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I Wonder As I Wander
I recently participated in Karla's Cottage Alice in Wonderland Tag Book swap. I had to make six tags with the theme and send them to Karla. She then made covers and put together mini tag books with a sampling of the tags.
Here are the tags that I made:
Here is the cover that Karla made. The little bottle says "Drink Me."
And, here are the other tags in my book.
From Andrea Villarreal:
Sadly, this artist did not sign their tag:
No matter what you make, even for yourself, you should always sign your work. You never know where it may end up. And, it will help you years from now when you can't remember when you made it, why you made it, or who the heck are those people? :)
Hippity Hoppity
With Easter approaching quickly, I wanted to make something to showcase this cute picture of my niece. I bought a big Easter egg hanger at Hobby Lobby, knowing I'd do something with it. I used this piece as the base for my project.
All of the new products are from the March Creative Treasures kit, which includes: Prima Grand Dame flower, Prima Say it in Pearls and Flowers, Jenni Bowlin polka dot labels, Jenni Bowlin "Lemonade" paper, and Thickers "Apartment" alphas. From my stash I added vintage lace, seam binding, tissue pattern ruffle, millinery flowers, Maya Road pearl stick pin, and Stickles on the alphas.
More Creative Treasures
The other day I shared a couple of layouts that I made with the Creative Treasures kit. Here is a card that I made with the scraps.
I used paper cut from the Prima patterned paper as the background. The image is from a sachet. I punched a scalloped circle from a Jenni Bowlin in the kit and made the paper roses from another Jenni Bowlin paper in the kit. The label sticker is also from Jenni Bowlin. I made the title with my Dymo label maker.
I have one more project to share from this kit tomorrow.
Easter Projects
Easter is coming so much quicker than I realized. Today is my monthly post with Midnight Oil Scrapbook Designs (please go leave me some love there!). I made this little hanger for an Easter gift.
I used the Perfectly Shaped Moon Edge Build a Book page for the background, which I covered in a scrap of cloud-patterned paper. I layered a copy of the 23rd Psalm, which I printed onto tracing paper. I used a Stacker for the title "Celebrating The Lord". I added a couple of lavendar Prima dogwood blossoms to compliment the title, stitched on old sheet music, and added a metal cross charm. I strung vintage lace at the top to hang it.
Creative Treasures Kit
I received my Creative Treasures kit and made a few projects. This kit has lots of beautiful papers and huge, lush Prima flowers!
This first layout uses a beautiful patterned paper from Prima and a few scraps of My Mind's Eye paper. I made every flower on this layout - some are ribbon and the rest are paper. The photo is of my niece playing in bubbles at my parents' house. I wanted all the embellishments to be round to mimic the bubbles that surround her.
Here are a couple close-ups of the embellishments:
This next layout uses a beautiful Webster's Pages paper with the bird and banner cut from another piece of Webster's. I cut the butterflies from a piece of Prima "Flights of Fancy" paper and then added Stickles in coordinating colors. I painted the Thickers letters with Distress Crackle Paint to tone down the bright pink.
I took this photo of my niece while we were playing at my parents' house. She loves to run and be chased. I wrote the poem that inspired the title of the layout:
God danced the day you were born. The butterflies' wings began to shimmer. Each little bird caught the early worm. Time stood still and dark was dimmer.
God danced the day you were born. He smiled upon your Father and Mother. The Fairies blared their marching horn, And took turns prying, one after another.
God danced the day you were born. The Earth took in your gracious beauty. The bright sun woke the dewy morn. And the Angels trumpeted their fervent duty.
Anthologies Kit Sneak Peek
The first kit from Anthologies will be available at 12:01 AM on Thursday, April 1. Here are a few sneak peeks of the projects I made with this kit.
The kit has so many beautiful papers and embellishments. And of course, I still have lots of stuff leftover. The colors and textures blend so well together. I can't wait to share my projects with you, but not until April 1!
Making Cards
I have been making cards lately. For no reason. Just to make something. Here are a couple of them.
"Memories" uses paper, transparency, and stamped images from a mini kit that my scrappy friend Kristin put together. There was so much great stuff in this kit, and I haven't even used a tenth of it!
"Hello!" uses paper from a Melissa Frances stack. I cut out the black design that looks so much like vintage lace and layered it on another patterned paper. I tied on a vintage seam binding ribbon (available in my etsy shop) and added a few Prima flowers. A sparkly stick pin, mini pearls, and punched butterfly complete the soft and feminine look.
