Santa's "Sew" Patriotic - Guest Designer Project for Mixed Media Mojo

to all of my creatively sweet friends!

I am so honored to be a guest designer for Mixed Media Mojo this month.  But I will admit, I was a bit surprised when I received the

July challenge stats!  Here they are:  

Theme: Summer 

Twist: Santa

Oh dear.... SANTA in JULY????

And what does that mean?  I think I was supposed to put Santa at the beach on vacation!!  BUT... somehow my old fashioned brain just couldn't stir up enough mojo to design Santa a bathing suit!!!!

I can't wait to see what the marvelous Mixed Media Mojo Design Team does for this challenge - heheheeh - so fun!!! 

I asked hubby if there was summer at the north pole - just to confirm that my thoughts were right. He said that they probably say it's summer but it is always cold and snowy at the north pole.  

Just to confirm that... I looked it up and here is the scoop. 

The North Pole has seasonsJust like everywhere else on Earth, the temperature varies here depending on the time of year. The North Pole is warmest in July, if by warm you mean it's actually freezing — 32 degrees. If that gives you the shivers, brace yourself. Temperatures in February drop to a bone-chilling 31 degrees below zero.   From TODAY.COM.

Did you know that Santa always does his best to celebrate all the holidays of the world?  Oh yes, Santa and his helpers are always creating new things for all the world's holidays thus... they just finished a wonderful tribute to the 4th of July, Independence Day!  I had Rudolph text me a couple of pictures of exactly what Santa was up to and it seems that....

Santa is being "sew" patriotic at the North Pole....

Heheheh - yes... it's Santa's 12" by 12" solid wood home all decorated on the outside with the good old red, white and blue colors.  On the inside, Santa is busy sewing a huge American Flag and his elves are busy getting more decor and the fireworks ready!  

Rudolph told me that Santa sleigh is kept in the large dome on top of Santa's house and that it is their duty to keep it clean and decorated for the various holidays. They look like they are having fun deciding where to place those patriotic ribbons!

And if you look way far back inside Santa's house... you will see more elves busy working on Christmas lists and plotting Santa stops.  At the North Pole, every day they have the joy of working on bringing Christmas cheer to all the world. 

Now that you know what Santa's up to... let me tell you about Santa's house.  First... he had to have a woodsman build it... (a woodsman like my hubby!!!) who enjoys creating unique things.

Then he had to find someone to help Mrs. Claus decorate it inside and out.  He decided on a mixed media artist (someone like me!). 

Beginning with gesso and then adding distress paints - the task began!  Picket Fence, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, and Metallic Gold. 

Then came Wendy Vecchi Crackled Texture Paste thru a Balzer Designs Mini Circles Stencil. After that was dry, more gesso, more distress paint including barn door and some stenciling. On top of all of that went a ton of glass beads gel.

The decor was chosen from stash... some grunge board circles from Papermania and some chipboard from Kaisercraft.  All pieces were painted with the same colors of distressed paint.

The sides were done in Craft n Craftin red glitter cardstock. And after it was almost finished snow began to fall in the form of DecoArt Modeling Paste and Stampendous Shaved Ice which quickly covered the edges, windows and the roof. 

Mrs. Claus loves lace so there are pieces of lace added under the chip board and hanging in the windows too!

Frosty the Snowman stopped by decked out in his July 4th finery to see if he was going to get an invitation to the 4th bash.  Of course, he knew he was invited... he really just wanted a snack from Mrs. Claus since he knew she did her baking today!

Mrs. Claus asked her helper (me!) to help Santa create a flag for the front of their home.  I told Mrs. Claus that I had never learned to make good stars but she told me that Santa never did either!  With some help from Faber-Castell Pitt Pens, a toothpick, and some twine.... the flag flies.

I drew some little sketches (from the picture Rudolph sent me - of course) of Santa and his helpers working. The elves were pretty easy - much to my surprise - but Santa and his flag... now that's a horse of a different color.  And speaking of colors... Faber-Castell Pitt Pins again along with a Staedtler pigment liner as well as a bit of stickles here and there!

Inside Mrs. Claus decided to use a Gelli Print wall paper created by her helper Joi... in shimmering golden tones.  Big bummer that her helper forgot to snap a picture of the pretty design before adding some Inkadinkado Spiraling Inferno Stamping with Archival Ink Vermilion, Gesso, and a bit of Antique Linen Distress Stain. 

Now you know what is going on, in the summer, at the North Pole. Ho, Ho, Ho.... HAPPPPPPY 4th of JULY from the Claus Family!  And big hugs from their helper... j.

P.S. If you want to visit in the summer, don't forget your coat!!! 

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