Angelic tag tutorial

With a mountain of gift wrapping waiting, I wanted to add some handmade gift tags to my supply stash for easier wrapping.

 

No red and green here ~ something a little nontraditional in color ~ lavender and white.

 

 

 

Actually, it was quite a happy accident.

My toner cartridge was running out of ink and produced lavender images.

I loved the look and decided to keep them.

 

 

To make these, start with regular shipping tags from your local office supply store.

Brush a layer of gesso over them.

It does not have to be perfect - thick or thin layers - have fun with it!

 

Next, brush Tattered Angels Glimmer glaze (tinsel town) over the tag.

I also brushed some over the dress of the angel image.

 

 

Apply Stickles {crystal} to the angel wings.

 

It is hard to see the shimmer of the Glimmer Glaze here.

Can you see a bit of the texture?

Gesso is great for that!

 

 

While those are drying, grab a stash of trim, tulle, feathers

and some dyed coffee filters.

 

I used easter egg dye on these.

Also, if you scrunch the coffee filters while they are wet, they will leave a nice crinkled textured.

 

Die cut or hand cut wings from the coffee filters.

 

 

Snip some book page scraps to adhere to random spots on your tag.

 

Once the book page scrap is on, apply the coffee filter wing to one side.  Layer a smaller feather on top of the wing.

 

Add some dimensional stickers to the back of the image and adhere the image to your tag. 

 

I looped some tulle and white tinsel then tied them both with vintage lace.

 

With a stash of kraft bags and tags, you will have your gifts wrapped in no time!

 

 

Happy wrapping!

xo's ~ Heidi

Champagne kisses

In the midst of decorating for Christmas, I have also been making a few things for the holiday season.

I decided to repurpose a vintage brooch into a necklace.  Some of the rhinestones had turned a champagne color.  I used the color as an inspiration for this piece.

There are fire polished Czech beads, freshwater pearls and mother of pearl beads to add some bubbly sparkle.

A little close up - I love the shimmer!

The length is approx. 18.5" and has a toggle clasp.

It would be darling with a cocktail dress or jeans and a tee!

The price is $40. 

 Message me if you would like a little elf to send it your way!

Have a beautiful day sugahs!

xo's ~ Heidi

I am dreaming of Christmas!

It seems every year I get in the Christmas spirit early.

Is now too early? 

Seeing all of the Christmas decorations displayed in the store had me longing for a little celebration of the season.

This weekend, as our family was hanging out, I put on some Christmas music.

Yeah, it had me . . .

hook.

line.

and sinker.

I started pulling out some Christmas decorations and suddenly, our home starting to become a winter wonderland, lol.

This season goes by so fast.  I don't mind enjoying it a day (er week? or two?) early.

Have a wonderful weekend!  xo's ~ Heidi

Shabby Sweet Sunbonnet Sue

Shabby sweet Sunbonnet Sue stocking!

{say that 5 times fast}

This is the adorable Sunbonnet Sue stocking I received from Cheryl for Joli Paquet's Vintage Stocking swap!

I was blown away by the sunwashed colors and delicate details!  Cheryl has a way of using infusing enchantment into her beautiful creations.

Vintage millinery with a touch of glitter - I think she is trying to make me swoon.

I just love the sweet basket charm she sewed to Sunbonnet Sue's hand!

A sweet rosette with the right amount of bling



I love the layers of lace and taupe pearls droplets - just smitten with the peachy pink roses!

This will be so sweet hanging in my craft room to store vintage paper treats or lace scraps.

As if that didn't drop me to the floor like a feather, Cheryl also included more treasures that made my heart skip a beat, or two, or three, or four.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I was touched by all of the wonderful treasures Cheryl sent.

It was as if she knew exacty what would make my heart go pitter patter.

She REALLY spoiled me - I will not be the same, I will not I tell you! 

 An adorned burlap sack filled to the brim with precious paper treats, ornaments and beloved baubles.

A shabbilicious cuff with soft crochet lace and rosettes.

Here is another pic of the adorned burlap sack.

Isn't the vintage pin with creamy bead the cat's pa-jams?

And hand dyed lace too people! It makes smile just to look at it!

Lucious trims, millinery, crochet pinned with blingy pearl pins on a vintage bobbin.

Oh, gosh!  Let me just lay my cheek against it and sigh.

Shut - the -  front - door!

Isn't this the cutest container for treats?!

Let's take a look inside . . .

A sweet cherub {Cheryl}, vintage wallpaper treats, a sweet looking glass with ribbon and more enchanting baubles!

She must have known she would make me faint.

- a bag filled with vintage millinery complete with clip on earring as a closure.

Then the most adorable ornament in creamy colors and silk ribbon.

{Yep, I fainted, hit the floor in a vintage treat induced coma}

Mr. Glittery Reindeer with millinery won my heart.

Rolls of vintage wallpaper tied with ribbon and a sweet wedding bell.

Cheryl, I cannot thank you enough for such thoughtful and dear treasures.

I adore my stocking and your sweet heart that you put into everything!

Thank you for stopping by to visit sweet friends!

xo's ~ Heidi

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas

and

Happy Holidays

my dear family and friends!

Wishing for you a time of peace, joy and love.

xo's ~ Heidi

Pastel peppermint bark

In between wrapping gifts and Christmas festivities, I came across a neat post by Such Pretty Things for pastel peppermint bark.  {instructions here}

I have made red and white peppermint bark in the past but had not considered making a pastel version.

