Graphic 45 and May Arts Blog Hop - Day 5

Hello and Welcome on this wonderful Friday!!!

Thanks for joining in on this incredible journey put together by Graphic 45 and May Arts!

Graphic 45 and May Arts have teamed up for a super fun blog hop December 12-16th! With tons of inspiration, fabulous prizes, incredible crafts and so much more! Behold the magic that happens when Graphic 45 vintage-inspired papers and embellishments join forces with gorgeous May Arts ribbons! Our design teams have gone all out to bring you the most enchanting crafts! Along the way you'll discover lots of fabulous new ideas to inspire your holiday season! So have fun and get inspired every day of this fantastic blog hop with Graphic 45 and May Arts!

And don't forget to leave your comments on each designer's blog to be entered for your chance to win some outstanding prize packs. One random comment will be chosen from one of our design team member's blogs and announced on Monday, December 19th!

There's also an exclusive Facebook prize! Check out the Graphic 45 Facebook page and leave a comment for your chance to win!

May Arts is also offering gorgeous prizes on their blog and Facebook page! So you'll definitely want to check it out! Just tell them that Graphic 45 sent you! So much inspiration! So many chances to win prizes! This is going to be a great week!

Here is what you could win from Graphic 45!!!!

The Gorgeous, and Brand NEW  Tropical Travelogue 12x12 paper pad, coordinating chipboard die-cuts 1 & 2, and some gorgeous May Arts ribbons!

Want to learn more about Graphic 45 and May Arts? Here's some fun information about these two fantastic crafting companies!

Graphic 45 an award-winning scrapbook and paper crafting company­— owned and operated by a mother and her two daughters. Together we create vintage inspired crafting products that capture the flamboyant style of the 1920's and 30's - with vibrant color, irresistible texture and imaginative design to create products with decades-old appeal that's both fresh and familiar. Let our products inspire your next scrapbook layout, card, album, altered art project, or home decor DIY project.

May Arts is a ribbon wholesaler, based in Riverside, Connecticut, serving over 16,000 customers worldwide. We offer an exceptional selection of ribbons, including sheer, satin, grosgrain, silk and a variety of patterns and prints. We also maintain a steady stock of inventory so that orders can be fulfilled immediately. As one of the country’s leading wholesalers of decorative ribbons, May Arts has been providing superior products and the highest level of customer service for over 25 years.

And Incase you are just jumping in today, here is a complete schedule of the entire week so you don't have to miss anything!!  Plus you still have till Sunday night to get your comments in for a chance a chance to win those prize packs...So what are you waiting for!!!

Monday, December 12th
Lynette Carroll - http://www.lynettecarrolldesigns.typepad.com/
Jane Tregenza - www.janetregenza.blogspot.com
JackandCat Curio - jackandcatcurio.blogspot.com
Candy Rosenberg - http://candyscraps.typepad.com/scraps/
Latrice Murphy - http://www.latricemurphy.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, December 13th
Ellen Sosnoski - http://closeyourears.blogspot.com/
Laura Denison - www.followingthepapertrail.blogspot.com
Charlene Driggs - http://www.paperandinkplayground.com/
Melaine Forbes - www.melanie-forbes.blogspot.com
Jen Shears - http://jenshearsdesigns.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, December 14thRobin Shakoor - http://robinshakoor.blogspot.com
Yuka Hino - http://nsnlso.blogspot.com/
Jenifer Cowles - http://scrapbooking-n-more.com/default.aspx
Gloria Stengel - www.gloriascraps.blogspot.com
Jingle - http://www.justjingle.blogspot.com/

Thursday, December 15thJinky Kowalski - http://jinkyscrafts.blogspot.com/
Sherry Cheever - http://sherrycheever.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Britta Swiderski - http://brittaswiderski.com/
Hilde Janbroers - http://hildejanbroers.blogspot.com/
Karen Baker - http://thebalddragonfly.blogspot.com/

Friday, December 16th
Tara Orr - http://eachmoment-onlyonce.blogspot.com
Kimberly Jones - http://serendipityvintagestudio.blogspot.com/
Nancy Wethington -  http://art-from-the-heart.typepad.com
Peggy Cain - http://www.createwithbubbe.blogspot.com/

 Nicole Eccles - www.NicoleEccles.blogspot.com  <----YOU ARE HERE
Vera Yates - http://www.lingshappyplace.blogspot.com/

Now enough sneaky peaky teasers, onto the real deal!

For my project I decided to alter a Bell Shaped Glass Ornament.  Found at most local craft stores, including Michaels and Hobby Lobby, also available at some Scrapbook Stores released by Melissa Frances. 

The glass ornament comes with a precut Chipboard base that can be decorated with any materials, and turned into an ornament, or a wonderful piece of altered art with a scene underneath!

For mine, I decided it was a woman's skirt!! 

Created by layering strips of May Arts yummy white lace side by side and on top of itself, then hand stitching them along the top, binding them all together. 

For easy placement upon the Bell Shaped Ornament, simply sew a small key ring to the top of the presewn skirt.

Now it will sit perfectly atop your ornament, and keep the perfect "skirt" shape, and now may be adhered into place using a high tack glue.

Trim ends of lace to desired length of skirt once adhered to ornament.

The woman was hand cut from Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante Line, wings were stamped separately onto dictionary paper, cut out and adhered. 

*To add strength to your angel, firmly adhere a popsicle stick to her back!

For smaller paper projects, use toothpicks!!

Under the skirt I wanted the appearance of a peaceful snowy scene.  Using miniatures found at my local craft store, I was able to create the feel I was looking for.

 

First I covered the chipboard base using Vintage Silver Flower soft.

