Okay. You know how at around October and November every year I start promoting my Heritage Crafts How-To videos to make those fabulous heritage gifts for your loved ones?

And you know how you always wait until about December 12th to break down and actually make one of my heritage crafts?

And you know how when you go to Michael's or Hobby Lobby looking for those glass ornaments to make the fabulous Heritage Ornaments?

And you know how since you procrastinated the clerk at the craft stores says, um, duh, those went, like, hot cakes before, like, Thanksgiving?

And then you know how you trudge over to Home Depot's or Lowes' tile department trying to decide on tile in order to make the fabulous Heritage Coasters instead of the fabulous Heritage Ornaments?

Well, I was just at Hobby Lobby this evening and I saw this display:

I don't think I've seen a prettier sight, really. A whole display of glass ornaments just waiting for you to turn them into fabulous Heritage Ornaments. What are you waiting for? December 12th? 

You're welcome.

Happy Heritage Ornament Making!
~Caroline

Following are the instructions for the Heritage Shadow Box Craft that was presented in the Heritage Craft Video Series. It can be printed out or saved as a PDF document.

Supplies

• Unfinished shadow box from a craft store [Mine is from Michaels.]
• Old frame the size of the photo
• A plastic coin collector case
  
• A copy of the photo of an ancestor
• Heirloom
• Mod Podge and Craft Glue
• Black Craft Paint
• Finishing Wax Paste
• Cheese Cloth
• Painter's Tape
• Wood Stain Marker in a light stain shade
• Course sand paper
• Paint brushes
• Heavy Duty Hairspray
  
• Paper to cover your work surface

Instructions

• Affix painter's tape to the glass near the edge of the wood on both the outside and inside of the box.
• Sand the edges heavily to give the shadow box a distressed look.
• Once done with sanding, dust box off with a piece of the cheese cloth.
• Sand the old frame as well.
• Paint the shadow box and the old frame all over with black craft paint.
• After the paint dries, sand the edges again, especially in the areas where you distressed it the first time.
• Paint a 2nd coat of black paint on the shadow box only. [One coat of paint and sanding for the frame.]
• After the paint dries, sand the distressed areas again once again.
• Taking the light shade of stain marker, go over the exposed wood areas to 'age' the new wood.
• With a piece of cheese cloth, rub the stain dry.
• Take another piece of cheese cloth and get a 'glob' or a bit of the finishing wax paste out of the can.
• Apply a thin coat of the wax to the shadow box and old frame.
• After 15 minutes the wax should be set. Use a clean piece of cheese cloth to buff the wax into the wood making it shine.
• If you are using a printout of a photo like I am, you'll need to seal the ink by spraying it with heavy duty hair spray.
• After 15 minutes, it should be dry.
  
• Because my heirloom is a medal, I purchased a dollar-sized coin collector case. To make the medal fit into the foam insert, I cut a small notch out of the foam at the top.
• Brush Mod Podge on the back of the the copy of your ancestor's photo and affix to the inside of the shadow box. Then apply more Mod Podge to the inside of the back of the shadow box covering the photo and the back.
• Apply craft glue to the back of the old frame and place it on top of the photo.
• Apply craft glue to the back of the plastic coin collector case and affix to the design.
• Let everything dry thoroughly.
  

Done! If you'd like to see the photos of each step, please head on over to my YouTube Channel to see the corresponding Heritage Craft Video: Big Paw Paw's Shadow Box.

~Caroline

The long-awaited Heritage Craft Series Video: Big Paw Paw's World War I Shadow Box is finally here! It's been a while, but it takes quite a bit of time and steps to make these heritage craft videos. But? They are SO worth it!

