Monday, November 21, 2011

Welcome Nadia!

I am so excited to have Nadia from With Glittering Eyes as my guest designer. Her project is stunning and I am so honored that she took the time to make this project and step by step directions exclusively for my blog. I am so thrilled to share this with all of you! Be prepared to be amazed! Thanks again Nadia!  -Linda

Hi, everyone! This is Nadia from the blog, With Glittering Eyes! I am so excited to share a project with you today that I have made exclusively for The Paper Boutique. I love creating vignettes and altering Cricut cuts to get just the image I want. I also like to add some hand-cut elements to make projects that are one-of-a-kind. Today's project is a shadow box, decorated like a gift, featuring a light-up vignette!





I found a vintage Christmas card on Pinterest a few weeks ago with a lady on a ladder decorating her tree. That was the inspiration for this project. I didn't want a decorated tree; I wanted a tree that was just beginning to be decorated! When doing vignettes, I start with the element that has to be right for the project to work. Usually, that is a figure but this time, it was the tree. This was cut from the Christmas (solutions) cartridge at 11-1/2". (All die cuts for this project were made on the Expression unless otherwise noted.) The cut was enhanced by using a Martha Stewart branch punch in four different green hues.


Next, the figure:

I used the cut sizes I had figured out from a recent project to do this figure. (You can see that project by clicking here.) I hand-cut the lower body on that project too. I used the same pattern piece that I drew by hand for the lower body on this project.

I cut the upper body from Country Life (layer 2, page 32) at 7-1/2" on the Imagine, flood-filling with RGB code 250, 229, 210. I cut the figure's back arm at the shoulder and placed it just behind the body to look a bit more like her torso was turned (since she will be turned toward the tree) and I lowered her arm.


Above, you can see my inspiration picture, along with the original cut from the Country Life handbook, the pattern piece I used to make the lower body, and my altered cuts.

I hand-cut her lower body. I cut two legs, notched them at the knee so that the legs would bend, and then I simply pivoted them until I liked the way they looked. I cut a 6" square on the Imagine, also flood-filling with 250, 229, 210. I traced the legs onto this printed paper. Then I traced them onto black to create pants.


I cut a 6" square flood-filled with a print from Snow Angel (page 42) for a shirt. I traced the torso and arm onto the printed paper, taking advantage of the pattern to emphasize a turned body (by placing the center of the paper print at the center of the figure's chest). I kept the figure's torso and legs attached loosely so that she could still be pivoted on the ladder.


The ladder was cut from Handy Man at 8" in black card stock and rubbed with a silver ink pad.

I placed the figure, ladder, and tree together to figure out placement and adhered the tree and ladder on the 12x12 paper I chose for a background.


To finish the figure, I hand-cut slippers. The shapes were placed through a Xyron (topside down) and flocked to make them a bit fuzzy.


I added a piece of black card stock to the back of her head to fill in her eyes. I hand-cut a nose and mouth, using tweezers and a straight pin to place the tiny cuts.


The figure's hairstyle was created by cutting hair layers from Paper Doll Dress Up (page 75) at 1-1/2" and 2".



Once the figure was placed again on the ladder, I realized that I wanted both of her arms in front of her and that she would be placing garland on the tree! I snipped her arm...


... and flipped it upside down and glued it on at the elbow.


AH! In order to be at the "garland stage" of tree decorating, the lights already have to be put in place! I borrowed what I had learned from a light-up picture frame I made last Christmas (click here to see that project). With only the ladder and tree adhered to my paper, I mounted my paper to Crescent Artist Board to make it sturdy. I used a Crop-A-Dile Big Bite to punch in twenty small holes for the lights. I checked my placement by putting my board over my light box.


I found a package of battery-powered mini lights from my stash from last year's Christmas crafting.


I fitted the lights in place.


OK- here's the confession, in case you haven't figured it out: I never know what I am going to make before the project starts. It was at this point when I decided to make a shadow box! I needed something to hide the light cords and I wanted a space on front of the tree--- like a floor--- for the garland to puddle. (This project could have been slightly altered to fit in a 12x12 frame but I have been wanting to try something different and jumped at this opportunity!)
I cut a piece of foam-core 4" x 12-1/2". I cut in a ditch in the middle for my board to stand in.


With my project upright, I continued with the scene. The chair was cut from Sophisticated at 4-1/2" (page 44). I love inking die cuts to give them a little volume. I also drew in a little detail. I hand-cut a pillow using some leftover printed paper I had from All Wrapped Up. The chair was adhered in the scene with 1/2" pop dots.


I adhered my figure in place. The upper body was popped up with 1/8" pop dots; the lower body was adhered flush. I added the garland, gluing cut lengths at the top to create the illusion that it wrapped around the tree. Garland was also glued into the 3D box (that I cut by hand from kraft paper) and onto the floor in a 'puddle'.


