Thursday, November 5, 2015

Anything but Cute Mixed Media Challenge # 7 "It's Ornamental"

Hello everyone!
It's time for our new challenge at Anything But Cute, and Cec is our lovely hostess this time with her theme "It's Ornamental".  For her challenge, I made some table decorations I can leave out throughout the winter months.  These just border on being cute and there's no "Happy Holidays" in sight, so I hope I don't get thrown off the team! I've just put away my Halloween crafty things, so I'm not yet quite in the Christmas mood! But there's a chill in the air, and I can wish for snow! A special thank you to Anne for adding a little class to this first photo!


Here's the challenge description:

For this challenge, Cec would like you to create a mixed media ornament for your Christmas tree or a Christmas decor item for your house or table.

These little snow shakers came to me as I was looking through my bottle collection for some bottles for my last project.  They  are salt shakers with no mates, so what better use can I put them to? (I was going to put my glitters in them and display them on a wall, but I've run out of wall space!) Apologies up front for the poor photography.  With all the glitter and sparkle, it was almost impossible to get a clear shot!

I was going to fill just one with a little winter scene and call it done, but I had a ball of paper clay on my work top from another project. It occurred to me to make a snow ball head.  From there I just got carried away, and I have absolutely no in progress shots.  So sorry!

Each snowman's head is made from a styrofoam ball covered in a layer of paper clay.  I punched a hole where the nose should go and pressed in little black stones from my stash for the eyes while the clay was still wet..  The stones are supposed to resemble coal.  I removed them and allowed the clay to dry. Once the clay was dry, I glued them in place.  The "carrot" noses are 2 Christmas "bulbs" from a set of mini plastic string lights colored with alcohol ink, and the third is an actual bulb from a string of vintage Christmas lights. The mouths are made with seed beads.




I coated the heads with Mod Podge and sprinkled them liberally with Diamond Dust. The hats are the actual caps from the shakers.  One was coated with Diamond Dust and I added some tiny pom poms, one I added some mini pine cones, some fake greenery and a cardinal  from my stash, and the third got dressed up with some pearls.




I tried to make a pom pom for one, but here's my results:


This shaker is filled with buttons and beads from my stash, and the neck is decorated with a snippet of bead studded lace. I coated the outside of the bottle with Matte Medium and when dry, random areas of Rock Candy Crackle paint.  It pooled at the bottom, and by happy accident made little ice feet, but in handling the shaker to photograph it mostly chipped off.



I wanted this shaker to represent my memories of skating on snowy days in my younger years.  I spritzed Perfect Pearl spray inside, and swirled it around.  While still wet, I added Diamond Dust and swirled that around, and allowed this to dry. To decorate the outside, I stole a pipe cleaner from my cat's stash (his favorite toy!), added some pearl beads and wrapped with fibers to represent a "muff". Get your minds out of the gutter--according to Google "a tube made of fur or other warm material into which the hands are placed for warmth."I had one of these as a child and I loved it! I added some mini die cast metal ice skates, which I coated first with gesso, and then painted with Picket Fence and /Brushed Pewter Distress Paints.





The last shaker was given a spritz of Dylusions White Linen spray, which I removed most of with a paint brush, because it obliterated my scene!  I left just a little haze to give the illusion of a frosty window.  I added a couple of bottle brush trees, which started out green. I added gesso to the trees, and while still wet, a dusting of Diamond Dust. Once in  the trees were glued in place, I added additional Diamond Dust to the shaker for snow. I wrapped some mini plastic string lights around the neck for a simple decoration. Almost forgot!  I added rub ons that sing out "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!", just barely visible in this shot.



I hope you like my whimsical little snowshakers and that you will be inspired to join our "it's Ornamental challenge at Anything But Cute!  You have an entire month to enter! 



Be sure to check back on the 12th of November to see if you're a winner of our 31 Days of Halloween challenge. It's going to be a VERY difficult decision; there were so many spooky-licious entries!


I would like to enter my Snowshakers into the following inspiring challenges:


Frillie and Funkie Let There Be Light! My "lights" are the Christmas lights on I used as noses and as a scarf on the tallest shaker.


Use Your Stuff Challenge # 198 Use Old Stash So happy to be using up a lot of my old, old stash; not one single thing used it under a couple years old!

