Sharing ... Hello Card ... Mabel Lucie Atwell

Hello and Happy April!  This has always been one of my favorite months ... mainly because it is spring, and because it is my birthday month!  Although, since this is a 'biggie' birthday, we won't talk about that now!  Last night I couldn't sleep, so I got up and spent some time in my craft room, and made a card.  I have to say, this is one of my favorite cards in a long time!  Here ... what do YOU think ...

Isn't it adorable???  I used my new favorite Mabel Lucie Atwell image as the focal point.  You can search by her name on Pinterest and find lots of her images to use in your projects!  She was an artist and illustrator in England in the early 1900's.  I inked the edges of the image with brown ink, used my Spica pens to add a little glitter on the window sill, her hair, bracelets, the puppy dog', the flowers and the curtains.  I sure wish it showed up here, but the glitter is so very fine it doesn't really show up in the pictures.

I love the yellow and turquoise color combination ... never thought of it before, but it looks great together!  The star is made by adhering an Epiphany star resin bubble to the paper and cutting around it with a craft knife.  I have several of the Epiphany punches, but tend to just buy the bubbles in shapes with straight edges because you can cut them out easily.

To make the fluffy bow, I used the Boye flower loom ... I think it's called a 'knifty knitter' and did one loop on each of the posts.  Here is a picture of the loom .....

And that is my card!  I think it came out beautifully!  If you are interested in purchasing this card (blank inside), please email me at lifeatcamelliacottage@gmail.com and I will send you an invoice via PayPal.  The cost is $6.00 for card and shipping.

Thanks for visiting, and blessings,

Ingredients:

• Base card stock - Georgia Pacific 110# white (Walmart)
• Patterned Paper - Simple Stories 'Snap' Color Vibe 6 x 6 inch paper pad
• Trim - Ball Fringe (unknown)  Seam Binding - Schiff 'Hug Snug' eBay
• Sticker - SRM Stickers
• Star Bubble - Epiphany Crafts
• Brown Ink - Stampabilities
• Spica Pens

Sharing ... Mixed Media Art Journaling ... Five Little Words

Hey there!  Welcome to my little blog home!  Today is my last post as a member of the Anything But A Card Design Team.  It has been a fun few months, but my life is changing and so are my priorities, so it was time to go.

Our theme this week, because it is the fifth Sunday of the month, is FIVE, and we invite you to make a project that shows your take on fives.  My take on fives was five little words!  Faith, Hope, Charity, Love, and Peace.  So I made a pretty art journal page with those words in mind!  Here you go ...

Five Little Words ... Faith, Hope, Charity, Love and Peace

The journal is the large Dyan Reaveley 'Dylusions' Art Journal.  The pages that I used were actually some that I had gessoed and done some pastel flowers on back last summer.  So I took some 'sand dune' colored paint and lightly painted over it.  Then I added layers and layers of different colors of paint and stencils and such ... most of which you can't even see any more ... but isn't that the point of this kind of thing?  ;)

Some of the doodling was done with the black 'superfine' pitt pen, others with some multi colored 'Spica' markers.

The blue sky is painted in 'morning blue' paint with a little water and a little glazing medium, and painted really lightly.  Next, I used a piece of punchinella (sp?) or the mylar ribbon that is what is left after sequins are punched out of it.  and stenciled on some 'blue bird' paint with some 'sapphire metallic' paint mixed in for the dotty look.  The sun ... well, the sun was made by taking a ketchup cup from Hardee's.  It is one of the old white paper ones that, if you unroll the edge, and spread it out, it becomes a pretty round shape with creases.  I simply painted it with some yellow paint and pressed it onto the page.

The clock stencil is from The Crafters Workshop

The flowers and leaves are actually cut from Gelli prints that I did on deli paper ... or a paper that looks like waxed paper without the wax.   It has a clear, almost transparent feel that works great with a decoupage medim ... I used Collage Pauge in Matte for this one.  I used some My Minds Eye 'tiny  type' small adhesive letters, plus the word sticker for 'love'.

