit card over and over to get a little shoulder action!!!

May each and every one of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving .   I am truly blessed and have so much to be thankful for.   I'm very thankful for all of you that follow my blog and leave your special comments.

Until the next blog,
Blessings and happy crafting.

One Arm Crafting

It's been awhile I know.  A little bit of surgery has slowed me down a bit.

Several months ago, I tore my rotator cuff.  I know exactly when I did it.  I needed to have a good stretch.  Like always, I raised my arms above my head; I have a bad neck, so I protected it, and my right shoulder took the brunt.  I felt something tear, and had a horrible burning sensation in my shoulder.

For 3 months, I prayed the pain would get better, but it didn't.  So, in September, I had shoulder surgery.  The surgeon found a tear in the tendon, a couple of bone spurs that had been shredding the tendon (so that was probably why it tore easily), bursitis , and a partial frozen shoulder.  He put in an anchor in to help support the rotator cuff tendon.   I have to say, it's way more than I expected as far as pain and rehab. Of course it had to be my right shoulder and I am right handed.  You don't know how much you use your shoulder, until you lose the use of it.  I've worn a sling for 7 weeks, and am still in physical therapy ,2 times a week.

I have really had to rely on help from others.  Like, rolling my hair.  My husband is now a pro at it and I am confident he will be able to do it ,if and when the need for me to go in a nursing home.  Starting the car has to be left handed , so does shifting in reverse.  You have to learn to drive with one hand, and u-turns are out of the question.  Getting dressed is fun.  Try pulling up tight jeans with one hand.  More than once I have been stuck in a shirt, because I can't pull my arm out of the sleeve.

My nail girl has learned how to lift my arm up so she can have access to my hand, so she can do my nails. (There are some things that are worth the pain:)

One by one, I have been able to conquer each of the above little triumphs.  That's how I know I'm progressing.  I am not a patient "patient" and want to fast forward this rehab, and I've tried but that little "warning light" called pain stops you in your tracks.

The sling was so boring looking, so of course I had to bling it up.   The therapist had a good laugh. The sling not only helps support your shoulder, but also has an invisible sign that says "don't even think about giving me a hug!"

I know this is such a trivial set back compared to so many other things that could go wrong, and trust me,  I thank God for this to be something that can be fixed and not life threatening.

I have slowly started back crafting , so here are some random projects I have done.

These are a couple of Halloween cards I made.  I made boxes to match to put some goodies in.

I've had to make several sympathy cards in the past few weeks.

Prima is one of my favorite crafting companies and they had shown several cards they had made, so I had to make my version of them.

And the last one was a layered card.

Hopefully, in the near future,  I can get back  to crafting like I used to in between physical therapy and the holidays.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and know that we are all blessed.

Hugs (with only one arm) :)

Cindy