Once dry, I adhered my tiny white Christmas Tree, and decorated it using vintage looking wooden beads found from my local craft store. 

And last a tiny plastic deer lazing about placed right in front of the tree.

Super simple for such an elegant effect!!

Last, I adhered the decorated chipboard base atop a rusty looking cast iron candlestick using E6000.

Allow plenty of time to dry

Finish the whole thing off with a Cream Satiny Sweet May Arts Ribbon tied around the center, and set into a worn ceramic dish.   For effect add a few glass ornaments and a Pine Cone, or even some fresh greens or Potpourri and you have an instant Elegant Christmas Buffet or Mantle Piece!!! 

Also, for easier storage, do not glue the glass ornament to it's base, instead treat it like a Cloche that can just be placed over top.  This way it can be wrapped safely away from the weight of the cast iron, and won't accidentally get broken!

Thank you so much for stopping by today on your amazing journey with Graphic 45 and May Arts!

Don't forget to visit all the other incredible designers that have been featured today, and not to mention all week long!! 

And leave those comments along the way for your chance to win some goodies!!!

Stay Warm this weekend, and take some time to Alter Your World!!!

Nicki Chicky

Supplies Used:

Graphic 45 Papers:

Steampunk Debutante: Eclectic Emporium

Colorbox Decades Inks: Photogenic

May Arts:  White lace, Cream Satin Ribbon

Stampers Anonymous: Angel Wings

Flower Soft: Vintage Silver

Other: Bell Shaped Ornament w/Chipboard Base, Cast Iron Candlestick, Wooden Beads,

Miniature Xmas Tree and Deer, Dictionary Paper

Spring Cheer to Brighten Those Gloomy Winter Days Using Graphic 45 Once Upon A Springtime

Hello and Welcome on this Super Cold Thursday!! 

Today I have a fun project for you using Graphic 45's Once Upon A Springtime!  This is a great little project to brighten up those winter days, and even have a quick and fun technique to share!

So onto the inspirations...

This fun little fairy block was created using a 2" wooden block, 2 Maya Road Bottlecaps, 2" for the mushroom garden and a giant bottle cap for the block to sit into, and some wooden spools for feet! 

Notice the mushrooms created out of Graphic 45 Doorknobs and Metal Brads!!!!

The mushrooms are super easy to create with just a little copper refrigeration tubing, purchased at any local hardware store..

  To create the mushrooms, simply cut a length of tubing using a pipe cutter, add a little E600 to one end, and slide it over the back of the metal brads or door knob. 

 It's really just that simple...

Cut your tubing to different lengths and create a whole mushroom garden!

If you have trouble with the brads bottoms, simply snip the fasteners off using wire cutters  and you will be left with a blank stem to slide tubing over... 

For the cute wooden block I covered it in wonderful Once Upon a Springtime papers.  Simply accented by a few handcut images..LOVE the frog with his flower!!

To fill in the spaces around the block inside of the bottlecap I used

 some dry moss, adhered with hot glue. 

And for an added magical touch sprinkle a little mica for shine, like a light layer of snow melting into the spring!

Supplies Used:

Graphic 45 papers:

Once Upon a Springtime: Woodland Fantasy, Primrose Cottage, Once Upon A Springtime, Tags

Le Cirque: Extravaganza

Graphic 45 Staples: Doorplates(knob), Metal Brads

Colorbox Decades Inks: Triumphant red

Ranger: Rock Candy Distress Stickles, Glossy Accents

Maya Road: Giant Bottle Caps

Scrapbook Adhesives: 3D Foam Squares

Tombow: Glue Stick

Other: Copper refrigeration tubing, moss, tinsel, mica snow, wooden spools, beads, E6000, Hot Glue Gun

 Thanks so much for stopping today for a little inspiration!

Wishing you a safe and warm weekend!

Nicki Chicky



A Wooeing We Go With Graphic 45 ABC Primer

Hello and Welcome on this, the first Monday of December!

It's hard to believe we are already counting down the days to Christmas, then OMG followed by the New Year..WOW..Honestly the years just seem to go by faster and faster these days...Always leaving me wondering, Where did the time truly go?!?

Well for me it has been busy, busy, busy!!!

And loving every minute of it. But sometimes in all my busy times running around getting ready for shows, teaching classes or just creating I forget about the people who mean the most to me.  It's good to just take a moment and let someone know you love them.  Expecially during those long, gloomy days of Winter.

This cute little card is perfect for the occasion.  Super quick to create and super sweet!

Created with a wonderful mix of Graphic 45's An ABC Primer and The Magic Of Oz.  I absolutely LOVE this image of,  A frog He Would A-wooeng go, cut from an An ABC Primer line.  Great for Valentine's Day, Sweetest Day, or Just to show your love...  Trimmed with luscious May arts ribbon. 

And complimented by Graphic 45's Metal Tags displaying the tag 1 + 1...  

Supplies Used:

Graphic 45 Papers:

An ABC Primer: Building Blocks, Bedtime Stories, One Two Buckle My Shoe

Magic Of Oz: Tenderhearted Tin Man

Graphic 45 Staples: Metal Tags

Fiskars: Postage Stamp Edge Borger Punch

May Arts: Ribbon

Spellbinders: Classic Scallop Rectangle Small Nestabilities

Ranger: Rock Candy Distress Stickles, Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, Glossy Accents, Platinum Stickles

Ideology: Grungeboard Flourish

Scrapbook Adhesives: 3D Foam Squares, repositionable adhesive

Tombow: Color Glue Stick

Other: Silk flower

So whether you are already thinking ahead to  Valentine's day.  Or just thinking about the one's you love, this would make the perfect little reminder! 

Thanks so much for stopping by Today!

Have an outstanding week getting ready for the Holidays!

Nicki Chicky