"You're Going to Make it After All" MTM

There comes a day when every teenager's desire to have their own spending money pushes them into the work-a-day world of adulthood. For me this day coincided with a new boyfriend and the need for a wardrobe to impress. If the newly built indoor Mall was the Place to Be, J.R. Harris was the store for me.

With every word of wisdom my parents had ever given me filling the molecules of my being, I entered the refined ambiance that was J. R. Harris. Powder blue alcoves fitted with French Provincial settees, the latest in apparel ushered in an out of shuttered dressing rooms, larger size discretely required.

The manager stood behind the check-out counter, her minions hurridly attending to orders barked left and right. I had never seen a more homely looking woman. Nearly six feet tall with a pancake flat face, lips the color of blood red, fingernails to match. After my carefully practiced introduction, she spoke in the deepest voice I had ever heard. "I like your manners. You're hired!"

I couldn't have spent more happy days than those spent at J.R. Harris where friends were made and sales were compared from little slips of paper kept within our pockets. Paycheck garments set aside, boyfriend visits to admire, stolen kisses before exiting the store. Cloud Nine belonged solely to me, or so I thought.

Customer after customer my greeting remained the same, "Welcome to J.R. Harris, how may I help you this evening?" Customer after customer remarked, "You're voice is so melodic, you sound just like the lady on "Mary Tyler Moore"! Puffed with pride that my emulation of my personal hero was being validated, I finally had the courage to respond, "Thank you so much, I love Mary Tyler Moore."   

To which my cloud began to rain, "Oh No! Not her! You sound just like Ted Baxter's wife Georgette!" At this very moment, my manager came and put her arm around my shoulder and boomed to the customers, "That's why I hired her. I like that show!"

Please do not Pin pattern to Pinterest.

Seasons Greetings Tutorial

As the leaves fall with the cooling temperatures, I am gladdened to know my favorite season of the year is fast approaching. A most fun project to share with you.

A 7 Gypsies shadowbox (Michaels $19.99 use 50% coupon) that welcomes in the holidays in preparation of the New Year. Gather about your craft desk your favorite vintage images and small trinkets you thought didn't have a Place to Be.

The images you choose to use in your shadowbox should tell a story. I wanted mine to give the feeling of coming in from the cold to unexpectedly find you are in the middle of a celebration. Making a template will make cutting your image so easy.

To give depth to your shadowbox, cut out parts of the images to lift from the background with Pop Dots or hot glue to the frame surrounding each box.

Use scrapbook printed paper to fill in where needed. I will use a Pop Dot behind the little tree and hot glue the the hanging branch to the box frame.

It is such a magical process to create these little scenes of wintery wonderfulness.
 

I purposefully chose my first image to be that of a door, my last image the First of January. A little mushroom added as a symbol of good luck.

 
Divide your shadowbox into units of four. It is important to have a balance of light and dark images. Here the two snow scenes are positioned across from matching nearly white boxes with printing.

 

Green is the color I chose as a secondary color to red, white, and sky blue. It is not predominate in any of the images chosen. Yellow is the accent color as seen in this little horn blower and poinsettia center as well as the little yellow toy soldier.

My favorite greeting cards to purchase on line are the ones with scenes. I know that there will be a version of the same image on the inside of the card. Here I cut streamers found inside the card to add a three-dimensional look to the box.

This is the second time I have made a shadowbox, the first can be seen here. I do hope you will give this wonderful project a try; and if you do, please share it with me!

Halloween at the Patch

I truly don't think a better TIME was to be had than those I spent in the Call Center of Gooseberry Patch. A place where the walls could be found painted shades of purple or green, where each office had it's own casement window, and vintage goodness was the talk in the air.

 

We loved our customers, and our customers loved us. We were encouraged to ask about family and holiday plans. We were encouraged to speak as though over the garden gate.

Between our calls we pulled back our headsets to chat with each other and share our calls. I will never forget a most interesting one I had in the days before Halloween.

"Welcome to Gooseberry Patch, this is Elizabeth. How may I help you shop today? Halloween? Oh yes! we have lots of wonderful things to offer you!"

My customer placed an order for every single Halloween item in our catalog. This was most unusual, I just had to ask. The customer replied, "It so happens my daughter's birthday is on Halloween."

She asked if I could please write a personal gift card to enclose for her daughter. "Dear Wendy, Have a wonderful Halloween birthday! Love, Mom and Dad". I just couldn't help myself, "Oh my! Your daughter's name is Wendy, and she is born on Halloween?"

The customer giggled, "Oh that's only the half of it. Her father and I are morticians, our last name is Black. We live in the town of Killdeer, and our street is Killborn Avenue. Don't worry, we are used to surprised responses."

To this day I can not help but think about Wendy Black celebrating her yearly milestone on this most spooky of days and the giggles shared with the women of Gooseberry Patch.

Paper Clay Owl Tutorial

Happy October! Yes! I am still committed to making a Button Keeper for each month of the year. I promise you, as each one makes their appearance, you can't help looking forward to what the next month will hold.