Jewelry Soldering
I have been wanting to learn how to solder jewelry pendants for a while. I finally found a class and took it earlier this month. Our delightful teacher Trisha and her trusty assistant/husband Andy were fabulous. We each made three pendants while we learned the techniques. Here are the charms that I made:
and the backs:
The Snow Angel is an image that I brought with me (the others were supplied by Trisha). I bought it from Lisa's Altered Art on one of her $1 Wednesday sales. I'm planning to use the Alice charm on an altered book that I want to make (someday). The little bird collage just made me happy. It was fate that I pulled out a page from an old hymnal to use the sheet music. Then I noticed that the title had both "Wonder" and "Dream" - just perfect for my charms!
Trisha warned us all that this is addicting. I am gathering my tools and supplies so I can make more. She's teaching this class again, and the next advanced class on March 27 at The Crafty Scrapper in Waxahachie, TX. If you can get there, it's worth the drive. Great store and Trisha is just so warm and friendly - you'll love her immediately!
Our New Bundle of Joy
Here she is...
Duchess Primavera of Darlington
We adopted this little blue-eyed beauty last Saturday. We had planned to called her "Prima", but have been calling her "Furgie" instead. So far, it's been rough seas at our house while our other two cats get used to the idea of an intruder living amongst us. We've been trying to keep them in separate areas of the house, with Furgie spending the nights in the guest bathroom.
Here are a few more pics of her playing. She loves to play and cuddle, and is the sweetest little baby. Hopefully the other cats will warm up to her soon.
Love, Italian Style
I've had this chipboard album and box for quite a while (I can't even remember where I bought it or who makes it). I finally put it to use for a gift for Husband. For our honeymoon several years ago, we traveled throughout Italy and Monaco. I used some "leftover" photos from this trip for the album.
First, the box:
I covered the box with patterned paper, vintage trim, and a stitched ruffle of sewing pattern tissue. I added Crackle Paint to the edges. I created the ruffled flower using vintage paper from an Italian travel book, which I punched with a Martha Stewart edge punch and then folded and curved into the circle shape. The bottom is decorated with a photo from the Boboli Gardens in Florence. I coated it in several layers of Tim Holtz Rock Candy Crackle Paint, Crackle Accents, gel medium, white ink, and brown Distress Ink. I wanted it to have a worn and aged look. I added a few embellishments to the bottom corner.
The top of the box is covered in vintage wallpaper. I used Crackle Paint on the edges, and applied a new Prima Say it in Pearls and Roses flourish to the front and top.
On the top, I layered several flowers, vintage lace, an old button, and paper fan.
On the back of the box, I made a little tag decorated with a map of Italy from an old book. I added Distress Inks, vintage lace, a scrap of sheet music, and a tiny posie.
The album is tucked inside the box. Here's the cover:
I used 7 Gypsies papers from the Swirlydoos February kit to cover all the chipboard pages. The cover also has a map from the vintage Italy travel book, Thickers letters, KaiserCraft letters (from the Swirlydoos kit), Prima flowers, a Prima Say it in Pearls Center (the fleur de lis in the upper-left corner), Maya Road stick pin, and vintage lace. I made the vintage paper flower at the top. The KaiserCraft letters are painted with more Crackle Paint and edged with Copper Stickles.
Here are a few of the inside pages:
These Prima flowers are also in the Swirlydoos kit. I added Glossy Accents on the water in the Venice photo. In person, you can see how it gives a great water effect.
Using Vintage Books
I've been sharing some of the vintage treasures that I find at estate sales, flea markets, and antique shops. Here is a little pile of old books that I picked up recently.
I've been looking for an old hymnal for a little while, so I was happy to spot this one at an estate sale. The dark blue/grey book is a 1920s school book. Someone has written all over the inside with pencil, but I think it adds to the charm. I bought the Butterflies and Moths book to use the images as fairy wings or nature backgrounds for some of my projects. I paid $1 for each of these books, which is about my limit for books that I am going to tear apart.
Here is a card that I made with a page from the Butterflies book.
The paper is K&Co "Madelaine." The quote and title are stickers from a Crafty Secrets set. The glittered flowers and butterfly are stickers from K&Co. The other flowers are Prima, Flora Doodles, and whatever else I have in my stash.
