Thursday, December 19, 2013

Oh Deer!!! An Ornament Tutorial

I just love corrugated paper, and there are a million and one uses for it! Agree? 
I saw some cute cardstock 3D reindeer and a sleigh in a magazine...that I can't remember the name of now...and I wanted to make some ornaments like them but use corrugated instead. These went together in a flash, and would be a great project to make with the kids and/or grandkids! Enjoy the tutorial, and if you make some too, send me some pics!
It's difficult to see all the details while they are on the tree, so I thought this might help.
Fold two pieces of 6x12 inch corrugated paper in half short ways, with the corrugated on the outside, and folded so the lines are going vertically. Die cut each folded piece with Tim Holtz's Sizzix Reindeer Flight Die, fold side up and going vertically...you know, to make your deer appear thinner...;0)!!! You will have eight deer, four of each design, and pairs that match up correctly with corrugated paper on the outside...make sense? Open each scrap paper up, and place the middle part on the Tim's Branch Tree Die to cover most of the tree up. Die cut both pieces. These will be for your antlers.
Rub a Walnut Stain Distress Ink Pad over all the raised corrugated areas of all the pieces. Ink the edges of one set of each of the deer (a set being the back and front) using Vintage Photo.
The pairs that are not inked with Vintage Photo are for cutting up to make the 3D areas. Each outside leg and the ear will need to be cut. You just need to wing it with your scissors, as I don't have a pattern. You can do it. After the pieces are cut, ink the edges with Vintage Photo.
Adhere the legs and ears on each respective deer...I used Ranger's Glue N Seal. They have now come to life!
Cut pieces for the Tree Branch for the antlers, ink them with Vintage Photo, and attach. Apply dots of a black and red Stickles for the nose and eye. Let these dry, and find the scrap pieces of corrugated. Cut two 1/2 inch strips about 3 1/2 inches long. Fold each strip...corrugated side in...at 1/2 inch, then 1 inch, then another 1/2 inch, and then another inch. What is left will be the part you glue. You will make two 3D rectangle pieces like those shown. These will be the spacer pieces that go between the deer pair.
Since I had left over deer scraps, I used the neck and bodies of the scrap deer to make fur tufts...like you see on elk. I just like this look, but it's optional. I rubbed the Snow Cap Pigment Ink pad over the fur parts, and inked the edges in Vintage Photo. I attached the fur to the necks of each deer. The Snow Cap can also be used to add a little white color to the tails and bellies of each deer. I like the look.
Adhere the rectangle spacers to the backs of each deer, and match up the deer as best as you can. Use wired evergreen pieces to make wreaths for each deer. Wrap one around each deer's neck, and glue on a ribbon bow. Use the same ribbon to loop around the wreath, and tie a knot at the end, so you have something to hang on a tree branch. Easy!!!!
 
 
Supplies:

I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!


Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Melt Art - Christmas Style

Ho Ho Ho and a big welcome crafters! I'm so sorry it's been a while...again. Life can sure get crazy sometimes!
Well, it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around my house! All of the decor is up, and I am in the process of making gift after gift, and project after project. One of the projects I've made for the entry way of my house, as well as for a gift, is featured on the Ranger Ink Blog with a full tutorial for constructing some yourself. The techniques used in this project are meant to be used for any theme and not just Christmas. Here are some more photos for you to peruse.
 
 
 
 
Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate! And, I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!