Saturday, December 06, 2014

CC3C - Woodlands and Tinsel Twine

Christmastime is coming, Christmastime is coming!!! Yikes! I hope I haven't stressed anybody out!!! It's also time for another challenge in the new Compendium of Curiosities III Challenge!!! And guess what?!! It's the 17th challenge, which means we are half way through the book! I can't believe it! Seventeen more challenges to go.  Kudos to all the entrants and for all the comments!  Those of you that play along every time deserve a big round of applause, AND those of you who are new to the challenges deserve the biggest kudos! We welcome everyone, and look forward to seeing all the entries.   The Curiosity Crew and I always have our socks knocked off by all the wonderful work and we are so inspired as well!
This new challenge, number seventeen is Woodlands and Tinsel Twine. These goodies are so versatile to use in your Christmas crafting and throughout the year. I am so looking forward to all the entries. Please play along so you can win some fabulous prizes donated by the ever generous Tim and Mario, and this challenge's sponsor, Inspiration Emporium!!! You will have two weeks to complete this challenge and link it up to the CC3Challenge site, and you can read all the rules here. Please take the time to visit every member of the Curiosity Crew (See below.) for not only some gorgeous foliage and glitz, but for a chance to win some extra goodies!
Forget a Christmas tree in every room this year. I've put a Christmas tree in every Configurations Box! Oh my creative word...this project just kept multiplying and multiplying and I kept adding and adding. Even the family asked me to walk away from the project! No joke! I worked on this a solid week, even in the car while hubby was driving to our family's house for Thanksgiving. I just went crazy adding, and believe it or not, I think it still needs a little more. BAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! The kids are enjoying it though, and love adding a new Countdown Coin everyday getting ever closer to Christmas!
Seriously, this started with only 7 of the Configurations boxes, but then I decided to make it 25 to make an advent type, countdown to Christmas Day calendar! I had to use the floor to make this, as the table was not big enough to house it. It is 36 inches long and 19 inches wide. My back was not happy with me either. I'm too old to sit on the floor for the amount of time I did to make this!
Once all the boxes where adhered together in the shape of the tree, I spray painted it black, and then backed each box with Tim's Merriment Paper Stash.
I sealed all the edges with my favorite, no longer available, Tissue Tape with the Snowflakes.
I wanted to hang the Count Down Coins on something, so I used hooks colored with Poppyfield Alcohol Ink.
I screwed the hooks into pieces of cork (Gotta drink wine to get corks, and gotta use corks for something...right?!!), and pieces of balsa wood, and bingo number pieces. I wanted a mish mash of stuff on this. Notice the Woodlands Trees in the background. I only had 19 of Tim's trees in my stash. I ran to my two craft stores, but neither had any Woodland Trees in stock and I didn't have time to order any, so I did use 6 other trees that are not Tim's. They were green, but I bleached them to get the ecru color. Saved!
After I used Tim's techniques to gussy up my Woodlands, I needed something that would house the Countdown Coins that would be hung day by day on this tree. I decided to used the Tim's Matchbox Die from Sizzix to make two boxes that would go at the base of my tree. These made for a great 'foot' look as well. '
I found a wooden star in one of my boxes of Christmas decorations, and decided to use it to top the tree. More paper went into it as well as Tinsel Twine. I die cut the Merry Christmas from the Stacked Words Sizzlet Die three times, adhered them together to make it more sturdy, and then covered it with Black Soot Distress Glitter! Mirrored Stars finished the star off, and I used more cork to prop it up flush onto the tree.
I die cut lots of presents in brown paper packages (Singing!), and glittered the strings and ribbons. I added wooden cubes to the backs to hold them in place sturdily on the tree.
I painted all the Countdown Coins with Distress Paint, as well as Letterpress Pieces. I also colored the metal reindeer with Distress Markers before hanging that. THEN I threw all of this in the Configuration Boxes of the tree! PHEW!!! I planned on adding a hanger to the back, but because of the Matchboxes it stands perfectly on it's own.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hope I've inspired you with this massive project, and that you'll join in with the challenge!  Happy Holidays everyone!!!


