Snow Angel Wow Factor!

'Tis truly better to give than to receive....
The best way to be happy is to make someone else happy!  It's a great cycle.  Have you ever made a baby smile and laugh?  And then, doesn't that make YOU smile and laugh?  It's a wonderful thing!  God made us this way, and it works so well.  Christmas is a great time to put this into action.
When a gift is hand-made, the recipient knows that you spent time and effort creating something just for her/him.  (And no "Black Friday" required!)  Here is what I made for my husband's mother this year.

My own mother is no longer living, so I've come to consider my mother-in-law as my own adopted mother.

It's a snow angel....but the wings are made of photos in the shape of feathers!  Layers and layers of family photos!


How about this reaction??!!  I live for that happy reaction!!
 

***~~~Happy Dance!!~~~***

I had made snowmen before with the pretty white beaded fabric.  So I thought and thought about how I could make one personalized for my mother-in-law.  How could I incorporate family photos into the project?  (She is all about family, has five children, 16 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.  She remembers everyone's birthday, sends all the grandkids a birthday card, Easter card, Halloween card, etc.  She is the glue that holds the family together.)

 So I came up with the idea that instead of feather wings (which I will do at some point!) on a snow angel, I would use cardboard wings and glue photos on in layers all over the cardboard.

I began with a basic snowman form made of felt, then stapled it to a wooden circle with a wooden dowel in the middle of it.  Stuffed it and sewed it closed.  I added wire inside the arms to keep the arms in the right shape. 

  

Then I added silk beaded fabric from a vintage gown to the body.

Buttons for the eyes, pearls for the mouth, and a piece of a velvet scarf for the nose.  Simple wire wrapped in silver tinsel ribbon for the halo.

I used chip board for the wings, but any cardboard will do.  I drilled holes in the middle of the wings so that I could sew them onto the snow angel.  I used a curved needle to do that---makes it muuuch easier!!

I came up with a few basic feather shapes, then sized the photos to fit on them.  Then just printed them on card stock and cut them into feather shapes.

To decorate the edges of the wings, I considered everything from rhinestone trim to tinsel to ribbon.  Eventually I decided on cutting up an ostrich feather, and using the individual pieces along the edges.  Time consuming - but so ethereal!

Since we visited family at Thanksgiving, I was able to give her the gift then, so that I could see her open it.  I'm still smiling!!

You can see the antique baby shoe angel ornaments I made for her last year here.

Hope this inspires you to make someone happy this Christmas!!

Here's a sneak peek at my next post...check back next week to see it!

Sharing with these fun linky parties:

Amaze Me Mondays at Dwellings

Made by you Monday at Skip To My Lou

Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Table it at Rustic and Refined 

Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Cottage Style Party at Lavender Garden Cottage

The inspiration Gallery at The Craftberry Bush 

Fridays Unfolded at Nancharrow.com

Shabbylicious Friday http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/

The Friday Flea

All Things Thursday Blog Hop at All Things With Purpose, Glamorous Affordable Life, Posed Perfection, and Posed Perfection

Inspire me Tuesday at A stroll through life

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Simply Neutral Tuesdays at http://www.appleapricot.blogspot.com/

Tuesdays at our Home at Our Home Away From Home

You're Gonna  Love It (Tuesday) at Kathe with an E

Vintage Inspiration Party (Tuesday) at My Salvaged Treasures

Blissful Whites Wednesday at Timewashed

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters

Strut your stuff Saturday at Six Sisters

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

 Share Your Cup Thursday at Jann Olson BlogSpot

Saturday Sparks Linky Party at Pieced Pastimes

Share your Creativity (Saturday) at Welcome To It's Overflowing

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

 Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound

Fabulously Creative Friday at  Jennifer Rizzo

What to do weekends at Crafts a la mode

Monday Party at Chateau Des Fleurs

Share it One More Time Sunday at One More Time Events

Outdoor Wedding under a Gazebo

Historic home.....ornate columns....lush back yard grounds.....shady back porch.....pretty Victorian gazebo decorated in swaths of white tulle, a hanging chandelier,  more chandelier crystals, crystal curtain tie backs, summer flowers, and lots of family and friends.....all add up to one beautiful outdoor wedding!

