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Nutcracker Theatre & The Night Before Christmas!
Filed under Art Projects, Featured Artwork, Giveaways, Miniatures, Newsletters, Teri Calia, Tristan Robin Blakeman
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 both projects on the new site: Tristan’s The Nutcracker Mini Theatre and Teri’s Christmas Mouse Book Box.
There seems to be a (small) theme today, running through very different artwork: mice! From the mouse king from The Nutcracker in Tristan’s theatre to the “Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse” quote (held in the paw of a festive mouse) on the top of Teri’s Christmas Mouse Book Box.
A quick reminder before I turn this intro over to Miz Bella’s: Monday, December 7th is the deadline to have your tags for the Christmas Tags Swap postmarked. Please contact Caroline (info in your swap package) if you need a bit of an extension.
Design Team Member Tristan Robin Blakeman has created a stunning diorama, The Nutcracker Mini Theatre; just in time for Christmas!
“It was only natural that when I found out my assignment for the December design project for Alpha Stamps was to use the Open Front Room Box Kit (which is essentially a stage), I immediately knew I wanted to make a Nutcracker scene filled with my favorite characters, and all the really charming miniature treasures and collage sheets available at Alpha Stamps.”
It’s a gorgeous creation and it all started with the Open Front Room Box (which is the middle box of the display… see the photo below with large tree and “The Nutcracker” banner). If you haven’t seen them yet, the Room Boxes are fabulously versatile for dioramas and are exclusive to Alpha Stamps. There’s a lot to take in with the Nutcracker Mini Theatre so I am going to just let Tristan tell you about my favorite room: the Parlor! (See the large photo at right.)
“The tree is decorated with miniature Christmas ornaments, and is standing on the miniature mahogany pie crust table . Don’t the tiny little presents under the tree and the roaring fire in the fireplace make the room feel homey? I love the pair of candelabrum which illuminates the miniature créche, and the ever so handsome fireplace tools (that also includes the lovely Anniversary Clock under a glass cloche used on the glass shelves).
“On the shelves are some beautiful Victorian miniatures that fit right into the house where this magical story takes place. On the top two shelves, the lidded ‘ivory’ jardinere and the ‘marble’ Bust of Diana. The little Pug is perfectly adorable, but be sure to check out all the miniature pets; especially the (new!) Samoyed and the Beagle! There are also cats and other animals to find the perfect pet for your room diorama!”
(And see that gold striped wallpaper behind the cute little chandelier in the photo at right (and also in the background of the larger photo)? That is the backside of the Gilded Lily Scrapbook Paper!)
Find more goodies cleverly used by Tristan in The Nutcracker Mini Theatre Supply List
Shimmer and shine yourself on over to Enchanted Revelries to see more photos and details of the entire diorama.
Design Team Emeritus Teri Calia has created the cutest Hidden Drawer Book Box with The Night Before Christmas theme. I love the new Christmas Mouse that lays on top of the box — how sweet is that?
Inside is a cozy little scene with a decorated mantel, with an open book (with a Mini Candy Cane laying on top), and a tiny little mouse warming himself by the fire. (And how meta… the book inside is The Night Before Christmas, too!) That tiny stocking hanging on the mantel (with a bunny inside!) is from the Night Before Xmas Book Box Collage Sheet, Part 2 (and the fireplace image is, too — Teri did a great job of including all the parts needed to build a scene inside the book box in her 2 collage sheets with the covers and spine images).
See all the supplies in Teri’s Christmas Mouse Book Box Supply List
New Collage Supplies – ALL on Sale! View All New Items | |||
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Hooray for the Not a creature was stirring Giveaway!
I began by looking at the supplies from Teri’s Christmas Mouse Book Box then started wondering about mice in other children’s books… I had lots of options to choose from for this Giveaway:
– Hidden Drawer Book Box
– Night Before Xmas Book Box Collage Sheet, Part 1
– Night Before Xmas Book Box Collage Sheet, Part 2
– Small Christmas Mouse – Lying
– 3 Blind Mice Collage Sheet
– Country Mice Collage Sheet
– Mice Border Rubber Stamp
– Pumpkin Coach Collage Sheet
– Ceramic Black Cat Bead
To enter the Not a creature was stirring Giveaway drawing all you have to do is leave a comment BELOW on this blog post TODAY OR TOMORROW (the deadline is 11:59 pm PST, FRIDAY, December 4, 2015)! And tell me: How would you decorate your Book Box? Christmas themed like Teri’s artwork? Something with all those crazy mice in clothes? Cinderella and her mice-drawn pumpkin coach? Something else?
Don’t forget to leave your (hello! correct) email address, too, so I can contact the winner; your email address does not need to be made public. Note: I’m offering free shipping, too, but only within the USA. International shipping will still apply.
Please be patient! Spammers try to post crap here a lot so comments are moderated. So if you don’t see your post in the comments section, be patient and check back in a few hours before re-posting it, please!
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!
Hey, and who won Monday’s TWO Christmas Ornaments Giveaway Kits? That would be Carolyn Myers and Winnie!
Note: Everyone who placed an order during the 4-day sale was entered into a drawing for a $100 shopping spree! And the winner is: Debby Basaraba! John (in customer service) will be contacting you about your prize. Congratulations!
I have a daughter-in-law that loves cats. So it would be Christmas like (cozy fire and chairs) but lots of cats chasing mice. Or dancing with them.
I would make a christmas book with not a creature was stirring not even a mouse!
