Cosmic Offerings by Kersten

It's amazing who might emerge from a stack of papers on a messy desk, all Gesso and watercolor crayons.

Her starry self flies among bright Japanese lanterns, a string of baubles below her toes.

Winged moon, crooked crown, and sequin skies abound.

Paper glow in sunshine!  

RubberMoon Stamps Used:

Kae Pea New Moon Art Stamp,

Cosmic Offerings

I Am My Art

Kae Pea Wings

Kae Pea Circles Upon Circles

Origami Gift Boxes by Martice Smith II

Hi! Martice here, reminding you: it's about that time, friends! The holidays are right around the corner and people are getting ready for gift-giving.

I've always loved a beautifully hand-made gift...who doesn't?! Especially when the gift comes from someone who cherishes YOU just as much as the gift they are giving.

Today, I'm sharing what's on my desk: Origami Gift Boxes!! These are super easy ("last-minute-gifts") to make and I love making them because each part is hand-crafted + I can embellish them however I want.



No two will ever be the same and as a bonus to me, folding paper can be a great stress reliever...especially around this time of year!



I folded several sheets of 12x12 inch scrapbook paper to create these one-of-a-kind origami gift boxes. Some are commercially printed sheets but I adore the gelli printed ones I created myself, so of course I had to use them too.

For the happy snowman box, I applied a string of silver Craft Twinkles Glitter Paint (DecoArt) along all four edges of the lid, after I did all the folding.



Black gesso, is now, one of my 'go-to' mediums when I'm working with anything that has glitter on it. The black gesso (DecoArt) dries to an opaque, matte finish and I love the smooth consistency. It's a perfect contrasting element to use with any glitter or sparkly sprays because it allows the glitter to take center stage and shine, shine, shine!

I sprayed White irRESISTible Colored Texture Spray and Sheer Shimmer Spritz in Sparkle (both from Imagine Crafts) on a piece of lightweight paper that I had dry brushed with black gesso. I was excited to learn that the irRESISTible Colored Texture Spray dries very quick AND has incredible texture!



This paper was used to line the insides of the origami gift boxes. How extravagant!

The box's base was made from collaged magazine pages and covered with tracing paper I painted Lipstick red. I like how the layering of these two papers interact with each other: the text gives a contemporary edge while the soft transparency of the tracing paper keeps it toned down yet allows some energy to still be present.

Another box is created from my stash of gelli prints. I added my graffiti script with a Micron brush pen.

The inside is lined with sparkly paper and commercial scrapbook paper.

Tags were made with recycled cardstock from product packaging. I used the Tags & Labels stencil (Americana Mixed Media), threaded mini jingle bells and glass berry beads on the embroidery floss for some festive charm.


To complete my Origami Gift Boxes, I stamped Snowmen w/ Scarf in Onyx Black onto the white tag. Look how much fun he's having in the snow! I love the snow and can't wait to jump in it myself!

Snowmen w/ Scarf stamp

 

 A smaller piece of the sparkly paper was folded to create a pull tab for the lid and glued on top of the embroidery floss.

I hope this project has encouraged you to present your gifts in a more personalized way.



Do you like gifting hand-made items to your friends and family?



Happy holidays!

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Products used:

RubberMoon Stamp: 
ge2747 - snowmen w/scarve

Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts:
White irRESISTible Colored Texture Spray, Sheer Shimmer Spritz - Sparkle, VersaFine Archival Instant Dry Pigment Ink - Onyx Black

DecoArt Products:
Black Gesso, Craft Twinkles Glitter Paint Writer, Bahama Blue
(Americana Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Paints: Chartreuse & Lipstick)

Stencil:
Tags & Labels (Americana Mixed Media)

Other:
"Snowman Sam" and "Black & White Sketchy Ornate" 12x12 inch scrapbook paper (The Paper Studio), Selection of gelli printed papers, White cardstock, embroidery floss, glass berry beads

WINTERLAND SNOW GLOBE NECKLACE

SNOW GLOBE NECKLACE
All through out the year I really enjoy creating these wooden necklaces. The Winterland Snow Globe Necklace was especially fun to make! This particular one only uses a single RUBBERMOON STAMP.

