Xyron and Basically Bare - Day Five (and TWO Giveaways)!

We have had such a wonderful week with the Basically Bare and Xyron Design Teams - such a talented group of women! If you missed any of the posts this week please look back through all of the Xyron DT projects here on the blog and then be sure to head on over to the Basically Bare blog to see the amazing projects they've shared as well.  Gorgeous!

I got the inspiration for my project from my fabulous friend Leica Forrest and an altered canvas class I've seen her teach (and wished I could take) a dozen times. When I got my Basically Bare goodies and saw the little cardboard houses I knew it was time to try one myself!

Now most of you know that I am a very "clean" crafter - so this was TOTALLY outside my comfort zone...but what a blast! I have been inspired!

I started with a 3-pack of 4x12 canvases that had been sitting in my studio FOREVER.  I had some vintage newspapers so I cut several of the pages in to approx 9x15 pieces and ran them through my Xyron 9" Creative Station.  Then I GENTLY peeled them from the backing and literally wrapped each canvas in the newspaper.

I wanted to use a watercolor effect for my background (if the color is too thick you wouldn't be able to see the newspaper) so I mixed a few mists and some water to create my desired colors.  I painted the top and bottom canvases completely, then for the center canvas I ran some die cuts through the Creative Station with the repositionable adhesive in it, laid them on the canvas, painted over them, and easily peeled them off.

I free-hand cut the "flat" (paper items not chipboard) tree top, sun, and sun rays from scraps of patterned paper. I ran them through my Creative Station, placed them on the canvases, and traced everything with my black Slick Writer - including the outline of my letters. I used Modge Podge to cover all three canvases and set them aside to dry. The Modge Podge caused some wrinkling in the newspaper - which I wasn't sure I liked at first, but I think it gives the piece great texture.

While the canvases were drying I ran my three houses and my tree trunk (not shown) upside down through my Xyron 5" Creative Station, then covered them in patterned paper (using different paper for the roofs, chimneys, doors, etc). I used small squares of the vintage newspaper for windows.  I outlined the houses with my Slick Writer, then set aside.

When the canvases were dry I ran my chipboard shapes and my felt clouds through the Creative Station (with the patterned sides facing up) and then applied them to the canvas.  I added some Stickle detailing - and voila! A new piece of art for our living room!

I'm not the only one being crafty today - Tina McDonald created a fun Christmas mini album as an alternative to the December Dailys (for those of us who already feel overwhelmed by the holidays!) and on her blog today she walks you through each darling page!

How about a few giveaways to end the week? Leave a comment here and someone will win a Xyron Mega Runner (I'll announce the winner on my Facebook Page tomorrow) and then head on over the the Basically Bare blog and leave a comment there on ANY Xyron/BB post from the past week for a chance to win a big ol' prize pack of their goodies!  What a way to start the weekend! Thanks so much everybody - Happy Friday!