Lovey Dovey

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here is another card that I made for this sweetest of days.

I again used felt, lace, and fabric for the background. I added a paper doily and an image that I've saved for years that I cut from an old calendar. I knew I'd have a use for it some day!
 

Sweetheart

I made my first attempt at a fabric heart/pin cushion. I'm pretty darn pleased with myself at how it turned out.

I used all vintage fabrics, with the exception of the muslin ruffle.

The embroidered piece I used at the bottom inspired the colors and fabrics.

I added sequins, beads, and old buttons to give it some more character.

And I searched through my stash for the perfect piece of tatting.

The hardest part was stitching the front and back together with the ruffled trim. I think I need to watch some video tutorials to get the hang of it a little better before I attempt another one.
 
 

Love Is in the Air

I managed to make just a few Valentine crafts this year, including this card that I sent to a special Valentine.

I started with bright pink felt for the background and layered on fabric and lace scraps and a sheet music printed fiber paper.

The images are from Graphic 45 - the Sweet Sentiments and A Place in Time collections.

I typed a sentiment on my vintage typewriter and added glitter to all the flowers.
 
I hope your Valentine is thinking sweet thoughts of you on Friday!
 
 

Valentine ATCs

I'm participating in a Valentine ATC swap, so I got busy in my craft room with the beautiful Graphic 45 Sweet Sentiments and Place in Time collections.

Here are the ATCs I created.

They all follow the same design layout, but each is unique.

I used the adorable images from the Graphic 45 papers.

I layered the images on vintage sheet music and other pretty papers.

It was a great way to use up some scraps.

And each got an ample does of glitter!
 
 

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!
 
 

Curiouser and Curiouser

The other day, I shared a couple of Christmas tags that I made using a card for the background. I used the same card for this tag, and it has a completely different look.

I again used the Tim Holtz background stencil and two colors of paint dabbers. I had this image of Alice in my stash and wanted to use it, so I gathered some embellishments that would fit a Wonderland theme: playing card, flowers, mushroom, key, and butterfly.

 

I colored Alice using distress markers and dabbing ink from an ink pad.

 

 

I think I'm finally ready to get back into my craft room and create! The problem is, we're ready to start round two of the house renovations...
 
 

Christmas Recap - The Rest

I still have more Christmas projects to share, so here is everything else that I worked on for Christmas.

Up first is a little hanging I made with a vintage photo and a Tim Holtz cabinet card frame. I added some glitter around the image and a sparkling title along with some vintage trim at the bottom.

I love making tags all year, and at Christmas I actually have a use for them! For these two tags, I took a card that our bank sent to us (I had no worries about cutting it up since I knew I wouldn't be saving it) and used the background scene in completely different ways.

In this first tag, I left the image as is and added a rub-on swirl and a Maya Road kraft house. The "silver bell" and tinsel trim complete it.

For this tag, I obscured the background using a Tim Holtz stencil and two colors of paint dabbers. I inked a paper doily and added a piece to the left side behind my fairy ballerina. I added sparkle with a glittered edge, rhinestone bling, and tinsel trim.

And lastly, I made this box as a gift for my sister. I took a cosmetic/jewelry box and turned it into a candy box. I dressed up an image from an old card and added some beautiful Prima flowers.

Then I filled the box with fancy chocolates!

I'm still not ready for Christmas to be over and all the decorations to be put away, but I can look forward to doing it all over again in a few months!

 

 



Christmas Recap - The Village

A friend and I got together for a Christmas craft day back in December. Our mission was to create a little Christmas village, reminiscent of the vintage putz houses everyone used to decorate with. We ordered a set of DIY chipboard pieces and assembled our little villages.

Since nothing can ever be too feminine for me, I decorated my village in pretty pastels dripping with glittery snow.

Each got a coat of paint and a layer of glitter. Then I decorated with faux snow, bleached/dyed/glittered trees, and tiny decorations.

I added velum to the windows for an authentic vintage look.

I formed greenery pipe cleaners into garlands and wreaths.

