Fun Mosaic Photo ornaments

by 4 Comments

flickr photo ornaments

Here’s a little mosaic ornament project I made a couple years back. I made two Flickr mosaic ornaments in two different themes. The first theme is of the city I used to the live in, Lexington (admittedly, I had a lot of landmark shots and this was a convenient topic to pick interesting photos from). The second theme is my friend Molly. I wanted to fill it with various images of her and people and pets that she loved.

Just a word to the wise, I used the BIG HUGE LABS mosaic maker to create these images. This site works with the web site Flickr, to create unique photo creations. If you are unfamiliar with Flickr, I suggest you check it out right now! It’s a great way to get ideas and information and you can log in and get a free account. With a basic free account, you will be able to upload photos (FYI – there’s a megabyte size limit per month for free account users, so size down your photos before uploading). Now onto how I made my creation…

Fun Mosaic Photo ornaments

Surface:
– 2.5″ x 3.5″ flat wooden ornament (available at Hobby Lobby)

Supplies:
– Computer with Internet, Photoshop, and color inkjet printer
– black paint or ink pad
– small flat brush
– Spray sealer
– Thin ribbon (I used ribbon with a stitch design)
– Glue gun and glue sticks
– Aleene’s Tacky Glue
– white cardstock

Instructions:

1. Log into BIG HUGE LABS and select the Mosaic Maker Icon
2. For my designs, I chose the square tiles layout with a 3 column width and a 4 column height. I chose for the background color to be white and for the border color to be black. I selected 1 pixel for the space between the images.
3. Either go to your flickr photos and type in each individual URL (there will be 12 in all) or select from a photoset, favorites, or tags to get a random selection of photos. Note: I chose individual URLS, so I could place photos in an exact arrangement. As you play more with the mosaic maker, you will see what I mean.
4. Once finished, click the Create button to see your mosaic design. Save the mosaic design to your computer.
6. Open the image in Photoshop. Now create a new page and make use your guidelines to create a 2.5″ x 3.5″ rectangle. Copy your mosaic image into this blank document and use the Free transform tool to fit it exactly into the guideline box you have made. Note: If you need to stretch it just a bit – it’s not a big deal – that’s what I had to to create mine.
7. Print your image on white cardstock on your color inkjet printer.
8. Cut around the image. Use tacky glue to adhere it to ornament surface.
9. Use an black ink pad to go around your image, leaving no natural wood areas. (You can skip this step if you want, but I didn’t want the ribbon to somehow not lie smooth to reveal the wood areas).
10. Once dry, go around image with glue gun and thin ribbon. Create a loop with the ribbon and glue gun it onto the back for hanging.

Hope you enjoyed this fun little ornament project!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa P.S. Linked up at TaterTots and Jello

Oldies but Goodies

by Leave a Comment

oldiesbutgoodies

So, in the spirit of the season I thought I would reshow some of my ornaments from last year that I did for Ornament Thursday! I have a lot on my plate right now…a wedding, holiday stuff, and whatnot and I don’t have time to participate in it this year. When I join a group like that I want to put my best foot forward each week and work my hardest to come up with a unique creation. And I realize sometimes it just doesn’t happen and you have to let it go!

So, if you are interested in any of the ornaments above, click on the link below to check them out!

Swell tissue paper ornaments

Season of swell ornament

Fun Flickr photo ornaments

Starburst painted ornament

Please check them out! I plan to share some of my other crafts I do throughout the season when I get a chance. I really feel that this year is going to be like last year…I rushed around and Christmas crept up on me! I hate that. I really would like to better enjoy the holidays! Perhaps make a gingerbread house or make a pumpkin roll…go ice skating or just sit in the dark by the tree. Why does life have to get so busy! Sheesh…I really shouldn’t complain. I don’t even have kids!

Anyway, until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Ornament Thursday Week 3

by 8 Comments

So, I’m posting tonight an ornament I did…actually one that I had done for a step by step photo at work. I have to shoot step by steps of my hands (oftentimes I’m shooting the photo and painting at the same time – multitask isn’t my middle name, but I sometimes have to do it). Anyway, I enjoyed the initial look for this ornament so much that I decided to finish it. It actually turned out really cute…kinda retro…and kinda festive. I dig it. It is made using Gold Craft Twinkle Writer from DecoArt and various colored small-sized rhinestones

fanciful starburst ornament

I also made some fun button ornaments out of vintage and new buttons I’ve bought recently or had from grade school. I decided to put them on a fun mini tree and show them off…you know you have some buttons that just need to be displayed that you’ve got stored away. Now’s your chance to show them off!

Button Ornament Tree

Oh, and check out these super cute ornament that our designer, Jane, did at my work.

zebraornament350x480

I just lurve the zebra stripe! I can just see it now with a fabulous hot pink bow. So easy using just a plain white pearl ornament and Black Craft Twinkle Writer! Click here for full instructions and supplies.

