Altered Canvas with a Vintage Look

I just realized that I forgot to post this before Christmas. I made this altered canvas for my Mum who loves daisies.  Some wall art for her crafty space.

I used some pretty lace, pages from a old novel and some vintage sheet music along with beautiful patterned paper, and some paper daisy flowers.  I stamped the flourish on the bottom and stamped and embossed the doilies in white. I distressed the canvas with Tim Holtz Tea Dye ink after mod podging everything on.
I free-hand wrote the verse in black gel pen, which reads, "Enjoy the little thinks in life...for one day you'll look back and realize they were the Big things."

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)
 

TSC43: Altered Cigar Box

 

For the challenge this month over at The Stampsmith Challenge site, our new Guest Designer, Paula Tidman has challenged us to create some art using the theme 'Alter it - Boxes, Bags or Books.'  My features an image of the lovely, Lucy.   I just love this image...she looks stunning and not at all silly like your normally remember her!

Here's a bit of an angle to better show you the gorgeous lacey pattered paper and hardware on the box.

Yes, I know this next image is upside down...I just wanted to show you a view of the back of the cigar box, so you can see the pretty sheer, gathered ribbon that's around the three sides over top of the lacey patterned paper.

I hope you decide to play along in the fun!  I can't wait to see all the different altered art!  Just remember to use at least one stamped image by The Stampsmith in order to be eligible for the draw.  :)

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)
 

TSC42: Tic Tac Toe Challenge

We have a fun "Tic Tac Toe' challenge for you this month over at The Stampsmith Challenge blog.  I opted to use a picture frame to incorporate the metal into my project, but you're welcome to do a card or whatever strikes your fancy.

Here's the Tic Tac Toe board...simple choose a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row and work with those three elements.  I chose Metal-Manly-Distressed for my project. A metal frame stand, manly image and design and a distressed crackle finish on frame.  In case you can't read the quote, it reads:

A question that 

sometimes drives 

me hazy: am I or 

are the others crazy?

~ Albert Einstein

Remember each project that contains at least one stamped image by The Stampsmith will qualify for the random draw for a gift certificate to The Stampsmith Store valued at $21.00.  I'm excited to see what everyone comes up with for this challenge since they'll all be so different. 

Happy creating!  :)
 

TSC38: Recycle/Reuse Challenge

Happy New Year!!!!!!  It's hard to believe it's 2013 already...where did the past year go?   All the best to all of you for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

It's challenge time again over at The Stampsmith Challenge and this time around we're challenging you to Recycle/Reuse something in your project.   I decided to recycle this little wooden box from Michaels into a cute little altered clutch.   Now, I just need somewhere to take it!  Perhaps it will become a jewellry box instead...

Here's a 'Before' shot of the wooden box.   I removed the elastic closure and the knob before I applied the patterned paper.

Here's a view of the top so you can see Marilyn in her glory.  :)

Here's a view of the back so you can see the beautiful lace that adorns it.

I hope you decide to play along in the fun.   You don't have to alter something like I did, just use your imagination to recycle or reuse something onto a card, if you like.   The sky's the limit.   I look forward to seeing all your creations!

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)
 

TSC37: A Handmade Holiday - Framed Home Decor

It's challenge time again over at The Stampsmith Challenge and this time around we're challenging you to create something using 'A Handmade Holiday' theme.  This can be a Christmas Tree Ornament or a piece of home decor...the sky's the limit!  I look forward to seeing what you all come up with!

I decided to make a piece of Holiday home decor, using a three picture frames.  The large one is stained using a cherry finish and the other two are little chocolate ornate frames, which I used to frame my stamped images, Holly and Grace by The Stampsmith.

I embossed the poinsettia using ivory embossing powder onto wine cardstock and cut out all the layers, finishing the flower with a pearl brad for the centre.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)
 

Altered Wooden Pencil Cup

I had fun altering this wooden pencil cup. I used a different stamped sentiment for each side and kept it simple by just adding a little ribbon around the top and bottom. I alternated the patterned paper on each side and adhered it with a glue stick, then I used Sookwang tape to adhere the grosgrain ribbon to the top and bottom. A Nestabilities die cut to do the ivory sentiment layers and I free hand cut the lime green base layers as I didn't want the layer as big as the next size die cut that I have.

