Hello Autumn !

 Happy Autumn my friends !   Yes, it's been a long time since I've posted here.  I think I'll just post when I think I have  a REALLY good share for you . AND, Today, I DO !  

I am so happy today.  Autumn is my absolute favorite time of the year and I'm getting so excited.  Although our weather here in Kentucky is still hot and humid, I do know that those cool , crisp Autumn days are getting closer.    I woke up inspired this morning and wanted to do a quick project that I've been wanting to do for awhile .   Paper Leaves ! 

This is a  fun and easy project.  These leaves  are so sweet and can be used in so many different ways.   Take a look at the following pics,  and then you'll see the template to make your own lovely paper leaves. 

All you need to do is print yourself some pages of lovely script paper. Grab some wire, matte gel medium ( Or Mod Podge) and scissors of course. 

  I printed mine on regular copy paper. There are lots of possibilities.  You can keep them really simple without the wire, or to add a little more character to them, add wire.  To make leaves just like mine, You need to print one page with the  leaf templates and one with script, without the leaves.  ( see below )  

You can copy and paste or drag these printables to your desktop. 

I got the basic leaf template from the kind ladies at  A Beautiful Mess 

Once you have them printed out, DON'T cut the exact shapes ( see below), just cut around them, because you want to add the wire in first.   Lay down one layer, brush on your matte medium gel, lay down your wire piece cut to size, centered on the leaf , then lay the other layer on top.  Press down firmly. Set aside to dry. 

Once dry, you can age them.  I aged mine with coffee and set them out in the sun for a bit. 

Make garlands, put them in a wreath,  scatter them around as you wish !   Create and have fun ! 

Feel FREE to save and print this wonderful quote as well ! 

I hope you all are having good days, stay healthy and be happy ! 

Thank you for visiting ! 

Dru Ann

Painting Santa Faces

I am so sorry it has taken me so long to get this posted for you . 

SO many distractions these days. 

Today, I am showing you how I paint my clay and chalkware faces.  As you have probably seen my last post on how to actually sculpt the clay faces. 

This is simple and basic, and quite honestly, I'm a little embarrassed, because, I don't feel that I do that good of a job. But, the end result looks pretty good, and they have been well received over the years.  

Start by base coating the face with flesh tone paint. Using about a 1'' paintbrush.  My preference is Ceramcoat AC Flesh Paint.  It's just a nice and light shade and not too pink.  You can find it at Hobby Lobby.

Here are all the colors needed,  They do not have to be these brands. 

Flesh, Off white , blue, black and brown for the eyes and a dark red for the cheeks. 

Any brand of dark antiquing wax looks good for the finish coat. 

You need a teeny tiny paint brush for the eye details. And, I"m sorry, I don't know why the sharpie marker is there. Ha ! 

After your flesh paint has dried, Paint the whites of the eyes.  Simply paint a little eye shape.  Heaven knows I have never perfected this.  

After the white has dried, paint the  blue iris.  Just circles in the middle of the white.

While the blue is drying, you can sponge on the red cheeks....

Simply use a piece of a sponge or cotton ball,  dab in a little dark red paint,  blot on paper a few times and then gently blot onto the cheeks. You might want to dab a little on the mouth too.   Not too much, but enough to show up under the brown antique wax. 

You don't need to do the pupil or outline of the eye until the entire face is antiqued. If you do, those tiny details may bet wiped away.

So, once the paint you have so far on the face is completely dry,  Wet your paintbrush with water ( about 1'' brush ) , and then dip the brush in the antique wax.  Coat the entire face with it, and then wipe off fairly quickly with a rag. Let Dry.

Once the antiquing wax is dry,  paint in some little black circles in the middle of the blue iris. 

Let Dry . 

Then, outline along the border of the eye, ever so faintly with brown paint.  More on the top than on the bottom.  You don't want it to look like eyeliner, but, just add a little definition. 

Perfectly imperfect ! 

Very last touch .... Add a little twinkle in his eyes by dotting a teeny white  speck to one side of the pupil .

All finished !  Now it is ready to attach to the body and add the beard ! 

Thank you all so much for all of your support !  

Have you gotten your Cinnamon Creek Santa Pattern yet ?  Have you started on it, or maybe even finished ?   I truly hope you are enjoying this Christmas season and having fun creating ! 

I think I am done offering Christmas patterns for the year. New things for the new year are dancing in my head !  I will be offering some finished goods ( Santas :)  in my Fine Farmhouse Etsy Shop sometime over this weekend.  So, keep your eye out. 

Happy Weekend ! 

Dru Ann

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CinnamonCreekFolkArt 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/aFineFarmhouse

Sock Head Santa

Today I am showing you how I make those sock heads on "Old Tattered Santa" and "Good Night Santa"

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You should use a cotton or cotton blend sock with a tight weave.  A ladies sock is best.   Cut it  in half, or, at the heal as shown.