I hand-cut and inked Christmas boxes, my little angel, and part of a nativity scene.


I created a wood floor: I cut a 2" x 12" piece of wood veneer into 1/2" strips. I ran the edges through black ink to emphasize them and re-arranged them so the pattern wouldn't match up. I glued it onto the foam-core ledge.


This was my project as this point. The battery pack is attached to the back of the project with Velcro.


I built the shadowbox by cutting lengths of 4" x 12" foam-core for the sides, and gluing in place. I cut a back and then a lid. The back has a window cut out to turn on and off the lights. I cut the window so that it can be pulled down in order to change batteries.


I cut photo corners from Art Philosophy (page 50) at 1-1/2". I hand-cut a paper bow (with 1" and 2" strips)and 2" wide "ribbon" for the top and sides of the shadowbox.


My 7-year-old supervisor informed me that animals were needed. From Four Legged Friends, I cut the bird hiding in the tree (3/4"), the seated cat (1-1/4", flipped), and the cat in the garland (1", flipped).





 To finish, I added a tag cut from Art Philosophy (page 40 cut at 3") with text from my computer (Microsoft Alcohol Licks at 36 point) printed directly onto the tag.


I had so much fun creating this bit of holiday decor! Happily, when I 'deck my halls,' I will have less tree to deck (no ladder needed)!

I am so honored to share this project with you on The Paper Boutique! You are invited to see all of my paper crafts in My Project Gallery. Projects in my gallery are linked to my original posts, where I always give away all the 'secrets' of cut sizes, techniques, and tools needed. Hope to see you there!

67 comments:

Lucy said...

This is fabulous!

Crafting Katie said...

As soon as I saw the picture, I knew it had to be a Nadia project! She is such an amazing artist! Thanks for sharing this beautiful project, Linda!

Diane Hodrick said...

Nadia,
This is wonderful! You write the best instruction too. I love your altered figures. The tree looks amazing. And, I can't believe you built your own foam board shadow box. The floor is so fabulous. Just a beautiful creation.

Scrappin with the bug said...

Wow this is just steller. I love the different textures, shapes, colors. I love it all. Great great great job. Your 7 year old was correct w/ the little animals needed just makes it perfect. Great great great job. Congrats on the guest designer

Grace Baxter said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Grace Baxter said...

This is just amazing. I am always a stickler for details and I'm thrilled to see all of Nadia's painstaking details. She certainly deserves to be featured. Can't wait to see more of her work!

Grace
http://gracenotes4today.blogspot.com
http://gracenotesallaboutChristmas.blogspot.com

Carolyn/MamaC said...

Wow, Nadia, you have done it again! You are the queen of 3-D creations! Thank you so much for the wonderful tutorial!
Carolyn
http://cccscraproom.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Wow! again, I am speechless....simply beautiful! what a treasure, hope it goes to a very deserving person.

Say Anything Crafts said...

STUNNING!!!!! again!

TYJ419 said...

Wow....beautiful....fab..just love all the details.

Anonymous said...

OMG!!! This is amazing. Just...WOW!

Donna said...

Wow Nadia, you just leave me speechless, I think this is my favorite of all your projects. Thank you so much.

Donna C.
goCricutgo

Mary G. said...

This is incredible!!!

Betsy said...

What a masterpiece! Nadia, you are a true artist! This is such a fun and inspiring project. Wish I had even a tiny bit of your creativity. Thank you for the project.

Linda Vargas said...

This is just amazing. I just love it. Another great artistic creation.

Ohhh Snap said...

AWESOME! :D

Steph D said...

This is absolutely amazing! This would be a wonderful hostess gift for someone throwing a Christmas party!

Unknown said...

Like other commentors, I knew this creation had to be made by Nadia. She is such an amazing artist! I've already let her know that when I grow up, I'm going to be her.
Beautiful job!

Anonymous said...

AMAZING!!!

tndj said...

what an awesome artist. Such a beautiful creation. It is absolutely stunning. I am all fingers and what she did was so delicate. Awesome!

Debby said...

Nadia, this is STUNNING!!! Love, love, love the dimensional tree too.

Nadia (WithGlitteringEyes.blogspot.com) said...

Thank you for your kind comments! I had so much fun doing this project!

BunnyC's said...

This project is so clever and unique. It's wonderful. I love it.

Maria said...

Beautiful project by seen the picture only one name came up Nadia made it.

Kate said...

This is absolutely incredible!! The details are phenomenal! What a fabulous, fabulous scene! I am especially delighted that there is even a little nativity set included. Great job, Nadia! And thank you, Linda, for showcasing this amazing project!

mary said...

