I almost forgot- the Christmas crafts!

I did do a little crafting before Christmas, that I couldn't show till after I was sure the presents were opened... we pick names in my family for the "big" gifts, and exchange stocking stuffers with everyone. I decided to make some of my stocking stuffers, after seeing an article in the December issue of Somerset Studio magazine. These pictures are what I came up with! The ornaments are paper mache, from Michaels. I base-coated them with gesso, then painted them with a mixture of acrylic and Lumiere paint. (Lumiere is more like a glaze, and has gold or other shimmery colors mixed in.) Then I added clip-art angels and a border of gold acrylic paint dots .

The backs were covered with scraps of vintage music paper, then dry-brushed with gesso and gold to lighten it up.

The colors I picked for these ornaments are a little brighter than my usual comfort zone, but I really like how they turned out.

I'm really proud of how this one turned out, too. I made this one for my mom, to remind her of the birds they feed outside the kitchen window every winter. It started with an empty Altoids tin (I have quite a few of these stashed away- since they're metal tins, I always feel bad about just throwing them away). I painted the outside and inside edges with gold paint, and added teal glitter for sky, and mica flake snow. (I should have built up the "landscape" with polymer clay or something, but I didn't think of that till later.) What I did use was lots of PVA and E6000 adhesive, which took a while to dry, but it worked out. I glued two tiny birch twigs into the snow, sprinkled some "snow" on them, and perched a mushroom cardinal on the branch. Sheer chiffon ribbon was wrapped around the edge of the tin to use as a hanger.

I have more empty Altoids tins, and more paper mache shapes, so I think I will make some spring ornaments, too- flowers, perhaps, or maybe Easter bunnies, or chicks?? I'll just have to see what I come up with...