Gift set for a client

This is the finished gift set for my client's wife. It will be her gift for their 5th wedding anniversary. I had so much fun making this lovely set. I hope that she enjoys it as well.

This is a wooden photo frame that I got at Wal Mart for 97 cents! I covered it in papers to match the paper bag mini album. I made all of those lovely roses. The little curly tendrils are just 20 gauge wire that I covered with green floral tape and then I wound them around a bamboo skewer.

This cute little heart shaped box was from Oriental Trading Company. It came in a set of a dozen assorted shapes. I chose the heart for obvious reasons. I made all of the roses and attached them with Tacky Glue. I just love that glue! I painted the edge of the lid with Picket Fence Crackle Paint because it is also used on the fence on the photo frame and throughout the paper bag mini album. I also used Walnut Stain Distress Ink to give it a more vintage feel. Thanks for taking a peek at my creations!

Handmade Gift Set

I made this lovely set as a gift for my mom for Christmas. There is a lovely photo frame that is covered in pretty paper with a coordinating paper used in the opening of the frame, a paper mache box that is covered in the same coordinating papers, and a handmade candle that also coordinates.

I chose my papers and spread Tacky Glue thinly, using an artist's knife to spread the adhesive. I then lined my paper up and smoothed it out over the frame and adhesive. I cut an "X" in the opening of the frame with my craft knife and folded each side back and adhered it to the back of the frame. I then inked all of the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I used Prima pearls. All of the roses are handmade in graduating sizes. The copper embellishment is by K & Company.

The paper mache box was covered in much the same manner as the frame, using Tacky Glue. I used a sandpaper block to "sand" away the excessive paper on the edges of the box. I then inked the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I again used Prima Pearls and the flowers are handmade.

The candle is hadnpoured and scented by me. I used the same coordinating papers cut in a strip to go around the jar. I chose to use a section of the paper that said "special moments" rather than writing on it or using alphabet stickers or other embellishments. I wanted to keep it relativley simple. I inked the edges of the paper using Walnut Stain Distress Ink and added some flatback pearls to finish it off. My mother adores her gift set. She refuses to burn the candle, though.

Beautiful Inside and Out

This is my oldest daughter, Briana. She is soon to be 16! Where has the time gone? I took this photo of her last year and just had to scrap it when I saw these lovely papers that matched it so perfectly. I made the "bling" using transparency film and pearlized fabric paint. It is time consuming, but it is less expensive than the real stuff. Also, you can find the fabric paint in lots of colors, so there is sure to be one to match your layout perfectly. I bought a bunch of those plain stick pins from an online store a while back. I used some beads from my stash to make that stick pin. The flowers are made using the retro flower punch. I find that I use it a lot. You can make so many different flowers using that one style of flower punch. There's that Martha Stewart butterfly punch again...can you tell that I really like it? I had that great black lace in my stash. I thin I got it at Wal Mart for next to nothing...really, there were like 3 yards or so for $1. I just love a great deal! Thanks for taking a peak at my creation!

Untitled Layout

This little sweetie is my niece, Hannah. I made this beautiful layout to give to my sister-in-law for her birthday. Again, I used the beautiful Pink Paislee Garden Butterfly papers. I usually make all of my embellishments, but I did use a Prima Say it in Pearls piece on this from my stash. I've had it for a while...it's probably been discontinued, lol! I cut it into smaller pieces to fit in the spaces that needed a little extra "something". All of the flowers are handmade. I used a Tim Holtz birdcage chipboard piece and painted it with copper metallic paint. Once the paint was dry, I then covered it in Crackle Accents. I used several of Martha Stewart punches (dove, classic butterfly, and rose leaf). I certainly hope that she likes it! Thanks for taking a peek!

Shabby Chic Paper Bag Album

This is a small part of a project that I am trying to get completed for a client. This is to be a 5th year wedding anniversary gift for his wife. I am also going to make a matching photo frame and a trinket box that will contain a set of handmade earrings. If you know me, you know that I LOVE all things handmade! It is so personal when you give a handmade gift. My client told me that he wanted something special for his wife. He said, "anyone can buy flowers. I want her to have something that no no else has". It surprised me because most men don't think like this...mine included. I just thought that I would share this. Thanks for looking!

The Family is One of Nature's Masterpieces

I just love these Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden papers! They are all so lovely! I made this layout as a birthday gift for my mom. Those lovely pink sprays were a gift from my friend Kay! Each of the flowers on this layout are handmade using the retro flower punches in all different sizes. I just love making those roses...it is the easiest technique that I have tried thus far. I may try to put a tutorial up showing it sometime. I trimmed the edges of those papers and then tore the edges and rolled them up a little. I then used Walnut Stain Distress Ink and inked the edges all around. I cut the little picket fence with my Sizzix Big Shot and an original Sizzix die. I used 5 flatback pearls on the circle that I cut using my Honey Bee scissors. If you know me, you know that I LOVE flowers and butterflies, so I added 3 punched butterflies using Martha Stewart's Classic Butterfly punch. I inked the edges and dressed them up with some small flat back pearls and stickles. The title is a 7 Gypsies rub on. Thanks for looking!

Shabby Chic Flower Tutorial

Supplies:
~Flower Punches in any shape & size (as long as they are graduated in size ie. small & medium, medium & large)
~Tacky Glue (or any other liquid type adhesive)
~Gesso
~Glimmer Mist (mine is handmade)
~Stiff bristle paint brush
~Soft bristle paint brush
~Paint pallette (or small cups ie. medicine cups)

Step 1: Punch 2 large and 2 small flowers with your punches from any heavy cardstock paper.

Step 2: Cover the flowers with gesso using the stiff bristle paint brush & allow to dry completely. I use my heat gun to speed up the drying time.

Step 3: Use Tacky Glue (or other liquid adhesive) to glue the flowers together, staggering the petals as you go.

You will end up with this, once you have all 4 of your flowers glued together.

Step 4: Using the end of your paint brush (or bamboo skewer), roll each of the flower petals down.

Step 5: Give your glimmer mist a good shake and then spray a little into one of the wells on your paint pallette (or small cup).

Step 6: Using the soft bristle paint brush, paint all of the petals with the glimmer mist from the middle of the flower to the outer tip of each petal. If the first coat is too light, let it dry and paint it with a second coat, or even a third if you want.

Step 7: Using the stiff bristle paint brush and a very small amount of gesso in your paint pallette or small cup, dry brush the gesso over the petals in the same motion used to paint the glimmer mist on. Allow to dry completely.

Step 8: Choose a center embellishment for your flower. I chose a flat back pearl to match my flower. I adhered it using Glossy Accents, as I have found that it holds the flat back pearls and rhinestones onto the flower best.

Viola! You have a very attractive shabby chic flower for your layouts, cards, or other altered projects.

I hope that you enjoy making them as much as I have. Thanks for checking out my tutorial!