Awe inspiring! Nadia, your art is amazing!

Brenda said...

Your vignettes never cease to amaze me Nadia! And you never disappoint! Each vignettes amazes me each time, you are truely a talented lady!!!

JaniceA said...

You are amazing, WOW! I am speechless. WOW!

JennyKozar said...

AMAZING!!!! seriously AMAZING!!

Missjoanna said...

beautiful way to much work you deserve a lot of credit for making this...

Sandy from Ukiah said...

Nadia... this is just so awesome. I am sure you had fun making it, it's simply amazing. Thanks for sharing your wonderful talent with us. hugs from ukiah

Java Jen's Creations said...

All I can say is WOW!!!!! This projects is absolutely amazing!! Your detail is just stunning!! You have outstanding talent!! So glad I saw this today!

Anonymous said...

I think this may be my favorite shadowbox scene yet! Where did you get the garland? or how did you make it?
Thank you for sharing@

CathyinMN said...

Wow! What a wonderful and fun project! You did a great job. TFS!

Lori said...

Nadia - Amazing as always!!! I'm send a link of the webpage to my sister. She is going to equally amazed :)

Mrs. Green said...

Oh Nadia... where to even begin. You are so amazing with your creations! Thank you for sharing yet another beauty with us!

Gina piazza said...

Nadia
It is super! I have been wanting to do a tree with that MS punch and could never figure out how to get it right. The whole project is so wonderful!!!

Dana's Crafty Corner said...

Nadia,

You did an amazing job on this shadowbox! Your creativity is AMAZING! I just love everything you create. Your an inspiration! :)

Dana

Anonymous said...

Love all of your incredible projects, Nadia. I really enjoy seeing each step of the creating unfold.
You are truly a talented artist.
Thanks for sharing.

PJ(jessie adams)

Betsy said...

You are just unbelievabley talented! I really love looking at your creations!

Melissa said...

Nadia!!! AMAZING. Love all the details.

Sarah said...

This is wonderfully creative! You did a great job.

Narelle said...

Wow! That's stunning Nadia!

LeeAnn from NC said...

What an awesome project !

lanagram said...

This is just way to cute! Thanks for sharing with all of us.

Kris in Alaska said...

Amazing! I keep thinking you can't top your previous projects, Nadia, but you go and blast it out of the water again! TFS!

Kris in Alaska
funamom at yahoo dot com

Anniebee said...

This really is awesome and very creative! I just discovered that the MS branch punch you used has been discontinued and is nearly impossible to find. I just ordered one and as is the norm, I had to pay a premium price for it. At least I'll have it. I have been looking for it in the stores since last Christmas and never found it. Bravo, Nadia!

Scrapperdee said...

OMG - NADIA - I just don't know how you do it! Like Katie said...as soon a I saw the picture I KNEW you did it!

WOW!

Maria said...

This is awesome! Love the bird in the tree and the cats.

Boomer Knows said...

I love it! Thank you so much for showing your process. I had never thought about keeping an inspiration picture as a reference while working on it. I really wanna try one of these, someday.

Anonymous said...

WOW!! This is great! Thank you for sharing it.

KnT Designs by Teresa said...

WOW! This project is AMAZING. So creatively beautiful.

Awesome job.

Seahorse Creations said...

This project is so amazing. I love it what great detail. Looks like t was very fun to make. Thanks for sharing.

Sara Mahoney said...

This is seriously incredible! Nice work Nadia. I think it's "Chirp" worthy. :)

Joy Tracey said...

HOLY SMOKES!! This is incredible! Every time you make something Nadia, it's more amazing than the last thing I've seen, which I didn't think was even possible since that was so gorgeous and creative!! I am in awe of you! Hugs, Joy

MelodyR aka Ry&MysMom said...

Always enjoy the details in Nadia's projects! Lovely work as always!

Patty Mc said...

I bow to the master artist "Nadia" !! You amaze me each and every time with your vignettes....they keep getting better even when I think it's not possible to be any better!

Patty aka SouthernGypsy

Gail said...

what a beautiful work of art.

girlia said...

Awesome job Linda. Fantabulous job!

TR said...

You never cease to amaze me!!!

Hrvatica said...

Absolutely amazing!

cema1cema said...

Nadia I love your projects! I'm so excited because I have most of these cartridges. Thanks for a great idea! Huge fan! Christina

Diane said...

WOW! That is absolutely stunning and love the 3D effect. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent.

Anonymous said...

I love it !!

pcrusberg said...

That project is unbelievable! So much detail. Thanks for the tutorial.

Angie Williams said...

Wow! Seriously?!?! That is just incredible. I love it. You did a wonderful job.

Turnerriht said...

Beautiful project by seen the picture only one name came up Nadia made it.

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