Winter Wishes Blog Hop

Warm thoughts are unfolding, as we begin to enter a festive time of year. Eileen, Kim and The Teams have created a fun blog hop challenge to kick off the American Thanksgiving and Winter festivities.

I am so excited to be part of this Emerald Creek and Eileen Hull blog hop. Most projects aren't complete without a bit of embossing on them, and this one features lots.

Eileen's journals are so functional yet fun. I love the new Wrap Journal, the size is perfect. 

The Santa suit cover was inspired by the red rubber "HO" stamp from Emerald Creek. 

This quick whimsical project is perfect for holiday journaling or list keeping. 

Begin by blending the front of your Wrap Journal with Barn Door Distress Ink and blending tool. 

Use a heat gun to heat set. 

Working one section at a time apply embossing ink to front cover using an Embossing Dauber. Apply embossing powder and heat set. I did two layers of embossing powder to get a nice even coat. 

Note- don't touch the embossed area until completely cool. Ask me how I learned that one!! 

Cover the inside cover with patterned paper. Double-sided adhesive sheets make this super easy.

Add elastic binding. 

Cut a strip of faux fur to size to cover binding and adhere to journal cover. Be sure you have added your elastic binding before adhering the faux fur as it will cover the holes from the outside of the journal 

Prepare your belt by cutting a strip of fabric 4 inches wide. 

It is hard to see in this picture but fold both outside edges to the middle and iron. Then fold in half and iron again. Top stitch down both sides. 

Add buckle to one end and stitch belt. 

Working in sections apply embossing ink to "HO" stamp and stamp onto the belt. Add embossing powder and heat set. Heat embossing on fabric is fun and a great way to add texture to projects.

To finish off the edges of your journal cover emboss 2 corner charms. Be sure to use tweezers to hold the metal pieces while heat setting. And again do not touch til completely cool. Another lesson learned the hard way more than once. 

Make inserts for your Wrap Journal. Eileen's Passport Journal cuts perfectly sized inserts. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope I have inspired you to think of different ways to use embossing powder in your projects. And I hope you make it onto Santa's nice list!!

Don't forget to hop over to the next blog on the list. 

Happy Creating ~ Jennalee 

To play along all you need to do is follow along and comment on every blog. If you play along and link up your own creation using Eileen and Emerald Creek products, you will get 2 bonus entries for the draw. Contest Closes on Sunday, November 25th, with the Winner announced Cyber Monday!

Prize includes an Eileen Hull Journal Die and a $50.00 gift certificate to the Emerald Creek Shop.

1. Eileen Hull - http://www.eileenhull.com/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop.html ‎

2. Kim Evans - https://blog.emeraldcreek.ca/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop-with-eileen-hull.html

3. Gwen Lafleur - https://gwenyth.typepad.com/gwen/2018/11/winter-wishes-with-emerald-creek-eileen-hull.html

4. Pam Bray - http://www.pammejoscrapbookflair.com/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop-holiday-spirit.html

5. Ann Barnes - https://aksbarchitectcreates.blogspot.com

6. Lisa Hoel - https://creativejuicefreshsqueezed.blogspot.com/2018/11/eileen-hull-emerald-creek-blog-hop.html

7. Jennalee Anderson -(You are here)  https://thepaperedsoiree.blogspot.com/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop.html

8. Diana Hetherington - http://missusgmoments.com/winter-wishes-blog-hop/

9. Anne Redfern - https://bollyanne.blogspot.com/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop.html

10. Elizabeth Robinson - https://elizabethr-thecraftyrobin.blogspot.com/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop-with-emerald.html

11. Susana Magenheimer - http://www.randomartist222.com/winter-wishes-blog-hop

12. Julia Aston - https://createwithjulia.blogspot.com/2018/11/winter-wishes-blog-hop-eileen.html

Winter Wonder Santos Doll

Hello!! I don't know about you but now that Halloween is done and over I am ready to start Christmas creating!! When I saw the Wings Assortment Mini set (coming soon) I knew they would be perfect on a Santos Doll. I don't have an angel for my tree so I thought I would make one to display on a shelf or tabletop. Plus I love any reason to make another Santos Doll!!

Begin by painting a thin layer of gesso over the Santos doll body. Once dry paint face and hands flesh color. 

Smoosh Iced Spruce Distress Oxide on craft mat using palette knife mix Ranger Texture Paste Opaque Crackle into ink. Use palette knife to apply texture paste to doll body. Set aside to air dry. 

Once dry distress body with Vintage Photo Distress Crayon. Rub crayon on and blend in with paper towel, wipe away excess with baby wipe. 

Paint a base layer of Ground Espresso Distress Paint on wings. Once dry smoosh Frayed Burlap Distress Oxide onto wings and lightly spray. Set aside to air dry. Once dry layer more Frayed Burlap if desired. Using a scrunched up paper towel randomly pounce on Tarnished Brass Distress Paint. Heat set to make sure all layers are dry. Randomly apply Vintage Photo Distress Crayon. Don't blend in the crayon as it leaves a nice texture. Keep building layers until you reach desired look. 