What a pretty idea and so simple to make!

I scooped up some white candy melts and gel food coloring.

Here is the pale aqua and white version.

Those of you who know me know I love glitter!

Would it surprise you that I have some edible glitter?

Here is a pic of the bark sprinkled with glitter.

(just a vertical and horizontal pattern made with toothpicks)

I think my bark was still a little too warm because the glitter was not as "fluffy" as it would normally be on cupcakes.

Here is the pink and mint version.

(I got a little swirly with the toothpicks ;-) )

The colors I used were Wilton Leaf Green, Soft Blue and Pink.

The edible glitter is also made by Wilton.

What a pretty hostess gift or tea tray treat!

Thanks for stopping by sweet friends!  I hope you are having a very sweet holiday season.

xo's ~ Heidi

Making memories

Hi sweet bloggy friends!

It has been a very sentimental week.  I am usually not one to be too gushy {unless I am watching Titanic or The Notebook  -- ok, ok, maybe I can be a very gushy at times} but I did want to share a significant event that happened in my life this week.

My grandmother, Sadie Ennis Cowart, passed away earlier this week.  She is the woman I want to be when I grow up.  I remember, as a kid, laying awake in bed with her when I was little - talking and listening to trains go by in the middle of the night.  I will always think of her whenever I hear one of those midnight trains.  She cared deeply for her family and extended family.  With her, there was never a loss for an extra plate at the table or an extra pair of hands for a family in need.  Resourceful and determined was her mantra.  She loved the Lord and truly loved and helped the people in her community.  It is a great loss to me that she is no longer with us physically.  This Thanksgiving has been particularly meaningful to be able to spend it with my Dad, Stepmom, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends during this time of loss.  I am so thankful for the time spent with them.

Once we got home I needed to do something {other than cooking another complete Thanksgiving meal}.

It seemed right to get down some Christmas decorations to begin to celebrate the season Granny Cowart loved so much.

Here are some of my favorite decorations.  I am NO WHERE near finished!  It has been nice to get started though!

Mr. Snowman ~ don't you love his top hat?!

I love his word "BELIEVE"

Believe in LOVE ~ it IS a powerful thing.

Last year I was a lucky girl.  I found this Nicol Sayre angel at TJ Maxx.  Did anyone see her sitting there? 

Calmly, I placed her in my buggy and then ran to the check out!

I couldn't believe it!  Did you see her wire cage form around her glass glittered skirt?

Or her tinsel wings cherubic face?

Or crepe paper skirt with dresden trim?

I thought I would faint . . . really.

Nicol is amazing in her folk art style and attention to details.

I filled my ironstone pitcher with some frosty branches

and adorned the neck with a vintage rhinestone necklace.

Sidebar ~ I almost did not put the necklace on the pitcher.

I had tied a little seam binding to each end since the necklace was too small to fit around the pitcher and had an "A-Ha" moment.

I could wear this as a longer length necklace and junk it up a bit with a few baubles and a scrap of crochet!

Ok, put it on the pitcher and keep going. (In a few days a may change my mind ~ I am a woman after all).

This year, yes . . . . again at TJ Maxx I found a holy family scene by Nicol Sayre.

Yes, I about fainted  . . . again!

So inexpensive too!  I couldn't believe it!!

The manger with angel and family was only $16.99!!!

I love the pastel colors, vintage style paper and sweet faces.

Such an adorable angel ~ it puts me in the mood for the PEACE, LOVE and JOY season.

I thought I would share more holiday decorating inspiration as created by a very talented lady, Cathy Scalise of Treasured Heirlooms.  She makes amazing, enchanting decorations that are so frothy you can't help but smile!

Here are some wish list items:

Love this wreath!  Glam and glittery ~ swoon swoon swoon!

Such enchanting ornaments!

These would also be lovely on packages ~ how lucky would that recipient be!

Thanks for stopping by Sugahs!  I am off to get more boxes from the attic.

I hope you have a wonderful week and are able to spend some time with the people you love.

xo's ~ Heidi

Blog Party Kick Off!

I am so excited to be participating in my first ever blog party! From afar, I always savor the projects and pics of my favorite blogs. How fun it would be to participate in a blog party with these women. Well, I decided what the heck am I waiting for and jumped in!

Heather at Bella Dreams is hosting a Decorating and Craft party. Please stop by and check out all of the wonderful ideas these talented women have to offer. They are inspiring and incredibly creative!

I love Christmas! Every year I get the itch right after Halloween. This year has been so busy. I have decide to simplify my holiday decorating to give my favorite things their spotlight.

Check out the tassel hanging from my lamp - it is really an ornament!

Every year I get a new angel or a new Santa. This year, I found the Santa I wanted at Ms. Wendy's Antiques. Isn't he handsome?!

Our stockings hung by the fire with care. How many kids you ask? Really, we have two kids, three dogs and a cat who thinks he is a dog. They get treats from Santa too.

I love the white ironstone pitcher on the right. Every season, I decorate it with something to celebrate the moment. A simple floral spray with its stem bent backward is hung on the pitcher for a little holiday glamour!

Have you seen the beautiul vignettes using cloches? This cloche, with its architectural salvage pediment and vintage doily, is home to my frosty Santa toting his shabby Christmas tree.

I {heart} paper mache Christmas houses. I do not have many. It is always fun to be on the hunt!

Thank you for stopping by today! I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a warm holiday season. Stay tuned for more decorating and craft fun!

xo's Heidi