The subject of this video is my paternal grandfather, Big Paw Paw, who I never met in person, but I probably know him better than a lot of people who actually did know him in person. He's one of my favorite to research because he was so naughty, and because of his naughtiness he left a helluva paper trail wherever he went. While I've written a lot about him on my family history blog, Family Stories, I'm still not done with researching all of his many secrets. From what I've heard about him from those who did know him, I'm pretty sure he'd appreciate my tenacity. However, I don't think he'd be too happy to find that his secrets and story are what I've chosen to pursue. =)

If unable to watch the video here, click the link below to watch it on YouTube:
http://youtu.be/O7hzxK93YXA

~Caroline

Here's another heritage gift idea for the holidays. It's easy & inexpensive to make. And the results were fantastic, I think. Some of them kinda look like painted portraits. This one is gonna be hard for me to give away. Seriously.

~Caroline

Help me! I'm stuck in craft world, and I'm totally blaming it all on Pinterest.com. It's like crack. I'm totally addicted. But? My addiction has led me to this next heritage project video. The project is:

[drumroll please]

Heritage Ornaments! These were fun, and the results were out of this world. At least, I think so. So here's the how-to:

And? Downloadable PDF instructions for all the video crafts will be coming soon for your convenience. [Cuz who needs sleep? I certainly don't. *snort*]

~Caroline

Here's another heritage craft project idea:

The pics were done using my iPhone and for whatever reason they didn't come out very well. Oh well. I used Photoshop Elements 7 and Adobe Premiere Elements 7 to make the slideshow. And the Caribbean music has nothing to do with the project. It's just that I'd like to be in the Caribbean right now on my own island listening to this music. *snort*

~Caroline

Here's another simple gift idea using the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner ~ A 3-generation photo transfer of my grandmother, my great-grandmother, and my 2nd great-grandmother. Turned out well, I think. The photos were taken with my iPhone, but this time I used Photoshop Premier to put the slideshow together and to add my voice-over instructions. I wanted to see how different it was from using the iMovie app on the iPhone. The Photoshop Premier software definitely had more customization features.

Also, Flip-Pal has a Black Friday sale going on! The following offers are good from November 24 to December 1, 2011. Use this link or click on one of the Flip-Pal ads on my site and enter the appropriate code of choice at checkout in the Flip-Pal shop.

For:
$15 off the regular price of a Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner
$20 off the regular price of a Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner
Creative Suite-with Craft Edition DVD
Use:
Coupon Code: 15BF2011


For:
$25 off the regular price of a Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner when you also
purchase a Deluxe Carry Case
Use:
Coupon Code: 25BF2011


For:
$30 off the regular price of a Flip-Pal™ mobile scanner Creative
Suite-with Craft Edition DVD when you also purchase a Deluxe Carry Case
Use:
Coupon Code: 30BF2011

Happy Shopping & Happy Scanning!
~Caroline

Note: I am an affiliate for both Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner as well as Adobe Systems. This means that  if you click on an ad or link on my site for one of these companies and you purchase something from them, I receive a referral commission. For more information concerning these and other disclosures, please visit my Disclosure Page.

So here's the first video in the series. It's not perfect, but what did you expect. This was all done by me and my iPhone 4. That's right. No production company. No makeup or hair stylists. And the only diva around here is my Pug, Millie, who, if you'll notice, is not in the video. I don't even have a personal assistant.

Anywho, I hope you like it. Oh, and it's not in HD. Was taking too long to upload. So there ya go...

Don't have a Flip-Pal? There's no better time to get one than now. Here is a $10 coupon code that is good until November 13, 2011 or until supplies last: BDAY11A.

All you have to do is click the Flip-Pal graphic above or the one to the right in the sidebar and enter the coupon code at checkout. It's that simple. Then you can follow along with the rest of my video tutorials and we'll make simple heritage holiday gifts together that your family will absolutely adore.

~Caroline

Note: I am an affiliate of Flip-Pal. This means when you click on a graphic or link on my site for Flip-Pal and if you purchase from them, I will receive a commission for referring you to them. Also, I received a free Flip-Pal in order to participate in the review and the use of the Flip-Pal for the Simple Gifts Blog Hop. All opinions are my own. Please refer to my Disclosure Page for more information.