Lake View...

This past weekend I attended a crop for National Scrapbook Day. As always, I over-packed and over-estimated how much work I'd actually get done! 

I taught a group of friends how to make the Kensington Handbag and they all turned out great. Of course I completely forgot to take photos when they made them. Saturday night I did gather up a few from their tables so that I could share with you- the one in the front is personalized with a college logo and the leopard print tote in the middle was actually furry! Too cute, all of them.

But, onto one of this weekend's projects... I used one of the dies from the Sew Pretty collection- Cherish The Moment to make myself a sturdy frame. Out came the Nuvo embellishment mousse once again (this stuff is AWESOME) and the black card stock turned into a beautiful golden frame with just a rub of my finger.

Next I grabbed the Filligree Flourish set to cut out a pretty floral border; I pieced it with pink and green before layering it over some foam for dimension.

Ages ago I picked up a paper from Prima that had vintage cigar label images on it. I had no idea what I'd end up doing with it but the colors were just so pretty. One of the labels fit inside the gold frame perfectly!

More layers using Fanciful Flourish in green and Celtic Dream to cut a doily. Again, lots of dimension was created in between each element using chipboard.

The finished piece needed a calm background to allow it to pop so I layered it all on top of a gold metallic card stock and slipped it into a frame from the thrift. 

I'm really pleased with the final composition- think I'll go hang it on one of my bedroom doors.

xo,

listen...

'Listen to your heart. It knows everything.'               ~Paulo Coelho

I know it seems like all I ever use are bird images! I swear, I do collect other things but so often the little winged creatures are just what I'm looking for when I put something together.

There was an old piece of sheet music in a book I found and it was titled 'the fairy wedding'. So sweet! Even though almost all the music notes ended up being covered, I still used it as the base for my collage. The bird is cut from a sheet of printed scrapbook paper, the key is a Tim Holtz embellishment. There is machine stitching around the outside edge of the cardstock and some stamped pieces of scalloped trim.

The flowers are made from circles of paper, spiral cut and rolled up. It's a really fun (and super easy) way to make an embellishment with dimension. 

The little brass corners are OLD. I've probably had the bunch of them for 15 years! They make a nice finish once in awhile when I remember that I've got them. I really like the color of the silk ribbon at the bottom- it kind of changes from gold to orange as the light catches it.

Sometimes you just have to listen to where a project wants to go... it knows where it wants to take you.

xo,

lucky one...

Bruce Springsteen said "When it comes to luck, you make your own." 
Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's right. I mean, every day feels like a lucky day to me. 

Here's #2 in the series of framed bird collages. With a bingo card and a beautiful bird image, how could you not be lucky?? 

The more layered a design, the better I like it. I used a purchased tag and die cut borders, plus a tiny little snip of lace trim. It really doesn't take much to put together a collage- just play until you like the mix of layers. This one really benefited by the Stickles color 'Ruby Red Slippers'... especially loving the sparkle it has on the berries.

Have yourself a lucky day!

xo,

adore...

Yes- I DO adore this bird image! That's how it found it's way into yet another project...

I made a series of 3 bird-themed collages to hang in my guest bathroom. I bought all the frames at a dollar store, spray painted them with Rustoleum's Heirloom White and they're perfect for the project.

A base of vintage dictionary pages, layered with bingo cards and bird images, each one is slightly different.

If you like this one, stay tuned and I'll share the other two in my next blog posts!
For now, I'll just adore this little birdie.

xo,

sing...

In summer, for me early morning is the most peaceful time to be up. With a cup of tea in hand, it's lovely to sit and listen to the birds sing.

This framed piece was really made with scraps from other projects... sometimes they're the best way to piece a project together. They just seem to know what they want to become.

And let's face it, I'm a sucker for anything in a dollar store frame that's been painted white.

Grab yourself a cup of tea and listen to your heart sing today!

xo,

esmerelda...

Esmerelda was quite the vision in her pumpkin-stripe taffeta with the rhinestone buttons. Making her ensemble even more stunning was the sparkling black hat and tulle-trimmed umbrella...

I tried my hand at playing with watercolor pencils on this black & white image. What fun they are!

 Last year in the after-Halloween clearance section of Michael's I found these little stripey paper umbrellas. No idea what I'd use them for but for 99 cents, why not?

Stuffed with a little glittered tulle, it was the perfect accessory! I tucked the entire thing into a Dollar Store black frame, done and DONE!

She's all dressed up and waiting for that perfect gentleman to ask her to dance.

xo,

things with wings...

Not exactly sure why, but I have quite an attraction to things with wings! Beautiful vintage images of birds, bees, butterflies... 

They always make me want to get out my scissors and glue and play! This pretty butterfly plate came from The Graphics Fairy.

I printed it twice, cut out the butterflies from one of the sheets and then layered them with chipboard.

Machine stitching around the edge of the print, some punched paper trim and to finish everything off...

Black 'pearl' cabochons and lots of shimmery Stickles!

xo,

the girls...

This is an interesting group of little ladies! Wonder what kind of social group this is with a kitty included?!!

 

 A fun trick for adding 'age' to a print is by just making some creases... if you run your fingernail along the crease and it takes off a bit of the ink, all the better.

Trick or treat.

xo,

pumpkins for sale...

 More from the framed pieces that I had for sale at Paris Flea Market last week...

 

 This little pumpkin has pumpkins for sale!

She looks like she's ready to roll off into the light of the harvest moon...

xo,

simplicity...

Simplicity. Sometimes you can't beat it...

I just needed a small pop of seasonal color- easily done with a photo, some printed paper & a ticket. 
Simplicity itself!

xo,

the good witch...

When I got my hands on this ribbon it was LOVE at first sight.
Honestly- I wondered if it was possible to tie it onto everything in my house... it's that gorgeous! 

I have always called this witch 'the good witch' because she's just so darn cute. This project was a good combo of some of my favorite things... the cute witch, the gorgeous ribbon and a bingo card- how could I go wrong with that?

She only does good magic, I'm sure.

xo,