Deli paper gelli prints ... beautiful!

So there it is ... my last project for Anything But A Card.  Bittersweet, but the right thing to do!  I hope you will go and visit the ABAC blog and make your own project based on the word FIVE!  And come back soon for something fun!  Blessings,

Sharing ... Creating ... Sketches ... Queen & Co. Featured Card

Hi there!  How's the weather in your part of the world???  This time last year we were already in an early summer ... temps in the 80's and pollen counts off the roof.  But this year, spring is dragging her feet and we even had some snow flurries last night.  I am so ready for warmer temps and sunny spring days!

And speaking of sunny spring days ... I have a card to share with you that is colorful and cute and brings thoughts of blue skies, yellow sunshine and pretty flowers to match!  A couple of days ago, Queen & Co., a manufacturer of crafting embellishments extraordinaire posted a card sketch on their Facebook Page and encouraged us to try making a card 'inspired' by the sketch.  Now, I love a good card sketch, so I took it as a challenge and went right to my crafty space and got to work.  Here's a pic of the sketch ...

So I gathered together a few supplies, including a few of my favorite rolls of Queen & Co.'s 'Trendy Tape' and went to work!  I cut and trimmed and glued and even used my Cricut Expression to cut a cute label and some flowers ... and here is what I come up with ...

I love it!  I used the trendy tape to cover the piece of cardstock between the patterned paper and card stock label.  Kind of like 'wallpaper'!  And I also used it to cover the die cut daisy in the top righthand corner.  Here are the details ...

Ingredients:

• Card stock - Bazzill
• Patterned Paper - Lawn Fawn
• Washi Tape - Trendy Tape 'Summer Blooms'
• Stickers - SRM Stickers
• Button - Buttons Galore
• Twine - Maya Road Corded Twine
• Sequins - Lawn Fawn
• Adhesives - Ranger 'Glossy Accents', Scotch ATG and Foam Squares by Recollections (Michaels)

Notes:

• Cricut cartridges used are Walk in my Garden and Elegant Edges
• Glossy Accents works great for adhering the sequins or other small bits
• For the die cut flower, cut it first, then add the Trendy Tape and trim around with a craft knife or small detail scissors.

And that is everything!  A piece of advice ... if you love hearing all the latest crafty news, seeing sneak peeks of new products and giveaways, you really should go and 'like' your favorite manufacturers and stores on Facebook!  They all do a great job of keeping their customers and 'fans' informed!

Okay, that's all for today.  Hope you come back for a visit soon!  Blessings,

Sharing ... Three Pretty Cards!

Hello!  Yes, I have been MIA again ... no excuses other than life takes precedence over blog!  Also, part of the reason is that I have been working on some 'large' projects that I can't share with you yet.  One is for a birthday gift, and I will share that one with you in a few weeks, and the other is for the 'Retro Color Challenge' over at May Arts Ribbon, so I can't share that one with you yet, but I will!

Today I want to share with you three cards that I have made in the last couple of days.  I love them all, but I have to say the two masculine cards are my faves.  First up, though, is the 'Celebrate' card ...

Close up of rose image

Celebrate card by Melissa Frances

Paper flower by Prima

Sideways view so you can see how I layered the yellow rose

Ingredients:

• Card stock - Bazzill
• Patterned Paper - KI Memories 'Shimmer Paper' Baby Thin Stipe
• 'Celebrate' tag - Melissa Frances
• Pink Paper Flower - Prima
• Ribbon - stash (flea market purchase years ago)
• Stickles - Ranger - Waterfall, Diamond
• Brown Ink - Stampabilities
• Adhesives - Foam Squares from Recollections (Michaels) and Scotch ATG 1/4"

Notes:

• As you can see, I printed two of the vintage images (found on Pinterest) and fussy cut the yellow rose bloom, inked it and adhered it over the bottom image using foam squares.  
• To make tying ribbon across the top of the card, use a sharp craft knife and cut along the spine of the card and run the ribbon through it, and tie in front.  

