Christmas-y Things

Hello, everyone!  I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, and you are ready to get in the Christmas spirit!

This box started out as this non-descript rubbery-acetate-y thing.  I thought I would store craft stuff in this set of three I picked up at a yardsale.  But a trip to Pinterest got me thinking what a beautiful Christmas decor box this could be.  I am also a collector  hoarder of vintage jewelry- broken, whole, damaged--whatever!  It can be used for something.  Here was the perfect opportunity.  So you will find a pair of clip-on earring amongst the mess. Following are 4 photos--one from each side.

My daughter has expressed her love of this creation, and has inquired as to where it is going to end up.  She has been so helpful to me in getting my photos uploaded to my blog, that I am going to fill it with some "horse" money and gift it to her. Enjoy, Lauren!

The box was treated to some alcohol inks, then HEAT embossed with Holographic embossing powder on the inside and white embossing powder on the outside. I also used the Holographic EP on the edges of the lid and the corners of the box on the outside.  Yes!  You can heat emboss plastic if you are patient!  Thank goodness there was an extra lid in the set of three, because I got to test all my techniques on that first.  Of course, the test came out better than the finished product!

I altered two silver Christmas balls with Mod Podge and Epsom salts, and two leaves from my flower stash with Dylusions and Tattered Angels sprays, followed by the Epsom salt treatment.  I am sold on this, and will be selling my jar of Diamond Dust to the highest bidder!  That stuff was tearing up my hands, and I'm sure it's not good for my kitties paws.

The pinkish ball was done with 15 squirts of water from my mister and a couple of Sweet and Low spoonfuls of Perfect Pearls powders (yes, I hoard Sweet and Low spoons in my Embossing Powder drawer--you should try it, they are really handy!) and left to drip dry for days!

Now for a BIG hug to Pamellia for her tutorial on UTEE!  I have never used this stuff before, but after her great easy to follow instructions, I knew I had to break out that 15 year old jar for this project.  I had to add on a few more layers, though, and in addition to the white embossing powder layer, I added a layer of Holographic EP, before finishing up with several more layers of UTEE.  Suffice it to say, these buggers are thick and I have no more fingerprints on my fingers! A couple of cheap silk flowers were harmed in the making of my poinsettia stamen.  Thank you so much, Pamellia for helping me to take a step out of my comfort zone to give UTEE a try, and for your wonderfully easy to follow and informative tutorial! If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to visit the link above.

Apology:  Sorry for all the similar close-ups, but I was trying to get that Holographic powder to show.  I couldn't decide which to eliminate!

A few gold bells treated to alcohol ink to make silver "Jingle" bells , a few pieces of costume jewelry,  and some pearls and pearl stems from my stash finished this sweet little box off. This has got to be my most time consuming project yet with all the layers of UTEE and embossing powder on the poinsettias and the alcohol inks, and such.  But a blast to make and a proud moment for me when it was done:)!

 Thank you so much for your visit to my blog and  for any sweet comments you choose to leave.  I read and try to respond to each and every one!

I would like to enter this in the following inspirational challenges:

Craft Hoarders Anonymous #20 "Box It Up!"

Divas By Design "Jingle Bells"

Inspiration Journal "Happy Holidays!"

Stamplorations "Stamps and Layers"

The Artistic Stamper Creative Team "Christmas Is Coming!"

The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side #3 "Christmas Decorations"

Products used:  Stamps by Autumn Leaves Fourishes v.2,  Versamark embossing ink, white and Holographic embossing powders,  Ranger alcohol inks, Perfect Pearls powder, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Dylusions Ink Spray, Tim Holtz' poinsettia die, clear UTEE, Mod Podge, Epsom salts, and junk from my crafty hoard.