Merry, Merry, Happy, Happy! The Final Craft of Christmas! Huzzah!

Retrofabulous Holiday Necklace Copyright Margot Potter 2009

Wow! It's Christmas Eve! We made it! Huzzah!

I did not manage to whip another retrofabulous project out of my...hat. Actually I did, and it actually is a hat, but it's a New Year's project and we decided to make it into a video. So stay tuned! Until then, here is one of the most popular holiday projects on the blog. Click here to get instructions!

I hope that whatever you celebrate this holiday season, it is merry and bright. I'll be back on Monday.

Love
Madge

Have Yourself a Twilight Little Christmas-Bella and Edward Silhouette

Twilight Inspired Silhouette Pendant Copyright Margot Potter

Twilight Inspired Silhouette Ornament Copyright Margot Potter

I am pausing for a moment from the Retrofabulosity to re-share a holiday project from a couple of years back that is perfectly suited to this holiday season. With the new Twilight film coming out, this could be a perfect gift for a Twilight fan on your gift list. The image was made from a real silhouette of Edward and Bella.  You can opt to make this as an ornament, or size it smaller to make a pendant.

The silhouette is ready for download on the old post along with detailed step by step instructions. Enjoy!

Cheers,
Madge

iLoveToCreate 'I Heart U' Valentine's Day Pin Card for Mom and Grandmom

iLoveToCreate I Heart U Valentine’s Day Pin Card
Margot Potter for iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts
“Mom crafted, kid approved.”

Moms and Grandmoms really love getting handcrafted gifts and what better way to say, “I heart u” than these retrofabulous foam heart pins. These are quick and easy to make and you can opt to use photos instead of vintage images if you prefer. Attach them to a card and it’s a two for one combo that will make them smile every time they wear these adorable pins. Yup, I’ve got you covered...so let’s get crafty!

Materials
Romantic Vintage Post Card Images (or photos)
3 Open Center Foam Hearts and Smaller Foam Accent Hearts (I each of pink, red and white) (I got mine at WalMart)
3 Small Vintage or New Buttons (1 each of pink, red and white)
Coordinating Scrapbook Paper (I used K&Company Carolyn Gavin Designer Paper)
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Stampendous Foliage Quad Cube TC51
Hero Arts Italian Poetry Background Stamp S1832
Aleene’s Foamtastic Glue
Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue
Pen or Pencil for tracing and marking
(Optional Collage Pauge Matte to seal images before framing)


Tools
Scissors
Bone Folder
Crop-A-Dile Big Bite

1. Select images to use inside of your foam heart frames. Here is a sheet of permission free images you may print for use with this project, these are not intended for resale. I am sharing cards from my personal ephemera collection.

2. Print image sheet.

3. Stamp heart frames with writing stamp and archival ink. Stamp small hearts with foliage stamp and archival ink. Allow ink to dry.

4. Mark the window placement. Trace around edges of heart, cut a straight edge heart using scissors inside of the scalloped edge you just traced. (If you want, you can seal the images with Collage Pauge at this step before cutting them out so they’re water resistant.)

5. Stick images inside of frames and use a plain scalloped edge heart to sandwich the image, take time to make sure the scallop edges line up.

6. Adhere small heart and buttons to edge of each frame with Foamtastic Glue. Allow to dry.

7. Fold a sheet of patterned scrapbook paper over to make a wide card. The sheet I used was 7.5”x8.5”.

Use a bone folder to make a sharp creased edge.

8. Cut a coordinating decorative strip and adhere it to the bottom edge of the card with Aleene’s Fast Grab Glue, add a thin dotted ribbon accent to top edge of strip using Fast Grab Glue. Allow to dry.

9. Mark placement of pins on card, one in the center and one on either side towards the edge.

10. Use Crop-A-Dile Big Bite to punch small holes at marked spots on card.

11. Attach the pins to the holes.

Retrofabulous Mixed Media Holiday Necklace

(Click on image to view close up)

The fab folks at EK Success sent me some of their GORGEOUS holiday stamps from the Inkadinkado line to try out. Those of you who follow my work know that I can't stop using my flourish stamp from Inkadinkado and these holiday stamps are sure to become regulars in my work too. The detail on them is AMAZING.

I began by stamping the reindeer clear stamp using jet black archival ink on a nice heavy weight cardstock in a fuchsia pink. (You could use this same idea on tissue or lighter weight paper to make some stunning wrapping paper and then whip up tags with cardstock to match!) I punched out the 2" circles and added accents of silver paint dabber with my favorite flourish and a writing stamp. I like to use stamps as textural elements so I'm not going for neatness on the accent stamps. Let the paint dry before the next step. I painted on some of Traci Bautista's Collage Pauge in Sparkle (just the right amount of glitter) and let it dry and then painted a second coat. I used a paintbrush because I like texture, but you can use a foam brush if you prefer a more even coat. I stuck them back to back with two sided tape runner tape and punched a hole in the top of each one. Then I attached to some of my fav Beadalon Quick Links chain with an array of CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements bicones (EK Success Jolee's Jewels has a great selection) and vintage beads.

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This is a one of a kind design, the black glass flower beads are vintage and a gift from a friend. I hand picked the striated pink beads from dusty bins of beads at the Paris Flea Market. Luckily I had two larger pink beads to make some swingy earrings.

I think this design definitely fits into my Retrofabulous Christmas craft theme with the pink, black and silver color palette and the swingy circle motif. Therefore it's officially named Retrofabulous Holiday Necklace.

And to think it all starting with one simply divine stamp...

I'm thinking of selling this confection in my Etsy Shoppe...I may need to wear it out first for a test run. But if you're looking for some truly unique vintage beads and findings and one of a kind Madgecentric mixed media creations you really should check my shop out. I'm hoping to get some more retrofabulous goodies in there soon!

xoxo
Madge