'Daddy' Card ...

Vintage bird image found on Pinterest

Close up of image

Small bow, metal embellishments

Close up of detail ... bird fussy cut from another print of the image and put on the image, bumped up with foam squares

Ingredients:

• Card stock - Bazzill
• Patterned Paper - Authentique 'Blissful' Pleasant paper
• Metal pieces - Tim  Holtz 'Ideaology' Foliage, Mini Paper Clips, and Game Spinners
• Sticker (Daddy) - SRM Press
• Stickles - Ranger - Mercury Glass and Cinnamon
• Ribbon - Tim Holtz 'Trimmings' Inked with ...
• Art Anthology 'Colorations Spray' Focus
• Brown Ink (edgings) - Stampabilities

Notes:

• To change the color of the ribbon, simply place it on a scrap piece of paper or a 'splat mat' and spray with mist(s), crinkling and blending as you go, until you get to color you want, then dry with heat gun.

'Fathers Day' Card ...

Dear Lizzie 'Feather and Leaf' Sticker.  I removed the embellishments that were on it (too feminine) and added some metal bits to make it a little more masculine.

 

Close up of  image (Pinterest)

 Ingredients:

• Card stock - Bazzill
• Patterned Paper - Authentique 'Blissful' Pleasant paper (reverse side from previous card)
• Metal pieces - Tim  Holtz 'Ideaology' Foliage
• Vintaj Small Star
• Robins Nest 'Dew Drop' (in center of small flower)
• Dear Lizzy 'Feather and Leaf' embellishment sticker
• Sticker - SRM Press
• Stickles - Ranger - Mercury Glass and Cinnamon
• Brown Ink (edgings) - Stampabilities

 Notes:

• The Dear Lizzy Feather and Leaf layered sticker had a couple of jewels and a pink bow that I thought were too feminine for a masculine card, so I removed them and added some Tim Holtz and Vintaj metal pieces.  They add a great touch to this simple card.

Well, that's my three cards!  I haven't made this many cards in a long time, and it sure felt good!  I am also working on .... ummm, a couple of mini albums, and hope to show them to you one day, when they are finished.

Thanks for visiting today, and I hope to see you back here soon!  Blessings,

Sharing ... Swapping ... What I Sent To Wendy

Happy Saturday!  This morning I want to share with you the things that I sent to my 'receiving' partner for the swap at A Swap For All Seasons.  Her name is Wendy, and she lives in Iowa.  That is about all I know about Wendy, as she was not the most communicative person, which made it hard to know what to send to her.  Part of the fun, the JOY of doing this swap is getting to know someone new, and maybe even making a new friend.  My 'sending' partner, or the person who sent goodies to me, was Debbie, and we hit it off and visited via email quite a few times during this swap, and I feel as if I got to see a peek into her life in Ohio, and that was fun!

So, since I didn't know the types of things that Wendy likes, I just sent her things that I would like to receive in a swap.  As I said in the previous post, the swap was to consist of a handmade card, a handmade tag, and some yellow things from your crafting stash.  Here is what I sent to Wendy ...

Some yellow ribbons and trims, wrapped onto tags and tied together with seam binding.

Some yellow buttons, a couple of chocolate chicks, and a handmade pin cushion made from vintage chicken feed sack fabric from the 1950's.

A close-up of the pin cushion ... it is only about 2 1/2" tall.  The fabric is chicken feed sack from the chicken house we had when I was a child.  The chicken house was struck by lightening and burned down in 1958, just weeks before I turned 6 years old.  Does the ribbon look familiar?  I used some of the hand dyed seam binding that my 'sending' partner, Debbie sent me, and it was a perfect match to the fabric.  (see previous post.) 

