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Elegant Christmas Artwork from Simple Blocks

Filed under 3D House Ornament Kit, Art Projects, Christmas, Giveaways, Lora Mahaffey, Rhonda Secrist Thomas

Note: most of the links on this post no longer work, as we moved to a new Web site in 2018. However, you can see the supply lists for Lora’s projects on the new site: Oh Christmas Trees and Santa Stack.

Just a quick intro before Miz Bella (Kim Ayers) waxes poetic about artwork from TWO Design Team Members.
 
First: Were you keeping up with all the artwork, sale items and daily Giveaways from last weekend? We left off the last two winners: The winner of the 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments Giveaway is Kimberly Baier! And the grand prize winner (of a drawing from all orders during the 4-day sale, for a $100 shopping spree!) is Suzanne Becker!
 
Second: there’s a new FREE Gift Kit: Santa Inchies! Perfect for trying your hand at decorating some wooden blocks, like the projects by Lora Mahaffey below. AND all of those wooden blocks (and finials) are On Sale!
 


Design Team Member Lora Mahaffey is presenting us with Oh Christmas Trees, that makes for cute table-top or mantel decor. As she was musing over a freshly poured glass of bubbly, Lora said:

“Sometimes simplicity offers us a bit of serenity in a crazy season. There is so much alliteration in those two sentences, my old fifth grade teacher Mrs. Koniknik would be proud. But seriously, my intention was to keep these simple to remind myself that although glitter and glitz is grand, (see what I did?) ‘simple’ reminds me to pause, slow down, take a breath.”

Ahhh yes. Simplicity — something I’m working on. In fact this year, I want things so simple I may not even decorate the tree; except of course for plugging in the pre-attached lights. See? Simple!

The trees Lora used are from the Green and Dyeable Retro Bottle Brush Tree Sets. The bases are 7/8 Inch, 1 Inch, 1-1/2 Inch and 2 Inch Wooden Cube Blocks.

From there Lora had all sorts of fun with Stickles, the Medium Bee and Small Flat Dragonfly Charms, Fancy Bead Caps (at the tops of the trees) and made ornaments for the trees out of the White Pearl Mix in a Tin. Simply stated, simply stunning and yes! There is a Supply List.

Next up is Lora’s Santa Stack! It’s so playful, doesn’t it just put a smile on your face? Using some of the same sized Wooden Cube Blocks, Lora covered them with paper from the Twas the Night Before Christmas 12×12 Paper Pad (and that New and On Sale! Double Dot Vintage Wasabi Green Scrapbook Paper) and then added images from Round Pendants – Christmas, Santa’s Toys, and Silly Santas Collage Sheets. (ALL of the Christmas Collage Sheets are On Sale! See the Sale Section for more info.)

The tree is wrapped with my very favorite, German Bouillon – Red and topped off with a cute Santa hat. Lora suggested:

“This would be another fun project to do with kids. Once again, the same materials used…just a totally different look and configuration. If you’ve any kidlets around, go play with some blocks with them. I bet they come up with some spectacular stuff!”

Well now, I think Lora was offering up that idea after another glass of bubbly! There is also a Supply List to check out, and if you go to Lora’s blog you can see more eye candy.

AND… after you peruse Design Team Member Rhonda Secrist Thomas’s Precious Holiday House Decorations (with a tutorial for that 3D house!), Leslie has pulled a Giveaway (and the new FREE Gift Kit!) around the colors/theme of Lora’s Santa Stack!


 

 

Hooray! A Santa Blocks & Filigree Giveaway!

Wow! Just look at all of those Santas!

I started by picking out a few (!) items from Lora’s Santa Stack:
– Christmas Stocking Stripes Collage Sheet
– Silly Santas Collage Sheet
– Santa Toys Collage Sheet
– Round Pendants Collage Sheet – Christmas
– 1 Inch Wide Wooden Finial
– Medium Wooden Finial
– Small Wooden Finial
– 2 Inch Wooden Cube Block
– 1-1/2 Inch Wooden Cube Block
– German Bouillon – Red

Then I picked out a few more items from Lora’s Oh Christmas Trees:
– 1 Inch Wooden Cube Block
– 7/8 Inch Wooden Cube Block
– White Pearl Mix Tin
– 4mm Fused Pearls – Gold
– Fancy Swirl Bead Cap
– Fancy Star Bead Cap
– Star Filigree
– Mixed Gold Filigrees
– 7mm Flower Washers

Plus I added these brand spanking New and On Sale! items:
Tiny 10mm Resin Snowman
Miniature Gold Deer Ornaments
Mixed Set of Metal Rimmed Tags
34mm Silver Diamond Filigree Pendants

And a Santa Inchies Gift Kit!

