De Paris Avec Amour LO

Here's my layout for the Salem Craft Warehouse Scrapbook Club.  For February we were given a few pieces of patterned paper from Authentique's Lovely collection, a piece of red cardstock and a length of black and white baker's twine.  The challenge is to create a layout using at least a portion of each of the items provided. 

 

 

For this paticular layout I actually used all the patterened paper as is, no trimming was neccessary.  The only trimming I did was on the photo to fit on the patterned paper that I used to mat it.  I used a mix of foam & sticker alpha's and I inked the white foam "paris" with cranberry ink from Close to My Heart.  The stitched hearts were made using my sew easy tool from We R Memory Keepers.

Thanks for looking ~ Michelle

An Accountant's Valentine

I know it's a bit after Valentine's Day but with the chaos of family visiting and my daughter's birthday party this is my first chance to post this.  I wanted to make my husband a special valentine this year and since he is accounting I thought it'd be fun to make a card geared toward his specialty. 

 

It's a simple card, with a cardstock base and a couple layers of patterned paper from Bo Bunny's Love Letters line.  I used some Thickers to make the calculator keypad and replaced the bottom keys with I love you.  I attached the Thickers to a piece of cardstock first and then attached that to the card base.  Then I fussy cut a heart and attached with pop up adhesive over the 0.

 

 

On the inside a I printed a poem on vellum and layered it over some patterned paper.  I attached it to the card base with brads.

 

Thanks for looking ~ Michelle

 

Valentine Keepsake Box

If you are like me you have a stash of alterable items in tub just waiting to be decorated.  I love unfinished wood items, frames, paper mache items, etc that I pick up at craft stores.  I also find unique one of a kind pieces at garage or estate sales.  This last summer I found this heart shaped wood box at a garage sale.  It's been sitting there just waiting to be decorated. 

 

First I removed the hinges to I could cover the top without any extra trimming.  Once removed I used a Tim Holtz, distress stain in aged mahogany to cover the sides and the edges.  I love the distress stain to use on wood in place of paint.  It's quick and easy, though it can be a little messy.  I then covered the top with patterened paper from Bo Bunny's, Love Letter's line.  Attach the paper using Beacon's 3 in 1 adhesive.  Trim any excess paper and then cover the paper edges with a bit of the distress stain or matching ink.  Replace the hinges and you have a cute box.

 

Here's a look at the inside of the box.  See how nice the distress stain is on the wood.

 

 

 I added a few embellishments to the top by cutting out a banner piece from the patterned paper and mounting it on a custom cut piece to mat it to stand out more against the background.  It is attached with pop up adhesive. 

I created the flowers using several coordinating papers that I ran through my big shot using the Tim Holtz tattered flower garland die, I layered several flowers together and secured them together with a glittery brad from We R Memory Keepers.  Attach using Beacon's 3 in 1.  I also attached a small handle at the tip of the heart to make it easy to open.  Just use a bit of Beacon's to attach.

Thanks for looking ~ Michelle

Altered Journal Sketch Book

Here is one of my lastest projects, an altered journal.  I used Bo Bunny's, Sweet Tooth line to make this book to keep images / sketches of layouts for inspiration.  If you're like me, you have a stash of magazines sitting on your shelf.  I really don't have the space to save every single magazine so I wanted to take the pieces that I thought I would reference again in the future and have them in one condensed location. This is one of several that I'm making.

I fussy cut the scallop shape in the center, the sweet sentiment and all the cupcakes, cakes, and ice cream.  The Recipe for Sketches is a 3 dimensional sticker from the collection that I altered with alphabet stickers for the word sketches.  Now I just have to add the inspirational pieces inside.

Thanks for looking ~ Michelle

Oriental Orchids Cross Stitch

For Christmas a year ago (2011) I planned on giving this cross stitch piece to my husband.  But with two little ones in tow most of the time, I just never got it done.  Over a year later, I finally have it finished.  This year I made a pact with myself to get all my unfinished projects done before I start any more projects.  This is the first one off the list. 

 It is from a kit by Dimensions that I purchased at Joann's.  Unfortunately, I had to go buy some additioinal gold floss as it did not include enough.  It was worth it though to have it done. Here's a different angle below.

Now on to the next project! Thanks for looking ~ Michelle