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July 21, 2013

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

It's still July -- so let's have us some CHRISTMAS IN JULY!

A few weeks ago, I tried my hand at a new type of Christmas ornament. Of course, it HAD to be made from sheets of music, right? After all, what is Christmas without music?



I think that, if I ever make another one from music, it is going to be music that is smaller and closer together, much more condensed. That would definitely be more effective. But, experience is the best teacher, so they say.

Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper, being so luscious, it promises to make for a gorgeous ornament. I don't have any of the current holiday paper yet, so I dug out a piece from last year's model. It made for a much crisper-looking ornament than the thinner music:


I hadn't put anything on the reverse side of the music ornament. But, to give my DSP ornament a more finished look on the back, I added this:


Working with a paper that has obvious stripes presents various problems, as you can especially see on the reverse side. My next ornament will be crafted from an all-over design. 

The center of the ornament is created with our new Simply Pressed Clay inside the largest flower from the Buttons & Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Mold (page 167 of the big new catalog). I then used a sponge dauber to add color to the raised surfaces of the flower. 

As shown here, I sponged deeper on the music ornament than I did on the one created from DSP:


It just depends on the look you prefer. 

How are you doing on YOUR Christmas preparations?

Merry
Smiles.








43 comments:

  1. Sarah LeonardJuly 21, 2013 at 12:59 PM

    Good luck with your challenge - I really love these ornaments too :)

    Thanks for linking up!

    Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity

    ReplyDelete
  2. Okio B DesignsJuly 21, 2013 at 2:51 PM

    I haven't started any Xmas items yet but I've definitely been thinking about them! Love your ornaments - so festive. Coming over from the Creative Home & Garden Blog Hop, and a happy new follower!

    Jeanine

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    Replies
    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:04 PM

      Thanks so much for your comment and for becoming a new follower, Jeanine! :>)

      Delete
  3. Bridgit's BellJuly 21, 2013 at 3:02 PM

    These are cool. I am not quite ready for Christmas stuff yet!

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  4. Artsy VaVaJuly 21, 2013 at 3:30 PM

    Those are so pretty! I'll be making some...pinning.

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    Replies
    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:05 PM

      Thanks! I'm honored that you liked them enough to pin them and plan on making some of your own! :>)

      Delete
  5. NatashalhJuly 21, 2013 at 8:04 PM

    These are super beautiful~ I'm not preparing for Christmas at all yet because I'll be moving across the country in December and don't want to bring extra stuff!

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    Replies
    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:07 PM

      Thanks, Natashalh! I can understand how you wouldn't want to be toting extrat stuff across the country! Good luck with your big move! :>)

      Delete
  6. christina dJuly 22, 2013 at 8:16 AM

    I love your ornaments. I want to try one myself. No getting ready for Christmas here. Heck, I couldn't find it in all the boxes. As my dear husband used to say Bah Humbug!! LOL!

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    Replies
    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:08 PM

      Oh, Christina. You are such a doll! You will find everything someday! :>)

      Delete
  7. ornate splendorJuly 22, 2013 at 9:14 PM

    Very very pretty! Good job preparing ahead of time! I'm starting on Halloween, but not Christmas yet! Catherine (new follower)

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    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:13 PM

      Thank you, thank you! For the nice compliment and for following! :>)

      Delete
  8. AnonymousJuly 22, 2013 at 9:49 PM

    These are very pretty! What do you secure the cones to?

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    Replies
    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:14 PM

      Thanks! I'm sorry I'm so late in replying. But the cones are glued to each other side by side. When they are all nice and neat and attached, I glue the whole thing to a circle on the back. That adds stability and finishes it off nicely. :>)

      Delete
  9. Kathy @ Creative Home ExpressionsJuly 24, 2013 at 12:46 PM

    These are so pretty, Linda! I could see these on gift packages, too, instead of bows, or just hanging from a cabinet or drawer knob.

    Thanks for linking them up to The Creative Home & Garden hop!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:15 PM

      Thanks, Kathy! Yes, I'm looking forward to making more of them and doing just what you suggest. :>)

      Delete
  10. UnknownJuly 25, 2013 at 9:16 AM

    Thanks for linking up at Dorothy Sue and Millie B's too Clever, Crafty & Creative Link Party this week!

