MARSHMALLOW CREATIONS: November 2011

I had every intention of decorating some of my handmade trees and finishing a couple of custom orders yesterday.

I ended up helping my son who was

TEXTING every time I looked outside!!

He comes by it honestly, as I am also
very easily distracted!

He was supposed to be raking and to keep him on task, I spent about 3 hours in the yard with him!

After all that, I was exhausted and the last thing I wanted to do was sew more trees!

That just seemed too much like work!

But there I was, painting a tree stand and the white paint made me think of a frame I was going to be using in a mixed media collage.

I decided to paint that frame, then I pearl glazed it and then something happened

I GOT INSPIRED!

I fell in love with Victorian Christmas images like this last year and knew I wanted to make a special piece for Christmas this year.

I've never made a collage before but have wanted to for SO long!

This beautiful image was the first piece collected.

I purchased it from a sweet etsy seller whose shop is appropriately named "I talk to angels" .

I picked up the background paper at JoAnn Fabrics the little snowflakes at Hobby Lobby.

The lace border came from etsy.

My friend Julie Ann Hood

of Splendidly Sweet,

designed these adorable

little mitten ornaments

and I ordered two pairs from her.

They are still available in her etsy shop.

I knew they would be so sweet on my collage.

The mother of pearl brooch (above) and
large beaded brooch (below)
were purchased
at a rummage sale!

Lucky me!

I gathered little lace ruffles for the
bottom corners

to give another 3D element,

and a little frill!

The element that tied it all together was the frame, which I purchased at the estate sale of a dear friend last month.

Like me, she collected all kinds of pretty things.

Sadly, I didn't know we liked so many of the same things until after she died.

I think she would really like this use of her frame.

I assembled everything that I had so far onto the collage last night but something was still missing...

My angel needed a tree with packages to give away, so I made them today.

I'm really proud of it but still tweaking a little!

NEXT,

MY BIG NEWS!!!!

I'M

HAVING

GIVEAWAY!!

I'm in the Christmas Spirit.

I didn't sign up for any ornament swaps because I never have before and I forgot all
about them!

Maybe next year!!

Anyway, I feel like sharing
something that I make with someone
in Blogland for Christmas,

SO,

I will choose a winner at random...

AND!!

The winner will receive their very own retro
fluffy tree handmade by me!!!

The deadline is December 3rd.

Winner to be announced on December 4th.