Calico Christmas - by Claudia

A most wonderful Christmas Day to you all, dear Calico Craft Parts friends!

Over here in Austria presents have already been received yesterday, on the 24th, in the evening (brought by Christ Child to be found under the lit Christmas tree), but I know that in other countries presents can be found under the tree on the morning of the 25th (and are brought by Santa Clause instead). However: merry merry Christmas and joyful holidays with your loved ones (and have fun with your presents)!

I thought it was the perfect time to share a Calico Craft Parts project that I have already done a while ago but not shared with a tutorial on here yet. It's made from one of the lovely tiny Calico Craft Parts house kits and hangs on our Christmas tree...

I shared it on my blog quite a while ago alongside a little art doll - also made from a Calico Craft Parts art doll kit...

Calico Craft Parts used:

- Mini Block Style MDF House Kit - Short


To have a kind of open mini house shrine I simply left out the front of the house kit and glued the other pieces together using DecoArt matte Decou-Page.

The inside of the house shrine was covered with old dictionary pages....

Self adhesive copper foil tape was added to the front edge and all other edges too for soldering. That also helped cover up the slots where the front house panel that I hadn't used was originally meant to go.

I also added a small jump ring during soldering so I could hang the house on my Christmas tree.

With the use of black patina liquid I darkened the solder for a more antique look.

A wash of DecoArt media Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide helped tone down the (too) clean white dictionary page.

I used a little piece of wood for a small pedestal and a frozen charlotte and toned both down with DecoArt media Raw Umber Antiquing Cream. If you find that the Antiquing Cream doesn't stick with the porcelain doll, simply apply a coat of matte Decou-Page as a base. That will provide some tooth for any media to stick to.

The soldered house had been given a coat of matte Decou-Page first, then - after that had dried - a coat of DecoArt media clear Crackle Glaze. (sorry, no images of these steps).

As soon as that had dried (naturally!) I added Carbon Black DecoArt media Antiquing Cream to make the cracks more visible and wiped off the excess as needed.

Once I was content with the look I sealed everything with DecoArt media Gloss Varnish.

Done! 

Happy holidays and a happy New Year!

Claudia

xxx