Thank you for stopping by today and for all your lovely comments! Hugs and Blessings!
Sara Emily

PS Forgive my funkie text up there.  Blogger wouldn't let me change it after trying about 20 times!  Also, just a note; I saw similar shakers on Pinterest just this morning.  Obviously 2 minds think alike, because I had never seen these before making them myself.  But truth be told, I like the ones I saw on Pinterest much better.

UPDATE: 
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41 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness Sara, what a fun post and even more fun project!! I just love your snowmen and your creativity has once again blown me away...salt and pepper shakers! WHAT!!! LOVE! Using the lids of the shakers to make hats, genius. Your use and joke about the word 'muff', hilarious. Your attempt to make a pom pom, although unfortunate, really made me burst out laughing. Your finished products...adorable, wonderful, festive, funky, fun, full of the Christmas spirit!! You really do inspire me to look around and find inspiration in every day things! Well done my friend. hugs :)

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    1. Thanks, Sweetie! You just don't know how happy I am that you are back in the swing! I've missed your lovely inspiration! Ha, Ha, Ha! on the pom pom; it wasn't funny at the time, but happy I recorded the moment, so I can laugh now. Nothing went right on these little guys, so I appreciate your sweet comment! Hugs!

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    2. Oh Sara, I am so out of practice! I totally forgot to say thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie for our 'Let There be Light' challenge! Hugs, Pamellia the forgetful DT :)

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    3. No problem; I forgot to link up when I posted! Senior moment!

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  2. I admire the creativity and whimsy of your snowmen. What fun you must have had making them!

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    1. Awe, thank you! There were some fun moments, but a few frustrations as well...tee hee!

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  3. WOW!!! What a fun project Sara!!! I love how you used the shaker lids to make the little hats!!! Only you can come up with such fabulous makeovers! Just fantastic!!!
    Hugs

    Samra
    Paper Talk with Samra

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  4. Sara doll, you make me laugh every time! I have to admit laughing out loud for "muff". I had one as a kid as well, and that thing was so warm. You have such a whimsical approach to this design and I will never look at salt shakers the same way. What a genius idea and so well done. The little skates, the Pom poms, the glitter, the small tree-amazeballs! So many details in such a small space. Gorgeous! We both used-mini lights, mini Christmas tree, glitter, and Let it Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow! Creative Geniuses! Haha! My favorite part is how you share the good and the stuff that didn't work out. Hugz to you muffin!

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  5. My dear Sara, what a wonderfully wonderful and fun post! I enjoyed reading! I am totally blown away by your little whimsical snowmen! What a genius idea and only you could create such fantastic pieces of art out of a salt shakers! I love all those mini elements, especially those skates! The pom poms are just awesome, my dear! I am so impressed again by your fantastic creativity! Bravo!
    Huge hugs to you! Branka xxx

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  6. Oh my gosh, Sara, these are amazing! Wow!! What a creative use of salt shakers!! Each one is absolutely fabulous!! I love how you added the details!! I think the little ice skater might be my favorite!! It's taking me forever to leave this comment because I keep scrolling back up to look at them!! I just love them!! They totally make me smile!! I hope you have a wonderful Thursday!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  7. These are just so clever, I love them! Such a lot of work and ingenious use of materials. Thanks for joining us at Unicorn, hope to see you again, Claire DT x

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  8. Sara, your imagination knows no bounds and I adore that about you! I am stunned at this transformation.. this is the most incredible use of a household item. The snowmen turned out perfectly and I love every inspiring detail. (The pom that wasn't made me giggle... clearly that just meant there was a better idea brewing in your amazing crafty heart!) Stunning work as always, Sara! You are something special and I'm grateful to have crossed paths with you this year. You are a blessing to me! Have a wonderful day. :o)

    Hugs and blessings,
    Karen

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  9. Hi Sara! These are just darling! A friend made me a salt shaker snowman years ago and it has come out every year since! Love these! Hugs, Autumn

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  10. Hi they are stunning. Thank you for joining us at the Unicorn Challenge Blog for Challenge 3 “Christmas is Coming” Hugs Jackie (DT)

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  11. I swear I will never look at salt and pepper shakers in the same way ever again! This was such a genius idea Sara and you have taken a simple makeover to a whole new level and now all I see are fabulous snowpeople! Your very clever embellishments really do bring these little characters to life - and those skates - oh I so want a pair like that (even though I am far too old a crotchety to skate, but a girl can dream!) - they just look amazing. Clever, fun and very beautiful! Hugs, Anne xx

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  12. Thanks for joining our challenge at allsorts Tracy X

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  13. This is the cutest home made ornament ever.x { aNNie}

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    1. Shhhh! NOT cute! You trying to get me fired????!!!

