Summer Funky Wreath Candle Holder Centerpiece

Summer is almost upon us and I have a happy little summer decor piece to share today. I posted previously about how I made the Decor Frame banner in this photo, but today I wanted to focus on the votive centerpiece.

This summery, floral candle wreath was inspired by a vintage seed packet I got in one of Paula Cheney's project kits last year. I saved it because I like the warm floral colors, so decided to use them as the inspiration for this project.

To begin, I needed a base for my centerpiece. This was made by cutting multiple wood slices from chipboard using the Tree Rings Bigz die. It is a steel rule die so it will cut through chipboard. The larger middle Tree Ring on this project has 6 chipboard layers, while the smaller two have 4 (L) and 2(R).

Adhere the slices on top of each other to form thick slices of wood. You can paint the edges and then add Distress Crayon to make them look more like rough wood bark. You could also add Distress Grit Paste or Distress Crackle Paste to add some additional texture. I wanted this layered bark texture for this project.

The top of the slices are the Tree Rings cut from Distress Mixed Media Heavystock. Emboss them by running them both though the texture fade that is included with the die. I colored them with Distress Stains, then adhered them to the tops of the wood slices.

Back to this photo. I cut a piece of heavy cardstock to fit underneath all three Tree Rings. then adhered them to the heavystock and to each other where they were touching on the side. I used Distress Collage Medium to do this, so I let them dry overnight. When they were completely dry I could pick them up as one piece. Now it is time to decorate.

On each end I added the four little twigs that are part of the Funky Wreaths die set. I cut them from Woodgrain Cardstock and attached them to the outside edge of both of the smaller Tree Rings. Then I added some of the foilage from Funky Foliage. I cut these from Distress Heavystock and then colored each one before adhering it. I stayed with the color scheme on the vintage seed packed I posted earlier.

Here you can see another vantage point for the end bits that have flowers, leaves and the twigs.

For the larger center Tree Ring, I first attached the twig Funky Wreath and the little extra twigs.

 I cut the wreath and the twigs from some Distress Woodgrain Cardstock. I have some Distress Paint wiped lightly over the high points of the woodgrain and then sprayed it with Distress Spray Stain in browns.

 I ran it through the Vagabond 2 with the Chrome Precision Plate.

 I attached the wreath to the larger of the two Tree Ring Bigz die cuts. This became mainly a place holder with twigs popping out here and there, because the wreath became covered up very quickly on this project.

If you look in this photo you can see the wreath under there. Once it was in place I began to tuck flowers and leaves from the Funky Foliage set in and among the twigs.

I really like the warm spark of color from this little centerpiece.  It a nice little bit of summer decor.

I hope this inspires you to bring some warm summer colors into your decor to brighten up your home.
Tami

I am an affiliate with Simon Says Stamp and Scrapbook.com so the links below send you to one of those stores depending on which logo you choose.  If you wish to purchase something from either store and use one of my links below, I get a small percentage of your order, at no additional cost to you. This helps me to defray the costs of this blog, the time, the ideas and tutorials I post here. Your help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Stand Tall and Rise Above - Gertrude

  

I'm so excited to get to share this project on the Sizzix blog, featuring the delightful Gertrude and a Doodle Art 2 background highlighted with Distress Crayons. 

 It is said that Giraffes represent confidence, peace and power. I wanted an art piece that would show that bit of inspiration as well as to highlight Gertrude, who exudes peaceful confidence.

This project features not only Gertrude, but Doodle Art 2 and Cut Out Alphanumeric Lowercase. For a full tutorial on this project, please visit the Sizzix blog here.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you check out the tutorial for some techniques I used on this project.
Tami

I am an affiliate with Simon Says Stamp and Scrapbook.com so the links below send you to one of those stores depending on which logo you choose.  If you wish to purchase something from either store and use one of my links below, I get a small percentage of your order, at no additional cost to you. This helps me to defray the costs of this blog, the time, the ideas and tutorials I post here. Your help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Quick Decor Frames and Funky Foliage Banner

I have another quick banner on the blog today. This one features the Chapter 2 Decor Frames and Funky Foliage flowers.

This banner goes together faster than you may think and I like how the frames and foliage flowers twist and turn in the wind.

I began by cutting several flowers, flower centers, and leaves from different colors of cardstock from the Idea-ology Lost and Found paper stash. The Sizzix Sidekick was perfect for this. I needed three of each flower. One you sew through, then one of the other two needs to be cut backwards so the same color is on the front and the back when it twists.