Please check out some of the other artists that are featuring ornament designs on their web site this Thursday:

Sara Naumann http://blog.paperwishes.com/sara/

Lynn Kvigne http://beading.consumerhelpweb.com/blog/

Candie Cooper http://candiecooper.typepad.com/savvycrafter/

Katie Hacker http://www.katiehacker.com/index.htm

Margot Potter http://margotpotter.blogspot.com/

Linda Augsburg http://cs.makeitminemag.com/mimcs/blogs/makeitmine/

Melanie Brooks Lukacs http://earthenwood-beads.blogspot.com/

Art Bead Scene http://www.artbeadscene.blogspot.com/

Cindy Gimbrone http://lampworkdiva.blogspot.com

Suzanne http://suzanne-catching-up.blogspot.com/

Humblebeads http://www.humblebeads.blogspot.com/

Polymer Clay Craft Gossip http://polymerclay.craftgossip.com/

Elaine Luther http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com/news

Melissa Lee http://www.strandsofbeads.blogspot.com

Rebecca Peck http://vintagegirlmodernworld.wordpress.com/

Jean Yates http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com

Michelle McGee http://fromichelle.blogspot.com/

Jenny Harada http://pomly.livejournal.com/

Jennifer Heynen http://jenniferjangles.blogspot.com/

Hali Chambers www.labyrinthgal.blogspot.com

Kriss Kramer www.art-interrupted.blogspot.com

Brandy Lung Gill http://accesstoexcess.blogspot.com/

OK, out of here for now. I had a long day…capped off by a nice evening of photo taking with my flick friends and Starbucks (yum). My bed awaits!

Fun Flickr Photo Ornaments

by 22 Comments

flickr photo ornaments

For my Ornament Thursday project, I made two Flickr mosaic ornaments in two different themes. The first theme is of the city I live in, Lexington (admittedly, I had a lot of landmark shots and this was a convenient topic to pick interesting photos from). The second theme is my friend Molly. I wanted to fill it with various images of her and people and pets that she loved.

Just a word to the wise, I used the BIG HUGE LABS mosaic maker to create these images. This site works with the web site Flickr, to create unique photo creations. If you are unfamiliar with Flickr, I suggest you check it out right now! It’s a great way to get ideas and information and you can log in and get a free account. With a basic free account, you will be able to upload photos (FYI – there’s a megabyte size limit per month for free account users, so size down your photos before uploading). Now onto how I made my creation…

FUN FLICKR PHOTO ORNAMENTS

Surface:
– 2.5″ x 3.5″ flat wooden ornament (available at Hobby Lobby)

Supplies:
– Computer with Internet, Photoshop, and color inkjet printer
– black paint or ink pad
– small flat brush
– Preserve Your Memories II Spray sealer
– Thin ribbon (I used ribbon with a stitch design)
– Glue gun and glue sticks
– tacky or school glue
– white cardstock

Instructions:

1. Log into BIG HUGE LABS and select the Mosaic Maker Icon
2. For my designs, I chose the square tiles layout with a 3 column width and a 4 column height. I chose for the background color to be white and for the border color to be black. I selected 1 pixel for the space between the images.
3. Either go to your flickr photos and type in each individual URL (there will be 12 in all) or select from a photoset, favorites, or tags to get a random selection of photos. Note: I chose individual URLS, so I could place photos in an exact arrangement. As you play more with the mosaic maker, you will see what I mean.
4. Once finished, click the Create button to see your mosaic design. Save the mosaic design to your computer.
6. Open the image in Photoshop. Now create a new page and make use your guidelines to create a 2.5″ x 3.5″ rectangle. Copy your mosaic image into this blank document and use the Free transform tool to fit it exactly into the guideline box you have made. Note: If you need to stretch it just a bit – it’s not a big deal – that’s what I had to to create mine.
7. Print your image on white cardstock on your color inkjet printer.
8. Cut around the image. Use tacky glue to adhere it to ornament surface.
9. Use an black ink pad to go around your image, leaving no natural wood areas. (You can skip this step if you want, but I didn’t want the ribbon to somehow not lie smooth to reveal the wood areas).
10. Once dry, go around image with glue gun and thin ribbon. Create a loop with the ribbon and glue gun it onto the back for hanging.

OK, while we are on ornaments, for my work, I pretty much coordinated the ornaments for the Decoart ornament page. Click here to view them in their entirety. There’s also a lot of cute projects that our designer created and I uploaded as well in our project library.

Also, check out some of these other fabulous ornaments created by other artists! Just click on their name to be taken to their blog.

