Holly, Guitars and Christmas Music

Holly is just so beautiful this time of year.....the deep green leaves with the vibrant red berries. It inspired me to make this ornament I call "Christmas Holly". This ornament is made with a wooden ornament base I bought at the craft store. I then layered decorative papers, cut out a few holly leaves and glued them over top of the decorative papers. Next I copied a vintage picture and colored it and embellished it with glitter. Lastly the whole thing is sealed with 3 coats of glaze. You can take her home and hang her on her tree, just click here.

I think every kid has asked Santa for a guitar at one point or another in their childhood! Let's face it, it's a fascinating instrument. I've always loved guitar music, especially classical guitar music. I also like the flamenco music. If you want to listen to absolutely wonderfully beautiful Christmas guitar music then you need to go here and listen to the samples. The CD is Poets & Angels: Music 4 the Holidays by Ottmar Liebert. It is my all time favorite Christmas CD next to the Charlie Brown Christmas Album. Anywho, I hope you check Poets and Angels out!

While I was listening to the Poets and Angels CD, I was inspired to do a Fresh Vintage ornament which payed tribute to the coveted toy Christmas guitar. This little guy is so cute in his little loafers and cowboy hat, isn't he? The tree beside him is made of tiny strips of silver tinsel. I cut apart beaded roping to get the individual red balls which I then hot glued to the tree and yes, I must admit there was some colorful language uttered as the hot glue got on my fingertips!

Not even a mouse.........

He carefully picked his words as he grasp the tall pencil in his tiny mouse paws and wrote the following letter to Santa: Dear Santa, I have been a very good little boy this year. I have many brothers and sisters. Please bring me a big hunk of cheese to share with them. Love, Jack". How about this little guy nestled in the Christmas ball with his party hat complete with pom-pom and red mohair scarf! Isn't he just the cutest? The inside of the ball has been collaged with tiny pieces of red and green decorative papers and dusted with ultra fine glitter. The outside of the ball is turquoise glittered. Both ornaments are in the Honey Girl Studio Shop.

SMILE!

More Ornaments in the Honey Girl Studio Shop!

I've been collaging, painting, glueing and washing my hands a lot! I'm not one for crowds so I've successfully stayed away from the stores this weekend and crafted. These ornaments and tags are in the Honey Girl Studio Shop. Pop on over to the shop to read all about them!

Attack of the Snowmen....and women!

I woke up this morning to a dusting of snow! So naturally I was inspired paint snowmen and women........62 of them infact. Is that a little obsessive? No, not really I was finishing a custom order! I had to paint 65 and I thought I had indeed painted 65 of them but when I layed them on the table and counted them out I had 62!!!! ARRRRRGGGGHHHHH! I thought I was done! Everyone of them is different. No two are exactly alike and I named everyone of them. The Honey Girls Studio seal is on that back with the name of the snowman and my signature. So it looks like it's back to the studio to make 3 more.

I couldn't resist, here's what they look like all hung on a tree! The lady that I made them for is my husband's principal and she's going to give them to her staff for Christmas.

New Goodies in the Store!

Let the Christmas shopping begin!!!! A new batch of Fresh Vintage ornaments and pins are now in the Honey Girl Studio online store. Here is a sampling with more to be added daily. Click here to magically transport you to the HG Studio Shop.

Thanksgiving Postscript

The turkey turned out great! No, really it did!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Well, it finally happened......I almost made it to 41 years of age without having to cook a turkey but this year I'm doing it! Frankly cooking large poultry frightened me, but it's in the oven right now and it smells pretty darn good. Even if it isn't good, I'll lie and use words like "delicious!", "very moist!!!" and "one of the best ever!"

Happy Thanksgiving from the Crafting Iron Chef!

Paper Bag Christmas Recipe Album

I love making these paper bag albums! It's so much fun to see what you can come up with to tuck into those little pockets! This album is a tribute to my favorite Holiday treats. It includes 10 recipes within the collages and on tags in the pockets. There are 6 pockets and 14 collages not including the cover and back. The collages were created with paint, rubber stamps, decorative papers, copies of vintage photos and copies of vintage postcards. This one is currently on Ebay. But I'm thinking I need to make one for myself!

And the Winners Are........

After a very trying week at work being bullied by the powers that be and feeling like a good for nothing, it does my heart and mind good to think of something positive and do something kind. So I threw all the names in a bowl for the ornament drawing and picked 2 instead of 1. The winner are (insert drum roll HERE in your mind)......
Lori from Faerie Window
Trudi from Trinkets and Treasures
Congrats girls! Please email with your addresses so I can get your ornaments sent out!
Thank you friends in blogland for reading my blog and responding with such kind comments....maybe those in power should read a few crafter blogs to see how to "be nice" to others.

Paper Bag Christmas Album Full of Ornaments!

I ventured into the world of paper bag albums a few days ago. It's fun but quite a time consuming project! I made mine with the pockets in the top instead of the side of the pages.

The pockets are filled with the following:

4 Christmas Artist Trading Cards

1 Wooden collaged bell ornament

1 Wooden collaged snowman ornament

2 Antiqued Tags

1 Antique Inspired Snowman ornament

1 Wish Ticket

1 Snowman Pendant or ornament

The book is held together with 3 metal rings and the entire book is embellished with lots of ribbons! You can find it on Ebay.

I'm feeling traditional......

I'm feeling traditional this week......that is the "traditional red and green" look for Christmas. I think it was sparked by a tiny red bird I saw at the local crafter store (also known as my home away from home). Isn't it funny how the smallest things can jump start your creativity. This is a sampling of mini collages I made. They measure 2.5 by 3.5 inches. I like to mat them in deep greens and reds and frame them in distressed cream colored frames. They are available on Ebay.

The Christmas Wish Fairy
With a wave of her stuffed animal she can make your wish come true, but only if you have a ticket!

Better Not Pout
His mother told him his face was going to freeze like that!

Elf of the Year!
He just had to wear a hat that was different from all the other elves! That was just one of the many charms that made him the "elf of the year" and the fastest gift wrapper in the North!

I'm enjoying this red and green detour from my aqua and red obsession! What is your favorite Christmas color combination?