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

Soul nourishing

This past weekend was spent doing alot of soul nourishing.

Spending time with people I love

Working on projects around the home

Cleaning off my desk and getting my art out

Large or small, those moments of time are needed to refresh

and recharge our batteries.

Today, I am making one of those moments lunch.

Not just standing at the counter, crossing off my to-do list while haphazardly consuming a meal. But,

savoring the moment,

being still.

Yes, I did shoot these pics today but that was before I sat down so that kind of interference doesn't count, hehe.

Give a little gift to your self and take a moment to recharge your battery today sugah.

We take care of the world.  Our spirit needs to be included in that care too.

xo's ~ Heidi

A Cinderella story

Our story begins with a mirror.

A mirror that was covered in grit and grime with a chippy, faintly gilded frame.

What I loved most about this mirror was the fantastic deteriorated patina of the glass.  The frame still had wonderful, intricate detail.

I could be a fairy godmother and wave my diy wand of paint over it.

Here she is with a good cleaning, some primer and some fresh coats of white paint.

I have started putting some Valentine inspiration on my mantel.

A pink chippy cherub holding some of my favorite seashells.

(I use seashells year round because I would happily go to the beach year round)

Some petite tea rose bushes and pink mercury glass.

I am such a sucker for that mottled patina of the aging glass.

At night, the tealights dance against the glass . . . soothing perfection.

I am joining these fun ladies here:

Stay warm friends!

xo's ~ Heidi

Happy New Year!!

Happy NewYear!!

Time to renew, refresh and jump start a brand new year.

Normally, I might have some inspiring words or a bucket list this time of year.

Hmmmm.  Nope.  I have been to pre-occupied with other kinds of buckets.

Like these  for organizing and decorating . . .  :D

Cool huh?!  I might swap the paint for white.  I found this on pinterest (and a million other organization and crafty tips!).  Click the pic to go to the pin on pinterest.  Mission organization, homemaking and fluffing our nest have me ringing in the new year.

If you have not discovered the fun (eh um, addiction) of pinterest, you really must!

Imagine bookmarking all of your favorite tutorials, recipes and things you want to surf back to on the internet with visual pictures that you "pin" to boards you create.  "AND" you can follow your friends pins and repin those too!!

Pinterest is set up so you need an invite to join (why I have no idea - seems silly).  But, if you would like an invite, please email me and I will send one your way.

Well, I am off to go move a few more mountains around here (like maybe some laundry, haha!).

I hope you have a safe and wonderful New Year!!

xo's ~ Heidi

Apron Adoration

One of the things I love the most about the holidays is making gifts and decorations.

Ornaments and gifts made by my children, family and friends are among the things that make the season magical.

When my friend, Cheryl of Nouveaux Portmanteau, asked me to join her holiday apron swap (here) I thought it was a fun way to celebrate the season with handmade treasures.

None of us knew which apron we would receive.  They were all so darling - I would be smitten with any one of them!

When the apron box arrived, I had sugarplums dancing in my head, lol!

Cheryl had beautifully packaged everything and included a gorgeous tote bag which she had made for each of us.  I was so delighted to receive Cheryl's apron (which I am completely smitten with!!) and package of vintage and handmade goodies!!  She had included wonderful vintage ephemera, a brass stencil "H", vintage ornaments and cookie cutters and a soldered ornament made by her.

Cheryl had used the most gorgeous fabric and trims - some were even dyed to match.

Whether I am serving cocktails or cookies - Cheryl, your apron makes me feel like a vintage princess!

Golly gee, piles of satin and lace - heaven!

Here is a closer look at the rosette on the pocket of Cheryl's apron.

So pretty and frothy!!

In the midst of holiday mayhem, I forgot to take pics of the apron I made (ack!).

This is a pic I borrowed from Cheryl.

(photo by Cheryl)

Please stop by Cheryl's blog to see pics of the other beautiful aprons.

Thank you again Cheryl - I had such fun with this swap!!

I would be delighted to know your favorite handmade gift your either gave or received. 

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season!  xo's ~ Heidi

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas dear friends

May your holidays be filled with joy and blessings.

xo's ~ Heidi

Popping in to say hi!

The beginning of our holiday break starts today.

{woo hoo!}

I am soooo thankful - it has been so hectic with wrapping up school and extracurricular activities!

I just wanted to take a moment to grab a cup of coffee, snag a few moments of bliss and wish everyone a merry week.

There are still packages to be wrapped, ornaments to be hung, baking to be done, parties to attend, "to-do" lists to check off and family/friends to see.

When you step back from all of the hustle and bustle, it is a pretty beautiful time of year filled with some of the greatest joys.

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

Decisions, decisions . . .

A new year, a fresh nest!

I so enjoy all of the beautiful Wednesday Whites posts from Kathleen's blog Faded Charm and I am linking my winter whites there.

Stop by Faded Charm to see other dreamy white inspirations!

I am also linking to Romantic Homes' Show and Tell Friday.

I am a textile junkie.  I don't know that there is a twelve step program for that.

I do love to use what I have in various projects though.

A moment of inspiration hit me ~ why not create some vignettes with vessels to hold the many laces and crochet pieces blossoming in my craft room?

Storage and decor all in one - I love that!

I gathered a few other things like this small bottle I found one day junkin' and an old watch face which I thought would be a cute nod to a Father Time and a new year.

Hmmm, what about a textile bouquet?

The vase is a thrift store find.

Some of crafty girls might like to receive a bouquet like this.

{you know I would ~ wink, wink!}

Cloche added, here is what I had so far.

Still, it looked like it needed a little more.

Hmmm, what to add, what to add?

More pretties?

The sweet brush I found in Linda's booth of Willow Nest Farm when they came to the Country Living Fair, HERE.

 I love its diminutive size and patina.

I received this sweet ornament from Cheryl in the post HERE.

I know its a Christmas ornament but it also makes a great winter ornament too!

The colors are soft and creamy vintage.

I have a strand of pearls that I bought from a friend who sells Silpada jewelry.

Why not include them?  Open yourself up to possibilities, anything outside the box ~ that is when magic can happen.

This is where it is so far ~ it is starting to look just right.

Cloche added, winter whites adored!

Speaking of adoration . . .

what fun valentine decorations are you smitten with?

Another storage and decor project.

I piled laces and crochet pieces into a glass jar.

{I love using my craft supplies as decor!}

*Librarians cover your ears.*

I cut a heart out of a random book I use for decorating and sandwiched it between the glass.

Then added a sepia picture of a woman.

As I am putting this together, I wonder, who was her first love?

What were the treasured moments in her life?

I think my love for antiques and vintage finds also comes from the stories and possibilities that are carried with them.

A large jar of buttons with a random valentine couple would be sweet too.

For now, I love the layers of crochet and lace with their dreamy whites this winter.

What are your favorite projects for the new year?

Thanks for stopping by sweet friends!

xo's ~ Heidi