Proudly Canadian

Proudly Canadian

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Xmas lantern ornaments

Pajama party/crafting party with my GF resulted in some pretty fun stuff!  I had so much fun, but now I am exhausted.  LOL  I started off making placement names tags for my table via inspiration from Nicole @ Canadian Nickel Scrap'n but loved the red colors that, Thatcrazychick did for her lantern.  My house is in reds and so is my Christmas tree, so RED was justing singing to me.  So, while I waited for my guest to arrive for our full day and night of scrapping bliss, I got started cutting and cutting and cutting and cutting some more to get all my pieces ready to go for assembly.  OMG... so much cutting!!! 

I cut out scrolls and inked the edges and added a sentiment, those were ready. 


I cut out a ton of pinecones (in brown card stock) and branches (in 2 different tones of green cardstock), and then inked my branches.  OMG, if I have to roll another pinecone this year it might be too soon!  Wow... Love the look after the fact, but have to honestly say, they weren't the most fun to roll up.  LOL 

  
Next up, all the lanterns.  I cut out a dozen from grundge paper, to make 6 name tags.  Once they were cut I took and heat embossed them with first, a Recollection Red glitter embossing powder.  I rub some of it off and in the exposed areas I inked with Walnut stain ink and then re-embossed with Distress walnut stain embossing powder to give that rustic look to it in those exposed areas.  It turned out soooooo good!  I took the light globe and Distress painted the inner part with Scattered Straw and the outside rim in Antique linen.  I let it dry and then repainted the same overtop for a second coat.  Once dry I crackled the globes with clear rock candy crackle.  I distress embossed in Walnut ink the little knob. 
 

 
Now, I found that the grunge paper warped from the heat gun and it wasn't as sturdy as I would have liked so I grabbed a pile of plastic packaging I had and cut out sheets so that I could diecut 12 more lanterns out of the plastic to adhere to the back of the grunge paper lantern to add a bit more stability.  It worked really well.  :)  I adhered the plastic lantern to the back using my tape runner.  :) 
 
Next up!  Add some Aleene's True Snow to the pinecones for a wintery look.  I used a fine paint brush and brushed the snow around the edges of the leaves. 
 
 
Next up, time to start assembling all my pieces.  I used liquid glass to glue down the branches and the scroll at the top.  I added some amber colored rhinestones up top too for some bling.  I hot glued the pinecones into place and added a pretty gold fabric flower to each tag as well.  I found the flowers at a little fabric store.  :)  I've had them for years and never found a use for them until now.  It was like they were meant to be on this lantern.  ;)

                                               
 
As I'm assembling my pieces, my girlfriend suggested instead of just having 6 name tags that I won't be able to use except for a Xmas dinner party, to keep them individual and make tree ornaments from them!  Now I have 12!  Brilliant!  OK.  I needed some heavy gauge wire for the hanger so off we went to Michael's this afternoon to purchase some and I cut and attached the wire to look like a traditional wire handle/hanger for my lanterns. 
 


  
I think they turned out fabulous!  I am so pleased with them.  They took so many hours to make, a full day and half to cut, emboss, ink, roll, stamp, snow, paint, crackle.... ohhhhh the steps,  but in the end so worth it.    Here are all my tree ornaments and a few in my tree.  :)
 



  
 
I want to THANK my gf Sherry for giving me some Xmas spirit this year and spending the last day and half with me doing crafts and laughing and talking and enjoying some yummy wine and allowing me to treat her because she does so much for me.  :)  It's been a great weekend.  :)   Hope you all enjoy my ornaments.  I know I sure do and my tree looks fab with them.    Thanks Canadian Nickel Scrap'n and Thatcrazychick for the inspiration.  :)  Merry Hohoho.... 
 
PS... sorry about the watermark photo in the middle of the blog.  I have no idea how that got there or how to get rid of it, so it's there.... :(   What's a girl to do when she's technically challenged.  LOL 
 
 




39 comments:

  1. WOW THESE ARE UNREAL! I love the lanterns in red. Those pine cones are a ready bitch but they always look fabulous when done. Thanks for share your awesome stuff! LOVE THESE!!!!

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  2. Oh my I love these .. guess I am phoning the store tomorrow to see if it is in stock and they can ship.. have the banner die.. will have to look into the pine cones as well.. I wonder could you use real cones.. have so many outside.. will have to think on that one.. take care all .. Lovely new site to follow...