I ordered the book box over the weekend and am planning to make a hidden Fairy Wings shop! It is the place that Fairies go to when their wings have gotten damaged or they can even get a kit to change the color of their wings if they are looking for a change! Almost like us going to the Salon to get our hair highlighted or dyed. On International Fairy Day, which is celebrated on June 24th, many Fairies love dressing up in costume and going ot lots of parties!!! Thanks for the chance to win the goodies to make a Christmas themed book box for the Fairies also!
Yes, I would use the Christmas theme for the book box. Will need to add a piece of cheese.
Cute 🙂
Hickory dickory dock would be the theme I would try!
I don’t know exactly what I would do but it would probably be Christmas themed since I’m feeling in a festive mood!
So Adorable! I also would like to make a Christmas scene!
Very cute! I would do something with cats and mice on the book box.
Something with “Three Blind Mice”.
Love the nutcracker mini theatre especially the manger scene on the mantel. I am not into Christmas but I would love to win this giveaway & make a apothecary type room out of the hidden drawer book. >^..^<
I love cats! a beautiful serene scene with the fireplace and the cat sitting peacefully, keeping warm on a little rug!!!
Adorable, I took my brownie group to see the Nutcraker play, what a tribute to the story.I would love to win this
This is calling me!! My daughter danced twice in the nutcracker once as an Angel and once as one of the fighting mice! I still remember all the rehearsals and fun. I love the dogs and cats. Sadly we had to put our 15 year old dog to sleep on Monday. He was such a sweet boy.
I do believe I would stick with the not a creature was stirring theme…and use a nice size clock face as well…
I would do a scene from the book like chrildren all nestled all snug in their beds or Santa leaving the roof top.
I love this I would do a scene in a diorama since I make many collages I love the items in this kit
I would take the current theme to a much darker place. A sort of Grimm meets Nightmare Before Christmas.
I love the night before Christmas I read the story every Christmas Eve, I read it to my 3 children and I now read it to all 5 of my grandchildren. We love the tradition, I would love to be able to make it , and I know my family would love it as I read the story. Thanks for always sharing your beautiful art and for such generous give a ways.
I love the this box! I would love to do something with Grinch theme ! thanks
A Christmas theme is tempting, but I would need to put on my creative thinking cap and consider all possibilities.
I would like to do either a parlor or a bedroom scene with all the children snug in their beds.
Stunning Christmas room, and I also love seeing the new mini critters.
I love the Nutcracker. I would love to do a similar scene. Thank you and Merry Christmas! <3
PLEASE please please I love this one! I want to make one like it. That lounging cat is fantastic
What a cute theme! I adore that Christmas mouse. I would definitely use the Night Before Christmas to make my own beautiful book. Please add a couple of Maltese dogs to the miniatures line, a long hair and a short puppy cut style. LOL, we will all want a mini of our furbabies.
I don’t usually just “steal” someone else’s ideas, but I adore Teri’s inspiration and would probably stay close to her design. Too cute!
What a beautiful Christmas scene! I love it just the way it is and would be delighted to get my hands on this kit!
The Christmas room, the mice, the nutcrackers, everything sets my heart to wishing for Santa as I did as a child. I am so inspired as always with this blog.
Oh I forgot to say what I would do with the this theme. I am so into mice these days, I would make a christmas advent mouse house for next year.
Victorian Christmas theme, all the way!
Love the book box! I am sure I would use it to make a Christmas themed animal scene!!
I loved the hidden drawer box. I would make it into an altered art christmas scene.
French Christmas themed parlor. My grand daughter is in to all things French, so I would create the book box scene for her room…maybe adding miniature furniture with magnetic attachments. Alpha Stamps carries the cutest miniature furniture!
I don’t know what I would make with it.So many options! Great giveaway.
Oh, the chandelier is wonderful!
I’d order the bay windows and build a toy store like Laura Carson’s!!
I would do a Marie Antoinette Christmas theme complete with loads of miniature pastries and holiday goodies! Thank you for the opportunity to win!
I would love to do a christmas scene! And I am wondering where that tiny nativity came from.
I love the idea of keeping it as a box, decorate with vintage santas and encourage letter writing to Santa with the Christmas list of little people
I’d make the Nutcracker theme for my granddaughters.
Congratulations to all the winners! Since I ordered the book box and collage sheets to make my own “Night before Christmas”, I would make one for my sister if I won this giveaway. Beautiful artwork, Tristan and Teri!
I’d love to change this into the Nightmare Before Christmas and it wouldn’t take much effort with all the lovely supplies. I love the movie and this is a great start on that idea
I’ve never tried this before, but I think it would be fun to stick with the Christmas theme and I have a vision of little mice in red and white striped pj’s all tucked into bed with visions of sugarplums in their heads. Love mice and Christmas, so would be a great first project. Glad I found your website. What amazing inspiration, this is new to me and I really love it!
I’m ready for Easter
loving the mice……I would do something in the book box with mice…..love the little white ones too…..loving me some mice…..
I almost missed this one! Although I love Christmas most I would have to do something with those mice.It ay still be a Christmas box but Cinderella is very tempting! Great give-a-way thanks for giving us a chance to win this 🙂
I’d make a library in it!
I see that many of these mice are appropriately dressed for Christmas with little suits and tiny fedoras. Even the other mice look like something magical would happen if they twitched their noses. This Night before Christmas book box is a wonderful idea!
Love the book box! Would make a cute little fairy Christmas scene. Or, the mouse and beagle in a scene watching Santa sneak in and work.
Great artwork! Would make the night AFTER Christmas!