A Pink-tastic Christmas Day!

I staged this Christmas scene in 6th scale with a more is more, Hollywood-glamour type of vibe. Before you ask...the answer is NO---no I couldn't get enough pink! It amped up that glamour factor. My Barbie Collection lives on a narrow vanity in my studio guest bedroom/study made from a mirror hanging over a shelf. You might see a sliver of a miniature black chandelier at the edge of this photo. This hangs above a Jonathan Adler sofa (in Barbie-scale, of course). A lamp and side table also by Adler flank the couch. In the corner, at the edge of the shelf, stands the star of the show---an old pink tinsel Christmas tree (by Paperchase) with a pink mini string of lights. The angel tree topper is made from the tops of two perfume bottles. The body is from L'eau D'Issey and the wings are a cut flower off of the Marc Jacobs' Daisy lid.  Luxurious little gifts clutter at the bottom. What on earth could be better than bags and purses? Good Santa!

Glamorous Tree

Here's a closer look at that gift haul.

The So In Style kids dolls also fair well with Santa. They received plenty of toys and even some props for dress-up.  Tea with the little princess, anyone?

Well, all this beautiful hall-decking did not just miraculously appear, head on over to my Flickr.com photo stream for the details of the decorating story depicted in thumbnails here. 

                        

  

      Good.

Great!

                   

                      I hope your day was indeed merry and bright.

Sweet Little Treat

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house was the smell of ginger, cloves and cinnamon...Well, not in my house but that did indeed happen somewhere to create this marvelous creation I stumbled upon. I so love D.C. during the holidays. The lights and decorations are completely captivating. The historic Mayflower Hotel was no exception. Among a colonnade of beautifully decorated trees was this sweet little treat.

Not a gingerbread house but a gingerbread mansion!

Gingerbread houses are filled with things I love about the holidays...baked goods and fantasy. 

More on this scene at flickr.com

This delicious feast for the eyes is filled with loads of ideas for the miniaturist. Why is this?Because alternative purposing for the familiar was practically invented for this pastry art.  Let's just begin with snow made of icing. There's plenty more...

'Silver' dragee (think Jordan Almonds) embellish 
each facade and yogurt covered pretzels as cast 
iron roof cresting crown the mansion.

Chex cereal roof shingles

Stacks of cinnamon 'logs'

So here is wishing everyone the very merriest of Christmases. May you be blessed with PEACE, JOY and HOPE in abundance!

Perhaps, the most delicious pine needles ever?!?

Baby It's Cold Outside...but bring in another log for the fire!

Christmas Crafting with a Conscience

Earlier this week, I volunteered at a holiday party co-sponsored by Homeless Children's Playtime Project and my sorority, the Xi Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. This gathering had the works: food, crafts, picture time with Santa, and a gift table for parents. I was tasked with creating an ornament making project with a recycling theme.  It turned out to be such a hit, I've decided to share it with you. Here's a list of supplies we used:

1.    old/discarded data or music CDs

Viola...here are a few of the finished ornaments.

2.    last year's Christmas and holiday cards                  
3.    decorative/scrapbook paper scraps
4.    chipboard shapes
5.    small mirror tiles (square & round)
6.    self-adhesive gems (assorted shapes)
7.    felt cut-outs (assorted holiday motifs)
8.    ribbon
9.    Crayola Glitter Glue
10.  Fiskars Decorative Edge Scissors
11.  scissors
12.  Disposable foam or paint brushes AND
13.  Aileen's Original Tacky Glue OR
14.  Scotch Double-Sided Tape

Begin by deconstructing the holiday cards, cutting out specific motifs on the front of the card or words and phrases from the front and inside. Using the CD as a template, cut 'background' field as a complete circle or as complete as possible given the size of the card. Use complementary scrapbook paper scraps to complete the circular shape of the CD. Using the decorative edge scissors where papers and/or card piece will overlap provides a very finished look. The more you collage, scrapbook and collage the easier this process will be but the point is to be creative and have fun. 

After you've dry-fitted your design, cut approximately 3.5-4 inch length of ribbon in a coordinating color. Fold the ribbon in half and attach it to the non-shiny side of the CD with open-ends pointing towards the hole in the center of the disc and the closed loop extending beyond the disc. Secure with tape. From here on you can use tacky glue and brushes to adhere your materials or double-stick tape, it's your preference. Recreate the design you laid out earlier securing it with the adhesive of your choice. Finally, go to town tricking out your ornament with chipboard shapes or felt-cut outs then finishing of with bling: self-adhesive gems, mirror tiles and/or glitter glue. We decorated only one side leaving the shiny iridescent side uncovered but you may elect to cover both sides.

You can go as strict as you'd like with the recycling theme. Items such as buttons, envelope sticker seals (and promotional return address labels), collected leaves, thin branches and even holly berries can be collected from items you have on hand in (and around) home.

Adorn your tree and enjoy!

A Modern Eclectic Style

All I want for Christmas is the new collection of modern furniture pieces from Dolls House Emporium. This room setting from their website was captioned, A Modern Eclectic Style. And indeed it is! I am surprised at how DHE continues to add contemporary and modern pieces to their inventory each year. My number one pick added to my miniature lust list? The Ghost Chair, of course!