LollyChops

I loves me some leaves!

Hi everyone and welcome to the Sizzix - Fresh Vintage Blog Hop!  Today we'll be taking a closer look at one of my new favorite dies from the ever-so-fabulous, Eileen Hull!  The die is called "leaves" and you can check it out HERE!

I have created two projects recently with this fabulous die!  Here are some peeps of those projects and a little video on a quick and easy way to get some nice leafy veins into your newly cut leaves!

Let's get started!
I created this little Fall Floral Centerpiece for Live with Prima just a few weeks ago!  I wanted to load up the project with leaves and figured Eileen's new die would be the perfect fit for such a task!

If you look closely you can see the leaves peeping out here and there from underneath the flowers!

There's more leaves on the other side... they are all around the whole project really!

...You can watch a video of how I made this project right HERE...
...and you can get a kit to make your very own version right HERE! 

...for my next leafy project I made a 12x12 frame that you can tuck special notes and photos into!

See all those lovely leafies?!?!

...peep peep...

...and hither and yon are a few more!

...I haven't done this class yet, but keep your eyeballs peeled for the details on when I'll be sharing how to make this little fella SOON.

I thought it would be fun to also do a QUICK little video on how to get those super neat folds into Elieen's fabulous leaves...

You can check it out below!

Sizzix Fresh Vintage - Leaves (vein folding tutorial) from Lolly Chops on Vimeo.

That's all I gots for today!  Thanks a ton for dropping by!  I hope you enjoyed these little projects and videos!

Make sure you click on the "Hop Forward" link below to check out some of the other projects in this super fun hop (and get the details on how to win a Leaves die all for your very own too)!

 

Sizzix Fresh Vintage
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The Kissing Booth... Wanna Smooch?

Heidi ho friends!  I made a project this weekend that's 100% completely for me (and the best part is that it totally and completely makes me laugh).  I decided to redo a project that I created last year that unfortunately got smashed when it was put away.

I started off knowing that I wanted to make a mini booth of some sort for this revamped version.

My initial plan was to make a lemonade stand...  I even had a little mini pitcher and cups all ready to go!

...I box pleated a little skirt for the stand and decorated the edges with some teal pom pom trim and orange bling!

I cut the legs from some leftover branches from a project I made for Live with Prima this past Thursday.  The top is just a little balsa plank I got at JoAnns.

I made a little graveyard using more of those balsa wood planks and some black distress ink, paper and buttons.

I decorated the graveyard and kissing booth with some super sweet mini crochet pumpkins that my mom made up for me.  If you want some MomChops mini punkins all for your very own, you get them at my Etsy shop right HERE!  I am completely in love with these little guys!

Now you're probably wondering who in the world would be manning a kissing booth at a graveyard?!?!?!?!

Why this handsome fella of course!!!

He was used in my Halloween HUGS pumpkin project from last year!
(the very one that got smashed up)

You can see the whole tutorial on how I made that fella right HERE.

I also wanted to share a fabulous project that one of my readers (Hi, Alice) made just a month or so ago using this same technique!

I LOVE THAT SPIDER!

Since Mr. Spooky Skeleton was busting out the HUGS last year...

I figured this year he'd better be offering up some KISSES!

...and the only way to go is free when it comes to skelly kisses right?!?!...

Any takers???

No, huh???

 
Here is the whole project all put together!

I am going to be a little more careful putting him away this time around.
(Mr. Skelly looks a tad headless in this photo...  YIKES!!!) 

That's all I gots for today!  

I'll be back this Thursday with a quick little video tutorial so be sure to pop back by!

Skelly Kisses and big thanks for dropping by!

The Scary Chair Makeover + Some Crafts Too

It doesn't seem possible that it's already October 10! EEPS! I have seen loads of geese flying overhead on their way down south for the winter (it's one of my most favorite sights (and sounds) ever).  RonChops and I have been working on getting the house ready for winter too (YAY)!

We I have loads of redecorating planned this winter! MomChops has been on the prowl for furniture and has generously given us some of the finds her and my dad have come across.

The biggest find is this super awesome solid wood kitchen table and chairs they came across years ago. This fella needs a TON of TLC. He's currently a nice bright YELLOW. I'm hoping that once I get all the paint off we can simply polyurethane him and get to eatin!

I'll be posting some photos of how he's coming along in the next few weeks.

The Scary Chair
I finished up that little chair my mom gave me last weekend and wanted to share a few quick photos from his makeover.

This is him in his original state of scariness.
That seat cushion was positively medieval!

