Birthday Tiara

We recently attended a surprise birthday party for one of Husband's co-workers. Since she also loves to craft, I knew I had to make something extra special for the occasion. In addition to a pretty card:

...I made my first tiara to help her celebrate the big day.

I cut a pattern from a piece of bristol paper, since it's sturdy and the longest type of paper I had. I used the pattern to cut two pieces of fabric. I used spray adhesive to sandwich the bristol between the two pieces of fabric and then I stitched along the edges to make sure the crown wouldn't come apart.

I added a large crepe paper rosette to the front, with glittered numbers.

Vintage flowers, tatted doilies, and sparkly stars accent it.

And a fluffy crepe paper ruffle with pom pom trim finish off the bottom.

This was my first attempt at making a tiara, but it certainly won't be my last! I can't wait to make more. I think I'll have one to wear for every holiday!
 
 

Grandmom

It has been way too long since my last post! We finally found a house to move into and closed on both the old and the new in mid-July. We picked the hottest weekend to move, but we are now in the new house. We've already started the remodeling and redecorating. New wood floors are down throughout much of the first floor. Now the painting can begin. We are covering up some very dark (and unusual) color combinations, but so far so good. They make a primer for everything and we are taking advantage of that!

The first room that will be complete is my new craft room. I can't wait to get in there and start creating again! I'll share some before and after photos once we're done.

In the meantime...

I had a couple of projects published in last month's Create Vintage issue. And was I surprised (and a bit disappointed) to find out that Northridge stopped printing actual magazines and has now switched to an all digital format. I will miss holding the magazines in my hand and poring over the beautiful projects inside.

Here is one of the projects that was published. I made a vintage style hanging that features a photo of my grandmother. I reused a background I had created for another project that I wasn't thrilled with. I layered scraps of paper from Prima, some old fabric, lace, millinery flowers, and some sweet tiny flowers from Maya Road.

Here's a closer look at some of the embellishments.

The photo was taken of her and my grandfather back in his sailor days. I'm assuming they were either in Philadelphia or New York at a nightclub. Can't you just picture the band playing, martinis swirling, and couples dancing...

 

Wonder

I submitted this canvas project for last week's Swirlydoos Design Team challenge. Our challenge was to create a dimensional canvas project using a variety of mediums.

I started by painting a background using watercolors. Then I used a stencil and modelling paste to create the butterflies, which I then painted with glimmer watercolors. I misted the canvas with pearl Glimmer Mist and added some vintage paper scraps as a base for my photo. I added some white gesso to the paper to mute the colors even more.

I added a layer of tea dyed cheesecloth and vintage tulle trim beneath my photo of Lily Munchkin frolicking in the sand.

I used a large swirl from Dusty Attic as a frame for the photo. I painted and inked the swirl and added Diamond Dust glitter here and there along with some tiny flowers.
  
Unfortunately, I won't be continuing on in the challenge, but I had fun creating!
  

Valentine Doll

I recently took a class from the wonderful Ann-Denise Anderson. We made spun cotton Valentine dolls. Everyone's was so unique and we all had a great time.

Here is my doll:

We learned how to make a basic armature, then wrapped it in sticky wet cotton.

Then we painted the girls and dressed them in little crepe paper outfits.

And decorated little "cakes" for them to stand on.

Here are just a few of the other projects from the class.

Lisa made an adorable kitty for a friend. Now I want one for each of my sweet furbabies!

 And this little lady is perfectly poised.

This one looks like Marie Antoinette. She was stunning in person!

And I thought she looked like a foofy cake topper.

Everyone's projects were fantastic, and so much nicer looking in person than my photos captured.
 

Swirlydoos Kit Club, Ultimate Designer Challenge. Week 3

This week's challenge was to emboss metal tape and create something with it. My creation is called "Easter in Fairy Grove."

I started with this empty box that was destined for the recycle bin.

 And here is the final project:

I deconstructed the box, covered the outside with vintage wallpaper and the inside with various vintage papers. The patterned paper is Prima "Printery" and Graphic 45 "Once Upon a Springtime."

I embossed the metal sheets and then cut it into strips and painted with gold alcohol ink to create a frame around my shadowbox.

I also made a variety of flowers using the metal, which I inked with alcohol ink or colored with permanent markers.
 

In case you couldn't tell, the rabbit is moveable, so he can deliver the eggs among the fairies and friends. I added an embossed and inked butterfly to his pole.

I had so much fun with this week's challenge! I would not have thought to use the metal in the ways that I did if I hadn't been pushed to do so.
 
 

Swirlydoos Kit Club, Ultimate Designer Challenge, Week 1

I am competing for a spot on the Swirlydoos design team. This is the first week of the competition. The challenge was to create a dimensional chipboard embellishment that uses at least two art mediums.

For the first part of the challenge, I started with a Maya Road chipboard "Supernova" star and circle. I inked the circle with Fired Brick Distress Ink, then I painted it with Martha Stewart glitter paint. The liquid in the paint reacts with the ink to create a rick, dark color that is coated in sparkle!

I covered the star in vintage sheet music and sanded and inked the edges. I adhered the star to the circle using pop dots. Then I added a book page rosette behind the circle, glittered the edge, and then added a coffee-stained crepe paper ruffle.

For the second part of the challenge, I needed to add my chipboard embellishment to a layout, card, or altered project. I decided to make the embellishment the focal point and created a prize ribbon, which I added to an over-sized card.

I covered a piece of cardboard with various scraps of vintage papers, and added "Congrats" down the side.

