Your special day . . .

Good afternoon crafty friends!

I have been SO BUSY lately that I really haven't had much time to 'play' (working on a new project for my cave that I'll be sharing with you very soon!).  But today before time runs out, I wanted to play along in a few fun challenges.

First is the Stampendous! July blog challenge (nothing like waiting until the last minute, huh!)... where they are asking you to make a gift for a friend or loved one.  Well ... while I was doing some clean up I discovered the box of empty Cricut boxes I had received as an RAK some time ago and thought one would work perfectly as a little surprise for a tea loving friend of mine who has a birthday coming up.

  

 I've used the Stampendous! CRS2024 - Bubble Day Cling Set for my focus image.

Doesn't she look relaxed!!

This post is going to be short & sweet ... like I said ... time is running out!!  LOL!!

Here are a few additional challenges to share in:

Mod Squad Challenge - I've Got the Blues

CCEE Stampers - Song Inspired (Splish Splashin' Away)

Creative Knockouts - Happy Birthday

Milk Coffee Challenge - Two or more die cuts

Divas by Design - Anything Goes

Miriam's Crafting Blog Monthly Challenge - Containers

Thanks for stopping by!  

Hope you're having a fabulous week!

I'll be back soon ...

Till then ...

Recipe:
Repurposed item ... Cricut Box
Papers:  White cs, Black cs, Paper Pizazz 'water' dp
Stamps:  Stampendous!
Ink:  Versafine Onyx
Accessories:  Cheery Lynn Designs Swedish Spring Oval Frame (FRM135), Memory Box Big Splash Border (98438), Frantic Stamper Accent Labels (FRA-9040), Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers

Butterflies and Babies

Good Morning Friends!

I've been wanting to make an altered photo frame for a good friend who's expecting her first child and FINALLY finished it last evening. 

I've used Craft Secrets digital design papers for the base and the flowers.  However, I alter the color of two of the ones I chose so I could match the baby's room decor.  All product used will be listed at the end of my post.  Be sure to pop over to Crafty Vintage Girl shoppe and check out the fabulous baby items available as well as all the other themed goodies they have.

I swear sometimes my brain just DOES NOT WORK!!

I was so excited that the challenge over at the Shabby Tea Room this week is BABY SHOWER PARTY ... I thought, GREAT!  I can play the challenge and get this project completed for my friend all at the same time!  

Well DUH ... they do have this fabulous photo inspiration and the only thing my creation has in common with it is the fact that it's for a baby and it will be party of my shower gift!  

OH WELL I hope it still qualifies!

 Here are some closeups... (click on any of these images to enlarge).

All the flowers were homemade using the same Crafty Secrets digital design papers I used to cover the frame.

Crafty Secrets a sheet of adorable baby stickers called 'Little Girls' and since the new Mom is a cat lover I think she'll enjoy these sweet little kitty sticker images.  The pink rik-rak down the upper left side as well as the 'Little Girl' poem are also from this same sticker sheet.

The sweet image I've used in the center is from the Crafty Secrets Clear Art Stamps 'Baby Girl' medium stamp set.  I've used Spectrum Noir alcohol markers for the coloring.  This panel can be removed and a picture of their new little daughter can be in it's place.

Here are a few additional challenges I'd like to enter into:

 4 Crafty Chicks - Things with Wings 

Delightful Challenge - Add a Flourish

DL.ART Thankful Thursday - Vintage

MilkCoffee Challenge - Girly

The Crafter's Cafe - Vintage or Shabby Chic

Frilly and Funkie - Blooming Marvelous (homemade flowers)

Little Red Wagon - Anything But A Card/But with Paper

Crafty Your Passion - Girlie Girl
Altered Eclectics - Alter Something (wooden photo frame)

Well, there you have it!  

I hope you enjoyed my creation and found inspiration!

Take care and remember ... SPRING IS ON THE WAY!!

Recipe:

Papers:  Crafty Secrets digitals, white cs, McGill Flower Making Kit, Art Glitter Glue

Accessories:  Kaiser pearls, pop dots, Cheery Lynn Designs dies ... #B310 - Shasta Daisy, #B339 - Gardenia, #B178 Flourish leaf strip, #B117S Fanciful Flourish Sm, #B291 Fanciful Flourish Reverse, #B147 Olive Branches, #DL113 Exotic Butterfly Sm, #DL161 Small Lace Faerie Queen Butterfly,    Cottage Cutz #497 Christening Gown

Encouraging Words . . .

