Wax Dipped Pine Cones

Last year for our Christmas Ornament Exchange, I made some wax-dipped pine cones and added a cinnamon stick and holly leaves and berries to the bottoms. There is something about pine cones that says Christmas to me, and the wax on them really enhances their natural beauty.

Well, earlier this fall, my daughter-in-law asked if I still had any pine cones left, and wondered if we could make some more. I mentioned to a new blogging buddy who lives in Alabama that I would love to have a box of the pine cones he was burning in his brush pile, and he sent me some! I still had some red wax left from last year, but I also purchased some golden and brown colored candles to use as well.
This is a bowl (also a gift from a different blogging friend!) full of the three colors. I don't add wicks to them because I don't want anyone to think they are candles--that would be a disaster of monumental proportions! However, these can be nestled in amongst some kindling and started with a piece of paper beneath them, and they add a nice light fragrance and relatively long burning kindling aid to help get the fire going.

Of course, they are also very nice to use as a centerpiece--just be sure you don't put them on anything that would stain, as the wax is an oil based product and could stain linens or other surfaces, especially if it gets warm.

I have packaged them for sale in clear cellophane wrap, three cones (one of each different color/scent) to a package. The scents are not overpowering--I am fairly sensitive to fragrance, and they have not bothered me--but mingle together to make a pleasant potpourri of holiday scents. Cost $7.50 per package of three.

These would make a nice inexpensive gift for an office gift exchange, or for a teacher, co-worker or neighbor. Put in a basket with some homemade cookies and your gift would be the envy of the party!

Halloween Dominoes ON SALE!!

SALE!! From now through Saturday the 30th (midnight) these Halloween Altered Dominoes are on sale for 1/2 price! They are regularly $5.00 each, now they are just $2.50! email me if you want any of them, and be sure you say which one(s) you want. Shipping will be extra if you are not able to pick them up.

Sweet corn

yellow jack and 2 corn

jack mini SOLD

glitter jack and corn SOLD

two jacks black

two corn mini

Map THIS!

Armed with a whole shoe box full of old maps, I decided to make some blank note card sets with various maps cut apart. The three sets pictured here have from 8 to 15 cards in them, depending on how many usable pieces I could get from the map. So far I have five complete sets, with about three more planned. I put two cancelled stamps on each card in one of the sets, but I haven't decided whether I will add those to the other sets or not. I have a go-zillion cancelled stamps--maybe I'll make a few sets with just map pieces and a collage of stamps... hmmm.

New York has 8 cards-- $12.

North Central US has 15 cards w/stamps -- $25.

Europe (1969) has 12 cards-- $18.

Southeastern US (1958) has 12 cards -- $18. SOLD!!

Northeastern US (1959) has 13 cards-- $20. SOLD!!

Checkbook Covers and Christmas Cards

These checkbook covers have been made for almost a week, but I have had a hard time coordinating the daylight and the photographer! All covers are $4. each, and the cards that follow are also $4.

Forget Me Not Checkbook Cover

Green Stuff Checkbook Cover

My Pay Pal Checkbook Cover

Nickel Candy Checkbook Cover

Prosperous Checkbook Cover

Prosperous Living Checkbook Cover

CP2 Embossed Ornaments #1

CP2 Embossed Ornaments #2

CP2 Embossed Ornaments #3

CP2 Embossed Ornaments #4

CP2 Felt Tree

Christmas Cards III

Most of my day today was spent in the craft room. I hadn't used up all the My Mind's Eye papers, but I put the rest of the scraps aside to use next year. I figured I had enough pink Christmas cards for this one! The number beside a name indicates the price. There are two that had expensive embellishments on them--not that the card was difficult to make, but the components were more costly than the others.

I wanted to let you know that many of these cards will require extra postage if mailed, due to the fact that they would not be machinable. If in doubt, please take them to your post office and have them checked--you'd hate to have them returned for postage!

