Christmas in July—Addiction to Frames

Please welcome Pamela from From My Front Porch to Yours for Day 8 of Christmas in July!

********************************************

Hi my name is Pamela and I am from over at From My Front Porch To Yours. I was so honored when I was asked to participate in Christmas In July with all these fabulous ladies! I pondered for weeks what I was going to share and well after several treasure hunting trips it dawned on me!

I LOVE frames! I am addicted to frames and use them all around my house.

I can always manage to work a frame in some where!:)

One project I do every year is to make frames as gifts for teachers or whomever. I shop for frames at HobLob when they are 50% off. I stock up thru out the year. Also at the end of the holiday season I always take part in Michaels clearance. I can find so many beautiful ribbons, stickers, chip boards, and embellishments on sale that I have to tell my self to stop and not put another thing in my cart!;) You will also need ModgePodge, craft glue and a hot glue gun plus whatever else you can imagine!

I always make such a huge mess. Most of the time the kitchen table is out of commission for two days once I get started. My boys don't mind because that means picnic time in the living room!:)

I never really now what I am going to end up with.

Most of the time I can find the little mini gold frames in the Michaels bargain section. I love these frames because you can do so many things with them. I have even made fridge magnets with them.

I loved this chip board box so much and hated the thought of throwing it away so instead I used it to create a layered shadowbox of sorts.

I used a white paint pen and covered up the wording at the top of the box and made it look like more snow. Then I used a vintage scene from a card I had to make it look like you are peering thru the window at Santa. Then I used some chip board pieces to cover up the other areas on the box that needed covering. This frame is one of my favorites.

I know it is only July but for me it is never to early to get a jump start on decorating and crafting for the holidays! It will be here before we know it and I hope that I was able to inspire a few projects out there.

Thanx for stopping by!

Be sure to stop by all these fabulous ladies if you missed any of the projects shared this past week!
Amanda-The Ivy Cottage Blog
Korrie-Red Hen Home
Anita-Cedarhill Ranch
Debbie-Confessions of a Plate Addict
Samantha-Crafty Texas Gals
Missy-Lookie What I Did
Linsey-The Farmhouse Porch

Christmas in July—Old World Christmas

Please welcome Linsey from The Farmhouse Porch for Day 7 of Christmas in July!

****************************************

Howdy gals! Linsey here from The Farmhouse Porch. My project for "Christmas in July" is sort of a hodge podge mix of  crafting/art/home decor. You guys know that aging things and giving them patina is my thing. Buying all new is so sterile, buying only old stuff can look stale. But when you mix the two it looks great. The problem with buying old stuff is that sometimes the real deal is really, really expensive. Take religious antiques for example. If you were to try to purchase this antique 24 inch oil painting of St. Jerome here, expect to pay...



$2,500.00


whoa.


The reason I bring up religious antiques is because I love the look of an old world, European church at Christmas. I happened upon a little saint picture at the dollar store and bought it in the hopes that I could age it to get that "religious artifact" feel. I also set up some simple displays around the picture on my entry table to get the entire look going.


Supplies
dollar store candles

Liquin or other glazing medium, this is what I use to thin my oil paint. I like oil paints rather than acrylic because they just look more "aged" in color and patina to me. Raw umber works well for aging, but adding layers of different browns gives the best patina.
Here is the little 10x12" picture I found at the dollar store.

Before

The colors are too bright and flat.

Here is the picture after one application of glaze plus paint. I am holding it up to the light of the window so that you can see it better. I started by applying it with a balled up paper towel.

Here it is after applying more and more glaze/paint, try to use a few different brushes (like the one with bristles in a fan shape). This will add more layers of brushstrokes. It sounds like lots of work but honestly this all took about 10 minutes.

Here it is after. Another cool thing about liquin is that it makes the oil paint dry VERY fast.

I had purchased this old little beat up frame at an antique shop for about $4 a month ago. At first I was trying to hang it on my mirrors in the background and then I had a lightbulb moment...it's perfect for the little "painting"!!!

