VALENTINE FOR A PRINCESS - GINGERSNAP CREATIONS VISITING ARTIST SUBMISSION

The overall theme this month at Gingersnap Creations is Royalty, the supply challenge this week is charms.

The picture is of (then) Princess Elizabeth in 1938 with her beloved dogs at their Welsh cottage, clipped from a 1953 Coronation publication of the Illustrated London News.  This project is in memory of my mother-in-law Jean McLean.  She was an English war bride from Horsham who married her Canadian soldier Wally.   My American upbringing was never more obvious than when Jean and her sister Betty would have a good long chat about Mum (the Queen Mother), Liz and all the goings on - it was awhile before I figured out they weren't talking about a soap or some family friends!

The substrate is a Victorian photo album page, this is in amazing condition with the gold embossing quite vivid still, I used my favorite Platinum Stickles around the border to build more sparkle.   I cut around a Tattered Angels Bingo Board to fit it and the photo together.  The ``garden theme`` of this Bingo Board was perfect for what I had in mind. These are triple matted on black, bronze and gold.  A coat of Rocky Candy Distress Paint on the photo - ha! it just  wasn`t looking old enough to suit me.  I touched some of the border elements with Distress Inks and a bit of matching Stickles on top of that.

The crown and bird charms (TH) I colored with Alcohol Inks and more Stickles!  The little gold butterfly charm was perfect as is.  A mix of flowers from my stash complete the ``cottage garden``.  These two are swiped with more Stickles.  It is my photography that doesn`t pick up all the sparkly good bits!

The layered heart is composed of some wrinkly rich gold paper on the bottom, topped with a gold painted chipboard heart and then two vintage Scrabble Tiles - all of which is touched with some Distress Ink and more Stickles.  These are ``real`` Scrabble Tiles some of the original ones made from Vermont Maple.  It really bugs me that they are now produced overseas.

The fun dangly trim is from my stash - some I picked up in a thrift store.   If you know me, you will know that I adore ``hangy things``!   I did post scans of the Victorian photo album frame a few days ago, the details do come out quite good.  I hope you will give this a whirl and send me a picture!