AUTHENIQUE PAPER: Putting a Bird on Free Bird

From the Authentique Blog:

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Hello folks!! Heather here. I hope that all of your Thanksgiving feasts were wonderful, and that you were able to spend time with loved ones. Today for you, I have a nifty piece of decor that you too could whip up before the holidays! 

Samantha showed me a fantastic pin over at Pinterest, and I was inspired to use the Free Bird Series to craft something similar. I even drew a lovely little chickadee to place on it! 

I chose to use Warmth for the wreath, as I felt that it reminded me of all of winter. It does have some lovely colors and patterns.

I didn't have a little chickadee, so I actually drew one up using my scrapbooking pens and a little bit of chalk ink. Yup... the yellow is chalk ink!

The wreath itself is simply concentric circles of cones of paper. I just cut the Free Bird pages in half using decorative scissors, then trimmed off one of the 3" sides with decorative scissors as well. Roll the paper into cones, then attach the trimmed edge to the cone with a glue dot.

To attach the cones to the wreath, each cone is pinned in place, then hot glued. I haven't quite made up my mind whether or not I want to replace the drawing with a little faux bird or not yet. At the moment, I rather like him.

I hope that you enjoyed my take on a fun decor project. Just another way to use those fantastic Free Bird papers!! Have a great start to the holiday season!!

Supplies Used: 

Authentique Free Bird Series: Warmth FBS 129, 130, 131 & 132

Additional Supplies: wreath form, American Crafts Memory Markers in Charcoal and Black, AC ribbon, AC white cardstock, Colorbox Chalk ink in Yellow Cadmium, stick

AUTHENTIQUE BLOG: Wooden Christmas Ornaments with Free Bird!

From the AUTHENTIQUE PAPER BLOG:

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Hello Authentique fans, it's Heather! I have a really inexpensive idea for either a small decor item, or possibly a beautiful, and toddler-proof Christmas ornament. My little girl found this on an end-cap of one of the large chain craft stores. At first, she grabbed the more expensive birdhouse, but I was able to trade her for this smaller (and only $1!) one instead. She was happy throughout the rest of the shopping trip, and I wasn't out a lot of money.

While this step is completely optional, painting the pine birdhouse can tie all of the colors together. I chose black, and painted the inside as well. Since it was pine, the paint dries very quickly.

 

This is seriously the hardest step... Take a piece of copy paper, to figure out where the posts are. In this case, I was able to use an office hole puncher in order to slide the paper over the roosts. If you are using a larger birdhouse, you may want to cut the holes out with fine-point scissors.

I then grabbed my first piece of Free Bird ("Delight" FBS 111). Rather than measuring and cutting out, I was able to fit most of the pieces in without spending too much time measuring. In this case, the eave of the roof was 90 degrees, and I was able to use the corner of the paper as my angle. I then just creased the edges and cut them off so that the piece fit properly.

I had to use an X-Acto knife to slice the very bottom from the paper. Then, I felt for the holes in the birdhouse, and used the back of my X-Acto knife to slightly push in the edges of the entrances.

 

To cut the holes, I used a rotary nail file to "sand" them off. You could also use a wood file or even a thin nail file.

Mod-Podge the wood base, then the paper to make it all stick! I found out that the more Mod-Podge you use, the better it all sticks! Plus, it dries clear... So even if it looks like it's all weird... Wait a few hours. 

Repeat the same steps on the other sides of the birdhouse. I ended up using just one sheet of Free Bird for all of the sides! I then added a thin strip of a different paper ("Delight" FBS 112) for the bottom edge of the birdhouse. Rather than piece the paper, I diagonally cut a strip from corner to corner. I punched only part of a hole in the top, so that the roost would fit around the edge. Then, Mod-Podge'd it all down.

For the roof, I used half of a piece of "Delight" FBS 109. One side of the roof was simple, and just needed an edge punch to add some extra dimension to the roof. The other side needed to have some of the roof notched in with a hole punch so that it fit the rope. I just played with the amount I cut out until it fit right.

For the last detail, I added small strips of the same paper (FBS 109) to the front and back of the roof eaves.

When you have finished with your decoration, Mod-Podge the entire thing once more. Let it dry completely for a few hours.

I haven't shown this to my little toddler yet, but I know that she is going to love it. Best part, the total bill on this project (if you already have Mod-Podge and paint) is under $3!! Even if it doesn't last toddler hands... I can make another one for just a few dollars!

Authentique and Twinery Blog Hop!!!

HELLO AUTHENTIQUE AND TWINERY HOPPERS!!

If you came here from Hera Frei's site, you are in the right spot! If you just started here, make sure that you start at the beginning with Authentique Paper, to enjoy all of the fun!!

Authentique Paper 
Tifany DeGough
Julie Ranae Murray
Natalie Dever
Stephanie Johnson
Emily Lanham
Hera Frei
Heather Conklin  <-----YOU ARE HERE
Deena Neimat
Janeen Shember
Ivona Foster
The Twinery

For my first two cards, I kept a Christmas theme! On the first one, I decided to keep a simple wrapped present as my main theme. I just love how the Twinery twine can transform anything very simply.

