Poinsettia Tag for Festive Friday #24

Hi folks. I've been following my dear blog friend, Geri at Paper Wishes, for quiet a while now. She is a spectacularly talented artist and a down right beautiful soul. Her designs always blow me away, and I've been loving the places she visits in Blogdom.

Her designs for Festive Fridays Challenge Blog are some of my favorites, and I decided to give it a try myself, especially since this week's FFC24 inspiration photo is ripe with potential, and features one of my favorite color schemes.

 

My contribution is an eight inch tall tag. This composition is a bit more Rococo than my usual fare, but I kind of like it. Here are the ways I think this card gibes with the photo:

1. Many different colors of white with gold enhancement.

2. Organic twisted "lines" that run through the image.

3. Round white and gold balls.

4. Glitter here and there.

5. Both have a fair amount of depth. (The picture below was taken with side lighting to capture the feeling of depth that really doesn't show too well in the picture above.)

The poinsettia dies from Spellbinders, and the "merry" die from Papertrey are some of my favorites. (By the way, don't you just love the gold paper the word is cut from; it's wall paper from the 1940s backed with heavy stock.)  I really like the ribbon at the top and think it goes, BUT, I sure don't like the bow it makes. Do you have any suggestions for a better topper that won't cover up the tag?

Can't thank you enough for visiting. I'll be visiting your place soon!

Papertrey's November Blog Hop - Paper House

After a long absence, I'm finally posting again. Who can resist making little paper houses, especially at holiday time when bling is a necessity? Papertrey's Blog Hop this November is one I just couldn't sit out. You can find the link for the house template and the blog hop here.

The house is small at only 2 1/2" a side. This was a good challenge, since most of my PTI stamps were just too big.

I finally settled on a fabric-based quilted cottage theme. (This house looks so much cozier in person. For some reason I took terrible pics of this, and had no time, or sun, left for a second shoot.) Eventually, an LED tea-light (that hasn't been purchased yet) will show off the pale pink vellum windows.

Down to the details.

I love how PTI colors work together, and I've always wanted to make a project using the lighter and bluer hues of Christmas - Scarlet Jewel, Autumn Rose, Pinefeather, and Ocean Tides. Kraft ink was used for the "stitched together" sides, using the a stamp from Sew Simple Borders. My double striped stamp made ticking walls. (Don't you just love the homey look of ticking?)

The windows are round so that the half button shutters will cover them neatly. (I stamped the die cut buttons with a small floral print, but I'm not so sure you can easily tell they are buttons now. Would some "Glossy Accents" help define them better, or should I just leave them alone?)

The back of the house shows off the 'gingerbread' lace that lines the roof on all four sides. (Used a bit of Glossy Accents on the cut ends of the trims to keep them from unraveling.) All the windows are topped the the leaves from Believe, with pink gems covering the berries.



Happy Hexagons stamps on die cut pieces from the Hexagon Cover Plate form a warm roof. I wanted some stitching lines to enhance it's 'quiltiness', but didn't have a good  idea how to do that. Do  you have a way that has worked for you? I'd love to know what works.

Now for a second question. I REALLY wanted to glitter my little house, but thought that the glitter would ruin the fabric ambiance. What do you think about a little along the eves and maybe the windows? Roll the whole house around in it?

Saved my favorite for last - the front door. Two sets helped me finish the trimmings. The wreath is from Believe, the banner and trees are from Door To Door. (Don't those trees look like they're made from thread?)  I like buttons in the the corners of the banner, but I've not conquered the technique of button coloring using alcohol markers.

If you have any thoughts concerning my questions, or are just a dear, please leave a comment. I love hearing what fellow crafters think. Thanks for taking the time for the house tour, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.