Tag Archives: Time for Home

Winter Feathered Friends Tea Party in a Box

Ciao Bella-Time for Home-Tea Party in a Box-Really Reasonable Ribbon-Reneabouquets-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Photo 01

Winter Feathered Friends Tea Party in a Box for Really Reasonable Ribbon

Hello, Friends!  One of my favorite things about this season is my Winter Feathered Friends who visit my back yard bird feeder.  We have a family of cardinals and a lovely bunch of blue jays who brighten the winter landscape all season long.  This Winter Feathered Friends Tea Party in a Box is inspired by them.

Bluejays and Blue Dark

Really Reasonable Ribbon-Ciao Bella-Time for Home-Reneabouquets-Tea Party in a Box-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

It’s no secret that I am a fan of winter blues.  These icy shades remind me of my Vermont childhood.  If you’ve never experienced a Vermont winter twilight, then you may not be familiar with the particular shade of blue that tints the evening hours.  We called it “blue dark” and it was absolutely breathtaking.  I don’t miss the ice and cold of those winters, but I am glad that I was able to experience those beautiful moments growing up. I’ve tried to re-create that particular event in this creation.

French Blue Delicate Stitched Satin Ribbon was the perfect pairing for this project. I topped my triple bow cluster off with some Silver Metallic String to amp up the sparkly, winter feel of this card.

Ciao Bella-Time for Home-Really Reasonable Ribbon-Tea Party in a Box-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Photo 01

TIP: String tinsel twine through the openings in some vintage lace  to add extra winter sparkle to your card design.  Top it off with pearls and vintage buttons.

A Peek Inside

The blues carry the day inside the card as well.  It’s always fun to tuck sweet surprises into a card design.  Take a closer look:

This flap page opens to reveal a mini waterfall folio and a wooden snowflake ornament.  The neat thing about snowflakes is, they are a great design feature all winter long!

You could easily put this piece out as winter home décor.  Then add in photos of your winter wonderland to make it really special.

Tea Party in a Box

When it’s chilly outside, it’s time to put the kettle on!  So I’ve tucked a special little Tea Party for One inside this box pocket.

What a great way to brighten up a grey, wintry day!

We don’t get “real” winter here in North Carolina, but we usually get at least one little snow event each winter.  I don’t love it the way I did when I was a kid, but its beauty still makes me smile.

I hope you are staying warm, cozy and creative during these winter months!

You’ll find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

 

 

Frosted Windowpanes Winter Wall Hanging

Ciao Bella Time for Home-Spellbinders APG Grid Die-Reneabouquets Beautiful Board-Frosted Windowpanes-Wall Hanging-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Photo 01

Frosted Windowpanes Winter Wall Hanging with Reneabouquets for Throwback Thursday

Hello, Friends!  Do you remember the old Christmas tune, “Frosted Windowpanes“?  Every time I hear that song playing, it takes me right back to my childhood Christmas memories. Our little town had one short strip of shops on its itty bitty Main Street, but oh, how magical they were to the eyes of a child!  Sidewalks were scraped mostly clean of snow, but you still had to watch out for the odd icy patch as you briskly hurried from store to store. Heavy coat, hat, mittens, boots and a sturdy scarf helped to keep out the cold, but  you could still feel the icy breeze and see your breath swirl into the frigid air. But did you care?  No, because the street lights twinkled with Christmas decorations and the storefronts were all dressed up in their holiday finery.

Decorations never went up until the day after Thanksgiving. Then all us “country folks” drove into town, snow squeaking under our tires, anxious to see the town all dressed up in its winter finery.  It was the same year after year, but I never grew tired of seeing the transformation.  Mom and I would peer into the shop windows ooh-ing and aaah-ing over the display of trees, ornaments, toys and Christmas dresses.  That memory inspired this sweet little wall hanging made with Ciao Bella’s “Time for Home” paper collection and a whole host of goodies from Reneabouquets.

Frosted Windowpane Shaker Box

Can you feel the temperature drop when you look at this icy delight?  I’ve created a mixed media background (tutorial below) then stitched it onto natural canvas.  The windowpanes are made with an Amazing Paper Grace Grid Die.

Here’s a closeup of those frosty windowpanes, and the wintry scene outside. The metal hanger was a gift from one of my sweet blog buddies.  Do you recognize it painted with white chalk paint, Becky?

Don’t you want that cozy velvet coat that our little snow ball throwing girl is wearing?  This piece, all the flowers and the shabby snowflake accents are all from Reneabouquets.

White satin ribbon is one of the featured items in the RRR December Ribbon Club Assortment.  It was such a perfect match for this project that I had to use it.  Topped with Iridescent Metallic String bows and surrounded by sliver leaves, it adds the perfect icy touch to this sweet composition.

Frosted Windowpanes Winter Wall Hanging Tutorial on YouTube

If you’d like to see this piece come together, I hope you’ll enjoy this little YouTube video.