Stuff fairly firmly with fiberfill.  I always use "Morning Glory" fiberfill. It stays where you put it and doesn't shift like that other slick brand.   It takes a couple of big handfuls for this head.  Shape it as you go and then tie off at the end with jute or any twine. 

With a long darning or embroidery needle and full strand of embroidery floss ( cream or light tan ), you will begin the nose.   Use the picture of a guide how to start towards the top , about a 1/2'' across, gathering some of that stuffing underneath. Pull that needle and thread through tightly.  Once you get your first stitch through, Run it back through, and back and forth, pulling tight. You may want to hold it with your fingers as you go along.

Keep doing that until the nose is about 1 1/4'' long.

At the bottom of the nose,hold your thread as shown, giving it a slight curve.  Pull your needle through , and pull up....

I honestly am having a hard time describing how to do this.  I  know a video may be best, but, not possible at this time.
Once you have the stitch in as in above picture, run your needle up to the forehead area as shown, pull tightly to give the bottom of the nose a somewhat rounded end.

Now you will begin indentions for the eyes and giving it somewhat of a forehead.....

Run your needle back and forth from that eye area ( see where I started... a tad bit away from the nose at the top)   Run that needle up , always through an amount of the stuffing underneath to give it some depth.   You are ending your needle up at the top of the head.  That will be covered up, so no need to worry about what it looks like up there. ..... 

Keep going until you get the look going on here in these pictures.    I really hope I''m helping... It may just take a little practice for you to get the feel of it.  Once you play with it a bit, I know you'll get it ! 

When you are all done running those stitches through on both sides.  End up at the top of the head and sew a tight knot to secure.

Look ... It is not perfect, and looks really silly at this point...but, trust me... It will be great when that beard gets on ! 

Now give him a little mouth, using the same method.  It doesn't need to look like much,  You just want  the hint of  a mouth once the mustache and beard goes on.

Now, it's time to paint the head.   My all time favorite paint for Santa Faces is this Ceramcoat AC Flesh.

Just apply a nice even coat of paint all over face and even the back of the head/neck area.

Once your flesh color is dry, paint eyes on as shown.  I'm sorry these next few pictures are a little out of order.  I'm still learning how to set this up.  See below for paint color. You should use a soft white shade of craft paint.  

Simply use a tiny liner brush and paint an shape of an eyeball . As you see, I cannot do perfect shapes.  It is impossible for me.  However,  these are primitive Santas.  Have fun , and do the best you can and it will be wonderful !   

I have had a few requests for a diagram for eyes and features.   I think these pictures will help.  I get the feeling that some of you are scared and uptight about doing faces.  You may want to practice and play a little with it all.  I want you to have fun with it !  

I like blue eyed Santas. You could do brown if you like.  With  a tiny brush,  paint the iris of the eye. Just little circles as shown. 

Outline the eyes with  brown paint.   I know...this really does not look that good, but, when you get the final aging coat on , it will all blend in ! 

Add black pupils with black paint or a sharpie marker as shown.  You may also wish to add a teensy white dot in each pupil to add a little gleam to his eye. 

For the cheeks... use a piece of foam or sponge, dab into a little  dark red paint. Dab on paper to  remove excess and then,  blush his cheeks and his lips. 

It looks so silly !   Dude looks like a lady at this point !   Smiles !
Let this all dry really well, and then we will age it !  

Okay... so now, you need to brush water or light coffee stain over the entire painted area.  While wet, brush on a light, dirty brown paint over it all.  Wipe any access off immediately.  You just want to tone that face down so it isn't so bright.  Remember , you can always refer to my tips and techniques page in my patterns for further aging ideas. 

Once the the head is dry and ready,  add your beard and mustache.   I prefer to stitch mine on, however, sometimes hot glue is best ( as much as I hate to use a glue gun )  it comes in handy for applying the eyebrows and getting that wool just where you need it. 

I truly hope that this has helped you.  I look at this picture and see that, as with all of my Santa faces.  It definitely is not perfect.   The eyes are not set just right, but, I can re-adjust that by shifting the nose.  I'm leaving it as it is on here for a few reasons....to show you that it's okay, and it will all work out in the end, you just need to re-adjust things as you go along.  PLUS,  I am simply not feeling well today and I'm doing the best I can.  I promised I'd get this to you guys ! 

I do look forward to fixing up the blog better and better and it will be fun to start doing weekly posts, more tutorials and fun things along the way. 

Thank you ALL so much for your support and enthusiasm for what I do !   

Happy Creating ! Have fun ! AND Be as original as you can.... You can always use these guidelines, but, I love seeing others do things their way and doing it better than Me ! 

Dru Ann

ps..... If you feel that I've left something out, and want more information, I'll do my best to help you. You can leave a comment to let me know.