Christmas Craft Contest Sign

Nothing gets my creative juices going like a craft contest. This week's contest at Poppies at Play  is for signs or wreaths.

A few years ago I started having friends over for a little post Christmas celebration. I made a big pot of  wassail. It made our little apartment smell so good and inviting. Back in NJ wassail was a staple at the annual Christmas party, but none of my CA friends had ever heard of it. Everyone loved it. Our friend Chad declared the wassail to be "Christmas in a cup!" The name has stuck and now I get requests for "Christmas in a cup."

This sign kind of evolved as I went along. I had many larger designs, but when I unpacked a box of crafty bits and bobs and found this $ store plaque, I knew small and sweet was the way to go. I printed out the text and the cup image  (from a Google search) and simply transferred it to the wooden oval by tracing hard on the paper with a ball point pen. Then I painted in the indented letters and design with a teeny tiny brush and my Americana Craft Paints.

I used some crackle finish and some Antiquing Medium.

I toyed with a variety of ribbon hangers or wooden stands, but ended up taping a magnet to the back and calling it "good." Love that Gorilla Tape!

 It definitely looks homemade. (Alas, I didn't win a Silhouette Machine.) 

Still, I love it. It reminds me of good times with good friends. I can hardly wait for my friends to come over and see it.

In the meantime, my new sign can hang out on the fridge.
Be sure to head over to Poppies at Play to see all the other wreaths and signs. Happy Friday!