CUPID AWAKE - VICTORIAN PAPER CONE MEDALLION

I have done several paper cone medallions using vintage sheet music and been crazy in love with the results, same here!  Inspired by a project from Lisa Pace in her book "Delight in the Seasons", I turned to using modern patterned papers (A Ladies Diary from Graphic 45) for this.

The silvery blue glittered balls in each scalloped cone (punched squares) came from my vintage holiday stash, gold glittered plastic is how they started life.  I have topped each of those with a vintage blue mercury glass corsage pin. I used a large oval die cut (Spellbinders Nestabilities I think, which I got in a package of "stuff" at a local thrift store) to cut the image. I trimmed that a bit and then hand drew a slightly larger oval pattern to create the chipboard base for the back and the top.  Hope the slight imperfections add to the vintage look LOL  A row of Copper Liquid Pears around both the image and the mat creates some additional dimension.  Prima leaves and a silky rose finish the medallion.  I will either adhere a saw tooth hanger to the back or use ribbons to hang this...depends on where it ends up and if I do the companion image :)

The "rose" I separated from some "oh to swoon over" luxe trim I recently bought in 3 different colour ways, you will see this again!

The image is a Victorian photogravure from 1897 done by M.B. Parkinson.  The companion to this one is "Cupid Asleep" which I also have.  There is a lot of information about these online if you are interested in having a look.

I am entering this in the following challenges:  The Ribbon Girl, Anything Goes Challenge, Make It Monday, Cuttlebug Mania, All You Need Is Love

VINTAGE CHOCOLATE BOX (REFURBISHED)

Refurbished....gives me a good feeling.  This sweet but oh so shabby vintage chocolate box was tucked into my stash several years ago.  The top was peeled half off and cracked across one side so I started by removing it completely and tracing a new backing from thin chipboard.  Distress Ink in Festive Berry gave life to many of the nibbles and nicks all around.  I adhered a line of red gathered tulle trim  to the box before attaching the top and it's new backing.  I created more interest on the border using both Christmas Red and Platinum Stickles and a bit of Opal Liquid Pearls.  I am happy to give what was a simple little box a few more years to be enjoyed.

OUT OF THE SCRAP BAG - VALENTINE TAGS

I sat down earlier this week with my bag of Valentine scraps to make a few tags.  Some of the bits have been around for a few years so I won't try to identify their origin.  I have been doing a number of variations on the same themes or structures lately so it was time to push bits around a bit and see what happened.

Note:  I have looped a bit of ribbon through the tags only for the pictures.  I find it much easier to store my tags without ribbon and do that as I use them.

VALENTINE THEMED PAPER RIBBON WREATH

Not tired of these yet and yes likely I will do one for each holiday LOL  To add a bit of "shabby chic" I distressed each of the paper strips in my new "Distress It All" (love this little machine!), a cocoa coloured chalk finish ink on the paper edges and then on the tops of the ribbons and trim.   I used;  an 8.5 inch styrofoam wreath,  Martha Stewart's "Enchanted Woodland" patterned papers, a vintage ribbon rose, pale pink Valentine picks, fabric leaves, paper doily, punched scalloped heart, gold foil greeting, white Belgian lace, wired ribbon and edged all the ends with Platinum Stickles.

Also entered into the following challenges;  #174 Make It Monday, #87 Really Reasonable Ribbon Ramblings, Two Creative Chicks    Please do go and check out the challenges, there is lots of time for you to join in!

Tracey of  My Creative Place and DT member at Make It Monday chose this as her Pick of the Week (POTW) !!!  Thank you Tracey!

MY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES CHALLENGES (JAN 16/2014) - "ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS"

Yippee, it is time for the 2nd  "My Artistic Adventures Challenges"!  Heather has made it so easy for us with her "On the First Day of Christmas" theme.  If you are just getting your head wrapped around crafting in 2014 check out this new crafting challenge rules here!  She has put together an incredible design team, you will certainly be inspired!  I feel so fortunate to be working with this talented bunch.

"On the First Day of Christmas" I dreamt of snow falling and pretty little bluebirds eating the holly berries just outside my window.

Heather's Bluebirds Music Tags collage sheet is what I built this tag on.  I adore the serenity I feel just looking at this image, the perfect vintage holiday of my dreams.  I have carried over this inspiration from my own Christmas In the Bank post.

To start I covered a larger #8 manila tag with a Graphic 45 paper, then popped up the music background from the collage sheet and popped the bluebird image on top of that.  Tip:  create a lot of basic dimension when you want to go over the top with your embellishments.

