Working on Christmas House

Hello!

Work on the Christmas House continues as I start to add the base paper to the paper mache shape. I have removed all of the accessory pieces and scraped the surface of the main shape to make it smooth so no bumps or ridges show through the paper. I am using the new Graphic 45 paper collection called "A Christmas Carol".You know how much I love Graphic 45 papers and this collection is so colorful!

After the shape is covered with the base paper both front, back and sides - it is time to pick different patterned papers that will cover the accessory pieces that I choose to use again and glue to the front of the basic shape.

All the accessory pieces will be edged and a border all around on the front of each piece using a blue marker that matches the main color in the base paper before the patterned paper is glued on to them. (Just like I do with all of my fussy cutting pieces - no edges without color!)

Thank you for visiting my blog today! Tomorrow I have photos of the finished Christmas House. We have rain here in this part of WI today - very dark and dreary this morning. I need to make some cards today to send to my great grandchildren - will be using lots of color I think! :<)

Hugs,

Barbara Diane

Starting A Christmas House

Hello!

Started a Christmas House for Jim. I looked for a flat house that would be easier to mail to him than a full house like my Halloween houses. As you can see, Jimbo was taking a little nap next to the house on his perch and when I sat down at my work table, turned on the lights and started to get ready to work, he woke up and became interested. :<) He loves sitting by me wherever I am - I have a perch next to my computer table and one close by my recliner - so he was ready to see what I was up to this time.

What I was up to was carefully removing all of the decorative pieces from the house so that I would be able to cover them with different patterned papers before I glued them back on to the house.

The back of the house is smooth, so that eliminates the need to scrape it as I have to on the front side of the house, but hopefully when I am ready to start gluing on papers, both sides will look like this. :<) More photos tomorrow!

Thank you for visiting my blog today! I want to say THANK YOU to all who leave me comments and e-mails and I am so behind in visiting your blogs in return! I hope to get to everyone soon! In the meantime, I am so grateful for your continuing kind words! Wishing you a happy day!

Hugs,

Barbara Diane

Prayer Request

Please God, help the people of Paris. 

A Card for Jim

Hello,

Made this card for my son Jim - he loves food! Going out to eat in restaurants, summer celebrations in the park, holidays with all the special treats - all these things he loves! He just moved to a new group home last month and one of the many things he loves there is that they have a great cook! :<) He calls it a 'Bed and Breakfast' and makes us all laugh.

He lives in another town now and because I no longer drive on the beltline and/or out of town, it will be difficult for me to visit him there or for him to come here to stay for a weekend. Over the past almost 3 years he was here about half the time as the situation was not good where he was. Now, he is in a good environment with good people but the adjustment will be a bit difficult. So I have told him I would mail him cards every week and he calls every day to visit. This is one I sent yesterday. Wanted to make it food related and also make him smile.

The image is one of Mo Manning's called "Bake Me A Cake" and you can find it and many more of her wonderful images on her website at http://www.mosdigitalpencil.com/

Thank you for visiting my blog today! We have sunshine again in this part of WI! The severe storm system has passed but much colder and still windy. Wishing you a good day today!

Hugs,

Barbara Diane

Something New - Building Miniatures Again

Hello!

Something new for me - well, not new but I haven't done this for quite some time. I am again building miniatures to put inside my doll house store/apartment that I am building bravery to build! A number of years ago I had a shop called "Puppen Haus" (Dolls House) and it was filled with artist made teddy bears and miniatures. It was a beautiful shop and I miss it still. 

My idea is to make a doll making shop with fabrics, doll making supplies, etc. and a living space in the rooms above. This little fabric cutting table was my first miniature kit to put together. I love it - so much fun and it even has a working drawer! I was so proud of myself that I could still follow directions! :< I have ordered some additional kits so am awaiting them in the mail and hope that they come soon! In the meantime I am making little bolts of fabric to lay on the table and also to put in the next pieces of furniture I am going to make.

Thank you for visiting my blog today! It is a very dark and dreary day in this part of WI - a severe storm system moving through since yesterday. Lots of rain and very windy - up to 60 mph in some areas. It is to end by tomorrow so hopefully more sunshine for the weekend.

Wishing you a fun day today with your creations - whatever they are! I think I will go now and create some chocolate pudding - I love to eat it while it is hot - a perfect creation for a stormy day!

Hugs,

Barbara Diane

WOYW? Wednesday and Our First Frost

Hello!

Today is Wednesday and time for What's On Your Workdesk? I am so late posting, but at least it's still Wednesday! We had our first frost here in this part of WI. I looked out my bedroom window when I raised the blinds and saw this - FROST on the cars! Even early in the morning it was a very sunny day so it really showed up on the cars.

I had to see it up close for myself to I put on my shoes, grabbed my camera and went out the back door of the apartment building to take a photo of my car in the parking lot.

It was frost alright - and a thick layer on all of the windows (I had to check it out!) and the  top and back of the car. Our first frost! Can winter weather and snow be arriving next!

I didn't forget my workdesk! Below is a sneak peak at what I have been working on all week. It is totally different from anything I have worked on for many years and was so much fun. I will be posting photos tomorrow. Go to  http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ to check out the Stamping Ground blog to see what so many are creating on their workdesks - Christmas projects beginning to show up on many! Be sure to share your own creations!

Thank you for visiting my blog today! Wishing you sunshine and good weather!

Hugs,

Barbara Diae

WOYW? Wednesday and New Photos of My Halloween House 2015

Hello!

Today is Wednesday already and time for "What's On Your Workdesk?" If you are not familiar with this special day of the week for sharing - go to http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ and as the blog's owner puts it so nicely, "visit to your heart's content"!

 When I posted my photos on Sunday of my Halloween House 2015, the photos were very dark and I had already gifted the house so couldn't take more. Well, I 'borrowed' the little house yesterday and took some new photos. I hope that being a bit lighter it will be easier to see the detail.

I you would like to see some of the process during this creation, please do check out previous posts and I also have the larger Halloween House that I made for myself for this year posted before that.

Thank you for visiting my blog today! We have another beautiful warm and sunny day here in this part of WI - it is our Indian Summer and I love it! Wishing you sunshine where you are!

Hugs,

Barbara Diane

Halloween House for 2015 - FINISHED!

Hello!

Well, the Halloween House for 2015 is finally finished. I was very disappointed to see how dark all of the photos were and the house has already been gifted to the person so I can't take any new ones. That's ok I guess, I just was not expecting them to be so dark as I took them in natural daylight in the morning and that usually means good photos. Oh well, here it is.

There are fussy cut and layered moons and stars on the front eaves.

There are fussy cut and layered cats and spiders on the end eaves.

The figures in front are Mo Manning images and are fussy cut and layered.

An owl fussy cut and layered on the chimney.

And on the sides of the house are fussy cut and layered pumpkins.

Thank you for coming to visit my blog today! I hope those of you who celebrate Halloween had a great evening and lots of fun and good treats! Wising you a restful Sunday! 

Hugs,

Barbara Diane

Halloween House #2 Part Two

Hello,

The  work on the house continues. Added strips to the roof and eaves and sides of the chimney.

All of the individual pieces of the house are edged with a black marker so no white edges of any paper shows. Big, little - all are edged in black.

Then it is time to start to fussy cut all of the detail pieces to add to the house. Still needs a door!

And then the finishing touches. It's time to color with markers, fussy cut, layer and add the figures to the house. 

Tomorrow the completed house. It's almost done! Wishing you a good day today!

Hugs,

Barbara Diane