To enter the Santa Blocks & Filigree Giveaway drawing all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post TODAY OR TOMORROW (the deadline is 11:59 pm PST, FRIDAY, December 5, 2014)!

After midnight, I’ll randomly pick the winner (via Random.org). So check your mailbox on Sunday morning to see who won and for the next Giveaway and Newsletter!

  
Posted by Leslie, December 4th, 2014

131 responses to “Elegant Christmas Artwork from Simple Blocks”

  1. Cindy Olson says:

    You always have such creative ideas and carry such wonderful supplies. I would love to win your give-away

  2. Kathleen Cole says:

    I have a “thing” for wooden blocks, and have been using them for years in my artwork. But I LOVE the tree idea!

  3. marge says:

    what a nice christmas treat this would be…..wishing….

  4. Leslie Anderson says:

    Wow, what a great giveaway and I love, love the Christmas blocks!!

  5. I would love to win thanks for the chance!

  6. Kathlene Ford-Walters says:

    What a wonderful idea with the tree and wooden blocks.

  7. LisaB says:

    This is cool and is something I would love to play with! You have the best supplies, ever!

  8. Laural says:

    I’ve been Really Good this Year, Santa!

  9. Teresa Currie says:

    Love your Santa Blocks & Filigree Giveaway, especially the collage sheets, the finials and the lovely silver diamond filigree pendants!!

  10. angelic says:

    I love the great idea of using the blocks as a stand for the cute Christmas trees. Thanks for great ideas and giveaway.

  11. Jenifer Talbott says:

    I will make this one way or the other! CUTE!

  12. Paula Laramie says:

    Your designs and website always inspire me with creativity. I would love to play with all the contest winnings and create from Alpha Stamps great offerings.

  13. KIM says:

    It would be great fun to spend a quiet afternoon making a wooden block
    Santa.
    Thanks for the chance to win

  14. Oh christmas tree, oh christmas tree how cute are thee!

  15. Lorna E. says:

    It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

  16. Darlene says:

    wow – you will be making someones christmas merry !!

  17. Liz says:

    You always have such nice stuff!

  18. Jean says:

    You present so many wonderful projects that I just want to do them all!!

  19. Traci says:

    Love the trees-great decoration for the holidays. I will have to make some too!

  20. Patti G says:

    The blocks and trees are so cute.

  21. Mary Mac says:

    Oh my look at all those wonderful Santa’s. Could finish a lot of projects with these beautiful collage sheets.

  22. Carol F says:

    I just love this site!

  23. Joan says:

    What a wonderful Christmas idea using bottle brushes.

  24. Amanda Miller says:

    Great project! Love all the new stuff.

  25. Barb S says:

    More great samples to inspire.

  26. Karen says:

    Best time of the year and this would be a really fun way to spend some creative time. Wonderful collection.

  27. Janice Meitl says:

    It really puts me in the Christmas mood.

  28. Ginny Over says:

    way too cute!

  29. Debbie Rollier says:

    WOW, JUST WOW! I love it all

  30. Janis Stephens says:

    Wow what a fantastic give away.

  31. Carolyn Bowlby says:

    Never too old to play with blocks.

  32. Kristie says:

    Wow! This newsletter is full of inspiration. I love all the vintage looking Christmas items.

  33. Linda Blakesley says:

    Am scheduling a Christmas sister crafting get together for early next year as your offerings are so inspirational.

  34. Blair Lowery says:

    What a wonderful Christmas collection. Keeping fingers crossed.

  35. Charlene says:

    Wonderful decorations!

  36. Always great ideas.Thanks for doing this.

  37. Pat says:

    I am definitely going to do this–for next Christmas. Love the creativity

  38. Jo says:

    This giveaway is so sweet! I love the ideas you all come up with!!

  39. Cocoa says:

    Wow! Every one of the giveaways is so wonderful and I have to mention the design team really they should be called the dream team so outstanding!!!

  40. Susan McMenamin says:

    Love the vintage look of bottle brush trees and these designs are great!

  41. Kathy Bumb says:

    Love this week’s collection, and the use of small wooden blocks. What a great idea. Love your blogs and your store.

