Free vintage clipart

Since I am so into the vintage stuff lately, I just had to share this new discovery. I found a blog that posts free vintage images for you to use in your crafting projects. Thank you Vintage Moth! Be sure to check past postings--there's some great stuff here! http://thevintagemoth.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!
Christy

My 15 Seconds of Fame

First of all, I just want you all to know that I do acknowledge I am a huge scrapbook nerd. Secondly, I wanted to tell you how I excited I was when Scrapscene.com featured one of my cards yesterday . Yip-a-de-doo-da-day!!!!

Here's the cut from the newsletter:

Handmade Christmas Card a Day - Day 18

1 day, 9 hours ago

Christy Hoover’s card is our feature for today’s Handmade Christmas Card a Day series. Have a look at Christy’s blog here to learn more about her and see more of her work! For past featured cards, please click here.

My card is unique, simple to make, and features a vintage Christmas postcard. This particular postcard is from 1911. Just in case the recipient has a hard time just tossing this Christmas card, I added eyelets and a ribbon so they can hang it. (Secretly, I hope they keep it and think of us every year they display it.) This card is a one-of-a-kind since every card I create using this pattern has a different vintage postcard. These postcards are surprisingly easy to find and affordable (think-Ebay!).

Supplies:

Ivory cardstock
Patterned Paper: Holly Argyle from Provo Craft
Gold metallic cardstock (no brand, bought at Michael’s)
Vintage sheet music
Poinsettia flower - Prima
Stickles in Christmas Red and Platinum
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Inkpad - Chestnut Roan
2 Gold Eyelets
1 gold brad
Red Ribbon- Shear Creations

How did she make that?

1. Beginning with ivory cardstock cut to 5" by 7", run through the printer with your personal greeting (this will be the backside).

2. Ink both sides of the cardstock.

3. Cut holly-patterned paper to 4 3/4 by 6 3/4 inch and ink all sides. Adhere holly paper to ivory cardstock.

4. Tear a 3" by 5" piece of vintage sheet music. Ink the edges and adhere to the holly paper.

5. Mount the postcard onto gold cardstock and tear the edges of the cardstock. Ink the cardstock edges and mount onto card, positioning it toward the upper left corner.

6. Adhere a poinsettia flower and 2 leaves onto lower right corner.

7. Add 2 eyelets and tie ribbon for a hanger.

8. Accent the card and holly paper with stickles.

Thanks for checking in!

Just a fun little project

Tussies seem to be quite a trend these days. I always called them a "cone-thingy" and my daughter thinks they're "upside-down elf hats" but their real name is Tussie Mussie. Such a fancy name for something so simple. Tussie Mussie's were quite a fad in the Victorian times and in case you haven't figured it out, I'm loving that aged-victorian-vintage look lately. But mine aren't Victorian looking at all. I think Tussies are cute but I had never made one... until now. These aren't the latest and greatest, have-to-try, cool design. They're simple, quick, and cheap. Perfect for the holidays! I made them using just one 12" by 12" piece of paper, some trim, some tinsel, and a cute embellishment.

1. Trim your paper into a 9" square. Using a scallop scissors, trim corner-to-corner to create an arch, leaving one corner a 90 degree angle.
2. Roll into a cone shape and adhere in place. I recommend pulling out your handy hot glue gun. (Or another heavy-duty glue like a hot glue gun, ATG, glue lines, etc... will work)
3. Since you have that hot glue gun out, glue your trim around the top edge and a little pom-pom to the bottom tip. Glue your embellishment on the front.
4. Add eyelets to either side of your tussie and add tinsel or ribbon.
5. Here's the most important part: ADD CHOCOLATE! Potpouri or a nice gift would be ok too. But chocolate is my drug of choice. ;)



Thanks for checking in. I hope you enjoyed today's project. Come back soon because I'm planning a fun "12 days of Christmas" on my blog with crafts, gifts, recipes, and fun! Oh-How I love the holidays!

Vintage Christmas Canvas

If you're interested (and in the San Diego area) there are a few spots left in the canvas class I'm teaching. I'm teaching this Wednesday, November 19th at 6:00pm at Yellowbird Scrapbook Store. If you can't make it then, I'm also teaching on December 6th at 10:00am. The class is $20 and you make this 11" by 14" canvas. It focuses on a lot of techniques so you'll be able to use what you learn on so many future projects.
If you just want a class kit, just email me or call the store. Oh, and as a bonus, this is what you can make with the scraps from the class. Its a gift card holder using a few of the techniques. Although its not part of the class, if we have extra time I'll talk you through it. I think this paper from Basic Grey is just awesome!

If you're around here, I hope to see you at the class!

Slipping through my fingers...

I think kids are hard to photograph. So, when they're in the right mood, you just need to snap, snap, snap those photos. A couple of days ago Maddie was laying on her bed with our puppy Luna. The lighting was just perfect and so was her mood. This is our result.

I know every parent says this but she is growing up so fast. I try to capture every minute and engrave it upon my heart. I hope I remember these blessed days.