Here you can see the different colors of flowers and centers.

Next you need to cut several of the Decor Frames from Chipboard or Sizzix Little Sizzles Mat Board. Then cut each frame from some patterned paper. I used the 3x4 pieces in the Idea-ology Wallflower paper stash. You need to cut two frames from the patterned paper so that the frames are covered on both sides. Adhere the paper to the front and back of the frames.

Now begin to sew through the frames and across the centers.

The sewing machine will have no problem going through the paper and the chipboard.

When you get to the center of the frame, add a flower and sew through it and continue to the other side of the frame.

Then sew through and let sew for a few stitches before adding another frame.

As you can see here, I added two leaves, and then a flower on both sides of the one that was sewn. It will spin or twist on its own, independent of the frame when you are finished.

Alternate the flower colors so that one color is in the oval frames and another is in the rectangle frames.

There will be thread between each Decor Frame, so I colored some thin natural jute with Distress Stains in the same colors as the flowers and leaves, then tied them in between the frames.

This is a delicate banner and I enjoy the movement it makes with little breezes as the frames and flowers turn and move.

I appreciate you stopping by and supporting my blog and my creative efforts.
Thank you!
Tami

I am an affiliate with Simon Says Stamp and Scrapbook.com so the links below send you to one of those stores depending on which logo you choose.  If you wish to purchase something from either store and use one of my links below, I get a small percentage of your order, at no additional cost to you. This helps me to defray the costs of this blog, the time, the ideas and tutorials I post here. Your help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Quick Stacked Circles and Stacked Squares Banners

I made some quick and simple banners to hang behind a few projects for photo shoots and thought I would just do a quick post discussing how I made some of them.

They were made using the new Chapter 2 stacked dies, Stacked Squares and Stacked Circles.

They come in 5 different sizes and you get 5 of each size, so you can cut 25 circles in one pass if you want.

This is what it looks like if you cut a 12x12 piece of cardstock in half (6x12) and place the Stacked Circles on the paper facing a cutting pad underneath.

Here is what the Stacked Squares look like. I cut 25 of them 2x. So I used both 6x12 pieces of paper.

I cut squares and circles out of two colors each. I used papers from the Ideaology Lost and Found paper stash.

Once all the pieces were cut, I glued the 3 largest like-sized shapes back to back, so that one side would be say blue and the other gold. Once the 3 largest were double sided, I adhered the two smallest shapes inside the two largest shapes to add interest, as seen above.

Then I set my sewing machine to the zig zag setting, and just started feeding the circles through under the foot to attach them together and make a banner.

I sewed the circles through the center and the squares through the center on the diagonal. This is a really fast and easy way to make a banner. I've used this technique for years when making a banner for a party or class just to add a bit of color, theme and feeling of celebration to any occasion.

If you didn't have a sewing machine, you could punch a hole on each side of the circles and squares and then thread some string or twine through the holes to make similar banners.

Thank you so much for checking out this quick tip!
Tami

I am an affiliate with Simon Says Stamp and Scrapbook.com so the links below send you to one of those stores depending on which logo you choose.  If you wish to purchase something from either store and use one of my links below, I get a small percentage of your order, at no additional cost to you. This helps me to defray the costs of this blog, the time, the ideas and tutorials I post here. Your help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Clarence and the Watering Hole

 

I am so happy to have once again been invited to share a project on the Sizzix blog. This project is one that I have had in mind since the first time I saw Clarence. Clarence is the elephant from the Tim Holtz Chapter 2 2020 release and he is just adorable.

He reminds me of Colonel Hathi from Disney’s Jungle Book, but as I was considering a project with him, I kept thinking about the really cute scene in Disney’s Tarzan where they are all playing in the waterfall and the little elephant, Tantor, dips his toe in and says, “Is this water sanitary? It looks questionable to me!”

That scene is the thing that inspired this fun, themed piece. Every time I look at it I smile. I hope it makes you smile too. If you would like to make a similar piece, the step out directions and photos are on the Sizzix Blog here.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog and the Sizzix blog. I really appreciate your time and support!
Tami

I am an affiliate with Simon Says Stamp and Scrapbook.com so the links below send you to one of those stores depending on which logo you choose.  If you wish to purchase something from either store and use one of my links below, I get a small percentage of your order, at no additional cost to you. This helps me to defray the costs of this blog, the time, the ideas and tutorials I post here. Your help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!