Knowing how busy everyone will be with their holiday crafting, I thought I would combine techniques for my next three month's projects. One might be perfectly perfect for your holiday gift giving.

COVERING LID
STEP 1. DON'T FORGET to hot glue inner lid to ring. The weight of topper will cause ring to      continuously circle jar if you don't!
STEP 2. Hot glue two stacked pieces of cardboard on lid.
STEP 3. Hot glue strip of cardboard around ring, trim.
STEP 4. Trace lid onto cardboard and back of printed paper.

STEP 5. Glue stick printed paper to cardboard, then onto heavy card stock, pink edges. Hot glue on lid.
STEP 6. Cut strip of paper wide enough to cover side of rim, pink edge. Hot glue in place.
STEP 7. Optional - Hot glue decorative tinsel stem, Glitter glue paper circle.
 

October and November's Button Keepers are made using Paper Clay purchased at Michaels, $10.00.

PAPER CLAY - Have a small amount of water available.
STEP 1. Pinch off small amount of clay. Working with your thumb, lightly press clay onto surface of Styrofoam shape pressing outward direction.

STEP 2. Ears or nose are first created as triangular and round shapes than placed on surface of clay. Use forefinger to slightly pull edges of clay to surface creating a smooth appearance.
STEP 3. When shape is to liking, wet forefinger and smooth clay further.

STEP 4. Wings begin as ball shapes, pinch one side between fingers to create teardrop shape. Flatten between thumb and forefinger.
STEP 5. Attach to body surface. Lightly pull edges to surface. Wet finger to smooth.
NOTE: Only small pieces of paper clay can be added in this way. Large pieces need Styrofoam to keep them from being to heavy.
STEP 6. Head is attached to body with use of partial toothpick. Insert pipe cleaner stems for legs and arms.
STEP 7. Leave piece to dry overnight. Paint next day. Pieces also can be dried in front of fan. Note: Climate effects drying time.

Oh my gosh! The tops can be as simple as these and be just as charming as can be.

I know I will create large jar versions next year just because these are such fun to make. Can you see my pom pom skier within the jar topped by an Oh So Cute sparkly snowman? Love it!

TRIMS:
My wonderful snowman's collar was created in the same manner as my October Button Keeper's collar.
STEP 1. Layer seven lengths of crepe. Take a hand running stitch along one edge, pink opposite edge.
STEP 2. Cut between pinks up to running thread.

STEP 3. Create a circle large enough to overhang jar lid. NOTE: I did not need cardboard pieces in center of jar lid because crepe will fill in the area.
STEP 4. Hot glue topper in place.

PARTY HATS:  (These steps are for using vintage materials that may be fragile)
TIP:  WIDTH OF PAPER = HOW TALL HAT WILL BE 
STEP 1. Cut width of paper.
TIP:  PULL PAPER ACROSS EDGE OF YOUR CRAFT DESK TO SOFTEN AND CURL PAPER.
STEP 2. Form cone shape.
STEP 3. With hat pinched between fingers, apply bead of hot glue down length where papers meet.

STEP 4. Trim away excess paper. Trim around opening beginning at shorter side. TIP: Keep scissors perpendicular to desk for a straight cut.

STEP 5. Vintage paper - Cut same width paper as hat strip. Apply glue stick to back of strip. Adhere to base cone. Trim.
STEP 6. Hot glue crepe or tinsel stem to edge of party hat.

A snowman in October? Like I said, once you make one Button Keeper, you just can't stop!

This and That on Sunday

Thank you so very much for my Birthday Greetings yesterday. I don't know how you knew it was the actual day. I have been celebrating each day of the month of September to keep you from truly knowing. My husband returns from his Home Alone trip today, birthday cake soon to follow!

Speaking of birthday wishes, are you smiling ear to ear over Diane's,  Etsy Shop, Scrabble wishes and kitten? Numbered vintage birthday cards are my absolute favorite.

In other crafting news, "Six white pom poms, 3 wooden beads, 4 orange buttons, etc, etc, etc,"  What a Cute as Can Be way to hold the tiny little items you need for a project. Michaels summer clearance rack, (.49 cents apiece),  Yo Yos and vintage buttons are added by mE.

My gosh, how time is flying by now that fall has officially begun. Even quicker still is my eagerness to visit each blog to see all of your wonderful Halloween crafts. (Pattern found here.).

And speaking of Halloween, have you gotten your Magpie-Ethel yet? May I tell you I have come to a realization about the style of crafting of my favorite artist. IT'S ALL IN THE LEGS! Just look at the stance of this witch, un huh. You can see Laurie standing like this, can't you? Her personality is wonderfully bold.

My characters, on the other hand, all have straight legs. They say about me I am someone who always follows the rules.What do your craft legs say about you?

Vintage Halloween supplies are very hard to find; so What's on Hand came to the rescue again.

A little hot glue does the trick!

How cute are these hanging from my Cutie Pie Cottage garland? And the view outside my craft room window?

Gloriously beautiful on a This and That Sunday!