Have a great weekend!
Christy

New Blog Header

Ok, I know that its not Christmas yet but as you can see, I changed my blog header to a Christmas scene. I am tech savvy but I don't do digital scrapbooking--I need to touch and feel my creations. But, as luck has it, I don't need to create a header myself. I just found a sight that you can download headers for *FREE*. All you do is download it, resize it to 660 pixels wide and upload it to Blogger. I think you can also use these same ones on Typepad and WordPress too. The site I used is www.themeheaders.com but if you Google "free blog headers", there are dozens of sights. Happy Blogging!

It's not Christmas yet....

Only 44 more days until Christmas! Wahoo!!!! Ok, I get really giddy about Christmas--prepare yourselves! But it is only November 11th. (Bummer. Sigh....) So, in an effort to stay grounded and live in the moment, I'm going to show you 2 projects that are not Christmas related.

Some of you know that I'm head-over-heels in love with the Pink Paislee products so this sign will be no surprise. Maddie had to have a matching room sign like Sammy's and this one is pink, dreamy and fabulous! My opinion, anyway...Sorry, the lighting is crappy. That's what I get for taking pictures at nearly midnight when I SHOULD BE SLEEPING! The time change has really messed me up. Anyway... this sign is made from Pink Paislee's Topsiders in their Pop Fashion line, a felt crown accent by Autumn Leaves, and velvet flowers by Maya Road. The alpha stickers are also Pink Paislee. A little ribbon, tinsel and .... voila: another piece of pink dreaminess! ;)

This second item is my new pride and joy! I call it "Our Thankfulness Box." Design-wise, its not earth shattering but I love the tradition that it will bring to our family. It is a wooden box (bought at Michaels) meant to be a centerpiece at our table. Inside the lid is a log where we will spend Thanksgiving and who we are with. Then each person at the Thanksgiving table writes on a leaf (inside the box) what they are Thankful for, what year it is, and how old they are. I hope that several years down the line my kids will dig through the past years' leaves and giggle about what they were thankful for in 2008. It's sort of like a Thanksgiving scrapbook in a box. I also plan to add photos in there to "float" around with all the leaves. I love the idea of a Thankfulness Box. Its a good lesson for the kids, a fun way to remember how we've spent the Thanksgiving holiday and a great way to count our blessings. I feel so blessed that I'm not sure this box will be big enough. I hope that you have a lot to be thankful for this year too!

Cheers!
Christy

That's my girl!

Maddie just broke her first board and earned her yellow belt in Tung Su Do. She just loves the martial arts. This is one tough girl--and she's only 4 years old!

Here's a short, crappy quality video that Brentt's took from his phone.



That's my girl! Thanks for checking in and letting me share these proud moments.
Have a great weekend!
Christy

Fall in San Diego

I love Fall! But living in San Diego we really have to seek out the signs of fall that the northern parts of the US have naturally. We joke and say San Diego only has 2 seasons: Green and Brown. We're deep into the dangerously dry brown season, also known as fire season. Fortunately, this year has been quieter than most recent years.One unique sign of fall we have here is the Monarch Migration. Last week we were down in Balboa park and stopped in the butterfly garden (a little local secret!). There had to have been 50 butterflies in there, not all monarchs either. It was so beautiful I have to share!Yep, we have flowers blooming all year long.

Now, all that said, it is still no replacement for the fall I grew up with on the farm in Minnesota. We were back there last fall for harvest and when I look at these pictures, I swear I can smell the cold, dusty air.
Happy Fall y'all!

A little news....

I have 2 bits of happy news to share. I finally opened a shop on etsy.com. Click here if you want to view it: christyhoover.etsy.com

My obsession with creating stuff might as well make me some money, right? I only have a few things posted there for now. I'm just getting my feet wet to see how it goes before I list a whole lot of things (and incur listing fees.) I'm having a garage/craft sale on November 8th and whatever I don't sell there will be posted in the shop. If you're in San Diego and you want to come, email me and I'll send you the address.

On another note, Yellowbird Scrapbook Store is letting me teach a canvas class in November and December. I call it "A Christmas Carol" canvas. There's nothing Scroogey about this canvas, it just reminds me of a Victorian, Charles Dickens' Christmas. It's a big canvas too- 9" by 14". Its not a complicated class but once you learn the techniques, you'll be using your scrap supplies on a lot more than cards and pages. The best part is that the class is only $20! What a great gift! (But I wouldn't tell anyone if you wanted to keep it for yourself!)

Here's a photo:
It uses the new Wassail line from Basic Grey, vintage sheet music, Jenni Bolin papers, and so many embellishments that adds real dimension. Contact Yellowbird if you'd like to take the class. I'm looking forward to teaching such a fun thing!

Things like this make me want to just skip over Thanksgiving and go right to Christmas. But I wouldn't do that...probably... Anyways, first things first. We need to take down all the Halloween stuff. I'll post some fun pics about last night soon.

Thanks for checking in! Enjoy your weekend!