Ivy box & Snow roses

Today's project is a rather simple tea box I decorated with napkin decoupage. 

Basically, it's the same procedure I used to decorate my amaryllis pots a while ago, only this time I wanted to create some cracks on the surface. Therefore, I used two different shades of acrylic paints and a water-soluble cracking varnish: after the first dark layer was applied and dry, I over-painted it with the cracking varnish and added another, lighter layer of paint. Due to the varnish, the superior layer of paint contracted, giving the box a shabby look.
As the painting part was done, I decorated the surface with an ivy patterned napkin. 

Once the project was done, I decided to use the tea box to store my cosmetics - the plastic "window" atop the  storage space is rather useful when it comes to having an overview of your treasures.

challenges: 
- 613 avenue create: ATG
- abc christmas challenge: A for ATG
- alphabet challenge: window
- as you like it: ATG
- crafty calendar: something new (wooden box)
- crafty gals corner: ATG
- creative fingers: ATG
- crafty sentiments: ATG
- everybody art: ATG
- fabnfunky: something new (wooden box)
- fairytale challengeblog: ATG
- inspiration destination: ATG
- through the craftroom door: ATG
- word art wednesday: ATG 

The rest of my weekend basically included sleeping and working on an article (blah), as well as rushing to the flower market to get me some fresh greenery. Even though the range of flowers includes tulips, carnations and lilies, I decided to pick something more seasonal.
Turns out I missed the Friday-Flowerday at Holunderbluetchen again, but I'll tick off my second flower arrangement of 2016 anyway :)

Rescue operation

When I got myself some amaryllis bulbs in December, I must have brought some sort of worms home, too, that live in two of the pots. They obviously like to gnaw on the roots as one poor bulb had almost none left, so I took it out of the original pot in a try to save it from rotting. After the clean-up, I decided to wrap it in a damp cloth and place it in an old white pot before I find time to buy some new potting soil. To hide the clot, I placed a couple of cone atop of the temporary arrangement.
Here is the result of my rescue operation: 

The white pot is one I bought in a second hand shop recently. Even though it's a little scratched in some places, I liked the old-style ornaments so much that I *had* to have it. With its round shape, it even fits the lovely matryoshka I received from my mentor a couple of years ago.

What was meant to be a last-minute entry for the Friday-Flowerday at Holunderbluetchen, must have missed the linkup for a minute. Nevertheless I wonder if I'll be able to present some flowers each week of the year?

The smell of snow

I'm not sure whether snow has a smell or not, but as my mom visited me two days ago, she said, "It smells like it's going to snow soon". Now, you have three guesses on today's weather. (Hint: it's a perfect match for today's card ;))
With my first creation of 2016 I'd like to invite you to the January Fadengrafik Challenge "Snowmen". Feel free to submit any snowman-themed creation featuring paper embroidery. 
As I've been away during the holidays, I thought I'd have to skip this month's DT obligation, until I found this half finished pickpoint project yesterday evening. I've stitched it a while ago, using a colourful yarn my sister gave me one day. However, it turned out to be so colourful that I had no idea how to finish the card. All that came o mind were tiny light blue gemstones, but in the right upper corner, something was missing. 

When I realized it was already time for this month's DT task, I thought why not try to find a matching snowman. In fact, I found this guy from freshbreweddesigns to be the perfect match to the blue, green and yellow swirls, and what more: he didn't need much additional work - just a scarf, a little holly, a carrot and tiny white pearls I placed on the spots where the original digi had snowflakes. Meet Mr. Snowman:

In the center of the stitched swirls I placed three big gemstones that fit the smaller ones next to the foliage

As the pattern is stitched directly on the paper of the card, I used a soft mint-coloured cardstock to cover up the sewing on the inside

A little contribution to the gallery of Christmas projects & happenings at Lotta liebt blau.

And just as it seemed we'd be spoiled with blue skies in January as a reward for a rather foggy December, clouds decided to take over and turn everything white. 

A little contribution to the gallery of sky images at Raumfee.

challenges:
- 4 crafty chicks: ATG
- 613 avenue create: ATG
- allsorts challengeblog: what's new (digi)
- as you like it: ATG
- basteltraum: winter
- basteltanten: frosty
- C.R.A.F.T.: ATG
- catch the bug: ATG
- craft-alnica: ATG
- crafting from the heart: ATG
- crafts and me: ATG
- crafty calendar: something new (digi)
- craftygalscorner: ATG
- craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge: ATG 
- craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2: ATG as long as it's Christmas
- cute card thursday: ATG
- creative card crew: ATG
- deep ocean: ATG
- fussyandfancy: happy holidays
- glitternsparkle: glittery, sparkly Christmas
- inspiration destination: ATG
- pile it on: ATG Christmas/winter
- 12 months of christmas: ATG
- the glory of christmas: ATG
- through the craftroom door: ATG
- tuesday throwdown: ATG
- wordartwednesday: ATG

Goodbye 2015 & Hello 2016

Much of what 2015 brought along was neither planned nor wanted and I can't help thinking how different things were supposed to be. 
Funny I remember how nervous mom was upon introducing her man to us and how I couldn't help rolling my eyes when she discarded our plans because they wanted to do something on their own. Things happened quickly, but it turned out this family was the best that could have happened. 
After ages of avoiding situations, it was good to come home, laugh, spend time together and care for one another. We even started to celebrate Christmas again. Nothing major, but something we were all looking foward to. 
Then, a moment turned lives into different directions and unlike in the previous years, the fireplace was cold this winter. What remains are treasured memories, like the Christmas walk up the Magdalensberg two years ago - never to be repeated, no matter what. And the knowledge that you never know which "Goodbye" will be the final one.

Is there a point in making New Years' resolutions then? I'm not sure. I fulfilled some things on my 2015 list, some were postponed for *some day later*, others simply don't matter anymore. 

- I certainly hope to finish my studies by summer, or by fall at the latest
- Switzerland will have to wait
- I absolutely fell in love with flying and will certainly want to take off again
- as for crafting: so many ideas, so little time
- and as for Mr. Right: it seems I finally figured out who is going to take me dancing

Here's to a happy 2016, let's hope this one will be good to us.