Doll House Bedroom Set

Hello friends!  Have you seen the new collection, "Little Darlings", by Graphic 45?  As soon as I saw the sneak peeks of this line, I knew it would become a favorite.  I actually drove for 6 hours in snow and ice to get my little hands on this!  I had no idea of the weather forecast when I took off for Archivers in Des Moines, IA...but I have it now and I made sure I bought plenty to last me for awhile.  LOL!
It was well worth the trip and I've made several projects already.  I've used Really Reasonable Ribbon, Beatrice White Crocheted Lace for the trim on the bed.
OH!  Some great news!  Bonnie at Really Reasonable Ribbon is having a 3 Day SALE!  The more you buy, the more you save...woo-hooo!

Night Stand and Frame

See why I'm smitten with this line?  Every single paper in this collection is just gorgeous!

A Vintage Spring

Hello friends!  Hop on over to the Glue Arts blog where we're celebrating Spring!  Kristen and I are sharing some home decor pieces.  Mine is a star pillow, all dressed up in vintage.  I've added some Graphic 45 Butterflies from "The Olde Curiosity Shoppe" collection.  I used some un-traditional Spring colors for my project so I can keep it out year around.

Exquisite Shrine Necklace

Hello friends!  I sure am glad I ordered more of these Shrines from Retro Cafe Art.  They are made by Coffee Break Designs and I think I may be addicted to creating with these little wonders!  LOL!  The beautiful woman image is Hampton Art and it's one of my all time favorites!  I've heat embossed the image with Black Embossing Powder and the Shrine with Silver Embossing Powder by WOW! Embossing Powders.  The metal "Together Forever" is making memories.

Glue Arts Teams Up With Tsukineko and Curiousity Vintage Shrine with G45

Hello friends!  I have a couple projects to share today.  The first is an Artful Kit made using Graphic 45, "Little Darlings".  This is posted on the Glue Arts blog today and I'd love to have you visit and see all the fine details :)  The case is a vintage projector case and it works well to hold a lot of embellishments such as buttons, ribbons, trims and glitter.  The ink around the edges is Tangelo Memento Dye ink by Tsukineko.

Hope you'll hop over to Glue Arts and visit me there :)

Now for the second project...It a Curiousity Vintage Shrine.  I bought these shrines through Stampington and Company and they are also available through Retro Cafe Art.  I did hop over to Retro Cafe Art and order some more because I'm loving them!  LOL!

I've used Graphic 45, Olde Curiousity Shoppe papers and WOW! Gold Rich Pale Embossing Powder.  The little charm at the bottom is 7 Gypsies.  The shrines are made by Coffee Break Designs.

"Olde Curiousity Shoppe" Pennant

Hello friends!  I've been playing with my "Olde Curiousity Shoppe" cardstock by Graphic 45!  I ordered some Mini Shrines and Mini Houses that are made by Coffee Break Designs and sold at Stampington and Company Shoppe.  These are the cutest mini's!
Here's the Shrines and Mini Houses

I decided to make a pennant and have used the base of the house as a frame for an additional piece.  Perfect to hold a metal butterfly!

The back

The side

Butterfly Garden In A Vintage Skate

Hello friends!  I just want to let you know up front...that I have been playing with  my "Tinker Toys" again!  LOL!  I was looking through my Graphic 45, "Olde Curiousity Shoppe" collection and found the perfect inspiration for my newest project.  "Butterfly Garden In A Vintage Skate".
Here's a peek at the paper that inspired me :)

The Vintage skate is beautiful with the ever so vivid peacock feathers.  So, here's where I began the journey with my Tinker Toys!  I had a ceramic shoe, peacock feathers, moss, G45 Butterflies, Embossing Powder, paint, Tinker Toys, and a vintage typewriter (YES!  That is what the tinker toy skates are attached to...a piece from a typewriter.

Tinker Toy Close Up

Butterfly Garden Close Up

The little rollers for the skates.  I've used G45, Metal Brads in the center of each roller.

Painted balck and embossed using, Rich Gold Pale by WOW!

So, there you have it!  My Altered Mind never rests :)

Copper Kettle Time Machine

Hello friends!   I wanted  to share my "Copper Kettle Time Machine"  The Copper Kettle Collection is one of my favorites and I love the rich earth-tone palette.  I've used Copper Kettle, Garden Bag o' Chips The beautiful gate is in this set),These are the best of times, Color vellum.  The paper mache books and clock mechanics can be purchased at Hobby Lobby.  I painted the paper mache book with black acrylic paint and then covered it with Copper Kettle papers.  I've heat embossed the gate using Gold Embossing Powder.  On the inside, I added the "Best of times" Vellum over the paper.  I've added some florals on the cover.

Wind Her Up!

Hello friends!  You know the energy drink can that I altered recently?  Well, while snooping around in the knob section at Hobby Lobby, I found these great little knobs that I thought would be a perfect addition to my "Olde Curiousity Shoppe" (G45) lady.  I added a knob, G45 key and a frame at the bottom. The can and part of the image have been heat embossed with Copper Embossing Powder by WOW!  Inked with Stazon, Metallic Copper.