Supplies:

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

50 comments:

  1. What a glorious creation! No time to make this for 2014 tho :-( just have too much on :-( I'll have to make do with admiring yours for the rest of advent :-)

    Sally

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  2. WOW, WOW, WOW Anita... This is amazing I adore ALL the elements & fabulous design....A Spectacular creation....Love it all... Hugs May x x

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  3. Wow Anita...what a stunning Christmas tree....how inventive ánd creative!!!
    Have a nice weekend, Alie

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  4. YEAH FOR WINE! I mean cork. YEAH FOR CORK!! Elf dust had me laughing and thinking that you only had 19 in your 'stash' had me rolling...only 19...bwahahahaha. Suffice it to say, you went ABOVE and beyond to create such a ginormous project but in the end (and even after the family's scrutiny) they see the vision you had all along and it was SOOOOOO worth it!! Your tree freaking rocks chica. Back pain will go away, but this, this tree will bring memories for a lifetime. What a beauty!!!!!
    Virtual high fives all over from me ;)

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  5. Anita, I have been admiring your projects for quite some time now. You never cease to amaze me with your creativity! I adore your piece! You have a talent for seeing things and turning products upside down to make amazing art.

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  6. Wow, this is simply a construction dynamo! Merry Christmas!!!

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  7. OMG!!! WOWIE!! You did have fun with this one, Anita!! It's spectacular!! LOVE all of the trees you've colored and decorated :) I've got a small configs box that I've just been waiting to use...Hmmmm...I think you've provided an Christmasy idea for my tree & tinsel, Anita :) YAY!!
    Merry Christmas!! XOXO-Shari T.

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  8. Unbelievable!!!! You are sooo talented! This is the best yet!

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  9. Love, love, love this! Those boxes are da bomb! You've done a masterful job on this one Anita! So nicely composed and finished, love all the little details!

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  10. Anita can I just say you out did yourself on this one!!! What a great idea!! I love the deer hanging off the chain! A fantastic job! And love all the elements you combined in your
    make...Love it!!

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  11. OMG I love your Configurations Advent/ Countdown Tree .... EVERYONE is awesome and the little drawers at the bottom... BRILLIANT !

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  12. That is A MAZE ING Anita! What a gorgeous display and so cool because you can use it every year. Your projects are always so beautiful!

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  13. This is unbelievably creative! The colors rock and the fact that the tree actually STANDS o. Its own... WOW!

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  14. Anita, great job. I find your avent calendar superb. Very beautiful, great way to use TH's featured technique...

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  15. Ohhhh my!!!! I can see why they said walk away. An incredible collection too add to your holiday decor. Love your hooks and coins. Your trees are AMAZING too. I just posted my Advent today and they are a ton of work. Great challenge this round. I've already loaded my project.

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  16. Oh My Holy Heck, Anita! Talk about overachieving!!! ;) I can only imagine the hours, days, weeks, months, years (!) spent on this tree! But! Now you've got it for many years to come and what a sense of accomplishment you must have when you look at it. Simply stunning.

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  17. My first words were...How cool is that! Such a BEAUTIFUL project!!!. I love all the detail. Soooo many trees each unique in their own way. Thanks for sharing your talent.

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  18. Oh this is so much fun!!! I so need to take an Anita class!!! Seriously- now I need the present die and to hunt on the net for snowflake tissue tape.

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  19. Wow, that is absolutely spectacular! Amazing advent project, it will be cherished for many years.

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  20. Oh my Gosh girl are you dedicated or what? This takes the Christmas cake. Fabulous!
    Hugs Lynn

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  21. I have been looking for those woodland trees, too, Anita, and they are nearly impossible to find. I love this festive tree box full of trees! It's such a great design and so FUN! Like a festival of trees all in one project! So clever the way you designed the hooks for the charms...I love that idea! But my favorite is the pile of brown paper packages with the glittery "ribbon" you created. The storage drawers were a genius addition. I can almost hear your mind at work while you were creating this. It is so FUN! Now it can be Christmas! Hugs!

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  22. My goodness Anita - what an over the top creation! So many little boxes each with a wonderful little scene inside!

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  23. Seriously Anita????!!! This is so much fun! I bet the kids love it. I love that you made it a countdown calendar. And I cracked up when you said you "only had 19 of Tim's trees."