Once I removed his cushion he looked kinda naked.

I used this amazing spray primer to coat him!
(just one can covered the whole chair with some paint to spare)
(I got this stuff at regular ole Home Depot)

 
Ta Da!
He still looks naked, but somehow he doesn't seem quite as naked!
(kinda)

Once dry I took him inside and set him up to be painted.

I had help from the Christmas Goose!
(pictured in the background)

...and HarrietChops...
(who wanted me to let you all know that tails are totally overrated)

 I asked her to get a little closer so she could make sure I got lots of good fur coverage on the wet paint.

I call it faux fur... it's a new form of paint texture that's going to take the home decorating world by storm!
(just you wait and see!!!)

I used industrial strength rubber gloves and removed the scary seat cover fabric.

Notice how it was once a nice pale cream color!?!?
(I shudder just thinking about it) 

I got this nifty batting stuff at JoAnn's called Soft-N-Crafty.

I figure anything that is both soft AND crafty was right up my alley.

I used that batting to replace the scary foam cushion that was underneath the scary seat fabric cover.

I can't show you pictures of that...  it's not close enough to halloween yet.

 I re-foamed and recovered that fella and stapled it all to the back after pulling everything nice and tight...

...and...

TA DA!

I now have a nice cream colored chair with a nice clean recovered seat.

I'm thinking this might be too much white so I am currently pondering painting him a light teal color to match with a teal that's in the chair cushion...  gotta think on that one!

Live with Prima this week!
I'll be doing a Live with Prima show this Thursday October 13 at 8:30PM CST (you can watch it live right HERE on uStream).  We'll be making a super fun little altered frame with a neat twig tree that you won't want to miss!

I finished up my Live with Prima November projects this past weekend and will be sharing those next monday as well!

But... just because I loves the lot of ya's, here's a little sneak peak of one of my projects.... think lamps + quilting with paper! 

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!
Now for the winner from the Waverly Fabric giveaway last week (and giant thanks to those of you who entered)! Shawn T. is the big winner! Congratulations Shawn! I'll be in touch to get your address to send to Waverly! I hope you have a blast with the fabric and that you'll show us what you make! 

I'll be back next week with some spooky crafts for Halloween! I hope to see you guys then!

Hanky HUGS!

Waverly Fabric Giveaway ($200 value)!!!

Hello friends!  I'm thrilled to let you know that I'm hosting a lovely giveaway from the super sweet folks of Waverly!  They are releasing their Fall collections now and you have a chance at getting your mitts on 10 whole yards all for your very own!

Modern Essentials is a contemporary fabric collection featuring an array of modern prints in bright colors. Designed for twenty-first century style, the classic fabric designs consist of graphic, minimalistic motifs with contemporary influences, along with bold solid, sateen fabrics, meant to be layered with the prints. Modern Essentials designs are bold, bright and elegant, featuring straight lines, geometric designs and large motifs that draw focus and make a statement. It is available at Joann Fabrics for $19.99 per yard.

Check out all of the Modern Essentials lines below!

...AND...

 
EEPS!!!

I am so getting some of that Spring Ivory line (that teal is simply fabulous)!!!

One winner will receive 10 yards of free fabric shipped to your door (a $200 retail value).
Winners can choose any fabric or combination of fabrics among this Modern Essentials line in one yard increments.

How to win 10 free yards of Waverly Modern Essentials fabric:

1) Name your next fabric project in a comment on this post. How would you use some stylish (free!) Waverly fabric?!?!?!

2) For a second chance to win, link to this giveaway on either your Facebook or Twitter, and leave an additional comment here letting me know where you mentioned this giveaway (FB or Twitter).

3) For a third chance to win, “Like” Waverly on Facebook then leave an additional comment here stating “I Loves me Some Waverly!!!” (There’s a second giveaway going on over at the Waverly Facebook page, so be sure to enter there too!!!) One lucky winner will be chosen by Random.org.  Giveaway ends Sunday October 9th, 9 p.m. CST.

Good luck to you all!  I'll be sharing my re-finished scary wooden chair from last week!  It's all done and sitting pretty in my foyer!

Have a fabulous week (with some HUGS)!

It's Alive!!!

I'm happy to report that my job did not kill me off and I took a MUCH needed break ("much needed" being the understatement of the century).  I abandoned my craft room and shacked up with my Kindle and my RonChops and the dogs for most of the latter part of the summer.  I did manage to get a few odds and ends done so I figure a little summer recap is in order...  so here we go.

It was HOT!