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  14. These are beautiful.Loving the snowmens faces.
    Thank you for joining us at Allsorts this week :)
    AnyOldCraft (DT)

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  15. Hi, how amazing are these, just the perfect ornament for any one's table, I just love them, stunning creation..thank you for sharing these with us at this month, and good luck..
    Babs Sparkle christmas DT...X

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  16. I truly love reading your posts- This is why I save them for my last read of the morn! You crack me up!!(whose mind was in the gutter? I knew what a muff was- I have one! haahaa)

    Yes, I do hae to agree- these absolutely border on C-TE! Notice I left out the U? I did not want to have you booted from the team for saying it out loud! teehehee
    You are so clever my friend and these are delicious treats to make and give as gifts or even place cards as well( again, no C word used) I love them!!
    hugs my clever friend!! xoxo

    Disclaimer: No Specific "C" words were used in the writing of this comment ")

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  17. I LOVE your shaker snowwomen Sara, what great heads and decoration - wonderful pearls, crackle and faces!! Julia xx

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  18. So this was such a fun post to read once I got my magnifying glasses out - lol. I did chuckle at the muff comment and it brought back memories because I had a white furry muff when I was about 8 years old that I loved On to your project. Your little snowmen are fantastic and more fun and funkie than the c word. You have put so much detail into each one that I had to keep coming back to look at them and sure enough I had missed things, like the little skates. I love their Christmas light noses and their shaker top hats. Salt and pepper shakers as art - who'd a thunk it. Clever Sara Emily, that's who.

    Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  19. Oh my gosh, Sara!! Your little altered snowmen are just precious beyond words! I am so in love with anything vintage ... especially around the Christmas season. These little guys are adorable! So clever and so beautifully done! Salt and pepper shakers ..... really .... REALLY?!?!? Where did you come up with this? So so clever! Your tutorial was great as well. And ... I would just like to take a second to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your very kind comment you left on my blog. I take those to heart and you've made mine very happy. Thank you so much and have a fabulous weekend.

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  20. Well, I guess I'd best not say these are cute, eh?! So I will settle for clever and adorable.....very fun to see all the details! I hope your cat doesn't figure out where her pipe cleaner went - mine would be all over these little darlings in a NY minute! Thanks for getting putting my toes into the holiday waters with these guys! xxx Lynn

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  21. Sara, this is unbelievably awesome. Every detail is perfection! You make me want to go hunting for some cute shakers to use for myself. :)
    Thank you for sharing your project with us this week for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. I love these snowmen! ~Michelle

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  22. These are amazing!!! What a great idea and all the details are just perfect. The snowmen are so cute. Love all the glitter too. Thank you so much for sharing with us at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog!

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  23. These are wicked Sara!! I love their sparkle and how clever you've been with making these. Gonna miss you guys, but so grateful I can see your amazing work through blogland xx

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  24. Wow, this is really beautiful and so original! Thank you for sharing your wonderful project at Holly Jolly Christmas challenge.

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  25. What a lovely project . Thanks for joining us at Holly Jolly Christmas challenge.Neva

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  26. Inspired upcycling - what a fabulous makeover for those salt shakers! I love all the little decorative touches, inside and out, especially the lacy collars. Sorry about the pompom but who needs it?! Fabulous!
    Alison xx

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  27. Your altered salt and pepper shakers and such a clever idea! The crackle glaze, pearls and white and silver colours gives it such a gorgeous vintage look and the tops as hats... so clever. Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie and for making me laugh with your post! #muff ;)

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  28. Super cute shaker snowmen Sara! Love all the details right down to the pearls in the shaker! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  29. I love your snowmen, they're such fun and so cute, thank you for sharing them with us at Altered Eclectics.
    xxx Hazel.

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  30. Really cool snowmen)))) Super cute))) I like them)

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  31. Now I'll be honest, snowmen are not usually my thing but these, oh Sara Emily these are sublime!!! LOVE how you've used those glass shakers as the bases and hats, and Christmas lights for noses - AWESOME! Thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie with these cuties. Jenny x

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  32. Oh my, this is too cute, love it ♥♥

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  33. OMG!!! this is so cute and fabulous Sara Emily, I'm totally in awe in front of your three adorable snowshakers... Simply marvelous scene and images for each one, and the three together is just the icing on the cake!!!! I adore them!!!
    Warm hugs!
    Coco

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