 

 

I know I've been MIA lately, I've been having a lot of health problems and unfortunately I just haven't been up for crafting. I've suffered with migraines since I was quite young, but a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with Hemi-Plegic Migraines. Now, when I get a migraine, my left arm, chest and face go paralyzed and sometimes, my left leg and foot go paralyzed, as well. I'm sure you can imagine how frustrating it can be to lose the use of your body, like that. Sometimes, with very little warning. I've been on daily prescription meds for a while now as a preventative and have other meds to help with the migraines, but none of it really seems to be helping. A couple of weeks ago, I had a seizure-like episode, but this is the first one I've ever had. This is extremely concerning for me as it came on so fast. I was chatting with Jim and all of a sudden I had a feeling unlike I've ever had before. I could hear Jim talking to me for part of it, but I couldn't talk myself and couldn't move. This lasted about 45 minutes but I only remember about the first 5 minutes. Apparently, he helped me off to bed but I have absolutely no recollection of getting from the couch to my bed. Scary. I'm been tested for MS in the past and the results came back negative. So, my family doctor has referred me to see a Neurologist to see if he can provide me with any more answers. I've missed a great deal of work and I hate that. I love my job and truly want to be there. I'm overcome with guilt when I'm not there as I know my work is piling up or it's falling on to someone else who is already stretched to the limit to carry the slack. Anyway, I just want to find out if there is something more I can be doing to help the condition, or on a long shot, maybe even find some sort of cure. I'd be interested to know if anyone else out there suffers from Hemi-Plegic migraines or the symptoms I've described. I'm open to any tidbits of information. You never know it just might help.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)
 

The Many Faces of Babies Board Book

I have a fun project...but a long post...to share with you tonight. I made this little board book for one of my colleagues, she's a sweetheart and is expecting her first baby. I'm so happy for her and I thought I'd make this funny little book to showcase some of the funny faces babies make. :)

As you can see from all the pictures below, I used the entire Ooh Baby Stamp Sheet by The Stampsmith to create this cute little book.  I don't think I've ever created anything using every stamp in set, but this was a super fun project to make.  I used cereal boxes for the pages and die cut pattered paper to cover the cereal box board.   I adhered the patterned paper with a glue stick and distressed the page edges, the photostamp images and the sentiments using tea dye ink. I looked at all the images and came up with the sentiments myself.  The sentiments I chose are my interpretations of the baby expression alongside.  To finish it off, I went for a visit to my friend, Janice's and she graciously let me borrow her Bind-it-all.   Ya gotta love that little machine!  Thanks, so much, Janice!

Ooh Baby Stamp Sheet

8.5" x 11" page of sentiments to print off (.pdf format)

Holy cow that was a long post!   Lots of images to upload!  I hope you enjoyed the many faces of babies...after all laughter is the best medicine!

Thanks for stoppin' by!  :)
 

Mini Friends Album

I got together with my local crafty friends this weekend and we each made one of these mini albums. I decided to make mine into a 'Friends' album and for the tags to hold pictures of the friends who are dear to me. The pages are 6" x 6." I used patterned paper sandwiched over box board. The pages were bound with ribbon after punching the holes using a Cinch machine.

For the 'Friends' image on the front page, I used a photostamp by The Stampsmith, called Banjo Singers. It can be purchased as a single. Don't they look like they're having fun?

This shows you all the pages of the album; back and front page on the top row, 2nd and 3rd pages on the next row, 4th and 5th pages on the following row and 6th and 7th pages on the last row.
Here's a close up of the 2nd page, I'll be adding add a photo to the frame below and some journalling around the frame.

Here's the 3rd page with space for another photo.

Here's the 4th page with space for another photo.

Here's the 5th page. The pocket holds a tag for another photo and lots of room to journal in the background.

Here's the 6th page. Again, the pocket holds a tag for another photo and lots of room to journal in the background.

Here's the 6th page. Again, the pocket holds a tag for another photo and more room to journal in the background.

This is the back page of the album.

I hope you've enjoyed my album, I know I had a blast making it with my friends and I look forward to filling it with stories and photos.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)