Paint the base of the Santos brown. Paint all pieces front and back. Apply faux cinnamon rust to each piece. Using a cosmetics sponge apply brown paint and then dip directly into cinnamon. Pounce on more brown paint and heat set. If you have a heat gun that runs hot you can burn the cinnamon for that great crusty effect. But be careful!! 

Mix Antique Linen Distress Oxide with the Crackle Texture Paste using the same technique as above. Using a palette knife lightly and randomly apply to the Santos base. Set aside to air dry. Once dry add Pumice Stone Distress Crayon to crackled areas. As Tim says Pumice Stone is the perfect non-color. It helps the cracks to pop but doesn't overwhelm the color of the crackle paste. 

Look at that crusty crackle!! 

Cut a length of Eclectic Elements Craft Thread and run thru a baby wipe. Lay on craft mat and randomly run Vintage Photo Distress Crayon along thread. Run baby wipe across thread again. Set aside to dry. 

Sew doll body together with distressed thread. 

Using Distress Collage Medium in the cut outs of the cage skirt base and bottom construct skirt. Adhere doll body on top of skirt base. 

Construct a crown from a piece of Silver Metallic Kraft. Heat emboss crown with Emerald Creek Burnt Copper Leaves. Paint the back side of crown with Tarnished Brass Distress Paint. 

Add a bit of color to a Christmas Typed Token with Tarnished Brass Distress Paint. Once paint is dry rub Picket Fence Distress Crayon into text on token. Wipe away excess with paper towel. Using the colored Craft Thread attach token to base of mini tree. Attach tree to the top of the cage base and position hands to look like they are holding it. 

Make a small necklace from Aqua Iridescent Beade Chain and add Milagros Adornment bird charm. 

Are you beginning to think about creating Christmas projects or do you still have a few more Fall ideas? I love creating and decorating for Christmas and always feel like I run out of time so if you need me I'll be in the studio. 

Thanks for stopping by!! Be sure to leave a note and say hi!!
Happy Creating ~ Jennalee

Snow and Joy

Hello!! Jennalee here today. I have a fun step by step tutorial to share with you today. It all started with this vintage photo I found while out junking. The release of Tim Holtz's Christmas line really got me in the spirit to create some Christmas projects early this year. 

I started with a small size Etcetera Tag. These tags measure 5.5"x10" and are made of thick board. They are very sturdy and can handle a variety of mediums. I covered my tag with a piece of paper from Tim Holtz's Christmas Paper Stash. Adhere paper to tag with Distress Collage Medium. 

With a palette knife spread Grit Paste thru the Starry Night layering stencil. While the Grit Paste is still wet sprinkle on Rock Candy Glitter. I covered my entire tag with stenciled stars. I thought I had overdone it but once you start layering your ephemera you'll be glad you covered the whole tag.

Using your palette knife add some swipes of Grit Paste around the edge of your tag and to the reinforcer and sprinkle with Rock Candy same as before. Grit Paste needs to be air dried, so set your tag aside. Be sure to clean your stencil and palette knife while the Grit Paste is still wet. 

While your tag is drying begin prepping your picture. I made a photocopy of my original picture onto photo paper. It didn't look quite vintage enough so I added some aging using Antique Linen Distress Ink. Using a glue stick lightly tack down photo to piece of black cardstock. Stitch around edge of photo and trim down cardstock with pinking shears. 

 From the Christmas Ephemera Pack pick the pieces you wish to layer on your piece. The music piece is from the Christmas Bookboard Baseboards pack. To add some visual interest I added a strip of black text from the Paper Stash pad. Adhere all pieces using Distress Collage Medium. 

Cut a pair of Ice Skates from white cardstock. I adhered my cardstock to a thin layer of chipboard for some added definition. Tip: Save the chipboard pieces that come in your Myrustycrown.com orders. It is the perfect thickness for die cutting. You can even use it with some thin lit dies. 

Cover both skates with Distress Crazing Medium. Allow to air dry. Once your skates are dry add a bit of aging with Antique Linen Distress Ink. Color in heel with Distress Crayon. Paint blade of skate with Distress Paint. Using a needle and baker's twine lace skates and wrap laces around the top of skates and tie a bow. 

I am obsessed with Distress Crazing Medium. It is the perfect vintage touch. 

To decorate the skates cut some foliage from the Festive Greens thinlits set. Using Distress Oxides in Peeled Paint and Cracked Pistachio color cardstock. Smoosh ink pad on craft mat and spray with water, dip paper into ink and heat set. For the berries I used Beaded Berries colored with Distress Spray Stain in Picked Raspberries. 

Attach foliage and berries to skate. Adhere skates to bottom right corner of tag using Distress Collage Medium. Pick words from Christmas Words and Phrases Chipboard pack and adhere with Distress Collage Medium. At this point also attach the tag reinforcer. 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I had so much fun making this piece and using Grit Paste and Rock Candy. It is such fun combination!! If you try making this piece for yourself or try any of the techniques I hope you will stop by and share it in the Facebook Group. Happy Creating~ Jennalee