Vintage Blue Studio

One Reason I Love Christmas...

One reason I love Christmas is because you get to exchange gifts with your friends that are from the heart.  As I mentioned yesterday, I would show you what I received from Lisa when we exchanged gifts on friday. 

An adorable pinecone doll.  Lisa how did you know?  Hehe...

Even when the pink Christmas tree comes down she is staying out year round!

A magic fairy wand!  Now if I wave this at Colin will he magically do the dishes?

A cupcake stick kit!  I think I might put this together today!

 
There were also copies of her image CD's!  I cannot wait to make all kinds of things using these!  Too many ideas are running through my head.

Also, I picked up the cherry fairy I purchased from Lisa.  It's so important to support other artists.

Just look at that face!

Can you tell I had a wonderful time?  Thanks again Lisa!

Now Christmas is almost here and things are about to get super crazy.  I'll probably post a few more times but am going to slowdown until we get through New Year's.  Enjoy the holidays! 
 

   
 
 

Rudolpha the Red-Nosed Reindeer

I spent all day friday with Lisa and her mom Joan.  I had a wonderful time between the cookie-baking, joke-telling and crafting.  Lisa showed us how to make these fabulous Christmas Papier Puppens. I named mine Rudolpha the red-nosed reindeer.  As you can she, she's a sassy deer.

Sparkly red antlers...

A berry sceptre.  I'm thinking about adding some stickles to it for a bit of bling.

 
 Green pipe-cleaner trim...

 
As I was adding the pipe-cleaner a bit of the crepe paper tore in the back.  I got creative and covered it up by making a victorian bustle for her.

 
  
These were so much fun to make.  I can see myself creating an army of crepe paper dolls!  Make sure to check out Lisa's blog to see photos of our day of fun and all three finished dolls. Tomorrow I'll post photos of the gorgeous gifts I received from Lisa. 

Time to go shovel out my car!

Shabby Pink Christmas Swap

I love a good swap and this one was particularly fantastic!  My swap partner for the Shabby Pink Christmas Swap was Sarah of My So Called Junky Life and boy oh boy did she spoil me!  Check out the goodies I received from her...

A pretty pink "Love" ornament

 
A decorated snowman box!  He's super cute...

A decorated glass bottle and fantastic ornaments...

You can also see the enameled copper snowflake ornament in the back that I made at the studio last year.

A delightful pile of goodies!

 
And my very favorite thing of all, a plush Charlotte angel ornament!

There was also a glittery silver bird in a nest but for the life of me I could NOT get a good photo of it.  Thank you again Sarah for holding the swap AND for sending me the very best gifties!  I love everything and had so much fun working on my ornaments for the swap.

Make sure to stop back here tomorrow.  I spent all day Friday with Lisa and Joan Kettell and had a blast!  We baked cookies, exchanged handmade gifts, laughed a LOT and made Christmas dolls.  I'll show off photos of the reindeer doll I created.  Also, check out Lisa's site because she'll be showing off lots of photos from our day of fun. 

Time for me to prepare for the blizzard! 
 
   

Paper Doll Sneak Peek

I've been working on some paper dolls that incorporate paper clay and I thought I would give everyone a sneak peek...

I'm using the collage sheets from Retro Cafe Art...

Lots of fun trims and papers...

Paper clay, acrylic paint and stickles...

 

I'm hoping to have her finished this weekend in between the last minute Christmas shopping and gift wrapping.  Also, I received a package from Sarah for the Shabby Pink Christmas Swap and I can't even begin to tell you wonderful all of it is!  I'll show photos this weekend!

Stay warm!   
 

A Very Merry Frou Frou Christmas

So since we have a new kitten this year I couldn't put the big tree up again.  That's fine because I still decorated a bit in traditional red and green in the living room and dining room.  However I thought the bedroom could use a little pink Christmas...

 

Happy Decorating!
  
