And for those of you with a French flair..
31 March 2013
A HAPPY EASTERTIDE!
Wishing you all Easter blessings, along with a bite of chocolate rabbit ears and an egg or two!
And for those of you with a French flair..
And for those of you with a French flair..
28 March 2013
"LITTLE DARLINGS" PAPER BAG ALBUM
The paper bag album I created as part of Nancy Maxwell James' "14 Hearts" was my first. I have a genetic disposition to avoid doing what everyone else is doing at the time they are doing it..so never fell in love with them until now LOL
My friend Gayle has just had her first grand, a girl! This small album (I used 3 bags) is a place for her to keep mementos of her trip to LA to meet Grace for the first time, tuck in a few snaps and journal her thoughts.
23 March 2013
VINTAGE IMAGES FOR SPRING (2)
While my blog is under review (I have worked too long for government!) being made over, thought to share a few more cheery spring images.
A German postcard noted 1912. I love the deep colours of this one.
Again a German postcard, postmarked 1910. One of my favourites.
A German postcard noted 1912. I love the deep colours of this one.
Again a German postcard, postmarked 1910. One of my favourites.
22 March 2013
VINTAGE IMAGES FOR SPRING
If you aren't seeing signs of spring then I am sure you are longing to! From my own collection for you to use as you wish. Perfect images for gluebook projects. As always right click on the image and then save that image for the best resolution.
We have winter pansies here, do you? This sweet German postcard from the turn of the last century is an easy background for embellishment or sweet enough to use as is.
Postmarked 1911, this one could easily be used for Easter greetings.
We have winter pansies here, do you? This sweet German postcard from the turn of the last century is an easy background for embellishment or sweet enough to use as is.
Postmarked 1911, this one could easily be used for Easter greetings.
15 March 2013
PLAN DE PARIS - VINTAGE EPHEMERA
The street and underground railway station guide by district for those of you who don't speak French, which includes me! Honestly, the cover is printed crooked! And it has been bound in the same haphazard manner which makes scanning a bit crazy making. Still I think you can print these out, cut them up and use in a variety of ways. Have fun!
EASTER CHICKS AND DUCKS
I have been having a lot of fun working on Easter basket goodies for the grands. I was checking out some of my favourite supply sites for inspiration, saw these paper mache eggs with the "cracked" opening at Retro Cafe Art and fell in love!
These begged for an all over crackle finish. I used LuminArte Silks in various colours as the base, "Weathered Wood" from Americana as my crackle medium and Americana Light Buttermilk craft paint as the top coat. I have had the most success with this crackle medium on a variety of projects. Lesson learned; I painted all the eggs with gesso before applying the Silks, didn't need to and the outcome was more successful without the gesso base.
I used a variety of brands of glitter from my stash to highlight the openings, I preferred the look of a coarser glitter over micro or ultrafine for this project. I used Krylon's Crystal Clear for a protective coating.
The chenille "poultry" on nests came from 32 Degrees North. The service and products from both Retro Cafe Art and 32 Degrees North are excellent, do check them out.
There is something so sweet about baby ducks, one of these are destined for each of our two youngest grands. The paper mache forms came from Michael's. I used Americana yellow craft paint, large flake mica glitter from Martha Stewart, a chipboard scalloped circle from Bazzil, green microfine glitter from GlitterRitz, Divine Twine and German spun cotton mushrooms from Retro Cafe Art.
These begged for an all over crackle finish. I used LuminArte Silks in various colours as the base, "Weathered Wood" from Americana as my crackle medium and Americana Light Buttermilk craft paint as the top coat. I have had the most success with this crackle medium on a variety of projects. Lesson learned; I painted all the eggs with gesso before applying the Silks, didn't need to and the outcome was more successful without the gesso base.
I used a variety of brands of glitter from my stash to highlight the openings, I preferred the look of a coarser glitter over micro or ultrafine for this project. I used Krylon's Crystal Clear for a protective coating.
The chenille "poultry" on nests came from 32 Degrees North. The service and products from both Retro Cafe Art and 32 Degrees North are excellent, do check them out.
There is something so sweet about baby ducks, one of these are destined for each of our two youngest grands. The paper mache forms came from Michael's. I used Americana yellow craft paint, large flake mica glitter from Martha Stewart, a chipboard scalloped circle from Bazzil, green microfine glitter from GlitterRitz, Divine Twine and German spun cotton mushrooms from Retro Cafe Art.
12 March 2013
CHRISTMAS IN THE BANK (#3)
Welcome back! I am certainly having a lot of fun with this and hope that you are also. If this is your first time here you are likely wondering just what is this all about? This challenge is all about building up your holiday stash in small steps each month, and then when December rolls around you will have "CHRISTMAS IN THE BANK"; you will have reduced your holiday stress and have time for those "must do" last minute projects or even just breathing!
WINNER OF A FREE COLLAGE SHEET OF YOUR CHOICE FROM HEATHER HUDSON IS "BUSY MARTHA"! I will send you a private message connecting you and Heather. Congratulations!
Please feel free to take the "CHRISTMAS IN THE BANK" button for your own blog, even if you aren't participating this month. Each participant will be eligible to win the collage sheet of their choice from Heather Hudson so please leave a link or comment so that we can see what you are doing with the challenge and put you into the random draw.
My goal is to make this as easy as possible. I mean to generally offer projects that you can easily complete in a couple of hours or less, using items you will already have on hand. You should be able to work on your "CHRISTMAS IN THE BANK" stash each month without taking much time away from your regular crafting activities.
The most difficult part of this challenge is for each of us to keep it simple LOL Simplicity can be beautiful! Try to complete the basic challenges as offered. You can always add embellishments and personalize your items when you use them. I encourage you to approach these challenges with a production line in mind. Do all of your cutting, glueing etc. on each piece at the same time where you can. Building a stash is all about production! Numbers!
