Designer Challenge featuring the The Robin's Nest and Smoothfoam

"May Your Holidays Be Bright" home decor

Tis the Season!  It is almost time to get out the decorations and start the countdown to Christmas!

I am a big believer in enjoying every day and celebrating each one as a gift!  I am starting to feel the anticipation of family and friends spending time together, delicious meals and treats, and beautiful lights and decorations all over the house!  Part of my enjoyment comes from making decorations for the house and for gifts.

The Robin's Nest sent me some lovely cuts of Christmas cardstock and a package of their colorful flat beads for this Designer Challenge.  The beads are perfect for embellishing many things from the ornaments we create, to home decor, or paper crafting. The decorative piece I created can be hung on a wall or set on an easel.  I prefer the easel, somewhere that the light can shine on the glitter.  It lights up!

Supplies you will need:

The Robin's Nest:  two 5-3/4" squares of winter cardstock; assortment of colored beads
Smoothfoamtm:  One 12" square scrapbooking mount board
Glitter cardstock:  one 12" sheet silver (Cut two 6" squares)
Red cardstock:  one 12" sheet (for cutting letters)
Die-cut machine  *optional
Die-cut cartridge with alphabet *optional
Snow Tex, craft stick
Adhesives:  (I recommend 3 in 1 glue and a Dimensional medium for adhering beads)
paper cutter

Instructions:

1.  Apply Snow Tex to the Smoothfoam wall mount using the craft stick.  Spread it as thin as possible,
     allow to dry.

2.  Cut out the letters with the die-cut machine.  The larger letters are 2-1/2" high.  The smallest are 1" high.
     (Another option is to purchase die-cut letters)

3.  Glue the beads to the winter scene on the cardstock as shown in the photo given; allow to dry.

4. Adhere the embellished cardstock squares to the right side of each silver cardstock square.

5.  Arrange all of the elements on the wall mount as shown in the photo given and adhere to secure.

*Oops!  Almost forgot to show you some frame options!  I used a wooden frame with a 12" square indent.  Perfect fit for the Smoothfoam scrapbook mount.  I painted the frame and added 1" letters that I cut.  Purchasing letters are good too!  A second option is to paint your frame and leave it plain!  Take a peek!

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Bonus Project

I also created a mini journal with some of the other pretty Christmas papers from the Robin's Nest.  The pages are little pockets and I punched a couple of holes on each page for the binder rings.  The little pockets are for mementos, messages, gift cards, etc.  You can use pretty die-cuts, photos, dimensional punches (such as the mini envelopes), and beads from the Robin's Nest!  I applied minimal embellishment to this mini journal....I am sure you will have lots of your own ideas!  

If you have any questions please message me.  Thank you for stopping by!  

Wishing you lots of inspiration and a blessed Holiday season!

Happy Crafting!

Live Life with a Flourish,

Marilyn

http://www.marilyngossett.com/

                         http://chatteringrobins.blogspot.com/2013/11/ornament-blog-hop.html

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Here is a perfect Thank-You gift for the Holidays!

I posted this last December, but thought it was worth a re-cycle!

Happy November!

Every year I like to have home-made gifts to give out to friends for the Holidays.  This recipe for Stove-Top Potpourri is always a favorite and so easy to put together.  Packaging is up to you; I have used cello bags with pretty ribbons, decorated paper mache' boxes and kraft bags.  I like to put the cloves and cinnamon sticks in separate tiny plastic bags so they can be measured out without getting all over everything else.  Hope you enjoy making some!  I include the recipe with the gift, and thus the picture with the recipe on it that is shown here.  Yes, those lemons and spices went into someone's gift bag. You can change the recipe up a little depending on what you have on hand.  This recipe gives us most of the options; a lemon works nicely along with the orange!

Ingredients

• 2 cinnamon sticks or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves or 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 orange peel, quartered (fresh cranberries are also great to add as well)
• 1 whole nutmeg or 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 cups water

Directions

1. Place water into a small saucepan. Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, vanilla bean, nutmeg and orange peels. Turn heat to medium until water starts to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer as long as desired. Check water level every 1/2 hour that you have simmering. Water needs to be added as needed. Do not let water evaporate. Use potpourri for 2 days (adding additional water as necessary) then discard and make a new batch.

Makes 2 cups potpourri

This is a perfect Thank-You gift for a hostess!   The little snowman is perfect for hiding away some mulling spices or chocolates!  I cut the box on my Cricut machine and punched out circles for the head and hat.  Easy and cute!

 So, let the Holidays begin!  Click on the blue DCC button to check out great thank-you gifts from more designers.

Happy Holiday Crafting!

Live Life with a Flourish,

Marilyn