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    1. Thank you for stopping in and taking the time to say Hi! I'm fairly new to this blog thing and it's hard getting started. :) I don't see why you couldn't use real pinecones as long as they were smaller. I saw some in Michael's while shopping today that were real and they were all glittered up. I thought those would be cool to use somehow! :) Good luck finding the dies and hope to see what you make with all the goodies! :)

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  3. So many fun Holiday items have been shown on various creative blogs this season. I will contemplate doing nothing but handmade decorations for my tree next year.
    These lanterns look like you had a lot of fun in making them. And, you did a terrific job.
    Have a Great Holiday Season!

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    1. Thank you for taking the time to stop and look at my blog. :) I really appreciate it. You have a Merry Holiday as well.

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  4. Diane, I am so happy that I got to come and let you spoil me lol. Greek supper was great as well as brunch the next day:). Your creations are so fabulous and I am glad that I thought of the idea for you to make them ornaments this way you will enjoy them for years to come. They look amazing on your tree. I can't wait to see your new creations :)

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    1. I'm thinking of making more ornaments using some of my other dies and setting up my big tree in the theatre room next year and doing homemade ornaments on there. If I get started now, I should have enough to fill that tree next year. I'll do a color theme, RED!, and go from there. :) I'm so glad you came over too and played with me. We'll need to to do that again after Xmas sometime. Once I'm back to work it might be a bit more challenging but we'll figure it out. :)

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  5. What a cute idea...love your lanterns!

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    1. Awwww, thanks! I appreciate your kind words. :)

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  6. These turned out great! Worth the effort I would say. These would make great gifts. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kindness. :) I did make a couple tonight for a gift. Check it out. I used different colors. :)

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  7. These are gorgeous ! Love that lil Glow coming from each warm lantern! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Saw your link on Tim's blog today. Lovely, sparkly distressed lanterns. :)

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    1. Thank you for your comments. It means a lot. :)

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  9. I love these laterns they are so cute. Great for cards or ornaments. You did a beautiful job and have definitely inspired me.

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    1. Thank you. Glad it inspired you, I get my inspiration from my fellow crafty friends. It's the gift that keeps on giving. Love it!

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  10. Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I also came from Tim's blog, and this is my pick of the bunch.

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    1. Awwww, thanks. I'm blushing. I'm fairly new to this blogging and making tags so this has been really exciting for me. :)

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  11. Somehow I missed this whole die altogether, but these are just so cool!! I love them. They would be gret ornaments too! Thanks for a great post!

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    1. The lantern is such a versatile die. I love it. Mine were made into ornaments and I have them hanging on my tree now. I also posted another lantern yesterday, the same style, but in different colors that I made for a friend for Christmas. :) Same design but looks so different cause the colors are black and white. :) Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. :)

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  12. these are fabulous... they look amazing on the tree!
    congrats on tim's holiday blogworthy.

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    1. Thanks!!! Your red lantern was a huge inspiration for me to make some for my home which is all in reds. My Xmas tree is reds and golds... so you and Nicole are my reason for making these! Thank you for inspiring me!!!

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  13. Love all the details for these wonderful lanterns...I need to try some of these steps to add to some I made. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you! Do you have a blog to follow? I would love to see yours when you are done. :)

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  14. Your project is just wonderful - love the lanterns and pinecones too! Thanks so much!!!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words. :) I love the look of the pinecones too, but not a huge fan of making them! LOL

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  15. Hi Diane. These lanterns are gorgeous, well worth all of your hard work on them. Take care.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words. :) I appreciate you coming to look at my stuff.

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  16. Hi Diane! New follower here. Girl, if you can come up with such a cute idea like these Lanterns, then I can't wait to see what else you have up your sleeve! Lol. Truly darling. I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds projects that take up so much time. I always love having a buddy to work along side me, as well. Thanks for sharing and you must be so excited that the lanterns are one of Tim's favorites!!! That is so awesome. Congrats!!
    Hugs, Laura Jo

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    1. Awwwww, thank you Laura. I can't tell you how much your words mean. I am itching to do something else but will have to wait now till after Xmas. Hubby is home and we have little time between family this year to do much of anything else. Have a very Merry Christmas and I look forward to seeing you after the crazy rush is over. :)

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  17. So much work, but you are well rewarded with all those beauties! It was worth it, right? I just had to post onto Pinterest.

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  18. Thank you Cheryl... yes very rewarding to be able to enjoy them on my tree. :)

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