 

For the second card, I decided to use various colors of twine in different ways. I love how I was able to braid the twine, so that I could add a cute scarf to the snowman. I then stitched the tree decorations, and tied little bows for each present.

For the last card, I used my new favorite Authentique line... GATHERING! I used my diecut machine to cut out a heart, and then placed a smaller heart in the center, tying twine around the smaller heart. This is a really simple card, but I really like it. I added a little bit of chalk ink for detail, a Noteable message and a button.

I hope you enjoyed my cards today! Make sure that you continue the hop at Deena Neimat's website!! Have fun!

Supplies: 

AUTHENTIQUE patterned papers and supplies: Wonder-Awe, Anticipation, Petite Type Circle, and Icons; Gathering-Together & Flourish, Noteables

Other Supplies: Twinery twine in Maraschino, Charcoal, Buttercream, Lemondrop and Cappuccino, Colorbox Chalk Ink, button, Stickles

Handmade Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome to the Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!!!

Calling all crafters! We’ve gathered designers from some of our favorite manufacturers to show you ways to create something from the heart this holiday season. This 3 day Hop includes over 60 stops with inspiration brimming from every corner. Explore all thoughtful and frugal handmade gifts you could make for the holidays, all in one place on this Hop!

Each day we will be sharing a brand new list of blogs with brand new projects for you to explore, be inspired by, and create from!

The Blog List:

Clearsnap

Spellbinders

Hampton Art

Zutter

Graphic45

Donna Salazar Designs

The Twinery

Authentique Paper

Jan Hennings – Glue Arts

Kim Sonksen – Donna Salazar Designs

Jamie Harper – Hampton Art

Jenny Suchin – The Twinery

Heather Conklin – Authentique Paper <--You are here!

Glue Arts

Gloria Stengel – Graphic 45

Christine Emberson – Spellbinders

Julie Overby – Spellbinders

Mary Dawn Quirindongo – Clearsnap

Lea Sanders – Zutter

Tara Orr – Graphic45

Patti Milazzo – Glue Arts

Emily Lanham – Authentique Paper

Jessy Christopher – Donna Salazar Designs

The Details:
To sweeten to Hop, we’re offering a gift for you! How does one of the 6x6 Bundles from EACH of Authentique Paper's current 7 collections sound?

{They'll even throw in a few other Authentique Paper goodies as well!}

Leave a comment on each blog along the hop to be be entered to win a prize pack from one of the participating manufacturer sponsors (including this great prize pack shown above)! The winners will be chosen randomly from all comments on the manufacturer blogs AND the designer blogs.
{Authentique Paper winner must have a US/Canada address.}

Blog comments close on Nov 7, 2011 at 11:59 PM {PST}.

The Project:
During a staff meeting, I was noticing how my co-workers' Moleskine notebook was in need of some decoration. While I will decorate her notebook at a later date... her notebook gave me some inspiration of my own.

For the first book, I thought about the traditions that I want to start with my little girl. She's two now, and is actually starting to understand how Christmas works. She's not completely afraid of Santa Claus, she loves to unwrap presents, and totally loves Christmas ornaments. I created her a "Dear Santa" book. Every year, she can write Santa a letter or two, draw some pictures, and rather than send each letter off by itself, we can send the book of to Santa, and have him return it the following year.

I covered the entire notebook with the Awe paper from Authentique's Wonder line. I then used part of the back of the Suprise paper to add the ruler and border. I added the Classic Type for the title, and Petite Type for Isla's name on the Icon die cut. Of course... I had to also include Twinery twine in Maraschino.

Isla's first entries:

 

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For the second book, I realized that for all my craftiness, my wish to create a December Daily is just not really going to happen. I would love to really set everything up, have it all done and created... But with all that is currently going on, this is a more realistic idea. Simply, a Christmas Memories book. This way, I can add memories, journal entries, photos, and other great information!

I used some more of the Surprise paper, along with a ton of Diction words in various Christmasy themes, a Classic Type title and Petite Type subtitle.

I also used a couple of brads, one for the title (Christmas), and one to act as a closure. Tie the twine (Charcoal) around the brad and the book is closed.

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The last book is for one of my lovely friends. Since she is Jewish, I decided not to use the Wonder line, but use the Journey line instead. The blues, silvers and creams made just the perfect Hanukkah journal. I kept the notebook simple, but it ends up being an effective look.

The title used the Classic Type, with a Wonder Diction "Happy". I also used a brad and Twinery twine in Stone to make the closure on this journal.

I'm really glad that I will get good use of two of them!! And I'm super excited to gift the last notebook to one of my dearest crafty friends.

Cheers to creating gifts from the heart this holiday season! Next up... Glue Arts!!

Happy Hopping! ~Heather

Supplies: 

AUTHENTIQUE patterned papers and supplies: Wonder-Awe, Suprise, Classic Type, Diction and Icons; Journey-Jaunt, Itinerary, and Classic Type

Other Supplies: Twinery twine, Colorbox Chalk Ink, Echo Park Brads, Moleskine journals, Signo white pen