Happy Thanksgiving
to you, and a bountiful Harvest season of decorating with the wonderful colors and symbols so abundant this time of year. I am posting a baker's dozen photos as my small part in stopping the rush of the general populous into the buying frenzy that has become Christmas recently..
Following this introductory image, I will begin with some projects and focal points that can be created using Silhouette paper crafting. The other images include needlework or favorite collectibles we have "gathered in" over the years.
Hope these vignettes provide some inspiration for your own space and collections, or your plans and dreams. Here is a framed cross stitch piece with a twig wreath and miniature Indian corn.
My regular collection of birdhouses, brought into seasonal focus with a "single" thrift store plate that is decorated with a Silhouette leaf wreath design and text saying cut from vinyl and easily applied.
Here are two of my favorite Williraye figurines, standing atop a recycled wooden box (I collect these of all sizes, too) which has been embellished with a Silhouette design of text and leaf.
A small part of the decor, this be-ribbon'd oversized wrought iron key gets changed out for each change in season. Here the oak leaves and acorns are enhanced with a multi-layered banner tag that was cut using Silhouette files, combined and manipulated to the right size and configuration to suit my project.
An autumn grouping that features a vinyl design on a wheat-colored ceramic tile. This one was a gift from daughter Kenzie, whose creative genius and imagination has led me down this new path of paper crafting and digital design. (Bless you!)
Our entry-way wall provides a changing canvas and an opportunity to greet visitors in a new way each month. Here you can see the two-color vinyl text design with a wooden pilgrim (created by friend Lisa Glauser), with a row-style wall quilt I designed a few years ago for a House of White Birches publication "Harvest of Autumn Quilts".
Here you can see the whole wall ensemble.
A shelf unit that has held many of my precious knick-nacks over the years, specifically my miniature houses collection. Showing here a few that still fit in the color scheme of autumn. A miniature patchwork quilt "Autumn Reverie" hangs to the side, and on the chest a collection of Pilgrim and Native American figurines.
A cross-stitch pillow sleeve adorns the wing-back in the sitting room.
A wooden cutout is featured on a narrow wall space. (This lettering was done with a digital cutter, too.)
A tiny patchwork quilt in a miniature quilt stand adds color to the mantle.
A thrift-store find, this "handled" container was just the right spot for a cluster of silk and artificial orangerie. The Williraye cat always finds a way into my groupings, because his wonderful creamy color adds the right contrast.
Framed cross-stitch with other favorite folk art pieces.
Adding a house here and there is my way of remembering that Home & Family are the highest in my long list of Life's blessings.
Wishing you the best of the "giving Thanks" season. Please enjoy the reflective gratitude before you step into the Christmas festivities.
A fun way to share the "spirit" of October is to spell it out! Here is an ensemble of Snapdragon Snippet's 3D letter boxes. Hanging around are some other dimensional embellishments, as well: 3D ghost & bat, scallop pumpkin, plus flat web and spider, and improvised witch's hat.
I began by exploring letter box sizes. How big could I enlarge that 'S' and still get the side flange sections onto my 12" card stock? Once that was determined, I sized the other letters somewhat smaller, and different from each other. I modified the upper right "arm" of the K to be shorter. I cut only the front side interior accent shapes using various prints, with all boxes themselves cut from black textured card stock.
Here is a closeup of the 3d ghost, and the miniature witch's hat.
And a closeup of how the non-dimensional spider and web were trimmed and attached across the largest 'O'.
Finally, a closeup of the 3d pumpkin and bat.
One suggested improvement to my experiment: since size changes affect the depth of the boxes, rotary-trim flanges to uniform size to match the shortest width before assembly begins.
Another trick: because rounded letters will fall over if not propped or anchored, I made a base of 1/4" thick black foam core and glued the letters to each other and to the base. Black wire placecard holders help the ghost and bat to "float". I used Distress Ink to shade paper edges.
Here are the Silhouette designs I used:
From Snapdragon Snippets - 3d s, p, o, k & y letter boxes, 3d bat, 3d ghost, 3d witch hat. From Pebbles In My Pockets - scalloped pumpkin. From Lori Lynn Whitlock - 8 fall leaves. From Silhouette unattributed designs - corner spider web & Halloween spider.
If you would like more information about my re-sizing of the various designs, email me (Jodi) with that request: hearthsewnpatterns(at)yahoo(dot)com .
What surprise will we find today? This question will build the excitement as you count down to Christmas with decorated canisters. Hide a small gift, treat or activity inside to help your family through the waiting.
Save your empties through the months then decorate with Silhouette paper cutouts. For this project, protein powder cannisters were used (approx. 5 1/2" tall x 4" diameter).
This shot shows how the decorations are arranged on the cannister.
Here you see the ingredients for this project. A complete list is given at the end of the post.
Silhouette cutouts include the 12 Days of Christmas ornaments from Snapdragon Snippets (see size and other details in the larger project post on this blog), and a scallop border. Cut other paper strips and squares with rotary tools.
Distress layered paper band edges, if desired. This project uses Distress Ink Vintage Photo and a blending tool with non-absorbent craft mat to draw color onto the paper edges.
Add metal corners to a paper covered chip board square. Push corners snuggly into place, then crimp the square slightly onto board to secure.
Twelve canisters don't make a perfect pyramid! In the usual arrangement, four rows will use 10 canisters -- just add an extra on each side of the base row to include all 12!
Ingredients:
empty canisters
paper for canister cover, scallop border,
contrast band, numbers and squares
paper for gift name strips, cream twill tape, red eyelets
paper for 12 Days ornament cutouts
narrow red ribbon glued to plastic lid
green ribbon behind number squares.
jute string to hold ornaments
black metal corner embellishments
glue and adhesives