March Inchies
I did another inchie swap this month. The theme was "monochromatic."
I recently bought a small stockpile of these little yellow embroidery flowers on etsy. They are the perfect size for these inchies. I used Cosmo Cricket paper for the background, and simply adhered the flower cluster.
The inchies are backed with old playing cards to give them some stability. The small size of inchies makes them a quick project for a swap. It took me about 2 minutes to design the inchies and another 10 minutes to put together 10 of them.
Anthologies Design Team
I received some fantastic news this week while I was in the middle of very long meetings at work. I've been selected for the Anthologies design team! Anthologies will be selling monthly scrapbooking kits starting in April. Here is a link to their blog: http://www.anthologiesbyme.blogspot.com/
Anthologies happens to be my local scrapbook store, so I already know what kind of products they have. Everything is VERY current, and they have A LOT of it! Tim Holtz, Melissa Frances, Jenni Bowlin, Graphic 45, Webster's Pages, Bo Bunny, Clear Scraps, Tattered Angels... the list goes on and on.
I will pick up my first kit on Monday and I can't wait to get started! Here are the other wonderfully talented ladies on the design team:
Rhonda Merry
Elaine Howell
Anna Dixon
I'm off to take a jewelry class and then pick up our new kitty! I can't wait to share pics of this little beauty with you!
Treasure Hunting
I've been doing some treasure hunting lately, and have come home with some great finds! Here are a few of the recent spoils of the hunt.
Vintage millinery flowers, lace collars, Florentine frame, and pink poodle comb!
Two old card boxes. I think I'll make a set of pretty cards to tuck in each and give as gifts.
Little bits and bobs from the antique mall. I paid a little more than I would have normally for all of these, but I just love the dealer and she gave me a fabulous price on several of the other items that I purchased, so I didn't mind at all. I can see the little mouse pin on a Christmas card or tag, and that little fan with rabbits will be perfect in an altered Alice book I want to make (someday).
This little blue glass perfume bottle is a perfectly pretty shade of turquoise. It matches with nothing in my house, but the color makes me happy. This one will probably end up in the etsy shop, as soon as I can part with it!
I bought this little blue vase and the vintage lily of the valley millinery trim at an estate sale. The flowers on the vase match the little buds so perfectly. The millinery is in such perfect shape, I couldn't bring myself to take it apart. (The little bunnies were my grandmother's - one of the few things I got of hers after the "others" cleared out her house.)
And finally, this little girl's dress is the softest, prettiest shade of pale green. Can you see the little ruffles around the top and bottom? I picked this one up for a song and plan to add some Zunky Chic touches to it to make it my own.
~*~Sign-up is still open for my Vintage Spring Collage Swap. Check out this post for the details.~*~
Our National Parks
I finally finished scrapping pages from our 2005 trip to the Grand Canyon (yes, I am still that far behind). Just in time to get ready for our upcoming trip to Yellowstone! Should we take bets on when those photos will get scrapped?
I was trying to stay away from the "girly" and "flowery" look on these layouts, but I just couldn't help myself!
For this layout, I used some paper that came with a Valentine kit last year (yes, I'm also a scrappy supply hoarder). I used new Prima Peach Frost Tea Roses, Flight of Fancy flowers, and Say It In Pearls and Roses. The alphas are Webster's Pages and Thickers.
I distressed the edges to give my feminine layout a little bit of roughness for the subject matter. I used a stained shipping tag for my hidden journaling. Here's a closeup of the cluster of embellishments:
Here's a layout that features pictures from our dinner at El Tovar - the "Grand Dame" lodge at the Canyon's South Rim.
This was a pretty simple layout. I used Bo Bunny paper that reminded me of old wallpaper. I stitched on the paper in the upper-left for my title, which I made with sticks. (My husband actually asked, "Where did you get the sticks?") Again, I used a stained shipping tag for my hidden journaling.
I must have another hundred photos from this trip, but I narrowed them down to pictures that showed different areas of the Canyon and interesting buildings and activities that we did.
I truly love our National Parks. I love the old lodges, the scenery, the wildlife, and the peacefulness of the surroundings. I love that we live in a country that values its diverse landscape and has set aside these vast areas for enjoyment by everyone.
~*~Sign-up is still open for my Vintage Spring Collage Swap. Check out this post for the details.~*~
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