Gingerbread House 6

Heart Tag 5

KC Glitz Poinsettias

KC Holly on Sock

MME Bling Trees

MME Button Poinsettias

MME Delightful Christmas

MME Delightful Christmas Traditions

MME Large Snowmen, Warm Wishes

MME Large White Tree

MME Merry Bright Snowmen

MME Small Snowmen, Pink Lace

Paisley, Stripes and Ginger boy

Roses and Red Tree

A Few My Mind's Eye Christmas Cards

With all the other projects I have had to tackle this past week, I didn't get to spend much time making cards. Here are pictures of the few I did manage to put together. The MME designation in the titles stands for the paper manufacturer, My Mind's Eye. All these cards are $4.

MME 2 Stars

MME Fuzzy Tag

MME Gift

MME Pink Star

MME Poinsettia Tag

MME Snowman Tag

MME Trees w 2 Poinsettia

Plans Are Progressing

It has been pretty busy around Miller Manor lately, as we have been working to get things ready for our upcoming Gift Event. There is still a lot to be done, but I thought I'd post a little update here of the latest happenings.

I found this old paperback book rack at a flea market several months ago, and painted it green--because I like green, and it is a prominent color in our logo and website. There are 80 slots, and each slot could hold about 20 cards, but I don't think I will have 1600 cards made by November 20th. (although I probably have enough supplies...)

Today I moved the cards I had already completed, bagged and labeled into the rack to get a feel for what it might look like. I am pleased with the results. :)

This Hoosier cupboard is a family heirloom that has been the deciding factor in whether a floor plan would work anytime we have bought a new home. It has housed myriad things through the years, but it is currently empty of all except the crafted items I have made for the sale. It should be fairly full by show time.

I spent a bit of time this weekend cleaning it up and putting some paper down on the pie-safe shelves and in the roll-top area. The roll top doesn't close anymore. :(

This is the display for all the clipboards, both full sized and magnetic memo-boards. Again, I have repurposed items I had or found, this time the basket was from an old silk/dried flower arrangement and an oil drip pan I scrounged from a garage-sale reject pile--it was headed for the dump. I painted it copper and wedged it down in the basket. I am very happy with the way this turned out. just to the right of the basket, you can see the legs of an antique sewing machine cabinet. That will house a few things, and there is already a little basket of bagged lengths of fiber, in case other crafters come to shop.

Ornery is slated to build a shelf from fence pickets next weekend, and I will paint that brick red. It will house all the journals--I have a shipment coming back from Tucson that I will add to the inventory as soon as it arrives. We still have to figure out how to display all the dominoes--we just don't have enough hooks on things to show them all. I am sure inspiration will hit soon...

I feel really good about the display and promotional parts of the show--I got the flyer done earlier in the week, and spent an hour on Friday addressing envelopes of friends who aren't on Facebook so they could see what we are up to.

This week every spare minute I have will be spent making cards, checkbook covers, luggage tags, and covered tins. I have a great idea for some coupon books in the cutest little round tins, but that will require a bit of thought, planning and spray paint. The tins have a very unique closure mechanism, and I think they will sell just because they are such a novelty! I am hoping to also get a couple of scrapbooks and some shadow boxes done, but they are not high on my priority list.

We just have a little less than five weeks until show time!! I am very excited!!

Crate Paper Christmas Cards

I broke out the first of the uncut papers today! This Crate Paper was on the top of the pile (the Christmas paper folder is about an inch thick, so there are lots more new designs to come!) I used all but a few little pieces of 3 double sided sheets. I think if I really tried I could get one more card out of the scraps, but I'd have to add some other paper for the base. All of these cards are $4.

CP Glitter Ornaments

CP Blocks and Candy Canes

CP Buttons Warm Wishes

CP Candy Stripe

CP Merry Flair

CP Red Sock

CP Snowman Merry Christmas

CP String and Bling

CP Tree Flair