MMM: Tis The Season

"Santa's Pooped"

16 x 20 gallery-wrapped canvas

I know, I know: a Santa image the day after Christmas!? Only to show what I imagine to be his face after a whole season of merry making has come to an end. "Santa's Pooped" is my entry for this month's Mixed Media Monday prompt, Tis The Season, and my way of depicting what I imagine most of us feel like today . . . 

This piece was created on a 16 x 20 gallery-wrapped canvas using pencil, acrylic paints and water-soluble wax pastels. I added two types of Golden products for depth, including Texture Paste for the beard and Crackle Paste for the trim on his hat. The image was extended to the sides of the canvas and charcoal was added to the surface for interest. Final touches included extra color under his eyes to represent fatigue and silver glass glitter for the pom-pom trim. 

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and wish you the happiest of new years . . . now, go get some rest . . .

Kristin xo

Deck The Halls - Fini!

I saved my favorite part - the Christmas tree - for the last stop on the tour of our holiday home. This year, we decided to change things up a bit, and put our tree in the dining room. We're having Christmas dinner here, and I thought it would be fun to be able to see it while we ate. It also happens to be the only room in our house with a street-facing window, so we can now enjoy all that sparkles from both inside and out. 

I thought it would be interesting to show you a before and after, so I took this picture after the Dining Room had been stripped of it's usual accessories and the table was pushed to the side . . .

Before

After

Candyland colors in red, pink, turquoise and green

The 30' wreath rests on the opposite wall and a bench from the kitchen nook was placed below it

Sequined stockings hung by the window with care

(The initials are for Mommy, Daddy & Baby)

Presents piled up in a borrowed (from Kendra) Radio Flyer

Chandelier adorned with "gum drops" and (you guessed it) more crystals!

Thank you for your visit! It's been fun Decking The Halls with you this year, and I hope that today finds you filled with the warmth and beauty that is the Holiday Season. 

Wishing you much happiness and love, 

Kristin xo

Deck The Halls VI

Tinsel tree in Kendra's room

The tree as it rests on her side table

(The little angel is an advent calendar) 

Below is another family tree: this one lives in the kitchen nook and was picked and decorated exclusively by Kendra and her Daddy. 

(I lovingly refer to it as "the compromise." I did say lovingly . . .) 

Daddy surprised our future paleontologist with this special ornament

Pretty much says it all . . .

Thanks for visiting! Please join me for the next Deck The Halls post - I saved the best for last . . .

Kristin xo

Deck The Halls V

White feather tree in bedroom

Tiny glittered tree under glass

Decorative pillow featuring baby Kendra

Our little Christmas corner

Kristin xo

Still Art-ing (Result)!

"Be Fearless"

8 x 10 Canvas Panel

Wire accents & Swarovski crystals on wallpaper background

She's finished: I may not have my Christmas cards out yet, but hey, this is complete (and was much more fun to do!) . . . This little tightrope walker was inspired by the work we did in Willowing's class while at the same time (hopefully) being representative of me and the materials I like to work with . . .

"Be Fearless" was created on an 8 x 10 canvas panel covered in decorative wallpaper. I roughed it up a bit with sandpaper before adding water-soulble oil pastels, silver glitter and stamped stars (with gold ink) for depth. The figure of the girl was first created on cold pressed watercolor paper using acrylic, water-soluble crayons and glitter gel pens before being cut out and added to the background. The tightrope was made from a piece of wire which was tied to the canvas through punched holes and brads. I added both iridescent Swarovski beads to the wire and flatback crystals (in a deep purple) to the background. Final touches include a crown made from the scraps of the original painting and the words, "Be Fearless" stamped with gold ink (and enhanced with gold gel pen) on the bottom.

Thanks for looking! Now, onto those Christmas cards . . . xo

Deck The Halls IV

This little guy rests on the dining room table

Glitter and glass ornaments fill clear urns I had on hand

The dining room tablescape all aglow

Deck the halls with losta glitter . . . and tinsel and vintage-ish figurines and sparkly things and . . . and . . . fa-la la la la . . .xo

Deck The Halls III

Kendra's apron used as a decorative swag

Vintage aprons adorned with Swarovski crystals

and tied to the back of our Dining Room chairs

I decided to have fun with some of our aprons this year and place them around our Dining Room for the holidays. I took two of Kendra's child sized aprons and tied them to the drapes as decorative tie backs (I even put a candy cane ornament in the the pocket one of them) for the curtains, and draped some vintage aprons with Swarovski crystals to the chairs as little skirts. I stole the idea of using aprons as chair skirts from my Aunt, who always has the cutest ones displayed in her all-white kitchen nook. . .

Thanks for having a peek! More to come . . . xo