Trims from my stash included the cream pom poms, silver metallic rick rack, silver "feather" rope, seam binding (bow made with my Mini BowDabra), feathers, a paper rosebud and vintage blue glass beads which I "liberated" from a strung garland.  Soft blue chalk ink on the rose and then blue, red and silver Stickles to finish.

In keeping with another of my goals for 2014, I used the pieces left from this and my Christmas In the Bank project to create two more holiday tags.  I will add ribbons when I use these, love building up my stash!

Note:   I have entered my tag in the ABC Christmas Challenge, Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge

JOYFUL WISHES - PAPER WREATH

In keeping with my goal of crafting Christmas throughout the year..

I have been doing these paper wreaths with different themes since last summer.  It started with a birthday wreath, then I did quite a few fall/halloween versions some of which I posted, I have patriotic and beach themed ones waiting for me to get back to them :)

This one is built on a 8.5 inch styrofoam wreath and paper strips 10 x 1 and 3/4 inches.  I used Graphic 45's Christmas Past for most of the papers on this one.  From my stash;  vintage plastic snowflakes, flowers, sparkly leaves,  stickers and a lot of (mostly) Platinum Stickles.  These are very light, I have used E6000 t0 glue a sawtooth picture hanger on the back to hang it.

Note:  Done this size it can be stored in a pizza box.

Thanks for having a look!

Note:  I have entered my wreath in the ABC Christmas Challenge, CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge

VALENTINE NUT CUP - MINE

Lots of time still to craft for Valentines Day.  A slightly different version of my first nut cup.  Two frilly frou frou girly now, need to think out a couple of sweet but boyish versions.

A bit of red tinsel this time for the basket handle, felt heart & key, mini roses each wrapped in tulle, red crepe paper ruffled around the basket, white Dresden trim and Heathers collage sheet Romantic Focals.

CHRISTMAS IN THE BANK (01/2014) a

It's time to start thinking about Christmas!  I know you are rolling your eyes and groaning but honestly if you do a bit each month along the way you will be ready.  I am not going to offer challenges this year but try and keep to my goal of crafting Christmas continually throughout the year and sharing my ideas with you.  I would love to hear what you are doing!

I fell in love with Graphic 45's "Twelve Days of Christmas" and plan to use that throughout the year.  My first project is what I call a mini/mini.  It's more than a card but less than a typical mini album.  I have used two paper bags and bound it with my Bind It All.

The cover background is "My True Love", inside I have used "Joyeux Noel", the first day tag and an assortment of scraps from other G45 papers (one of the great things about G45 is the ability to mix a lot of the basics).  I have left the inside free of embellishment so that it can be personalized at the time of gifting.  I will tuck in a few scraps so they don't get misplaced or used elsewhere.  I have used a vintage snowflake as the element to build the cover upon.  Yes, I am going to use my vintage holiday stash this year!  I love the mini bottle brush tree.  (use E6000 glue)

CHRISTMAS IN THE BANK (JAN 12, 2014) b

When I started Christmas In The Bank in 2013,  my friend Heather created the  Blue Birds Music Tags  collage sheet specially for her contribution and it inspired this project.  Of course it had to be an origami box because I am obsessed with those right now LOL  

Again I have used Graphic 45 papers for the box; "Extravaganza" from Le Cirque and "The Night Before Christmas" from Christmas Past.  Trims, flowers, feathers (lots of feathers!), sprays and vintage beads and balls from my stash.  No restraint practiced here! I have glittered up the tiniest of the tags from the collage sheet to use, you will see my more extravagant version of this tag in Heather's next Artistic Adventures Challenge. on January 16th.

Note:  I have entered my origami box in the ABC Christmas Challenge, CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge

VALENTINE "LOVE" NUT CUP

Nut cups!  This has been on my crafting bucket list for ages.  Those of us "of a certain age" will remember these at the table for any important event.  Usually filled with jelly beans or other small treats, it was a disappointment to find peanuts in there!  Mom always brought home the special ones for me,  I thought they were oh so fancy.

The acrylic handled basket this is built on was a gift from my crafty friend Marilyn aka Busy Martha!  The large patterned heart, the text box and my sweet little cupid are images from Heather of "My Artistic Adventures".  Check out Heather's Etsy shop she has been busy!