The card and TWO tags that I made for Wendy.  The tags come with envelopes too, so that she can mail them to a friend or family member.  There's plenty of room on the back to write a quick note.  I love the image, from a vintage greeting card.

And a hand crocheted, 100% cotton dish cloth that I crocheted using two strands of yarn, one yellow and one white, and which makes the cloth very thick and heavy and great for tough jobs!

Before I packed everything up, I put it all into cellophane envelopes to protect it, then stacked it up and ...

... wrapped it all up in yellow tissue paper, wrapped it in yellow seam binding, and slipped a cute hand made tag on top, just under the seam binding.

What do you think?  How would YOU like to get this package in your mail?  I know I would, and I really hope that Wendy enjoyed opening the treasures she received.  Thanks for visiting today, and blessings!

Sharing ... Swaps ... Sandy's 521 Lake Street Valentines Swap

It had been a long time since I had done a swap, so I participated in the one at Christmas and enjoyed it very much.  So, when the Valentines swaps started popping up, I signed up for one, then a second, and then a third before finally coming to my senses!  My partner for Sandy's 521 Lake Street swap was Trisha.  We enjoyed getting to know one another via  email, and then we got busy creating our goodies for the swap.  The guidelines for this swap was ... one handmade card (new, not signed), one handmade tag, and a Valentines candy box filled with goodies from your stash.  Here is what I sent to her ...

Looking clockwise from top right, there is a cellophane envelope with some tags I made using vintage images, and a card is there to the back.  In the glassine bag on bottom right are some ribbons and lace, buttons, and die cut hearts.  Bottom left is a candy box that I altered and filled with some goodies ... more on that in the next picture.  And top left is some ribbon, white paper flowers, another tag, and some prints of vintage valentines.

And here is the heart that I altered ... and inside are some Lindor Truffles and a sun catcher made from chandelier crystals.

Now, for what she sent me ... I was so happy and excited and somewhat blown away ... Trisha, you did a great job!  You listened to what I said I liked, and really put time and thought on your choices ... thank you!

This is everything together ... so many special things!

Look at this sweet tea towel!  Those red dots will look great in my kitchen!  I love it!

Some vintage post card images, and a little organza bag with felt hearts, kraft tags, and twine so I can make my own tags.  Oh, and the little 'LOVE' cupcake picks up above.

The candy box, decorated so prettily with red and turquoise ... a favorite color combination of mine!  I love the lace and red bead trim, as well as the paper roses!  In the box is a vintage heart pin (top center), some buttons, satin ribbon roses, a couple of double heart charms, and two cute 'diamond' rings.  And a vintage wooden thread spool.  So many little treasures!

Some great looking chocolate candy ... how did she know I love milk and white chocolate together?  And some vintage playing cards ... the ones on top have Norman Rockwell pictures on them ... very sweet!

Oh, and look at this vintage Bingo card, with the '14' surrounded with a red heart, and a bunch of pretty laces wrapped around it, and all tied up with red twine.  So sweet ... and I love lace ... a lot!

And a cute handmade card ... complete with hand cut and hand decorated pink hearts, and a sweet note on the inside.

Trisha, thank  you so very much!  I love everything!  I would love to be your swap partner any time! 

And to everyone else ... thanks for visiting today ... blessings,

Sharing ... Giveaway on my Facebook Page!

Hi there!  I am so sorry for being so quiet this week, but life has been busy, and much as I would like to say my blog and Facebook page come first, I'm afraid life must come first!  We all have to make choices and usually it's the fun things that come last on the list!

I am here today to tell you about another giveaway I am having on my Facebook page!  If I can get my 'Likes' up to 100 by midnight EST on February 10th, I will give away this ...

A hand crocheted, 100% cotton dish cloth in the Valentine colors of red, pink and white, plus a yarn pom-pom garland of the same colors. Also included ...