 This gazebo was so pretty -- I was so excited to be able to decorate it!  I used lots and lots of white tulle, then added a crystal chandelier in the middle of the ceiling.  Then added a crystal chain hanging down on the sides of the tulle curtains.  See the tie backs?  It's hard to see without a close up, but I used crystal tie backs!  More on these later.

This sweet couple chose the historic Surrey House in downtown McKinney, Texas for their wedding venue. 

White fireplace mantles were a perfect background for the wedding cake area.  I decorated the mantle with ornate white iron scroll work pieces adorned with pearl and rhinestone appliques and a lavender tulle bow.  Fresh greenery from my yard surrounds the scroll work.  On the sides of the mantle, I placed photos of the bride and groom. 

The photo holders are my own creation.  I painted candlesticks in a white metallic paint and embellished them with lots of vintage jewelry pieces.  Then as a whimsical touch, a dowel stick wrapped in  glittered wedding wrapping paper holds the photos.  I tied pretty white and lavender and lace ribbons under the lavender glitter background of the photos.

Pretty and fun at the same time!


Here is the mantle in the next room.

Okay, now this is my favorite creation lately!!  A wedding photo wreath!

This wreath is made from vintage beaded gowns including wedding gowns.  I pieced them together all around this simple wreath form.  (Yes, I hand-sewed each piece onto the wreath.)  Then the bride emailed me photos of the family, and I printed them all on simple card stock, cut them out and placed them on the wreath with white pearl corsage pins. Weddings are all about family, so this was a good way to celebrate happy family moments.

I was going to keep the bow fairly simple with just lots of ribbons and lace....but it just needed something extra - so this vintage rhinestone shoe clip was perfect!  I hung the wreath at eye level so that everyone could enjoy the family photos.

Centerpieces were lavender water beads with a floating candle in the center...see those rhinestones around the edge of the bowl?  Must have sparkle at a wedding!

The bride chose to alternate two centerpieces on the tables for variety.  I created this boxwood topiary centerpiece with greenery from my own yard.  The shape is one I created with a strong wire, and I reuse it in different ways.  This topiary sat upon clear water beads with submersible lights, and we inserted purple tulips in the water beads.  Last, a chandelier crystal pendent hung inside the topiary from the top center.

 It's a bit hard to see in the photo, but at the bottom of this centerpiece is a "metal ribbon."  I cut it to size, wired it closed, and used the metal ribbon circle to embellish the plain glass bowls that the venue provided.

 

Okay, now let's go outside! 

The guests signed in at this welcoming table.  The wooden sign I used was a repurposed table leg...I added the boxwood arch on top and personalized the sign with the bride and groom's names.  I added beaded strands and crystal pendants to the arch as well.  The container for the cards was a wooden drawer from an antique sewing machine.  I lined the inside with bridal fabric and lace.

 The florist brought these fabulous arrangements.

 The Bride's brother helped me hang the tulle curtains- love a tall helper!  (I put everyone to work...)   Don't you just love those crystal tie-backs!!

They are actually picture frames that my husband re-worked to be curtain tie-backs. (I love to give him crazy projects that I dream up...he's a good sport!)

The back porch was a nice shady spot for guests to escape the hot Texas sun.  Simple draped tulle around the edges was all it needed.

What a great photographer they had!  Look at this photo!  Aaawww!!

