"Snowy" Wrapping Paper

Yesterday was a slow, rainy day. Which meant it was the perfect day for some crafting! Since Christmas is right around the corner, I decided to make "snowy" looking wrapping paper. My art teacher showed me this idea from Pinterest. Belive it or not, I only used three materials: brown paper, white paint, and a branch from the spruce tree in my front yard. Yes, a spruce banch! I used the branch to brush the paint onto the paper. I ended up with blustery looking wrapping paper that I love very much.
 

 

 

My roll of brown paper. Soon to be transformed!

 

 

My fingers smelled good after I was done with my project. (:

 

Couldn't help but admire the beauty of this tiny branch!

 

 

Dipping

 

Covered in white! It almost looks like snow, doesn't it?

 

Finished!

 

The snowflakes are swirling! It looks like

an artsy snowstorm has arrived.

 

I am delighted with how my wrapping paper turned out. I can't wait to use it for presents and envelopes for letters! I will most definitely make this wrapping paper in the future as well (: It was a ton of fun to make, and not to mention easy!

 



 

 ~Emily

Littlest Angel 2013

Music, lights, glitter, snow, magic, Christmas spirit, and dance all combined together December 6th and 7th to create three wonderful performances of The Littlest Angel, my dance studio's annual Christmas production.

The event was held at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, which was absolutely breathtaking. I could not peel my eyes from all of the details of the building, inside and out. The cathedral was built in 1929, and still contains the majority of its original features from that time. I was in pure heaven; everywhere I glanced, I saw something old, vintage, and full of historical secrets. As I took in the beauty of it all, I couldn't help but wonder about the cathedral's exquisite past life. Who performed on this very stage? Who occupied my dressing room years ago? The longer I took all the sights in, the more I could picture the world of 1929 and the Scottish Rite Cathedral.

My favorite space in the cathedral is the theater. Velvet red seats are endless, the gold ceilings extend upwards forever, and a sparkly chandelier hangs above it all. Statues and intricate decorations appear on the walls and around the stage. When in the theater, one cannot help but feel a little giddy inside for what is to come.

It was pure joy to be up on that stage, dancing my heart away.

The outside of the cathedral reminded me so much of a castle

fit for Disney (:

 

 

 

The lobby downstairs. A beautiful Christmas tree is in the center

of it all.

 

Good morning, Scottish Rite!

 

Dressing room number 10!

 

 

 

My dressing room mates.

Charlie Chapman- "The Kid"

Some of the dressing rooms had old movie posters

on the walls, which made me smile.  

My fellow dancers and I exchanged little Angel gifts.

Bears and chocolates waiting for their recipients!

 

This year, I made hot chocolate ornaments for my friends.

Ornaments they can actually use and then decorate themselves if they so desire!

Hopefully they all enjoyed the hot chocolate mix, which consisted of:

hot chocolate powder, marshmallow bits, mini chocolate chips, and holiday sprinkles.

 

Stained-glass from afar.

Under the stage lights. Couldn't help but glance up.

 

The chandelier in the theater.

 

Another Christmas tree, this time upstairs, near our dressing rooms.

A peek through the staircase.

The hallway that led to backstage. The lighting was lovely in the morning!

 

 

 

"Playful Friends"

"Earth- Home"

"Heaven"

(my favorite costume by far. The sleeves were so much fun to wear and dance in!)

Flowers after I was finished dancing.

Took this picture for my dear friend Maddy, who loves flowers very much.

I will be keeping these roses alive by pressing their petals, of course!

 

 

I couldn't have been happier with this year's turn out of The Littlest Angel. I am truly blessed to have such great instructors and friends. I am already anticipating next year!

 

~Emily 

 

Who Spilled the Coffee?

I did! A few weeks ago, my dear friend Mackenzie gave me a brilliant art idea: spilled coffee designs on paper! I was interested immediately and set to work.

First, I took a mug of pre-made black coffee, gathered a stack of paper, and went outside to complete the project. The paper I used was a variety of sorts: toothed paper, sketch book paper, even pages from old novels! I began by spilling little splotches of coffee here and there on a no-spill cutting board. Then I took a piece of paper and lightly dropped it on the board, without pressing down. For some of my pieces, I let the coffee drip down the page. Another method I used consisted of taking a piece of paper and swiveling my mug around until it spilled messily on the page. In addition, I used the spillage on the page to create circles when pressing the base of the coffee mug on the paper. The goal here was "natural" spills and rings!

I left my designs outside to dry for close three hours. I found that for darker coffee stains, a great deal of coffee was needed, to the point where it pooled on the page. Darker designs took much longer to dry as well. The lighter designs reminded me of water colors (: 

I was quite pleased with my results! I can't thank Miss Mackenzie enough. It was such a creative idea! I will use my coffee-stained paper for writing favorite quotes and letters to pen pals. Another bonus of this art project: wonderfully smelling paper!

My mug of coffee prior to spilling.

 

 

Splatters- still wet!

 

 

Dried.

 

 

I loved using old book pages for this project!

 

 

One of my lighter works.

  

 

 

  

Mackenzie and I met up at Starbucks a few days after I tried out her unique idea. I got to show her my results! So glad that I always have people in my life to inspire me.

 

The next time coffee spills accidentally, I guarantee I won't be so angry!

 

~Emily