A super cute and sparkly sun catcher made from a vintage aluminum jello mold, 20 round chandelier crystals, and one long drop crystal.  This will definitely pick up the sun and scatter it all over any room you hang it in!

SO!  Please go to my Facebook page and 'Like' it so I can give away the whole package, because ... if we don't reach the goal of 100 likes, the garland and dish cloth will still be given away, but the chandelier sun catcher must stay in my stash for a while longer!  Thank you, and many blessings,

Sharing ... A Girls Day Out, and Vintage Treasures

Hello!  I want to tell you about the really nice day I had yesterday!  I drove about 40 or so miles northwest of my home to my friend Mary Ann's new-to-her home up in the beautiful mountains of northern Georgia.  I loved her new home, just don't like that it's so far from here!  Mary Ann and I met at our local scrapbooking store (LSS) and over the last 2 or so years have become good friends.  I am most grateful for her friendship!

My friend Mary Ann in the 'craft cave' of her former home.   We were having a play date and
exploring the joys of printing with a Gelli Plate and she had her hands patterned with paint!

 
Anyway, after I had a tour of the house we took off for Lafayette (pronounced lah-fet) a little town in northwestern Georgia, a little over 100 miles from my home.  We stopped first at a sweet old house that holds a restaurant and catering service called Ivy Cottage, to have a bite of lunch.  We each had the daily special of Sour Cream Chicken over rice and two sides.  The chicken was delicious!  It was just tender stewed chicken meat in a sour cream sauce and served over white rice.  Next we headed to a vintage, junky, funky, very cool store where both Mary Ann and I have  some of our crafty things up for sale.  If you are interested in finding them, just go to Facebook and search for Heirlooms Vintage Boutique & Rentals.

I forgot to take the few new things I had made, but picked up some of the older paintings I had left up there, and a few Thanksgiving and Christmas things that didn't sell.  While we were walking around, looking at the shop and any new things that we hadn't seen, we ran up on a bowl full of the cutest little tin candy molds!  There were 20 of them, 2 each of 10 designs for $8.00!  We decided to split them up and each take one full set of ten and bring them home to see what we could make of them.  Here's a picture of all ten of the ones I brought home ...

There are round ones, square ones, oval ones, simple ones, scalloped ones, and elaborate ones!  And I love them all.  Well, except for maybe that round one on the bottom left ... it's kind of boring!  :)  So my friend and I each got exactly the same set, and all for $4 each.  And the cool part is that Mandy, owner of Heirlooms, just deducted it from our accounts on the books, so our part of them will be deducted from future sales. 

Each of these tins are tiny, as in less than two inches across.  They are mostly in good condition, although there are some bad spots, but I won't be using them to mold candy or butter or such.  Oh no!  I'll be using them in my crafting!  I see ornaments and altered items in my future.  I've been making some suncatchers from chandelier crystals (another post for another day) and I'm thinking they would be cute to put tin and crystal together!  What do you think???

Here are some individual pics of my favorites ...

I realize now that I love the oval ones!  This one above has that cute ruffly edge, and the raised 'scores' on the bottom will make a pretty ornament or altered object!

I actually love the simplicity of this oval with scalloped sides.  I'm thinking maybe I will use this one in a spoolie, as a background for a sweet vintage image.

And this square one with scallops ... very sweet!  Maybe a mini shadowbox?

And this one ... oh my!  I turned it upside down so you can see the detail.  I love this one and may have to treasure it for a while before I use it in a project!

Did you notice the fabric I used for the background?  That is one of my vintage 1950's chicken feed sacks.  It has some lovely 'Pennsylvania Dutch' images and is a nice thick woven cotton fabric.  I have a collection of these, and one of these days I will explain to you how I came to have them ... the story goes all the way back to when I was a small child!

I love my sweet little candy molds, and can't wait to get to work making some projects with them!  Do you have any suggestions for crafty ways to put these to use?  I would love to hear from you!  Blessings,