And the challenge this month is GIFT BAGS! How many? Six in any size. I stopped using much bought wrapping paper a number of years ago, I save whatever gift bags come my way through the holidays and shopping bags throughout the year to recycle. I haven't calculated how much time, effort and environment I save by using recycled bags as opposed to wrapping boxes but it feels considerable! If you won't use this many bags yourself, consider making them for someone who does or create bags to fit what you do through out the year.
My daughter and I have used the same bag, back and forth for many years. Our own little tradition. I find that almost everyone receiving these bags, keeps them and reuses.
My bags were created with Christmas themed fabric ("Seasons" by debbie taylor-kerman for Henry Glass Fabrics) which I purchased on sale after the holidays, "Heat n Bond", 8x10 kraft paper shopping bags (which I also picked up at a liquidation sale, the fabric covers the original printing) and vintage trim, ribbon and tags from my stash.
If you don't have fabric in your stash of course you can use paper! As always, use what you have.
I measured out enough "Heat n Bond" (again use whatever brand of iron on backing if you are using fabric and do read the instructions LOL) to cut 6 seven inch squares. I laid this large piece onto the back of my fabric and ironed it on, measured and penciled in the cutting lines on the adhesive backing and then used pinking shears to cut the squares. TIP: using pinking or decorative scissors if you are using paper, hides any less than perfect measurements or cutting! These were then ironed onto my bags. Production line!
I repeated this process with my second or top fabric, changing the size to five inch squares. These were ironed onto the background fabric. I could have stopped at this point. With a bit of ribbon and a tag added when I go to use these, sweet enough for anyone to receive! I had a leftover strip of the background fabric bonded and ready to go so I cut down some tags out of my stash and covered those, ready to be tied on with a bit of burlap"ish" ribbon. The vintage pom pom trim (adhered with double sided tape) in red and cream was perfect for the whimsical fabric and added the vintage touch that I adore.
Nothing too fancy or complicated. Cutting out the tags and covering them took the most amount of time but still six bags created in less than 2 hours!
WINNER OF A FREE COLLAGE SHEET OF YOUR CHOICE FROM HEATHER HUDSON IS "BUSY MARTHA"! I will send you a private message connecting you and Heather. Congratulations!
Please feel free to take the "CHRISTMAS IN THE BANK" button for your own blog, even if you aren't participating this month. Each participant will be eligible to win the collage sheet of their choice from Heather Hudson so please leave a link or comment so that we can see what you are doing with the challenge and put you into the random draw.
My goal is to make this as easy as possible. I mean to generally offer projects that you can easily complete in a couple of hours or less, using items you will already have on hand. You should be able to work on your "CHRISTMAS IN THE BANK" stash each month without taking much time away from your regular crafting activities.
The most difficult part of this challenge is for each of us to keep it simple LOL Simplicity can be beautiful! Try to complete the basic challenges as offered. You can always add embellishments and personalize your items when you use them. I encourage you to approach these challenges with a production line in mind. Do all of your cutting, glueing etc. on each piece at the same time where you can. Building a stash is all about production! Numbers!
And the challenge this month is GIFT BAGS! How many? Six in any size. I stopped using much bought wrapping paper a number of years ago, I save whatever gift bags come my way through the holidays and shopping bags throughout the year to recycle. I haven't calculated how much time, effort and environment I save by using recycled bags as opposed to wrapping boxes but it feels considerable! If you won't use this many bags yourself, consider making them for someone who does or create bags to fit what you do through out the year.
My daughter and I have used the same bag, back and forth for many years. Our own little tradition. I find that almost everyone receiving these bags, keeps them and reuses.
My bags were created with Christmas themed fabric ("Seasons" by debbie taylor-kerman for Henry Glass Fabrics) which I purchased on sale after the holidays, "Heat n Bond", 8x10 kraft paper shopping bags (which I also picked up at a liquidation sale, the fabric covers the original printing) and vintage trim, ribbon and tags from my stash.
If you don't have fabric in your stash of course you can use paper! As always, use what you have.
I measured out enough "Heat n Bond" (again use whatever brand of iron on backing if you are using fabric and do read the instructions LOL) to cut 6 seven inch squares. I laid this large piece onto the back of my fabric and ironed it on, measured and penciled in the cutting lines on the adhesive backing and then used pinking shears to cut the squares. TIP: using pinking or decorative scissors if you are using paper, hides any less than perfect measurements or cutting! These were then ironed onto my bags. Production line!
I repeated this process with my second or top fabric, changing the size to five inch squares. These were ironed onto the background fabric. I could have stopped at this point. With a bit of ribbon and a tag added when I go to use these, sweet enough for anyone to receive! I had a leftover strip of the background fabric bonded and ready to go so I cut down some tags out of my stash and covered those, ready to be tied on with a bit of burlap"ish" ribbon. The vintage pom pom trim (adhered with double sided tape) in red and cream was perfect for the whimsical fabric and added the vintage touch that I adore.
Nothing too fancy or complicated. Cutting out the tags and covering them took the most amount of time but still six bags created in less than 2 hours!
9 March 2013
CHRISTMAS IN THE BANK (#2) REMINDER!
Just reminding...you have until midnight (PST) March 11th to let me know that you have completed the February challenge and be eligible to enter the draw for the collage sheet of your choice from Heather Hudson!
The February challenge is to create 6 gift card holders (click here)! Follow the directions I suggest and you can complete this challenge in less than 45 minutes - honest!
Comment here or on the original post and let me know where to look and leave some love!
The February challenge is to create 6 gift card holders (click here)! Follow the directions I suggest and you can complete this challenge in less than 45 minutes - honest!
Comment here or on the original post and let me know where to look and leave some love!
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