Mini Mason Jar - Christmas

Hi Everyone,

Glad to be back here on the blog to share an easy Christmas project using the Mini Mason Jar from idea-ology.  I am sure you have seen these before, but I'm hoping to put a spin on it with a classic Christmas die and a few cans of spray paint.

 

First you need a Mini Mason Jar.  They come in a set of three so it's easy to make multiples for gifts.

I added the Mini Mason Jar Photo Clip kit to each jar.  That means I removed the lid that comes with the jar and added this one to it.

I spray painted the lid and clip with a red spray paint for this traditional themed jar. 

 

I believe I found the perfect color red for the lid of the jar.  It is RUST-OLEUM in Colonial Red GLOSS.  I purchased this can from Home Depot but I am sure they have it at other hardware stores.  It takes longer to dry than standard spray paints (maybe because of the gloss finish?)...in about 20 minutes you can pick the lid up, but an hour to really handle them.  The instructions say it cures in 24 hours, which I found to be true.  Once dry, it looks and feels like a lacquer finish.

 

I also added Gold Alcohol Ink to the Word Band before coloring the text with Picket Fence Distress Crayon.

I bet you're thinking, how did you bend the Word Band?  Easy.  I used Bending Pliers that can be found on Amazon.  The pliers are about $15 depending on brand.  There are also differences in how much they curve the metal.  I believe this pair would be considered a "gentle curve" so I did have to work at it a bit to get the curve to fit around the lid.  All in all, the tool make the bending easy work.  Just don't try to bend 40 in one night like I did.  Let's just say my grip took a couple days of rest to recover!

I used large trees from Tree Lot (bulk Woodland trees) - you get 5 trees in one package which again, makes creating multiples super easy.  

1.  Cut the tree to fit into the jar.  You MUST use wire cutters to cut the steel center of the tree.  

2.  Spray with Distress Spray Stain.  

I tried all of the Distress green colors and I found three favorites depending on what look I was going for.

Mowed Lawn: bright true green, great for traditional projects

Bundled Sage: my personal favorite - a softer green, beautiful mixed with platinum Stickles on the tips of the the tree.

Peeled Paint: bright green (but not a true green like Mowed Lawn) - a good all around color for trees.

I also found that adding a small piece of chipboard glued to the bottom of the tree made it easier to glue into the base of the glass jar. (thank you Richele for the tip!)

3. Add Collage Medium to the tips of the tree and roll in Clear Rock Candy.  Let dry.

 4. Use Glossy Accents to add colored Baubles into the tree.  I used Baubles colored  in Sailboat Blue, Red Pepper, and Butterscotch Alcohol Ink.  One might think that using Gold Mixative is the way to go when wanting gold ornaments but I beg to differ...Butterscotch and a tiny bit of Mushroom make for the most beautiful gold ornaments!

For a more feminine look, I used a totally different color story of Tattered Rose and Antique Linen.  For this jar, I sprayed the tree Tattered Rose and rolled it in Clear Rock Candy.  The Baubles for the tree ornaments were left just as they came in the package, a pretty pearl.

I used gold spray paint for the lid and hinge clip and then added a piece of ephemera from the Christmastime pack.  The poinsettia is cut from Distress Watercolor paper using the Tattered Poinsettia die, another personal favorite.  I dipped the pieces into Distress Ink Tattered Rose and Worn Lipstick (+ water) and let dry. 

Gathered Twigs Distress Ink was used to age the edges of the petals before layering the individual pieces to create the poinsettia.  A Bauble works perfectly for the center of the flower!  To give it a bit of sparkle,  I added a thin layer of Collage Medium (with a small paintbrush) on the petals and over the Bauble and sprinkled it with Clear Rock Candy.  The greenery was cut using the Holiday Greens die.

 

I love how the Mini Mason Jar came out.  I am always amazed at how a can of spray paint can really change something so plain into something special.  That can of Colonial Red did just that!  Then there is my all time favorite Christmas die, Tattered Poinsettia.  No matter if you color is red, pink or something in between, it's beautiful.  If you don't already own this one, I'd add it to your Christmas list!

Also, if you missed the Winter Wonderland shadowbox I created 

for the Tim Holtz Holiday Inspiration Series, you can see the full tutorial here.

Now carry on, 

paula

InLinkz.com

Sizzix Christmas Magic

Today I'm sharing some of my very favorite holiday posts using Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations dies! The first two (in my opinion) are some of the very best ideas ever to be posted on this blog. Both posts were created by my friend Debbie Crouse.  You will be able to tell what a talent she has for the details! Be sure to click on the name of each post to go to the original tutorial for each project. Current links to the dies used can be found at the bottom of this post.

These chalkboard labels + brown mailing paper makes for the most wonderful Christmas packages.  Who would know they started with a just simple Sizzix die cut?

Let the Wrapping Begin

notice the gold eyelet detail?

Dies used to make labels for both "Let the Wrapping Begin" and Wrapping it up" posts

Another of my favorite posts... every time I see this photo I think, I want a gift wrapped like that!
Wrapping It up

The Undertaker

Hi everyone! 

I cold not let the Halloween season pass without making a something with my Undertaker friend!  

I started with the new Vignette Box House that is part of the Christmas release to create my Halloween piece.  I adhered paper from the Materialize Mini Paper Stash with Collage Medium on the inside of the box (I like that this paper really looks like old wallpaper).
I cut out a Found Relative and placed him in the box on a small wood block so he sits about 3/4" from the back.

I also added wood grain paper to the sides of the box.  Yes, I know the box is wood but the scale of the paper was more interesting!

 I wanted to add a web so I got out the Mixed Media Halloween Thinlit.  I added Metal Foil to a piece of cardstock and ran it through the Vagabond.

 I colored the web with Alcohol Ink in Oregano and Black Soot.

 Then clipped it away from the frame.

 

I also used Distress Collage Medium Vintage to age a piece of ephemera for the background.  So easy to color white paper "anything"...just wipe it on and let it dry.  Once dry, I crumpled it up, ripped the edges and inked it with Gathered twigs.

 I also created a little vignette inside the box with some cool idea-ology products.  I used Apothecary Vials, bones (Boneyard), a Typed Token and Mini Fastener, dyed cheesecloth and moss.  I colored the words on the Typed Token with Festive Berries Distress Crayon - so easy to add color to the recessed words.

I used the Oregano Alcohol Ink to color his boutonniere made with a large Heirloom Rose and some string.

You might notice in this photo that I tinted the Undertakers cheeks with a Victorian Velvet Distress marker then wiped it way with a soft cloth (just don't mention to anyone that he's wearing make-up).

The cheesecloth...my dear friend, no Halloween project is complete without you.  Cut strips were dyed with Distress Spray Stains in various colors of brown and then left to dry.  The result is extraordinary....and might I say perfectly stained cloth.  I tacked it to the house with tack nails from Home Depot.  The tack nail on the right is also holding the metal spider in place.

Happy Halloween...hope all your candy dreams come true.  Me? Well I have a dentist appointment on Monday morning.  Sounds like a cruel joke to me!
Now carry on,
paula

InLinkz.com