Here are the things I've done to avoid writing this post today.
1. Rearranged all the accessories in my living room.
2. Cleaned out the kitty litter box.
3. Checked the chickens to see how far along in their moulting they were.
4. Painted my nails.
5. Went for a 2 k.m. walk on the coldest day of the season so far.
6. Winked at myself in the mirror for a period of 15 minutes.
7. Sanded my heels with the Emjoi.
8. Chopped some firewood.
9. Watched Dr. Oz. (clearly I'm in deep trouble because by the sounds of it every single thing I eat will soon kill me. Even rice.)
10. Rearranged all the accessories in my living room. Again.
Now, it's not that I didn't want to write this post because I'm not happy with it. On the contrary. I didn't want to write this post because I'm SO happy with it. I pretty much just want to forget the words and get on with the pictures.
So let's put me out of my misery and just do that shall we?
I've done every kind of bow that can be accomplished by someone with opposable thumbs and a fairly flexible foot. I've done standard bows, paper bows, light up bows, neck tie bows. I've done them all and I've loved them all, but this year I didn't want to just do bows.
Enough with the bows.
Bring on the Diorama present toppers.
I have no clue how this idea came to me but it did and I'm thankful because it's the best thing anyone has ever done. Ever. In the entire world. Me. I did it.
And now you can do it too.
I had the idea to create a scene on top of a present instead of a bow because I plain old thought it would look great and would be REALLY fun to do. It does and it is.
You know how people get a runner's high? I got a crafting high after creating this.
It took a while to figure out exactly how to do this so that it looked elegant and not "KrAFtsY!". You know. The dreaded crafting with a "k". Krafting. Uch.
Rule #1. Don't use store bought miniatures props (trees excluded). And DEFINITELY don't use store bought figurines (people). The scene will be more realistic and more "humanized" as my friend Jamieson calls it, when you don't actually see people at all. You just need evidence of people. Like these ski poles leaning against a snow covered tree. Or the skis in the photo above.
Footprints through the snow help you create a scene. I made the footprints by making a stamp out of a potato.
Wanna go with a little more kitsch? You can do that too.
Want a great tip for wrapping paper? Go to your local kids toy store or craft store and buy a roll of artist paper. I've spent the past billion years looking for plain white wrapping paper. It's not easy to find. It always has slight stripes, or a tone on tone pattern or whatever. A roll of white artists paper, the kind that goes on a rod on top of an easel is pure white, heavy, opaque and when you tape it … it stays TAPED! And the best part? It's $8 for a 75 foot roll. That's a lotta wrapping.
For me, half the fun of getting a present is the wrapping. Ditto for giving a present. It isn't ALL about what's inside the box. It's about how it's presented too.
Once I've done my Christmas decorating and present wrapping you'll see all of the diorama present toppers in their spectacular glory. Until then, these two should give you some inspiration to you know … think outside the box.
Linda J Howes
My sister always way outdid on the present wrapping and the best part was that we had to give it back to her so she could re-use it. Even if we wanted to keep it and re-use it ourselves, or just keep it because it was so nice, we couldn't. All bows, paper, boxes, whatever, we had to give back. Isn't the wrapping part of the gift??? And shouldn't one be allowed the joyousness of tearing the gift open if they so choose???
Maria
It's very pretty.
The truth is that when you give the person the present all that pretty is going to get ripped off and thrown away as they dig in for the creamy Christmas present center. Or stick the present under the tree and all of it will fall off. Or the cat will eat it and either hork it back up or have to be rushed to the vet.
That being said. These would be lovely as part of the decorations. And you've done a really good job. And it's a very unique idea. Well done.
Karen
I can assure you no one in my family would rip this apart and throw it away, lol. ~ karen
Maria
Americans are obviously not as suave and debonair as Canadians. It wouldn't last five minutes in my family.
Karen
Ha! No, your family just isn't as frightened of you as mine are of me. ~ karen
Karen
Oh! And as far as ripping it apart goes, that doesn't bother me. Rip away. ~ karen
Su
The red car with the tree and the ski poles and the footprints!! I bow to your cute creativeness....
Louise
". . . it’s the best thing anyone has ever done. Ever. In the entire world."
It absolutely is! I love these. You're a genius!
Janet
The footprints, skis and poles are pure genius!
Susan Gentry
Love it!!!!!!!!! Silly question I am sure all your readers already know, but...where do you get the white trees? I know where to get the twigs!
Louise
Susan, you can get them at any craft store, like Michael's or Jo-Ann's.
Kim C.