 Happy Sunday Morning Friends!

My dear sweet granddaughter has been going through a bit of a rough patch lately so I thought I'd create something that she can hang on her wall as a reminder of who she is and how much she is loved.

Here's the final product and I will share a short photo tutorial with you on how I altered this wooden frame/bird as well as make the multi-layer butterflies.  So please read on . . 

My wooden frame and bird came from Michael's in the $1 bin.

The design paper on the bird and right side of inner image are from the Paper Studio 'Kirby Teesdale Studio' paper pack.

My frame covering, flower and 3 layer butterflies are from one 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of design paper that I printed from the Digital Valentine Kit available at the Crafty Vintage Girl store of Crafty Secrets.

STEP 1:

Very easy ... simply trace and cut

STEP 2:

 I chose this adorable image from the Crafty Secrets digital

You were Born to Fly Fairies set.

Printed onto white card stock and colored with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.

(Mistake alert:  while coloring I accidentally colored her sleeve yellow instead of pink ... didn't realize it till I had it put together so modified her blouse sleeves to be orange/red ... that's what happens when you put pink over yellow ... LOL)

I adhered my image to the insert chipboard that came with the frame and since I've had this cute image sitting on my desk waiting to be used, it wasn't the right size so I added a piece of the same paper as the bird and pink grosgrain ribbon to adjoin them.

I also did a little fussy cutting of the LOVE YOU section of paper to adhere to the base of the frame.  I didn't want to loose the pretty scallop on the top section of the paper.

The back and sides of the frame were painted with Tim Holtz white Distress Crackle Paint for a more vintage look.  Once dry, I flipped it over and adhered my CS design paper to the front using Mod Podge and a sponge brush.

NOW COMES THE FUN PART

Creating the pretty butterflies!

 Still working from my original printed sheet of Crafty Secrets Valentine Kit design paper, I punched out six butterflies (3 for each butterfly).  I used my new EK Success punch but you can use what ever butterfly die cuts or punches you may have on hand.

Using my flower making foam pad and a stylus, I went around the edge of each wing to help 'condition' it (like you would when you're making a flower) and with light pressure drug my stylus down the center to make the wings pop up.

 Once they were conditioned, I used a small line of Art Glitter white glue to adhere/stack them together.  For sparkle I used Stickles 'Thistle' along the edges of the one and 'Diamond' along the other (see close up below).

 

Here are a couple closeups of some of the detail.

'Diamond' Stickles was also used on the wings, as well as a few 'fairy dust' dabs in the white space of the image.

 My flower was actually cut from the same paper but I got a little 'heavy handed' with the Dylusions 'postbox red' ink spray (new product for me) so I tried to alter the layout of the petal panels so some of the background paper showed through.

I hope you've enjoyed my little tutorial 

(sorry it was PHOTO HEAVY but I don't have the means for a video tutorial). 

All products used will be listed below, after my name.

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Mod Squad Challenge - What 'Wood' You Create

Digitally Sweet - Anything Goes (digital image & papers)

Fun With Shapes - Gift Package

Fussy and Fancy - Vintage

The ABC Challenge - D is for Dazzle

Emerald Faeries - Things with Wings

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes

Die Cut Divas - Make it Glitter

Feeling Crafty Challenge - Butterflies

Thanks so much for stopping by and for your encouragement!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Enjoy this LAST WEEK of January 2014~ times flyin'!

As always . . .

Recipe:
Papers:  Crafty Secrets Digital Vintage Kit, the Paper Studio
Accessories:  Michaels's wooden $1 frame, Michael's wooden $1 bird, Cheery Lynn Designs Fanciful Flourish Sm B117S die, EK Success butterfly punch, Cheery Lynn Designs Shasta Daisy flower die, Pink grosgrain ribbon, Stickles 'diamond' and 'thistle', stylus, foam forming mat, dylusions ink spray, Tim Holtz distress crackle paint, foam brush, Fiskars swivel craft knife, pop dots, white glue

Joan's Gardens Challenge

Sorry everyone ... I know this is my 2nd post today but I just couldn't help myself !!!

Check out the requirements for this week's challenge at Joan's Gardens . . .