    I tried my hand at making one of these wreaths a couple of weeks ago and it was a disaster! I think where I went wrong was using a vintage book for my paper. The sheets tore very easily, so I trashed the whole thing!

    You did a great job! Makes me want to try again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:16 PM

      The music I used was thinner also, and more difficult to work with than the Designer Series Paper I used on subsequent ones. Please, give it a try again! They are so worth it! :>)

      Delete
  11. UnknownJuly 25, 2013 at 11:28 AM

    These are adorable,I haven't gotten around to Christmas as of yet, I'm not even ready for Halloween! But I am pinning this... they are so darn cute I just have to make some!

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    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:16 PM

      Thanks, Brenda! And I'm so honored that you pinned it and plan on making some of your own! Good luck! :>)

      Delete
  12. Gayle Page-RobakJuly 25, 2013 at 4:43 PM

    Your ornaments are gorgeous! TFS.Gayle @
    http://atastefultouch.blogspot.com

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  13. UnknownJuly 25, 2013 at 9:02 PM

    The gang at My Personal Accent thinks your post about Christmas in July is fantastic and we would like to invite you to party with us at starting at 5:00 Thursday nights at our new Blog Strut Peacock Style Link Party to share your creative ideas. Come on over!! http://wp.me/p2Vf55-XA

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  14. UnknownJuly 26, 2013 at 11:12 AM

    Very pretty, I like them :).

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  15. UnknownJuly 26, 2013 at 12:50 PM

    Your ornament looks lovely, I like to use sheet music in crafting too. I'm just gathering my ideas for Christmas, if I just jump in I get too carried away and end up with way too much stuff! I have to plan to control myself!

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    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:23 PM

      Thank you, Laura! I LOVE to use music in my work and do so often. I think if I had more time, I would tend to get carried away with all my projects too. We have to pace ourselves, eh? :>)

      Delete
  16. sueJuly 27, 2013 at 5:49 AM

    These are so beautiful! And I do believe even I could do that! :) I think these would be ideal to top your gifts instead of a bow and that way they can be hung on the tree and kept forever once the gift is open! Thanks for sharing once more at One Sharendipity Place! It's always a treat to see your latest designs!

    Sue @ thet2women.com

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    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:24 PM

      Thanks, Sue. You are so kind. And I love your idea of using them as a bow, then hanging them on the tree and keeping them as a keepsake. :>)

      Delete
  17. lorraines resources and rewardsJuly 27, 2013 at 10:51 AM

    These look like fun. I'll give it a try lorraine at http://lorrainesresources.blogpspot.com

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  18. Mindie HiltonJuly 28, 2013 at 8:58 AM

    Beautiful! Thanks for sharing at Bacon Time. I just got done doing a Christmas in July craft event for our local Senior Services, so I have been doing some Christmas stuff too. I have never been good with paper crafts, but this is really inspiring.

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    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:25 PM

      Thanks so much, Mindie! Your Christmas in July craft even for local Senior Services sounds so fun! Hope it went well. :>)

      Delete
  19. Betsy PoolJuly 29, 2013 at 9:29 AM

    Love the first one - with the musical notes! Thanks for linking up at Romance on a dime!!

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    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:26 PM

      Thanks, Betsy! I think that one's my favorite too. If only the music on the page was a little more dense. :>)

      Delete
  20. Saxon @ Lets Drink Coffee, DarlingJuly 30, 2013 at 12:15 AM

    These are beautiful! I'm ready to start my Christmas crafting as well! Have fun, thanks for sharing!

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    1. Linda KilsdonkAugust 23, 2013 at 4:26 PM

      Thanks so much! Good luck with your Christmas crafting! :>)

      Delete
  21. Kathy PenneyAugust 1, 2013 at 3:57 PM

    So beautiful! I would love to hang them for the holidays. Thanks so much for sharing at All Things Pretty!

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  22. suonerie gratisMay 20, 2023 at 3:18 AM

    È davvero carino. Puoi scaricare nuove suonerie a tema natalizio qui puoi scaricare suonerie gratis illimitate

    ReplyDelete