The basket handle actually has a clown on it so I have built my embellishment to sandwich that out of sight. A couple of red sparkled chipboard hearts are stuck back to back along with the patterned heart and some teeny buds and roses.  Red and pink crepe paper are ruffled around the bottom, topped with some red Dresden trim, a bit of white ribbon and a teeny sparkly heart.  I printed the collage sheet out 2x on one letter sized sheet of paper to get the right size, plenty of left overs for more nut cups!

VALENTINE ORIGAMI BOX 2

I do adore crafting holiday projects!  Like no other holiday throughout the year, Valentine's Day inspires me to "more" - more glitter, more ribbon, more flowers, more frou frou of all manner.  Though this particular project is rather restrained considering.(I am thinking over a Valentine's theme in my pink and red guestroom..will let you know how that goes :)  You can find the video link for Christina Griffith's origami box here.

The base papers are again from an older Making Memories line featuring pinks, reds and craft tones.  A MS punch for the craft hearts, vintage packet of red piping, vintage millinery posies, roses, red seam binding, ribbon, lace and Felt Fusion (Queen & Co) from my stash were used here.

VALENTINE ORIGAMI BOX

An entry at Make It Monday last week lead me to discover Christina Griffiths and the "Origami Box" .. .thank you Margaret!  I can't stop making the boxes..

My first one had to be Valentines!  The bottom is made from one sheet of 12x12 pp, the top and inside bits part of another.  I have used Making Memories "Lovestruck", it's an older pattern that I particularly like.

The box is quite sturdy, great for a special gift or decor item.  Do check out Christina's video which I have linked up for you below.

Here is Christina Griffith's video showing you how to make the base, you can find the next video for the top from here.

 PS  I am entering this project in the challenges at The Shabby Tea Room, Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings and Make It Monday.

MY ARTISTIC GOALS FOR 2014 (NOT RESOLUTIONS!)

Life has really changed for me in the last year, I struggled with leaving my career for health reasons and I have had to make my health the first priority.   It took me awhile but I have accepted that this new life is what it is and it is time to move on gracefully.  

Accepting Heather's offer to be a member of  her design team (My Artistic Adventures Challenges) fits well into the rather vague ideas  I have had in the last while.  I am going to start the year by trying to; get back into creating in an organized way, reconnecting with other creative souls, making use of the incredible stash I have collected over the years and get back to creating Christmas throughout the year. 

One of the best pieces of advice I have read is to create more than one piece at at time by using the leftovers of the project you have just completed.  Like most of you I am sure, I save all the bits and bobs ...for years and often don't get back to them.

I used two copies of the Hugs and Pooches collage sheet to create my Valentine Spoolie so I had a fair amount of material to work with.  I found the pink stripped tag, card stock and patterned paper in my scrap box.  I purposefully looked for small pieces of trim and ribbon to use.  The last piece of music background I punched into small hearts which I will use on the back and inside of the pieces and the envelope.

I have often given the advice "start as you mean to continue"...taking my own advice.

MY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES CHALLENGES (January 2, 2014) A VALENTINE SPOOLIE

I adore crafting holiday projects, so I am tickled "pink and red" that Heather's first My Artistic Adventures Challenge has a Valentine's theme!   What?  You missed the news...click here.

I have used her "Hugs and Pooches" collage sheet images for my Valentine Spoolie.  I printed the sheet out 2x so that I could pop up the pug (how many times can you say "pop up the pug").  Using the larger heart image, I traced around it onto the large music square to create a frame and used the same on the 2nd sheet to create a nicely finished back.  I did pop up the image on the frame, along with the "14" square I created from the scraps.  Lots of Stickles in pink, red and platinum - get your glitter on girl!

A scrap of the music paper covers the middle of the wooden spool, the edges are finished with a creamy trim and a fine red braid on top of that.  This all sits upon a base fashioned using a vintage heart shaped jello mold which I didn't intend to completely cover but you know how that goes.  Layers of pink trims create a sweet skirt. The final steps were creating the flower arrangements.

Tip:  I have been using E600 glue for mixed media pieces this last year and find that it well and truly holds even when I have sent projects through the mail.  It sets up fairly quickly and has substance which is often helpful.

This little over the top piece is destined for my red guestroom which has been newly "shabbified" with a LOT of pink rose garlands.

I hope you will feel inspired to come adventuring with us at My Artistic Adventures Challenges, come on over and check out all of the fabulous projects!

Note:  I am also entering this at Make It Monday and Really Reasonable Ribbons

Michelle of Pink Paper Paradise and DT member at Make It Monday chose this as her Pick of the Week!  Thanks Michelle!