• 3 flowers out of vellum (or you can use flowers you purchased)
• Colors - Golden Yellow and Violet
• Mesh or tulle 
• Stencil on paper  (if possible)
• You must use a product sold at Joan's Gardens

So, of course I just had to get busy and jump on this.  I spent most of my day toying around with flowers then had to decide what to do with them ... WELL ... I decided to alter an 8x10 canvas instead of making a card this time.  Here's what I came up with!  What do you think?

FROM THIS:

TO THIS:

 

I am so excited about the outcome of this project {doing the happy dance!}

Here's a quick run down on how I created this piece . . .

• Created my flowers using yellow and purple vellum, sparkly white tulle and Heartfelt Creations 'Sun Kissed Fleur' HCD734 die set.  Leaves are from the Heartfelt Creations Classic Leaf HCD736 die set onto a scrap of light green paper which was painted with Tim Holtz 'Peeled Paint' Distress Stain.
• Cut a piece of design paper 7 1/2" x 9 1/2" for my background.
• Sprayed  the top of my background paper with E6000 adhesive spray and attached pieces of scrap sparkly white tulle.
• Did some fussy cutting on my chosen focus design paper from the Kaiser Craft 'Sweet Nothings' 6 1/2" paper pack ... which was matted with a torn corner of design paper from the Prima 'Sweet Fairy' 6x6 paper pack.  The other 'Sweet Fairy' corner is in the upper left corner under the flowers.
• Using the same E6000 adhesive spray, I adhered my design paper corners.
• Next I placed a little JudiKins Mica Gloss 'Amethyst' Metallic Effects Ink onto my craft sheet, then crumpled up some small bubble wrap and 'sponged' here and there over the tulle as well as the design paper image.
• Now it was time to position and adhere my flowers/leaves and add my Impression Obsession stamp.

The sentiment reads:

Let your soul take wings ...

Resist the downward pull and sing ...

Amy Carmichael

Thought I'd share a close up of my flowers.  I am very pleased with how they came together too!  I actually die cut the tulle and vellum at the same time and layered the tulle in between some of the layers ... they are so soft looking IRL ...

click on image to enlarge

I just love getting involved in a challenge that really challenges me sometimes and today was that kind of day!  I get so busy with other things that I don't take time to really be 'creative' but today I think I was successful and actually quite pleased with myself!  LOL!!

Anyways ... thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll give Joan's challenge a try!

Now I'd like to share this creation with a few additional challenges:

Altered Eclectics - Alter Something

CardandScrap - Anything Goes

Ladybug Crafts - Something Floral

Crafting with Dragonflies - Alter Something

Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes

Digistamps4Joy - Make your own embellishments

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
The Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes + Twist=Mixed Media (must be a member)

Thanks again and as always . . .

ANYTHING GOES at the Sisterhood!

It's once again time for a fun challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters!  

Today we have one of your favorites . . . ANYTHING GOES!

I have been having so much fun lately playing with wooden frames, canvas, digital papers & ephemera from Crafty Secrets, that I decided to do another altered item for my DT sample today.  This time it's another $1 wooden 8x8 frame from Michaels.  

I just LOVE the transformation these cute little frames take on!

Here's the BEFORE:

AND HERE'S THE AFTER . . .

Isn't it amazing what we can do with paper & glue! 

You can click on the image to enlarge if you'd like a closer look at the details!

I am truly loving the new SEWING line at Crafty Secrets and with it being digital, I can resize to fit my needs without any difficulty at all! You can see all these new papers, ephemera, and more at the Crafty Vintage Girl store.  Do you remember the 'old type' sewing notions from your grandma's sewing box?  I still have a few of the old wooden spools of thread and of course everyone had a jar of buttons ... yep, got one of them too!  LOL!

  












Recipe for this project:
Digital:  Sewing Papers,  Creative Quote Signs, Epherema, Sewing Stamps, Paper Floral Tags,
Other:  Kaiser Pearls, Wright Lace, Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers, X-press foam tape, Momento Angel Pink Ink, Sponge dauber

I sure hope you'll come join in the fun at The Sisterhood of Crafters!  PLEASE ... come show us what you are working on ... I just love drawing inspiration from you all!  And, I certainly hope you draw inspiration from my work from time to time!

Other challenges:
Crafting by Design - Anything Goes
Crafting for all Seasons - No Stamps Allowed
Hambo Hoedown - Anything But A Card
Nutcrafters #41 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes
Stampotique Designers Challenges - At least 3 fussycut images (thread spools, flower, corset)
Shopping Our Stash Challenge - Dollar Bin Find
Tuesday Throwdown - Make Your Own Background
UnstampaBelles Challenge - Anything But A Card

Thanks for stopping by ... I'll be watching for YOUR creation!