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  24. Anita...this is exquisite! You've really outdone yourself on this project. This advent Christmas tree filled with all of your adorable little Christmas trees and presents is just amazing! There is so much detail and so much to see. I truly love it. <3 Candy

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  25. Holy Mackerel, Anita! This is FANTASTIC. Love how you've done all the individual cubbies, and the variety of ways you've colored your trees.... tritone? Yes!!! This is one of my favorites of yours and that says a lot, as you know I love all your work. Love it!

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  26. Oh, I love this! How incredible! I just love it.

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  27. WOW! this is amazing. I love that it is an advent calendar. =)

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  28. I love Advent calendars, and yours worked beautifully with the configuration boxes. I love all the woodland trees you decorated to go in the boxes. Blessings!

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  29. Wow, Anita - I absolutely don't know where to start! This is incredible! What a clever idea to make an advent tree! The detail is beyond amazing - a tree in every box with tons of presents! I know this really took a lot of time - it shows! You have created such an incredible keepsake!

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  30. wow what a wonderful inspirational piece - so much to see - brilliant

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  31. Anita, I love the Christmas tree house you built! Each little room is amazing and what a brilliant idea! Love all the trees! I have enjoyed playing along with all you talented ladies for each challenge and thank you for all the inspiration and enthusiasm! Oh and I am only starting Christmas shopping, etc.! Yikes!

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  32. I can't even...

    This is so...

    Wow.

    Just. WOW.

    Anita wins Christmas this year!!!

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  33. Holy cannolis! This is amazing. So much detail!
    Jess

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  34. Oh Anita what a wonderful piece. I love all the trees you have decorated, and the idea of using tinsel inside the star...just to name a few. This really is beautifully done! Karen.x

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  35. THUD....Yep...I fell off my chair! Still picking up my chin...HOLY MOLY! I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!! Ummm... I think I am speachless for the first time. Dang girl...WOOT WOOT! This is utterly FABULOUS...beyond FABULOUS! GEEZE!!! WOWZA!!!!

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  36. I can see that this was a real labour of love, it is fantastic! I love every single little detail, the hooks to hold the number charms, all the gorgeous trees, the little drawers - but most of all I love the elf dust - that is genius! Love it. Hugs, Anne xx

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  37. Holy Smokes!!!! I'd have to start in January but well worth the effort!!! Gorgeous and so inspirational. Thank you for all the details too :)

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  38. WOW, I'm blown away at the amount of time and work you put into creating this. It's amazing and I know your family will enjoy it for years to come. :)

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  39. My goodness what a project! Totally cool :-)

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  40. TOTALLY Inspired. Oh My goodness.... this is simply gorgeous. Really cool. Looks like it would have been fun to work on too!

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  41. Oh, wow. This does look like a massive project. And, I bet your kids love hanging the coins each day to count down. Thanks for all the step by step tips to make it. I really like seeing how you dyed the hooks in the baggie. Looks like an easier way than I would have tried to do it, and a lot less messy. Beautiful!

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  42. Anita, this is fantastic, and an absolute labour of love, but so worth it for the finished results. Stunning.
    Julie x

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  43. Wow! A life-sized configurations! That's so amazing that you thought of something to fill each of those little boxes! What a spectacular creation! I am so proud! Sometimes you just get on a roll and have to see it through. Beautiful!

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  44. I'm sorry how many wine bottles did you need for the corks? LOL If this is what wine does bring on the vino! Absolutely FABULOUS!!!

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  45. Wow! Anita! What a FUN, FANTABULOUS project! I hope your back is better and you do not have a headache from drinking all that wine! This Advent is a genius idea! I love your idea of using hooks, the little matchbox drawers at the bottom for storage (love the practical side of this), those BROWN PAPER PACKAGES, tied up with string...these are a few of my FAV-OR-ITE things!!!! (musical note) I just made my first configurations project to house my shiny bright ornaments (now posted on my blog), but this pales in comparison! They do seem to grow as you make them! This is wonderful, Anita! Thank you for sharing it with us!

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  46. Oh My!!! Worth every drop of wine! LOL! So lovin' your Advent Tree!

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  47. Anita this is the most incredible Christmas tree/shadow box that I've ever seen! LOve love love this!

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  48. WoW! This is wonderful..worth every drop of wine! Have a very Merry Christmas.

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  49. What a gorgeous way to countdown to Christmas. This is gorgeous , I love all the details and your woodland trees are fabulous. Tracy x

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