  42. Roxanne says:

    Ahh…once again a wonderful giveaway-yes, please enter me. Love this kit and I especially love Rhonda’s sweet houses…so much like the vintage Putz houses from long ago. Sweet! 🙂 Made me smile. Thank you Rhonda and A.S.

  43. Regina Salvador says:

    Ho-ho-ho!

  44. Russell says:

    Looks like a whole lot of Christmas fun!

  45. Lana says:

    simply elegant…what a wonderful collection, looks like an heirloom Christmas!

  46. Suzy says:

    Wonderful stuff. and I really enjoy your membership stuff

  47. Juniper says:

    Love you guys! I wish for you to pick ME Please and Thank you!!!

  48. Lynn fox says:

    Oh gee, it would be wonderful to win finally! thanks for the chance AlphaStamps!

  49. Nancy Smith says:

    I would love to win all this super fun stuff to play with! Thank you!

  50. Karen says:

    Always neat giveaways.

  51. Gail Gill says:

    I just started playing with wood blocks so this is perfect timing for me. Now if I could only be this creative.

  52. Susan M.L. says:

    Let’s see: Santa ornaments, Santa package tags, Santa altered books. What to make first? So many ideas, so little time! “and I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

  53. Mary Tiriello says:

    So merry and generous !

  54. Patti Flasch says:

    Your giveaways keep getting better and better! I love these vintage Christmas items! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to enter your weekly drawings.

  55. Starqueen says:

    Ooooh, I’m feeling “blocked” in a very merry way! Love all the amazing inspiration and creativity you share…THANK YOU!!

  56. Jo says:

    A wonderful Christmas!!!!!!

  57. Kathy M says:

    Amazing giveaway! Every time I think your giveaways cant get better you surprise me.!

  58. Alice H says:

    How clever to put the tree on the blocks, it is lovely. The whole packet is great.

  59. Vic says:

    Wow! What an excellent giveaway! Love the festive Blocks! Lora’s projects are so creative!

  60. Lori Wilczek says:

    Sweet! another fantastic giveaway. Thank You.

  61. Laura says:

    Gorgeous as always, I love the project ideas!

  62. Rise St Arno says:

    Love all the wonderful things and ideas.

  63. Jackie Barth says:

    Love it! Hope I win it!

  64. Virginia Smith says:

    Beautiful offerings for the giveaway! I could spent hours creating!

  65. Jennifer J says:

    The trees are all so cute. Plus I loved another paper house.

  66. Sylvia L. says:

    All the projects are adorable, especially the bottle-brush trees. Lots of useful items in the giveaway, too.

  67. Carmen says:

    I’ve been pushing real hard to be good Santa…Real Hard! Would love to win this giveaway!

  68. So love the ideas that this blog has given me!! Great giveaway offering!

  69. Shirley Gregory says:

    What a lovely collection! I’m going to try using blocks with my grand children. Each year we create special ornaments to commemorate the season, so when each child leaves home, they have a starter set of ornaments with special memories for their first tree.

  70. DebR says:

    Love Lora’s Christmas tree and Santa blocks and Rhonda’s little house ornaments are adorable too! Thanks for another great giveaway.

  71. Verna stapleton says:

    These trees are so simple and yet stunning. More lovely ideas. Thankyou.

  72. Heather C. says:

    The Christmas tree blocks are adorable….

  73. Sandy says:

    ELEGANT!!!

  74. Jan Korzenaskie says:

    Awesome giveaway! Thanks for the chance!

  75. Janet Turner says:

    Just in time for holiday decorating. What a terrific giveaway!

  76. Jen R says:

    Awesome giveaway

  77. Sharron Rogers says:

    Oh, so merry and bright my house would be with these lovely Alpha Stamp supplies to create something marvellous.

  78. Karen Mallory says:

    What a fabulous giveaway! I love Christmas!

  79. Oooohhh! So much Santa goodness!

  80. Cherie says:

    Beautiful giveaway!

  81. Sheila says:

    No creative block here, just creative blocks!!!

  82. Christine V says:

    Glassine, problem now solved! I’m still trying…

  83. Christine V says:

    lovely diamond filigree piece!

  84. Yvette LeBlanc says:

    lovely!

  85. Brenda Lubrant says:

    I love seeing those bottle brush Christmas trees. My grandmother always displayed a Christmas table made up of little houses, reindeer and these bottle brush trees. They had been her mother’s from Germany and I always looked forward to seeing that Christmas each Christmas as a child.

