Our main Christmas tree (we have five!) is very tall and very skinny. Each year, we take down the art work that usually hangs on the wall behind where the tree is now situated. Every year, the wall looks empty except for the little area taken up by our thin tree. Art to the rescue!
I bought two 16”x20” canvases, and began with a layer of blue base paint. I varied the color a little and used some bubble wrap to add some texture to the blue (see close-up photo below).
Read the rest of this entry
Last September, I saw these cute gnomes for a good price on Amazon (https://amzn.to/39JhSLb), and I knew I could make a quick addition to each one to customize these ornaments for 2020.
I got some T-shirt yarn from my knitting stash (excuse Dan the Man’s feet in the pic!), and cut out pieces about an inch and a half each.
I used white thread to gather the ends, and then I tacked a “mask” to the face of each gnome.
I was asked if I was going to write “2020” somewhere on the ornament, but I don’t think any recipient will misunderstand the mask reference or forget about the COVID-19 pandemic. So, here’s to friends and family! (You know what you’re getting for Christmas!)
This project is most definitely a fine representation of my “crappy to happy” crapsmanship. It all started when Dan the Man and I took a cruise to Alaska. (We had a wonderful trip seeing awe-inspiring scenery.) One of our excursions led us to an old mining town, complete with an opportunity to pan for gold. I couldn’t quite get the technique down without help, but Dan the Man was a natural! Read the rest of this entry
Last week, I wrote about the themed ornaments I made for each of my grandchildren (https://crapsmanship.com/2017/10/15/mixed-media-ornaments/). In an effort to DIY much of my Christmas, I also made each child a box that corresponded to the ornament I made. Read the rest of this entry
I didn’t start out intending for this to be a DIY Christmas, but as I continue to make gifts, I realize many of my presents this year will be hand-made. These ornaments are some of my favorites so far. Each year, I get the grandkids themed ornaments — Kaye gets an angel, Mikey gets a bear, and so on. Usually I buy them, but this year I used a variety of material — acrylic paint, scrapbook paper, an old map, for example — to create each child a one-of-a-kind ornament directly from Grandma’s hand to their Christmas trees! Read the rest of this entry
I made a pretty ornament using a $2.00 paper mache ornament from Hobby Lobby and an inexpensive decorative paper napkin. Read the rest of this entry
I made this aspen tree ornament after a summer trip to beautiful Colorado. Unfortunately, I didn’t take pictures of my process, but it wasn’t difficult. You can use the tutorial that helped me by going to this site: http://angelaandersonart.blogspot.com/2012/11/easy-birch-trees-kids-art-class.html.
At our craft party a week or so ago, I brought this versatile craft for all to try. Using watercolor paper, craft paints, and toothpicks, we made necklaces, earrings, and ornaments. Below is one of the ornaments we made.
crapsmanship 