To add to the old European church look, I filled a galvanized bucket with dirt.Well actually, I filled it with sand first- from the backyard. Then I smelled something that made me gag. Need I continue the story folks? You guessed it...yellow sand from my pup (I can't believe I'm telling you this. I told myself it was my little secret)! So I chucked the sand, washed profusely, and filled the bucket with CLEAN dirt (is that an oxymoron?).

In the end I think it turned out very pretty though...

This is sort of an understated Christmas look. I love the glitz and glam and glitter of Christmas, but a rustic, natural look can be a striking way to celebrate the "holy days" as well.
-Linsey

Please visit these other beautiful blogs for Christmas inspiration...

Amanda @ The Ivy Cottage Blog
Korrie @ Red Hen Home
Anita @ Cedar Hill Ranch
Debbie @ Confessions of a Plate Addict
Samantha @ Crafty Texas Girls
Missy @ Lookie What I Did
Linsey @ The Farmhouse Porch
Pamela @ From My Porch to Yours

Christmas in July—Sharpie Plates

Please welcome Samantha of Crafty Texas Girls for Day 5 of Christmas in July!

**********************************

Welcome to Day 5 of "Christmas in July"

hosted by Cowgirl Up!

Sharpie Plates

I am Samantha from Crafty Texas Girls. I am so excited to share my fun and easy "Sharpie Plates" with you today!

Like any good crafter, I love finding 'vintage treasures'. And on a recent thrifting trip at our local Goodwill, I came across these pretty white plates. So for $6, I snatched up 4 coffee cups and 4 plates.

How to Make Your Own Sharpie Plates

Inspired by a project I found via Pinterest, I decided to use my 'new' plates and a Sharpie marker to create some Christmas dishes. 

One of my favorite color combinations is black and white, so I loved the contrast and simplicity of this project. I used a piece of tape to make a 'guide line'-- it helped me keep the letters straight. Then I free-handed some polka dots on the edge of the plate and on the mug. If you make a mistake, don't worry! Just use some fingernail polish remover to wipe away the ink.

Finally, I baked the dishes in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Then let them cool, they will be hot!

How to Use Your Sharpie Plate

When the holidays roll around, these plates can be used so many different ways!
-For serving Christmas breakfast
-On display in a Christmas vignette
-Or even filled with Christmas goodies and given as presents to the neighbors.

Be Creative 

I loved making this funky mug. The doodle was inspired by this plate.

And my favorite dish ended up being this one, my daughter made it!

Is is December Yet? 

I can't wait for December to roll around so I can incorporate these plates into my Christmas decor.

-Coffee Filter Wreath

-Christmas Pillows

-Shabby Chic Ornaments

See More Crafty Inspiration on my Tutorial Page

If you are a new reader, I hope you'll stop by and visit Crafty Texas Girls- my girls and I are always working on something crafty and fun. Check out the newly updated tutorial page for lots of great home decor, parties, sewing, recipes and family centered projects.  You can also find me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.

-Vintage Chairs: Making the most of thrifted furniture

-Ruffled Lampshade: The beauty of muslin and hot glue

-Birthdays/ Showers: Throwing a party you will love

-Cooking: Memories made in the kitchen

-Top Posts from Crafty Texas Girls: Don't miss these great project ideas!

What would you make with a sharpie marker and some white dishes? What Christmas crafts are you excited to try this year? Stay tuned, "Christmas in July" continues tomorrow with my friend Missy from "Lookie What I Did"!

Christmas in July—French Script Cones

Please welcome Anita from Cedar Hill Ranch for Day 3 of Christmas in July!

***********************************************

Hi, it's Anita here from Cedar Hill Ranch.  This post is part of our Christmas in July series.  We have 8 days of Christmas projects to break up this July heat, and the posts are showing on 8 fabulous blogs.  I'll show you the schedule later in this post.

When the Cowgirl Up ladies were discussing doing a Christmas in July, I have to admit I panicked a little. I had no idea what I was going to do, because I don't think of myself as being crafty. 