WOW! I'm pulling my eyeballs back in to think of the right adjectives to tap out here. Incredible!!!
Brilliant! LOVE the footprints, they speak volumes and really do make the scene. I can make up my own little winter's tale to go along with your beautiful work. :-)
I can't wait to try this. I'm just a wee bit sad that most of my gifts have to be mailed. At least we'll have a few around our own tree!
Also, thanks for the tip on the white craft paper.
Feral Turtle
This is so cute. I love the skis and the footprints are the icing on the cake!
Tracey
Oh wowzers...that is really amazing Karen, just beautiful!
What an imagination you have! This may come easy to you, but I'd have to see the rest of them because otherwise I would just Copy these two.
I'd hate to have them destroyed when the present is unwrapped. I think that would make a fabulous Christmas "Village" scene as well. Instead of the usual kind with all the usual Christmas colours and the tacky looking teeny tiny Victorian plastic people. (No offence to those that like those Victorian village getups) I just like the monochromatic look....and no visible people. Yes, that's what I'll do this year...I always wanted to do a village.
Stephbo
"I got a crafting high after creating this."
Sweetie, it's the glue. Put it down.
Jamieson
LOL
barbee
Footprints!
sandra
Fabulous. No need to put a gift inside. No one will want to destroy the wrapping. Such a fun and clever idea.
Mindy
Pretty damn cute. I'm diggin' the snowman and the footprints. I bought a crap ton of those trees this year and can't wait to use them. I did the toy cars with a mini tree on top for my diy ornament gifts this year. I love them.
Laura
Brilliant! You topped even your pumpkin diorama!!!!
calliek
There are days when I look around at all the things I've amused myself doing and thought " woman, you have waay to much time on your hands, who thinks of this stuff? " And then I read your blog and realize I am an amateur.
Debbie from Illinois
Lol!!!
Su
LOL!!
Tina Chopee
You are So hilarious!!! Hahahahaha This is ingenious! The next step in the evolution of Christmas Congratulation!
Chris
Awesome and freaky, but that makes it more awesome. Thanks for the tip on the wrap! Think outside the box just topped off your post nicely lol.
Karen
Thanks Chris. I was pretty impressed with myself for that one too, lol. ~ karen!
Jody
I am so impressed! Are these decoy gifts or will people have to destroy these works of art to get to the present? If I am ever ambitious enough to do this maybe I will use a box with a removable top. Beautiful! Bravo!
Karen
They're ridiculously easy to make Jody. And FUN. I normally like wrapping presents, but get bored with it. I could do hundreds of these and not get bored. These are indeed decoy gifts, lol. But I'm going to unwrap them carefully and put actual presents in there, then wrap them back up again. They are SO much fun to do! ~ karen
Jody
From a different Jody....I'm going to do this for a gift for my niece. She'll be home from NZ so I'll do a Christmas beach scene. Or a plane flying scene. Or..my head hurts with so many ideas.
Laura Bee
Holy moley! Freaking spectacular.
I used to do a lot with pine cones & hot glue. These are right up my alley.
The little red car was me tonight..out getting greenery. Snip snip. Ask Lynne Knowlton about that!
But I picked a bad spot to turn around and ended up stuck in the mud at the edge of a cornfield. Walked to the nearest house and Scott helped me get it out. Forward..back...forward...back...forward!! I will be dropping of a box of cookies & fudge to him & his wife - who said "You'd better take my Jeep."Although we didn't need it.
I did not cry. I am very proud of that fact. I have come a long way with controlling my emotions.
Back to the subject - hubby does miniature wargaming models, I'll just have to "borrow" his scenery snow.
Oh-and I got the lights up! :)
Karen
Borrow all that he has! It's so much fun! (not as fun as getting stuck in mud but … ) ~ karen!
Laura Bee
Just figured out what I will do ~ rabbit footprints & poop! hahahaha! For my brother-in-law. Hubby's family will love this.
If anyone can't find them or has the inclination to take it one step further: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/220535712978492615/
Karen
I remember seeing those DIY bottle brush trees a year or two ago. They're beautiful! ~ karen
Lynn
I love it
Karen
Thanks Lynn! The truth is this was going to be my first real video workshop for everyone. Bows and Dioramas. But the materials sponsor fell through at the LAST minute. As in the day before they were supposed to ship the materials out. And I was SO excited to do the workshop. :( ~ karen!
magali
That is so sad :(
Jody
What?????!!!!!! This is what we were going to do for the video workshop? Does the sponsor know how disappointed so very many people are going to be now?