As always . . .

What a FABULOUS DAY!!

Hello my friends and HAPPY FRIDAY!!

I'm back from my trip to Indiana ... all rested up and ready to get busy catching up on my DT work.  BUT, before I do, I wanted to share some photos with you.  It was so wonderful to see some of my friends from Michigan, Indiana & Illinois!  (warning:  photo heavy post)

Take note of what my 'friend' Diane (Nellie's Nest) decided to do for this photo (in the pink behind me).  YEP ... she gave me the ole 'rabbit ears' or as she said 'she was just giving the PEACE sign' ... LOL!  WHAT A FUN GROUP and thank goodness Joan's husband, Jon took TWO photos ... LOL!

Diane was telling me about these fabulous doll stamps by Julie Nutting (can now be purchased through Joan's Gardens) and I couldn't wait to see them and create something ... that is when the idea of doing an Altered Canvas came into  mind for our get together.  Some of the other ladies had never done a canvas before so it was AWESOME FUN and each one really shows the creators character.  Luckily I took a photo of each canvas since I found inspiration from each one ... want to see??

Here is Diane Hover's.

She was going to add a few more things once she got home.  You can see her finished canvas on her blog Nellie's Nest.   Thanks so much for this fabulously fun get together idea!

I love the colors Judy Studer (Back Porch Crafts by Judy) used on her canvas.  It is gorgeous!   Though difficult to see in the photo, the chandelier was actually die cut & popped up and the black & white flower was created by die cutting the Memory Box Quinn Flourish three times and conditioning it ... it is beautiful!

 Gretchen Wilson (Gretchen's Closet) will also be finishing her creation at home.  She plans on adding several of the Judy Nutting dolls to this canvas along with other embellishments.  I can't wait to see the finished product!!

 Joan used papers from the Graphic45 'Ladies Diary' to make this beautiful gift for a family member.  Isn't it just STUNNING!!!  What a work of art and a true treasure for the recipient.

 

Bette Henson has a great start to this canvas.  She too will be completing it at home.  LOVE the bird on a branch element and those clouds ... BEAUTIFUL!  Can't wait to see this finished project too!

And, last but not least, here is my finished canvas.  LOVE how these colors came together and this doll in her paper pieced dress was so much fun to work with!  I wish you all could see these in real life ... they are each amazing & beautiful!  Photos just don't do them justice!!

Here are a couple of closeups to show you some detail.  You can click on any of the photos for an even larger view.

For the flower I used the Spellbinder Anemone Flower Topper dies with the same design paper that's on the canvas.  The flourishes were created with the Cheery Lynn Designs B117S Fanciful Flourish Small and they were also cut from some of the scraps of the dp used on the canvas.  Teal Stickles added a little sparkle to my creation (thanks Diane) and the accent painting was done with both a foam brush and bubble wrap.   The words on my canvas are White Rub-Ons ... so quick & easy!

Thanks to all the ladies for sharing their papers, embellishments, ideas & friendship on this MEMORABLE get together!  I am truly blessed to call these ladies my friends.

A few other challenges:
Cheery Lynn Designs - Back to Nature (butterflies)
 Cute Card Thursday - Something Borrowed (stamps/papers/rub-ons)
Forever Friends April Challenge - Paper Piecing
Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes
Sarah Hurley Challenge - Projects with Character
Creative Moments - Things with Wings (butterflies)

NOW DON'T FORGET ... this did take place at Joan's Gardens so of course I had to SHOP!!!

I hadn't been out to Joan's since last fall so I've been saving up and waiting to have a HUGE SHOPPING SPREE ... and I did!  (ssshhh don't tell hubby ... LOL ... he already thinks I have more than enough stuff to play with!)  Want to see what I bought???

 Yep ... I 'bought the farm' on this trip!  LOL!  And CAN'T WAIT to start playing with all my new toys!  I tell you ... I was like a kid in a candy store!  I'm sure you understand completely!!!

NOW it's time to play work!  Joan has a new challenge posted that I want to join in on and as I said at the beginning of this long post ... I do have DT work to get caught up on!  So, enough jibber-jabber ... time to craft!  Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you have a fabulous weekend ahead!

As always . . .