Monday, August 30, 2010

Christmas Decorating


When I was browsing the various web sites the other day I stopped off at JustRite Inspirations and looked at the Friday challenge #33 and it is a sketch. Well by now we all know how much I LOVE (read dislike intensely) sketch challenges, but this one really got to me. I especially loved the wall hanging inspiration sample.
I went right over and started pulling out papers and stamps and ribbons and embellishments and started to play. I ended up with three bases and then had to decide how to finish them.
This one is the first. In keeping with my quest to use existing supplies I started with some Gina K Pure Luxury 120lb white card stock. I wanted something strong enough to handle usage but light enough to swing when a door moved. I then added some kraft card stock that I had run through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder and then promptly covered most of it up with the striped DP (something from my stack of DP that I've had for over a year).
I knew that I wanted to use the Christmas Treasures and Borders set (just not the borders), so I stamped the images with Memento Rich Cocoa on Beckett Expression Aster card stock. I colored with Copics, keeping the colors somewhat muted. Then I cut them out with a circle Nestie, ran my Krylon gold leafing pen around the edge and mounted them onto some of the Banana Leaf paper I have left that was cut out with an octagon Nestie. Since I couldn't find card stock to co-ordinate with the base for my vertical element I made my own. I took some of the same card stock and trimmed it to 3/4" by 5 1/2 " then since it was double sided I took the reverse side and trimmed a piece 1/4" by 5 1/2" to lay over top. Then I took a ruler and measured that in half and took a blue gel pen and just ran a squiggle line down the center.
To finish it off I doubled the ribbon in half and made the handle and then added the brad to the left side where the ribbon goes through. This brad was from a kit that I bought at a local store that was closing a couple of years ago. I punched a circle of the same DP and added it to the center.
From this description it sounds like a lot of work but it really wasn't, it was fun to do and now I just have to decide do I keep it or do I give it away. Hmmmm.
Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by. Now I'll go finish the other wall hangers I started, need one for the new great-nephew coming next month.

4 comments:

Marge said...

What a fun door hanger for the Holidays!!! My hubby just asked why my Halloween was already hanging on my craft room door -- LOL!!! Told him it was to get me in the mood to do fall crafting when it was still above 110 degrees here -- we do what we must to get creative in advance of a season!!!

Sheri said...

Great idea! I love that stamp set!

shulsart said...

Kathy, this is fantastic. Great use of your existing supplies and great balance of colors and embellishments. I think it needs to come to Fowlerville, lol.

Liz Weber said...

Hi Kathy, now aren't you glad you joined in the sketch challenge, your wall hanging looks awesome and the stamps were the perfect choice with the papers. FAB take on the sketch!