Don't forget to poke the photos to enlarge!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Only Thirty Six Days Left!!!!!

I am in so much trouble! I vowed to make some vignettes to put in the Christmas tree this year that all matched. Here we go again!

I figure that, if I do the outsides, I can fill them at my leisure. As Santa would say...."HO! HO! HO!"

I decided that the easiest way to do them would be similar to the screens that I did a week or so ago, as backdrops. The only differences are, these have a floor and are permanently in one position. Don't forget to poke the photos.

I gathered together foam core, spray glue, white glue, Christmas themed paper and some gold sticker thingies that I got at the mini show this year.

With a little bit of help from my friends, I drew up a prototype. If you want to make something similar, the measurements that I used for this one are right on the foam core in the photo. If you want the arch on the top, find a can or glass that is the diameter that you want your arch to be. I set mine in 1/2" on either side of the center section.

The two side pieces are glued to the edges of the back piece. Then the floor is glued in place between those three pieces at the bottom.

I used Aleene's Fast Grab, so there was no need for clamps or pins to hold it together until the glue dried.

Here's a quick tip. When you want your foam core to stay in one place whilst you cut it, you ask a 14 pound cat with glassy green eyes to sit on it. Believe me. It won't budge.

Here you see the pieces glued together. I was waiting for the glue to dry. After it did, I wrapped the outside by using spray glue on the flat surfaces. I clipped the edges and wrapped them to the inside.

Then I cut pieces of Christmas patterned card stock to fit the floor and the three walls inside. That covered the edges of the outside wrapping paper.

My last step was to use some fancy gold lace tape on the edges all around.

As usual Tessie had something to say about the process....The piece of paper that you see her holding is the only wrapping paper that I had for the outside.

She has been ranting about it. "It looks like a clown suit! Your Christmas tree is going to look so silly!"

I hate to say it, but I agree. Just don't tell her that I said that. This is, after all, only a prototype. I like the inside paper, but the outside is a little loud.

I guess I am going on a paper hunt tomorrow.

I think that this size will work out for some of the vignettes. I am thinking that I may make a few that are a bit wider so that I can put a piece of furniture in them.

If you would like to see the ones from last year, go here and scroll down. There are several entries on the various mini vignettes in our tree. http://caseymini.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas

Thirty six days.......Hmmmmm........Let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas!!!

See you tomorrow.

4 comments:

Lucille said...

Early Merry Christmas to you too, Casey. I can't wait to see how you will be staging your vignettes! I think I might try one. Thank you for the tutorial.

Daydreamer said...

I love your big green-eyed fourteen pound paper holder! Great photo! I have been daydreaming about making vignettes for the Christmas tree... I've been putting mine inside hollow paper "snowballs"! I love your work! You know how to do everything!

Caseymini said...

I had a ball doing the vignettes last year. The whole tree was one big party. I think it is going to be a tradition.

Kathi said...

Love your idea of putting Widget to work! My cats are SO lazy! LOL