  86. susan higgins says:

    thanks for the chance to win

  87. Linda Ellis says:

    Thank you for this lovely opportunity!

  88. Laura says:

    Trees remind me of my youth.

  89. Christine says:

    Every time I open another email, I fall in love!!

  90. Noreen says:

    Couldn’t pass up a chance for Santas! They are one of my favorite subjects.

  91. Gerri herbst says:

    Love the tiny mushrooms!

  92. Michelle Toops says:

    I love your Christmas stuff

  93. orianna says:

    Always ideas to inspire.

  94. Kim R says:

    Such a fun Kit!

  95. Nancy S says:

    Just love, love the possibilities with the wooden blocks. Great ideas and terrific giveaways!

  96. Ina Good says:

    Wow love the vintage Santas kts embelishments and blocks makesgreat christmas!Happy Holidays for sure!

  97. InkPattie Fulton says:

    I solemnly swear that I will make tree blocks if I win this amazing package! Wonderful ideas…

  98. Kim says:

    I love this one! You have given me a great idea, Thanks!

  99. Kathy W says:

    Ooooh. I love this giveaway. Thanks for the chance.

  100. Deborah says:

    1st time leaving a comment. Hope it’s beginners luck.
    Not 1 thing I don’t adore about this project. You have to be in the spirit of the holidays after looking at all the pieces.

  101. Helen Potter says:

    The trees are adorable!

  102. Deb Neerman says:

    WoW, what an awesome giveaway! Thanks so much for the chance to win!!

  103. Aw ! ‘COME ON MAN” !!! LOVE IT, LOVE IT, I WANT WHATEVER YOU GUYS ARE TAKING !!! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL, YOU ARE THE BEST, MANY BLESSINGS TO ALL !

  104. HawaiianLibrarian says:

    Luscious! Love the trees and want to make a forest!

  105. Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but inside it’s so delightful – because we are crafting our butts off!!!!

    Love this.

  106. Patricia Molnar says:

    I Love Lora’s Santa Stack! Very cute!

  107. Pauka Sorensen says:

    Pick me, please, please! Merry Christmas everyone!

  108. Lori D. says:

    Livin for this giveaway. Thank you for the opportunity to win. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

  109. Lu L. says:

    I like those holiday houses!

  110. Paula Miller says:

    I’m loving every piece of this giveaway!

  111. Carol Slowik says:

    I love Christmas. Nuff said.

  112. julie m says:

    the trees on the blocks are my favorite. great idea.

  113. Phoebe Diamond says:

    Fun!

  114. Arlene Groepper says:

    Wonderful!!!

  115. Gorgeous giveaway in every way! I absolutely love your products and find your blogs inspiring!

  116. Lorrilee Stackhouse says:

    Pick me, I love Santa!

  117. Susanne Westh says:

    Perfect for finding the Christmas spirit!

  118. Barbara says:

    Love the wood blocks with the trees. Great give away

  119. barbara macaskill says:

    Oh my! What pretty tree decorations~!~!~ Would love to win these cool goodies! Thanks for the chance to!

  120. Jennifer Rose, says:

    I am in my craft room working furiously away but had to come up to check out all the talent on this blog. Once again your WOW factor is amazing Merry Christmas to all and thanks for another chance to win

  121. Debby says:

    Oh what’s not to love, thanks for a chance to win so much fun.

  122. Me Pugh says:

    Love the Santa paper and the Christmas deco ideas, thanks.

  123. Luanne Shoup says:

    Noe i know what to do with my mini Christmas trees!

  124. Laurie says:

    Thanks for such great ideas and supplies on your site, I can’t seem to find the time to do all the projects . . .but hope to finish at least one this season!!

  125. Pat Sayre McCoy says:

    Such wonderful trees and I love the tiny deer. Please enter me for this give-away.
    Thanks so much!

  126. Diana Bittaker says:

    Yeah for mini gold reindeer!

  127. carol says:

    Yikes I’m just finishing Halloween so I’m way behind this would be a big help!!

  128. Thalia Kottke says:

    I love it.

  129. Dena Cottrell says:

    I would love to win!

  130. Dennis Lawrence says:

    Ho! Ho! Ho! Who wouldn’t go? Gotta get me some Christmas!

  131. Karen says:

    I love this wonderful give away. Thank you so much for doing this