  
 

Tinsel Wonderland Workshop Part 2

So I did NOT finish my doll on Saturday.  I started getting tired a few hours in and decided I NEEDED to go antiquing.  Here's how far I got with my doll...

She only has half her face painted on and some decorations...

 

She wouldn't have even made it that far if Lisa hadn't started attaching the rest of her dress when I ran off to buy stuff(hehe).  She's going to need a LOT more work.

 I won this cute Teddy bear in a raffle.  Then when I got home my husband stole it from me...

 
Now before the workshop started I did make one purchase...

 
Fantastic glass-beaded necklace!  Can't pass that up!

 Remember that case of Charlottes I mentioned in my last post? 

Well here's the one I chose...

And then I found this shabby old pink, aqua and silver ornament...

And pipecleaner elves!

And tiny plastic Santa's still in the package!

Of course, I wasn't leaving without taking home these rhinestone dress clips...

And before I left early to drive home in the scary snowstorm, Lisa signed my copy of Altered Art Circus! 

Thanks again Lisa for an awesome day!  I can't wait to go back up there and hunt for more goodies! 

Tinsel Wonderland Workshop Part 1

Yesterday I attended the Tinsel Wonderland Workshop by the very sweet and funny Lisa Kettell.  The workshop was located in one of my favorite places...the Lafayette Mill Antique center.  I had such a blast and was so happy to finally meet other women who enjoy mixed-media as much as I do!

We sat at goodie-filled tables surrounded by Christmas antiques. 

We worked on Christmas dolls.  Here's mine when I drew the face outline...

 
We worked hard to paint our girls...

She needed hair first... 

 
Terri and Pam...

Extreme closeup of Lisa and I(I look evil)... 

 

Pretty bits and pieces everywhere for us to use!  

 

Some of Lisa's dyed Christmas trees...

 
 
We made quite a mess...

 

We also made time to go antiquing.  I discovered a case of charlotte dolls and quickly informed the girls.  We raided that cabinet!  Stay tuned for round 2 of the Tinsel Workshop photos where I'll share more doll progress photos, the antiques I purchased and more! 

Happy Crafting! 

   

  

Another Snowman!

I finished my second paper clay snowman and he's looking sharp in his festive green and red outfit!  This little Frosty is for Colin's green tree. 

His pointy paper and tinsel hat...

Thanks again to Dawn Edmonson/The Feathered Nest for writing a great tutorial!  Hopefully my kitten will leave Frosty alone!  Now I must go finish getting all my stuff together for the Tinsel Wonderland Workshop!

Why I love Etsy...

Because you can find the most unusual things on there like these cool spun cotton figurines I purchased from Vintage By Crystal!

An aqua cat lady (for me)...

 A guitarist (for my husband who has been learning to play)...

They are the latest additions to my frou frou Christmas display I have in my apartment.  They fit right in with their vintage-feel. 

I'm having such a great time right now decorating and crafting (and shopping) for Christmas.  Today I finished up my ornaments for the Shabby Pink Christmas Swap.  I have a surprise or two that I'm also working on but hush hush!  Also, I'm anxiously awaiting the Tinsel Wonderland Workshop that I'll be attending on Saturday.  

Tis the season to be crafting!  

I Can Follow Directions

Apparently I can follow directions because look at this little snowman ornament I completed Saturday night...

I purchased the paper clay snowman tutorial by Dawn Edmonson/The Feathered Nest and made my own version.  I'm still debating whether he needs some glitter or not.  I started a second one so I may experiment on him.

A closeup of his paper and tinsel hat...

His ruffled paper and tinsel collar...

After I completed both my snowman heads I had a bit of paper clay left so I made a tiny bird ornament...

I painted him in white and then added a wash of robin's egg blue. Then I covered him in glue and sprinkled him with a fine glitter.  Now he's all sweet and sugary.

I liked him so much on my small pink tree that I've started a few more.  Creating for Christmas is so much fun!  By the way, I highly recommend the tutorial.  It's easy to follow and as you can see the results are so cute!