Thanks for joining me on my trip down memory lane today!  You’ll find a linked supply list below this post.

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

**NOTE: Since Throwback Thursday projects feature older or retired product, I may or may not be able to provide links for you.  Thanks for understanding.

Winter Songbirds Tea Party in a Box Tutorial

Ciao Bella Time for Home Tea Party in a Box Reneabouquets Beautiful Board by Kathy Clement Pho

Throwback Thursday: Winter Songbirds Tea Party in a Box Tutorial

Hello, Friends!  For this week’s Throwback Thursday episode, I have a Winter Songbirds Tea Party in a Box Tutorial for you.  Oh, how I love winter blues!  Ciao Bella captured them perfectly in their Time for Home collection.  I had such a wonderful time designing this week’s Throwback Thursday that I might have to bring this collection back for an encore performance!

Blue Jays were a common sight at our winter feeder when I was growing up in Vermont.  Most other birds fled our harsh northern winters, but the blue jays and chickadees bravely soldiered through all the icy blasts of winter with us.  To see a jay at the feeder on a day when it was so cold that your breath froze in the air lifted the heart.  Brilliant flashes of blue feathers against the sparkling snow broke up the monotony of our monochromatic world.  It was as though the sky came to perch on your doorstep.  What a treat!  The images in this botanical collection carry my memories right back to the hill country where I grew up.

Throwback Thursday Techniques and Details

Silver, blue and white are the perfect color palette for the wintry world we created in this Winter Songbirds Tea Party in a Box.  Carry the theme throughout your creation with ribbon, embellishments, die cuts and matting layers to make a strong color statement.

Learn how I heat emboss my Reneabouquets Beautiful Board to create this perfectly frosty finish.

Don’t be afraid to layer chipboard elements over die cut elements.  This layering creates a wonderful sense of depth and dimension.

A Peek Inside

You’ll learn how to build this box pocket and flap page in the video tutorial.  I promise you, it’s much easier to do than you think it is!

The flap page has a secret gift card pocket hidden behind it.  I decided to build the flap page when I could not bring myself to cut up this gorgeous image.

Load the box pocket up with special treats for a winter birthday, or for a Christmas gift.  I’ve tucked in a bookmark, note card, cookies, chocolate, tea bag, honey stick, mini honey dipper and one of my treasured vintage silver plate spoons.

Use the empty box pocket to store winter recipes or photos once the treats have been consumed.  The card is so pretty, you’ll want to keep it out to decorate your home long after the treats are gone!

Winter Songbirds Tea Party in a Box Tutorial on YouTube

If you’re ready to learn how to make this lovely gift, please enjoy the video tutorial below.  Have a pencil and paper handy so you can write down the measurements!

 

I’ve listed this lovely creation in my Etsy shop in case you don’t have time right now to make one yourself.

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

**Please Note: Throwback Thursday tutorials are made with favorite retired collections and supplies.  For this reason, not all materials used will still be readily available online.  I’ll link whenever possible, but if an item is not listed, it’s because I could not find it.  Thanks for understanding!

Ciao Bella Time for Home Shaker Card

Ciao Bella Time for Home Winter Blues Shaker Card Reneabouquets snowflake frame by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design for Really Reasonable Ribbon Photo 01

Ciao Bella Time for Home Shaker Card for Really Reasonable Ribbon

Hello, Friends!  Today I have a Ciao Bella Time for Home  Shaker Card that is sure to chase away your winter blues!  The image inside the shaker frame reminds me so much of the home I grew up in.  Our house was situated in exactly the same spot as the one pictured here.    Living in Vermont, the streetlights came on around 3:30 in the afternoon during the winter months. The snow would glow with soft blue shades as the winter darkness closed in. And climbing that long icy hill in the dreary month of January was no picnic!  But there would be a hot cuppa, and a still-warm slice of Mom’s homemade bread waiting for me.  That promise of warmth and comfort kept me putting my feet one in front of the other as I trudged along past mammoth sized snowbanks, surrounded by the solitude that only winter provides.

Ciao Bella Time for Home Shaker Card: The Details

I’ve adorned this 5 1/2″ square card with lovely triple loop bow tied from grey plaid Really Reasonable Ribbon.  White Iridescent Metallic String adds a subtle shimmer to the bow cluster as well.   Tim Holtz Skeleton Leaves , flowers, pearls and a lovely snowflake frame add winter beauty to the card design.

TIP:  Adhere the shaker frame on the diagonal to create this pleasing diamond shape.

A Peek Inside

The inside of the card is very simply lined with more of the beautiful papers from this collection.  I created a small tea bag pocket and tucked in a fussy cut tag from the collection to complete the card design.

I have warm memories of my childhood home, but I must confess to you, I’m awfully glad to have married a Southern boy!  I find our North Carolina winters a LOT easier to endure than the ones from my childhood!

I hope I shared a some tips, tricks and ideas that you can use in your own crafty adventures.  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Stay cozy!

Cheerio,

kathy