I also added a pin back to my prize ribbon - so it's a card AND a gift :)

 

The Stockings Were Hung

...by the chimney with care.

That's the sentiment that finishes this sweet hanging. I started with a piece of muslin that I sandwiched between a piece of cotton batting (behind the muslin) and a scrap of burlap. I stitched all three together and then I added this sweet image on top.

I embellished with a fabric ruffle, old tattered tulle, and some shiny bells, ornaments, and tinsel.

 I typed the sentiment on my vintage typewriter, and used another scrap of muslin for the hanger.

She's all ready for Santa!

Create Banner

I made this banner for a friend's birthday. Since it's something to hang in her scrap room, I made it in colors that match her room, rather than fluffy pinks and fairies that would match mine.

I started with a Maya Road canvas album that I embellished with burlap, cardboard scallops, painted alphas, and paper flowers.

Using the pre-made banner pieces allowed me to spend time on the embellishing instead of cutting and stitching canvas.

I used a set of alphas that have a great pattern, but the color scheme wasn't right.So, I painted them red. You can still see the pattern through the paint, but not the colors.

I added a scalloped piece of cardboard that I further distressed and added paint, a denim-pattern scalloped circle, and navy seam binding to tie it all together.

Easter Treat Boxes

I was inspired by a swap that Cassandra is hosting to make a couple of Easter treat boxes, one for me and one for a friend. I started with a half-dozen egg carton that I painted, glued, and embellished to make anything but ordinary.

First up is the lavender box I made for my friend. I added vintage millinery, ledger paper, postcard image, and hand-dyed seam binding.

I added hand-dyed ruffled crepe paper and vintage tatting around the box.

And here are some of the goodies I tucked inside - trims, chocolate, and an adorable vintage bunny and lamb.

I loved her box so much that I had to make one for myself. I was going to keep the box neutral with a completely white color scheme, but when I found this tiny nest with multi-colored eggs, I changed my mind.

 I used more vintage millinery, trims, and hand-dyed seam binding.

 

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Can you believe that Easter is almost here? We're about two and a half weeks away. I'll be spending a long weekend with my family again this year. That usually means a lot of eating! We were hoping to go to DC to see the cherry blossoms, but it looks like they are peaking early this year and we won't get to see them.

Anyway, I've been working on a few Easter projects. I have to wait until some of them reach their recipients before I can share, but here is an altered egg that I made.

I purchased a vintage egg kit at a thrift store last year and pulled it out to see what I could do with it. The kit came with a plastic egg and strips of paper for creating a quilling design on and inside the egg. Not my thing, but I knew I could do something with it.

I covered the inside and outside with vintage sheet music. I laid faux moss in the bottom for my vintage bunny to sit on. I purchased him last weekend when we were out junking. Then I added the embellishments.

A few posies inside and out, braided trim, antique tatting, and a piece of hand-dyed seam binding to top it off. I created a base for my egg using a round, flat jewelry bead and added dyed, ruffled crepe paper around it. I have him displayed with my other vintage Easter pieces.
 

Let It Snow!

My niece loves to play outside. Rain, snow, sun - it doesn't matter. I took some photos of her playing in the snow when we visited last Christmas. I had some bare wood snowflakes laying around, and knew they would be perfect to make a winter decoration.

First, I covered the wooden snowflake with fun patterned paper in a snowflake theme. I outlined the snowflake with Diamond Stickles. Then I matted her photo on a contrasting pattern paper and added a rub-on.

I embellished with sparkly snowflakes. I added a little "snow" to the bottom corner so the penguin had a place to play.

I remember Husband playing outside with her this day - until his toes were numb. He had to carry her inside, kicking and screaming.
 

Starting an Art Journal

I have not been able to get into crafting yet this year. I finally got all of the Christmas decorations put away, so maybe that will help, even if I'm STILL not finished with my December Daily album. I am up to Dec 28th, so I'm making progress.

I've been wanting to create an art journal, but never got around to it. Then a wonderful friend asked if I'd do one with her. I jumped at the chance and got started right away. We decided to use old books for the journals and swap once a month or so.

Here is my book "before":

I had this thirft store book laying around the house. I used some of my new paints that Husband bought me for Christmas. I started with Unbleached Titanium to cover up that ugly green cover.

I wish I had taken photos of each step. I'm getting better - I took a Before photo. Next time... Anway, I layered on paint - turquoise polka dots toned down with pale pink paint to fade and distress. Then I adhered a piece of lace fabric and started on the centerpiece.

I wanted to use some of my favorite vintage supplies for the cover, and also keep it flat so the book is easy to work in. I used vintage sheet music, dress pattern tissue, buttons, and lace trim. I opened an old hymnal to this page - A Beautiful Life. It was perfect for this project.

I completed one page inside. The book's title is "Sand and Stars," and this cover page brought the image of a mermaid to my mind. I used acrylic paints to cover the text and then added watercolors to fill in the white space. I found the perfect mermaid image on the Graphics Fairy blog.

I further embellished the page with some lace scraps, a tiny seashell, and bits of bling. I want to complete the facing page before I send on to Julie to work her magic in my book.
 

Number 31

I bought a little Halloween kit from One Ripe Peach's etsy shop. It was so easy to put together and now sits among a little Halloween display in my living room.

Sadly, I haven't done much decorating this year. I just haven't had the time. Work has been super busy and I've been traveling here and there. Hopefully I'll slow down enough to get the Christmas decorations up!