To start off...  we had the hottest summer in Texas.  Ever.  I thought it would be fun to show you a new temperature gauge thing we got in July.  It summarizes the past 3 months perfectly.

Temperature #1:  It's 100 today.

...let me rephrase that again... 

It's September 25 and it's still 100 degrees outside.
(that should be illegal)
(let me contact some random lawmakers and see what I can do about that) 

Temperature #2:  113. The hottest day we had this summer.
(I honestly considered tossing some pork chops in a pan and leaving them outside on an almost daily basis)
(slow cooked pork chops rock) 

Temperature #3:  57. That was fall messing with us last week.
(he does that to me again and I'll track down even more of those lawmakers and have him arrested too!!!)

Temperature #4:  It's 76 in our house (right now).
(that's a long story involving a house full of smoke and a broken AC that I'llI save for a rainy day)

Next Up!!!

MomChops found an abandoned (scary) kitchen table and gave it to me.
RonChops and I stripped that fella and painted his legs teal and left his top au natural.

He's my new craft table and I loves him to pieces! 

I wish I had before pictures but I wasn't thinking straight!

MomChops also found this abandoned (super scary) chair.

I have a herd of rams guarding him right now, lest someone run off with him.

I'm not sure what's going on with that seat cushion, but I'm pretty sure it was used to torture someone.

I'll be replacing it and painting that fella TEAL soon!!!

Speaking of teal...

I have a new favorite paint color!!!

It's by Martha Stew and I got this little sampler of it at Home Depot.

It's called sea glass.

I went on a thrift store excursion just so I could get things I could paint with it!!!

I found a ton of old wooden mirrors and I am going to paint them all with this color!

I also found this amazing birdhouse.

He was begging to painted teal.

Who am I to say no?

This owl is next on the list to be painted!!!
(never fear... the googly eyes are going to be replaced with buttons) 

RonChops was relatively horrified when I brought him home.
(relatively being a solid 10 on the somewhat horrified to completely horrified scale)

But all things considered, he was even more horrified when I snatched up this beauty.

I think he muttered something about the 70s and his aunts house...
...but I was glowing too much from the thrill of this find to pay him any mind!!!
(it was only 4 bucks you guys...  can you believe it?!?!?!)
(RonChops was actually shocked that I paid that much for it)
(you can even buy the copper for that much anymore (that's what I told him and he rolled his eyes))

Oh and speaking of copper!

Craft Time!!!

I'm dabbling with enameling on metal!
I have always wanted to try it so I got some books and watched a couple of videos and got started a few weeks ago. 

 
I don't have anything to share yet other than these blank copper discs that's I'm making into flowers...

...and my new best friend...

 TorchChops!

RonChops might have said something about me burning down the house, but I couldn't hear him over the flame thrower sound it makes when turned on!!!

I'll be sharing pics as soon as I have something worth sharing!

I also found this old book on Macrame and I'll be giving that a shot here soon too!
(plus there are TONS of amazing macrame videos on YouTube)

I also did a few Live with Prima classes!

I made this little Floral Fall Centerpiece!
(you can watch the rerun of the video HERE)

I also did an ornament class last week and I made 9 different ornaments.

Here they all are!!!

 3D pine cone!

Love this fella to bits!

Easy little transparent peeky poo.

Winter Deer!

Oh deer!

...and the Buck stops here deer!

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without TEAL!

Enchanting!

This is just a pretty star thingy-ma-bob.

Snow capped 3D tree!

You can watch the rerun on how to make all of these ornaments HERE and HERE!
(the video messed up and got broken into two parts)

You can get the kit HERE (it's only $17.99!!!)

I'll be doing two more Live with Prima videos in October!

Let it Snow!
(he needs an exclamation point me thinks)
(wait till you see how fun it is to make that tree) 

...and...

 This little calendar wall hanging!
(it's not that little at 12x13)

I'll share all the dates and details as soon as I have them!

Lastly...  I have a little dream. 

 I'm hoping that it cools down enough so that my fall wreath invokes thoughts of chilly days and hot soup!!

...and not thoughts of FLAMES shooting through the front door...

sigh

If you have some winter weather and want company, I'll be right there!

Next week...
The lovely folks from Waverly fabric asked me to host a giveaway where the winner gets to pick $200 worth of fabric from one of their new lines!

EEPS!

Make sure you stop back by on Monday October 3 to enter and get all the details!  It's super awesome!

 P.S. Thanks for ALL of your sweet emails!!! I missed you guys big time!  XOXOXOs!