Rebecca Peck
Michelle McGee
Melissa Lee
Melanie Brooks Lukacs
Margot Potter
Lynn Kvigne
Linda Augsburg
Kriss Kramer
Katie Hacker
Jenny Harada
Jennifer Heynen
Hali Chambers
Candie Cooper
Art Bead Scene

O Christmas Tree!

by 2 Comments

In Full View

I put up my tree today. It wasn’t an incredibly complicated process, but I did realize 3/4 of the way up, while stringing the lights, that I wasn’t going to have enough to finish…so, I had to go to Joann’s and Michael’s anyway, and I picked up another strand. I guess that makes 500 lights on my tree. I love the sparkle. There is nothing like it…even though I do have a “colorful” personality, I like the white lights the best (though I do have a few of those giant-bulbed ones that I dig). I’m not totally done with my decorating, but atleast I got my tree done and for me, that is an accomplishment. I decided not to put my “traditional” tree and instead to put up this white one (decorated retro-style) that a co-worker gave me a couple years back (she didn’t have room for it – yay me). It’s a nice one, but it is not pre-lit and you have to put every branch into the center.

I’m not a big Elvis nut, but I do like him (I’ve been to Graceland). I got the two Elvis ornaments from friends and I purchased the standee a few years back. I actually use that standee in show displays to hang jewelry on from time to time. Here it is atop my tree as a twist on an angel or star topper.

Thank you, Thank you very much for putting me atop your tree.

And here’s one of the Elvis ornaments…

I can't help falling in love with you, tree.

I am in absolute love with this funny Glitterville Ornament. It is so funny and full of life. I imagine I would be pretty mad, too if someone peed on me.

One angry snowman

And there are quite a few of these vintage-reproduction ornaments on my tree…a few years back they were 4 for $1.99 at Rite Aid after the holidays and I picked up 4 packages. Even though they aren’t the real thing, they are still the bomb.

bright & shiny

So, what does your tree look like? Does it carry on a theme or filled with old ornaments from your childhood? Please do share…

Season of Swell Photo Ornament

by 9 Comments

So my online friend, Margot Potter put in her post on Tuesday that a group of bloggers were having a “Virtual Ornament Gathering”, so I got inspired and whipped this one up…

season of swell

The idea was that I wanted to create something one part kitsch + one part digital mixed in with a little whimsy and this was the result.

I used my own personal image, but this idea could be transformed into funny ornaments for the entire family or a gift for a special friend with a message that relates to them. Here’s how I made it:

SEASON OF SWELL PHOTO ORNAMENT

Surface
1 wooden shape – 2.5″ x 3.5″

Supplies
– Computer with printer and photo-editing software program (I used Photoshop 7)
– red paint
– foam brush
– small craft brush
– textured white printer paper
– pop dot
– tacky glue
– silver craft wire
– variety of small beads
– 1 small pom pom
– 12″ piece of green glitter sequins
– green fine glitter
– glue gun and glue stick
– scissors
– Preserve Your Memories II Spray sealer

Instructions
1. Paint your ornament with red paint using foam brush. Let dry.
2. Open up your photo editing program and layout a new page 2.5″w x 3.5″h.
3. Fill in background with a solid color. I added a shape layer to mine with a psychedelic starburst background for added pop in a slighly lighter shade than my background image.
4. Layout text over top of background. I used the “warp text” tool using the font, Magnum (downloaded from the internet), to achieve my look.
5. Open up the image you want in the center of your ornament. Using the magnetic lasso tool, I went around my image to define it. Make this selection active and copy>paste this into your ornament document (note: I modified this image slightly by making it look that I had “flipped ends” on my hair for fun).
6. Transform this image to fit just inside you text.
7. Open up a new layer and draw a cartoonish santa hat. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just fun and whimsical. Also add any other embellishents over your photos (I added faux earrings).
8. Now open up a new 8.5″w x 11″h document. Go back to your ornament and click off the background layers and words to just reveal the face and hat. Flatten the image. Cut and copy this image into your 8.5″w x 11″h document. Go back to your ornament image and select edit>undo to unflatten the file and show the layers once again. Now click off all the face and hat and make the background and words active. Flatten this image. Also cut and copy this image into your 8.5 x 11″ document.
9. Load your printer with lightly textured cardstock paper. Print your images onto the cardstock and carefully cut out around ornament and image.
10. Use tacky glue to glue paper to ornament. Let dry.
11. Lightly brush glue onto areas you want glitter to cover on image (I chose the hat). Over paper plate, lightly sprinkle glitter. Shake off excess onto plate.
12. Place pop dot in center of ornament and position image on top.
13. Carefully glue gun sequin trim around edge.
14. Take craft wire and wrap around pencil to form wire coil. String beads and pom pom randomly onto wire. Glue ends of wire to back of ornament with glue gun.
15. Spray ornament with Preserve Your Memories II Spray sealer (it keeps glitter from getting on everything and gives a nice matte sheen). Let dry.

That’s it. Enjoy!