Gingerbread Haven

Hello everyone! Today, I wanted to share some pics of an event I attended last week to raise money for a special program here in my town, and all the participants made gingerbread houses. I think this would be a great idea for any store owner or business to raise money for a charity or even the business itself, so I really wanted to show you in case you needed an idea.  By the way, the money raised from ticket sales, raffle tickets, and sales went to our local single mothers with children shelter called Fair Havens. They house, educate, and counsel women for a time, and help them gain employment and their own housing. It's a wonderful program, and I am so glad to have been a part of the event. 

There was a huge rectangle of tables in the center of the room where helper bees kept hundreds of yummy items filled to the brim.

We had several plastic cups to scoop up whatever we wanted. They had everything you could imagine would go on a gingerbread house...I mean everything. I've never seen anything like this!!!

 

 

 

Lots and lots of sprinkles!!!

 

This was the table I was at, and the elf in the upper corner was our personal delivery man. He got us anything we needed.

We had about an hour and a half to create. It was hard choosing what I wanted to put on my house, but I went with candy I knew my kids would like, since this was my first time creating one. My mind was on overdrive thinking about what I would create next year though.

There were so many gorgeous creations. I was blown away by some! The ladies that had been in previous years (This is an annual event.) really knew what they were doing.

My house only lasted a few days after the kids got a hold of it. I even ate a piece of the roof...yummy!

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon! 

Joyeux Noel Configurations Boxes

Happy December everyone! As promised, here is my last project from the retreat. Sadly, the atrocities that took place in Paris happened while I was there, and I wanted to make something that was a sort of remembrance for me from when I went to France two years ago. There were too many gorgeous sights to count, and Paris was so inspiring, especially with all the goodies in the shops and flea markets. So I took a few of those ideas and lots of Tim Holtz Idea-ology and made these two Configurations Boxes. I pray the people of Paris heal quickly, and thrive in peace.

There are lots of photos, so please grab a snack to sustain you...sorry!

 

 

I misted some Yuletide Paper Stash sheets with either Victorian Velvet Distress Spray Stain (for the pink box) or Tumbled Glass (for the blue box). I love that the paper was completely changed from what it was, but the design was still perfect. I trimmed the papers down to size for the box, and then inked the edges with Brushed Corduroy. I adhered all the paper in place in the box.

I even used the label sheets page for the outside of the insert box. It totally looks like the inlay design on cabinets. LOVE that.

Then I began the inside. I painted the Letterpress pieces with Distress Paint, stamped on them with Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Inks, and then covered them with Glossy Accents. I also used Tim's new Vintage Platinum Glitter Dust on the 'O'. I LOVE the color and the ease of using it. I didn't get all glittered up like I usually do with a fine textured glitter.

I had these old Christmas Cameos from Webster's Pages in my stash for a zillion years, so I inked them, and added them to the inside of a Foundry Frame that I also altered with Mushroom Alcohol Ink. I also altered the Salvaged Doll with Alcohol Ink as well. I glued her into the Corked Dome, added a tree glittered with Stickles, filled it with Distress Glitter, and closed it up. I secured the bottom with vintage ribbon purchased in Paris. I made the ringer bell with a thin strip of the misted paper, and just glued it over the hole in the top of the bell. It might be my favorite part!

I added Glossy Accents all over the antler portion of the Trophy Antlers, and dipped them into the Glitter Dust jar. These are so cool. I stole the idea from Tim...he rocks! I coated the deer heads with Multi Medium first, let that dry, and then colored them with Alcohol Ink. I've heard that if you don't seal these first with Multi Medium, the Alcohol Ink turns a different color than what you want, so I just went with that, and it all worked perfectly. I also altered the Trophy with Mushroom, and then filled it with Petaloo Flowers and Berry Clusters. I cut pieces off the Boxwood Twine, and wrapped them around a paintbrush to coil them a little, and added them to the flower arrangement, along with some colored Crinkle Ribbon.

I die cut the other word, and added Platinum Stickles to the edges and also to the mini wreaths I made with the Boxwood Twine around the Trophy Antlers.

I worked a little backwards for this part, but I went ahead and painted the outside of the box with Antique Linen Distress Paint, let it dry, and then added Rock Candy Distress Crackle. I die cut the snowflake border from Sizzix, and painted and crackled it too. Once dry, I inked it all, and adhered the snowflake border up top dotted with Stickles, added more vintage ribbon,  and then adhered the Trophy Antlers. They are so stinking fun and really dress things up, those Antlers do!!!

I lightly coated the Foundations with Gesso, dried that, and then pounced on Alcohol Ink over the raised portions. They have a great shabby chic look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for looking at all of the projects I made at the retreat over the weeks, and especially for all the comments and Pins! You all are amazing! Peace and Joy to all of you, and I hope your holiday crafting is smooth!!! Stay safe!

Supplies:

Idea-ology Configurations Box 5.5x5.5	Idea-ology Paper Stash in Yuletide	Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Brushed Corduroy	Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain in Victorian Velvet	Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain in Tumbled Glass
Tim Holtz Distress Paint in Victorian Velvet	Ranger Distress Paint in Broken China	Idea-ology Letterpress	Tim Holtz Distress Paint in Antique Linen	Stamper′s Anonymous Tim Holtz Christmas Nostalgia Stamp Set
Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen	Tim Holtz Mini Ink Blending Tool	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink in Forget Me Not	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink in Tree Branch	Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Dust - Vintage Platinum
Ranger Glossy Accents	Peeled Paint Distress Ink	Sizzix - Tim Holtz - Alphanumeric dies	Tim Holtz Distress Marker in Ground Espresso	Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain in Antique Linen	Ranger Multi Matte Medium	Ranger Alcohol Ink in Stream	Pink Sherbet Alcohol Ink	Idea-ology Trophy Antlers
Idea-ology Salvaged Dolls	Idea-ology Woodlands Mini Tree Lot	Ranger Stickles in Baby Blue	Ranger Stickles in Cotton Candy	Ranger Stickles in Platinum
Idea-ology Mirrored Stars	Tim Holtz Distress Glitter in Clear Rock Candy	Adirondack Alcohol Ink In Mushroom	Idea-ology Corked Domes	Idea-ology Foundry Frames
Idea-ology Trophy Cups	Idea-ology Boxwood Twine	Petaloo Botanica Collection White Glitter Snowflake Pick x 15	Ranger Adhesive Foam in White	Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon
Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Victorian Velvet	Tumbled Glass Distress Ink

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!