BACK OF NECKLACE
The back of the necklace is covered with a small piece of Christmas Paper to give it a Festive Appeal. Below is a short list of supplies needed to make this Snow Globe Necklace.

SUPPLIES

1) Tiny Snow Globe Stamp
2) White Gesso
3)  Liquitex Matte Varnish
4) 24 inch Ball Chain Necklace-Copper
5)  1 Copper bail
6) One Small Wooden Craft Disc
7) Sharpie Water Based Paint Marker - White
8) Graphite Sketching Pencil
9) E-6000 Easy Hold Adhesive
10) Acrylic Paint- Colors of Your Choice

NECKLACE  MATERIALS

GESSO FIRST

APPLY  SNOW GLOBE STAMP ONTO PREPARED WOODEN DISC

PAINTING THE FRONT OF NECKLACE

The first step to this fun Holiday Project is to Gesso the Small Wooden Craft Disc with a Coat of White Gesso.  When dry to touch, it is time to apply the Tiny Snow Globe Stamp to prepared disc.  Using your choice of color (I used Naples Yellow),  paint the sides of disc and background behind Snowglobe. Follow up by painting the Snow Globe itself.  After the paint has dried, use the Sharpie Paint Marker to dab little Snow flakes inside of the Globe.  You might want to test this out on a scrap piece of paper before dabbing on the Globe itself.

DECORATE BACK OF DISC

Using any Christmas Paper of your choice, paste a small piece to the back of the Wooden Disc. Sand lightly around sides until smooth to touch. Using the Graphite Pencil, sketch around the edge of front and back of Disc to give it a worn "Vintage" appeal.  Give Painted Wooden Disc at least 2 coats of Liquitex Matte Varnish, applying with a small brush. Use Heat Blower to dry or let dry naturally for several minutes.
  

GLUE BAIL TO BACK OF NECKLACE
 
Using the E-6000 Easy Hold Adhesive,  apply a small amount to back of Copper Bail and attach to back of Wooden Disc where the top of the necklace will appear on front side.  Let dry and then slide Copper Chain through loop on Bail.
The Winterland Snow Globe Necklace is now ready to wear. These make great gifts or stocking stuffers for the Season.
 Till Next Time- BARB

LET IT SNOW !!!!!!!

Please visit my etsy shop-BARBS POINT OF VIEW ART  for more of my creative endeavors to purchase online.

Moonlight Vintage Trailer Holiday Art

Paint Over Collage Art
I had so much fun creating this small Holiday piece of Art.  I found it only fitting that my first blog post as a Rubbermoon Creative Team member be one including a Vintage Trailer traveling under the starry Moon. Please follow along and I will demonstrate my ideas and technique.

Materials
I used just a few simple materials along with 3 Rubbermoon Stamps. This very cute tiny 3 inch Matboard Square came from a cool retailer, Inchie Arts LLC.  I coupled it along with a small wooden Easel making a fun display.  You can use paint, water color pencils, markers etc. to add color to your Holiday Art.
I will post the Rubbermoon Stamps used later in my demonstration.

Collaged Matboard

I feel that collaging underneath Art Work adds interest and fun to creating. For this piece I used Text from an Old Book and a Map of course.

Rubbermoon Stamps

The main Stamp in this Holiday Art is the wonderful Vintage Trailer: AIRLYTE
The second is a very cool Christmas Tree stamp: Tree w/ Lights db2590e.
Last but certainly not least is the tiny version of the very popular "New moon" These will be available on Rubbermoon Etsy Shop soon.
Be sure to lightly Gesso before stamping onto your Matboard.

Making it Christmas Art

Now comes the really fun part. Making it into Christmas Art of your own!  I did this by drawing a Christmas tree on top of the Trailer and adding a string of Christmas Lights to the side. I was very lucky to find the text, "Merry Christmas" from an old book and I pasted it to the matboard, outlining it using a graphite pencil.  After this,  just paint onto the Matboard or use markers to make it "your own" work of Art. I dotted the sky around the moon with a White Paint Sharpie marker to create tiny stars around the little moon.

Merry Christmas Vintage Trailer

Once again, a pic of the final piece. I had so much fun and hope you do too!
Until next time! -BARB