A few closeups

Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog Hop

Hello friends!  It's time for another blog hop with Really Reasonable Ribbon!  I love the soft, spring like colors of the Ribbon Assortment this month.  I decided to use  a vintage wooden spool and a glass votive holder for my project. 

You should be arriving from Gloria's blog.  The hop officially starts at 7:30 EST.

I've  used the club assortment on the spool. I've cut out a bird pattern using Graphic 45, Once Upon a Springtime,  added some fiber fill and sewed around the edges and added a white leaf for the wing.    I love the soft subtle green tint of the glass votive holder.

Your next stop will be Emily's blog.

A Little Retro: Peace Man

Hello friends!  I couldn't help but to give my post the name "Peace Man!"  LOL!  Every time I look at my new retro lamp, it brings back childhood memories of mom sewing us girls Peace sign smocks.  Anyone remember these?  Anyway, I bought the lamp at an antique shoppe and it was originally a 7-Up soda can.  I decided to add some Graphic 45, "Olde Curiousity Shoppe, Optical Oddities" paper, a metal frame and number (Tim Holtz) and some chipboard wings by Basically Bare.  I've embossed the wings with black and silver WOW! embossing powder.

Cool, huh?

WOW! Metal Flowers

Hello friends! Today I wanted  to share a "Metal Flower" technique that is also posted on the WOW! blog today.   They're actually aluminum as they are made using Pepsi cans.  YES!  If you have Sizzix or Accucut flower dies, it works like a dream.  I don't know how this would work with other dies or diecut systems.  I've used Tattered Florals, Sizzix Die and Accucut Diecut System. and WOW!  Rich Gold Pale Embossing Powder.

The two flowers near the top have one coat of embossing powder.  Notice on the bottom flower, I used 2 coats and it caused the embossing powder to crack.  I like the look of both but if you don't like the cracked look, one coat will suffice.

Another close up.

Use caution as these are aluminum and the edges may be sharp.

Here's how to make your own.

Start with an aluminum can.  I used wire cutters to cut through where the drink hole was.  Scissors work well for the rest of the cutting on the can.

Cut the top and bottom off the can.  You'll end up with a rectangular piece that is ready to diecut.

Diecut flowers.

Using VersaMark Pigment Pad rub the entire surface of the flower, sprinkle with embossing powder and heat emboss.

Repeat these steps for each flower.

Using a paint brush handle, curl the petals.

Use Helmar 450 Quick dry in between the layers of the flower.

Add a bead or pearl to the center, if desired.

Easy Peasy, huh?  Now you can make your own metal flowers!  The best part is, it's eco-friendly and costs very little :)  Let me know if you give it a try...I'd love to see :)

Necklace With Quick Quotes

Hello friends!  Today I wanted to share a fun, steampunk style necklace. I've used Maraschino Cherry Powder Puff Chalking Ink on the Chipboard Gears.  On the large gear, the ink was applied directly to the chipboard gear.  The small gear has been painted with White Gesso and then inked.  The paper that's used as a backdrop is Tin Type.

I bought a necklace kit and the chain at our local Dollar Store.  The large center piece of the necklace was part of the kit.  It's layered on the large gear and adhered with Quick Dry adhesive.  The small gear is layered on top of the center piece.  The little rust colored bulb was purchased in the Auto Department and I've wrapped silver wire around the base of the bulb.  Using the chain fron the original kit, I've added a layer of chain near the bottom of the necklace.

Graphic 45 Design Team Finalist and Winner of Berry 71 Bleu Challenge! Fairy Album

Hello friends!  I got some happy mail this morning and I am so darn excited!  I am one of the 30 Finalist for Graphic 45 Design Team Auditions!  WOW!  Thank you G45!  Please wish me luck on the final round :)  This team would be a dream come true :)
 In other exciting news... from Marivic at Berry 71 Blue.  I'm the February challenge winner with my Fairy Album!  To save you from looking at older posts, here's a few of the pages.All the papers are Graphic 45, "Once Upon a Springtime" collection.

Have a peek at my prize...love all these goodies!  Just my style!  Looks like I'll be having some fun with these!

OH!  If you'd like to join in on the March fun, the sponsor at Berry 71 Bleu is "Once Upon a Sketch".  It's all about you and the theme is something you're good at!  Here's what's up for grabs for the March winner.

So how 'bout it?  Do you enjoy sketches?  If so, be sure to check out the sketch at Berry 71 Bleu!

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge: Monochromatic Green

Hello friends!  Really Reasonable Ribbon has a fun challenge of  "Monochromatic Green".  I decided to make a Leprechaun Cottage for my project.  I've used the Club Assortment Ribbons and a Tattered Florals die to make my mini shamrocks.  Sure hope you can find some time to participate in this fun challenge!  Be sure to check out Really Reasonable Ramblings for some fun projects!

The cute little Leprechaun's are free internet images.