Hugs, Catherine

Sharing with these fun linky parties:

Amaze Me Mondays at Dwellings

Made by you Monday at Skip To My Lou

Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Table it at Rustic and Refined 

Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Cottage Style Party at Lavender Garden Cottage

Simple and Sweet Fridays http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/

The inspiration Gallery at The Craftberry Bush 

Fridays Unfolded at Nancharrow.com

Shabbylicious Friday http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/

The Friday Flea

All Things Thursday Blog Hop at All Things With Purpose, Glamorous Affordable Life, Posed Perfection, and Posed Perfection

Inspire me Tuesday at A stroll through life

Knick of Time Tuesday at Knick of Time Interiors

Boutique Tuesday at Prodigal Pieces

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Tuesdays at our Home at Our Home Away From Home

You're Gonna  Love It (Tuesday) at Kathe with an E

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits at StoneGable

Blissful Whites Wednesday at Timewashed

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters

Strut your stuff Saturday at Six Sisters

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Share Your Cup Thursday at Jann Olson BlogSpot

Saturday Sparks Linky Party at Pieced Pastimes

Share your Creativity (Saturday) at Welcome To It's Overflowing

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

 Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound

Fabulously Creative Friday at  Jennifer Rizzo

Pin me Linky Party at Diana Rambles

What to do weekends at Crafts a la mode

Monday Party at Chateau Des Fleurs

Share it One More Time Sunday at One More Time Events

 

Elegant Haunted Halloween House

Getting ready for Halloween yet?  

It's the holiday I've always decorated for the least.  Mostly because of the black and orange plastic decor, but also because I had little ones who didn't want anything remotely scary/spooky.

So....why not ELEGANT Halloween??

Here's my version of an elegant haunted house!

Yes, indeed!  Elegant Halloween!  Even my wee ghostie is decked out in silk and beads and sequins!  I made her with a wooden spool, styrofoam ball and a wooden dowel stick.  I weighed the spool down with a metal bolt to keep the ghost from falling over.   Must be a girl ghost; she's way too pretty to be a boy ghost!  Ha!

This house was a Putz House, or paper mache house from Hobby Lobby.  I spray painted it gold, then covered it in pieces of several different vintage evening gowns.  Silk beaded evening gowns.  Black on the sides of the house...

 And silver and gold on the roof....
Evening photo with camera flash...

 Daylight photo

And yes -- those are shingles made of FEATHERS on the roof!  As my daughter said, "they almost look like a leopard print feather, Mom."  Well, actually they are pheasant feathers.  No feather covered leopards running around that I know of....

Since I couldn't put a candle inside, I went for battery operated lights inside to make the house glow.

 See the little owl dangling from the roof?  Since the roof was covered in fabric, I was able to sew on the little owl and have it hang down -- you know, he's just flying around.....

 So there you have it!  A crazy outrageous Halloween House that won't scare any kiddos, and would still be great for a festive Halloween party!  As Magnolia Pearl says, "Don't be afraid to layer beauty on top of beauty."    Mission Accomplished!! :)

Hugs, Catherine

Sharing with these fun linky parties:

Amaze Me Mondays at Dwellings

Made by you Monday at Skip To My Lou

Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Table it at Rustic and Refined 

Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Cottage Style Party at Lavender Garden Cottage

Simple and Sweet Fridays http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/

The inspiration Gallery at The Craftberry Bush 

Fridays Unfolded at Nancharrow.com

Shabbylicious Friday http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/

The Friday Flea

All Things Thursday Blog Hop at All Things With Purpose, Glamorous Affordable Life, Posed Perfection, and Posed Perfection

Inspire me Tuesday at A stroll through life

Knick of Time Tuesday at Knick of Time Interiors

Boutique Tuesday at Prodigal Pieces

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Tuesdays at our Home at Our Home Away From Home

You're Gonna  Love It (Tuesday) at Kathe with an E

Tutorials Tips and Tidbits at StoneGable

Blissful Whites Wednesday at Timewashed

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters

Strut your stuff Saturday at Six Sisters

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Share Your Cup Thursday at Jann Olson BlogSpot

Saturday Sparks Linky Party at Pieced Pastimes

Share your Creativity (Saturday) at Welcome To It's Overflowing

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

 Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound

Fabulously Creative Friday at  Jennifer Rizzo

Pin me Linky Party at Diana Rambles

What to do weekends at Crafts a la mode

Monday Party at Chateau Des Fleurs

Share it One More Time Sunday at One More Time Events

Hauntingly Beautiful Décor Link Party at Follow the yellow Brick Home