My first reaction was to say no.  But then I might be considered the "Cowgirl Grinch"  or the "Texas Scrooge", so I decided to keep my mouth shut.  I'm the oldest of of the Cowgirl Up group,

so I work at not being "the frumpy, cranky, old one."

Everyone chimed in about what a great idea it was, so that was that.  I could go along with the group or be the "Debbie Downer."  Now I had to come up with something, or be the mean mom that tells the cool kids they are being too loud. 

Before I get to my project, I wanted to tell you a little bit about the ranch. Come on, and pull up a chair on the back porch.

Or we could hang out on the front porch.

This spring when the bluebonnets were in full bloom, this was my view when I had my morning cup of tea. I love it when the bluebonnets are blooming. It's a magical few weeks.

Cedar Hill Ranch is a 30 acre ranch in the heart of Texas. It's what I call "Texas Living with a French accent."  Dinner on my back porch with my friends and family is really a picture of what life is here is all about.

Come for a visit any time, just click here.

Here's the schedule for the entire Christmas in July Series.  You can see all of the posts by visiting the blog you are looking at right now, but I would love it if checked out all of these wonderful blogs.  

Here are the links

Amanda @ The Ivy Cottage Blog
Korrie @ Red Hen Home
Anita @ Cedar Hill Ranch
Debbie @ Confessions of a Plate Addict
Samantha @ Crafty Texas Girls
Missy @ Lookie What I Did
Linsey @ The Farmhouse Porch
Pamela @ From My Porch to Yours

I had some ideas of what I could do for this project, but they required my sewing machine that was in the shop.  Since then I have received news that it will cost $200 to repair it, so I'm shopping for a new one. So what to do...  I pulled everything (and I do mean everything) craft-related out of every drawer in the house, and laid it all out.  After surveying my materials, I came up with the idea of making Christmas cones that could double as place cards.

The first thing I did was to use my script stamp to add French script to my card stock.  (Honestly I can't read this, so it could be in French, English or Spanish and I wouldn't know. I'm calling it French, but really I'm not sure what it is.)

Next, I formed the cardstock into a cone shape and used tape to keep it in place.

I thought I would try adding a little je ne sais quoi to the cones. I used a Martha Stewart snowflake paper punch to make some paper snowflakes, and added them around the outside of the cone.

I think solid green paper might have worked better, but I didn't have solid green, so I used what I had. I added a twine bow to the top of the cone.

I also used these card stock tags from Pick your Plum for the placecards, using just the first initial of each guest's name.  I also cut a little piece of snowflake trim to top off my cone.  Later, these cones can be hung on the tree using the twine bow at the top.

I filled the cones with tiny, little pinecones. Okay, pinecones don't come this small, they are actually from Hemlocks in North Carolina. I grab these from the ground each year when we go there.  I also used vintage sheet music from my FIL's collection to go under the saucers. These are church hymns, and the date of publication was 1926.

Here's a view of the table with my new Christmas cones.

I used my Lenox Wheat dishes for this table. These dishes were my MIL's and she always talked in reverential tones when discussing how special these dishes were. I wondered when we would ever have an occasion special enough for her to use them.  Sadly the answer was "never." 

She kept these stored away for that special occasion that never came.  I'm sure she did use them at least once when she was yonger, but in the 30 years that I knew her, they stayed snugly stored in one of her china cabinets. 

After I made the cones, I realized I needed a way to keep them upright on the table.  I thought of placing them in a tall glass, but then remembered my chicken wire that I had left over from my chicken wire project, click here to see it.  I cut small pieces of the wire and made them into small cylinders, then squeezed them together to better hold the cones.

To go with all of the gold trim on the dishes, I used my MIL's solid brass napkin rings, and also her embroidered napkins.  (She had an pretty impressive stash of linen and cotton napkins.)

I also used her embroidered tablecloth,

And her bronze flatware, that she picked up on a trip to Thailand.

This turned out to be fun! Thanks for joining our Christmas in July party. Remember to come back Tuesday morning for Cowgirl Up.  Next week Cowgirl Up will resume it's normal schedule of going live Monday night at 9 pm.