 

Metallic pipe cleaners finish the bases.

I hope to add more houses to it for next Christmas!
 
 

Christmas Recap - The Ornaments

I always enjoy adding to the sparkle of my Christmas tree with a new handmade ornaments each year. I got a very late start on my Christmas crafting this year, so I didn't get everything done that I wanted to, but I did manage to complete these ornaments.

You've probably seen ornaments similar to these on Pinterest. I had so much fun making little snow scenes.

The Sugar Plum Fairy ornament is my favorite. I bleached and dyed all the trees.

And added a little pile of snow for each of my characters.

Sparkly tinsel finishes them off and helps hide the glue seams.

For this next ornament, I used an small tart pan that I found at an antiques shop and created a little snow fairy scene. I painted the tin with Martha Stewart glitter paint to give it a little more sparkle. Her glittery wings and snowflakes are all she needs to get a winter storm going!

And finally, a simple rosette ornament with a glittered snowflake, foil paper, and shimmering tinsel.

 
 

Christmas Recap - The Cards

I never got around to sharing the holiday hoopla around here. Better late than never, right? Besides, I'm not ready to pack it up until November just yet anyway.

Here are the cards I made this year.

This was my assembly line card. I used an image from a vintage Christmas card for the background and embellished it with glitter and puffy "snow" flocking.

Then I added a deer that I cut from October Afternoon paper.

I made a small series of cards using another vintage image. This time, I experimented with textures and patterns for the background. I layered woven paper that was the texture of a dryer sheet with vintage sheet music and wax paper.

This one got an extra-special treatment with the addition of a glittered snowflake.

And finally, I had one deer left over from the other cards and used him on a card that I made by layering vintage sheet music, wrapping paper scraps, ribbon, a stamped sentiment, and festive jingle bell.

I have a few ornaments and some other things to share. I've had trouble getting Blogger to work properly, so I hope I can get those posts up soon.
 
 

They Come in Pairs

I had another spooky image of twins, so I made a little Halloween hanging.

I added a frame from Recollections on the front and ruffled crepe paper around the edge.

A sparkly piece of tulle along with some lace and black millinery flower add more texture.

Sisters

I found this spooky image of twins online and knew it would be perfect to feature in a little Halloween shadowbox.

I made the box using an old cereal box, then adhered My Mind's Eye paper on the background. Ruffled crepe paper, Tim Holtz tinsel trim, and a couple of glittery pumpkins add more texture. The moon is the same that I used on this card, The dangling spider is a sticker I had in my stash and I simply adhered it to a piece of thread.

The black leaves around the top and side are an older Prima product that I've been saving for just the right project. And finally, a pair of glittered skulls make the perfect "feet" for my spooky shadowbox.

Here's a look at my projects on display together:

I added a black fringed crepe paper garland and large millinery rose. I'm all set - let the festivities begin!
 
 

A Good Witch

Here is another card I made for Halloween.

I used My Mind's Eye paper for the background and added a strip of ruffled crepe paper. I layered vintage tinsel garland on top of the crepe paper.

The good witch image is another great one from The Graphics Fairy.

The sentiment is also from My Mind's Eye and I added a Martha Stewart cobweb doily behind it. The glittered stars are from a Thickers Halloween set I had in my stash. She's on display with my mercury glass pumpkins - my only little piece of decor that is out anywhere in the house.
 
 

Boo!

I can't believe October is already here. It feels like once October arrives, the rest of the year goes by in a blur.

I've been working in my little craft room on a few Halloween decorations, since I have no idea where my old decorations are.

Here's a little card I made using sweet images from The Graphics Fairy.

I used some scraps of paper, including an old book page that I distressed with ink. I made a paper rosette for the moon face and added black tulle and a couple of Halloween stick pins behind it.

I've been busy unloading some of my supplies into the craft room and have come to the conclusion that I need to commandeer one of the upstairs bedrooms as craft room storage. I'm sure Husband thinks I should store it all at the Goodwill!