Secret Garden Book

Awhile ago my friend Barbara Parker purchased a premade unfinished box

that had a album inside.

She told me that she purchased it with me in mind, and knew I would know

what to do with it

.

 Barb I did finish it and here it is.

I hope you like it.



I used Graphic 45 Secret Garden 8" x 8" paper collection
and prima flowers.



Covered the outside of the box

and the photo album in side with the different papers
from this collection

used the embellishments from the collection on the album pages

added a hand dyed ribbon to the album

tucked the ablum back inside the box
and it was finished.


Thanks Barb for having so much confidence in me.

Get your wings

One of the ladies from my In My Vintage Room Group

gave each of the members a set

Of white angel wings and requested that we alter them in any way we choose.

My Angel Wings.

the wings I started with

I pulled out some stuff from my stash black feathers, a paper doll I made from Julie Nutting Mixed Media Stamps by Prima, Dyan Reavelys Dylusions Black Spray and some scraps of paper, some laces, brads and bling.

my original idea when I started was to use this paper doll

I have to admit my finished project was not what I originally had in mind...actually far from it. I sprayed the wings black wasn't sure this was going to work but it did. I then went back and found my G45 Steampunk Spells Papers (this is one of my very favorite papers) and choose a few different papers.

I like the way they took the spray

As you will notice I did not end up using the original paper doll I made, I ended up stamping another of the dolls image several times, fussy cutting her dress and hair from one of the sheets of paper.  I layer black lace over the dress and again fussy cut the dress from the lace and added a piece of black trim at the waist, glued it all down to the main doll.  Once I had the doll finished I then cut and layered 4 different patterned sheets of Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells papers leaving a border around each layer placing chipboard between each layer for depth. I then added lace for more texture.  Next I took the wings I sprayed black cut them in half and reversed them so the longer feathers were closer to the dolls body, I layered the black feathers on top and glued them both down.  Not quite happy with the look I pulled out some butterfly's I had and glued one to the back of the doll giving her a set of wings more dimensional . I then glued her down on top of the feathers. I used some of the embellishments I had from the Steampunk Spells line, fussy cutting both the Hot Air Balloon and the flowers from the cover of the paper pad and glued them down. I used Black Smooch on her headband and she was finished.

I plan on framing her and hanging her up in my studio.

Whimsy Character Swap

I recently hosted a swap with my In My Vintage Room and Beyond Ladies.

I decided I wanted to do something different and fun, so what I decided on was

A FUN AND WHIMSY CHARACTER SWAP

My finished Whimsy Character

What was expected was to use stuff you would normally throw out or have laying around

in your stash, to create a Fun Whimsy Character.

Some of  things I started with

 I used to make my Whimsy Character.  A empty green plastic pill bottle, paper ribbon, the plastic pieces from used up tape, left over pieces of a miniature fence, a face made from paper clay, moss, miniature wooden flower pot, sick leaves, paper flowers,  metal wings, a wooden dowel, washi tape, the metal part from a broken light bulb, a Christmas tree ornament hanger and just whatever odds and ends I thought were need to complete my character.

a work in progress

She is a work in progress, I used a Wendy Vecchi Arts Parts wooden flower as a base so she would stand. I decided to use washi tape to cover the green plastic bottle, sealed it with a product called Glue and Seal by Ranger, and glued the white picked fence on.  I punched holes near the top of the bottle and pushed a wooden dowel thru and glued the Tim Holtz Metal Wings on, and glued moss

on the back to cover the dowel.  I used the plastic tape rolls for legs, and the paper clay face for the head.  Once I had the basic body down I just started playing with what I had to embellish it.  That was the fun part, I had to tell myself to stop playing...I think she is finally finished.

Front

Their is even a Pink Flamingo

back wing

did you notice the garden tools




I am not exactly sure what she is, but I've decided to call her my Winged Garden Angel

Victoria's friends present

My niece Victoria asked me to make a gift for one of her friends birthdays, she requested a photo album like the ones I made for her awhile ago, 

So this is what I made...

Front

 I started out with a wooden purse  purchased at Michael's, and a 8x8 

Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Paper Collection Pad

 I traced a template to

create a pattern for the front and back of the purse.

Back

 At this point I then photo copied  the inside of the open purse to get the exact size,

 you also need to reduce the size by at least a 1/2" to fit nicely inside the purse.

, Once I have this I can then cut 18 pages from the papers I am using.

coordinating the inside pages (16) along with the front and back cover. (totaling 18 pages) 

Using what is call a gate fold binding,

directions and or videos can be found on You Tube to do this binding.

Note: (scoring measurements I used  2", 1/4",. 1/2", 1/2", 1/4", 2" -  

 binding is 3" wide to fit top of album leaving 1/2" on each side free)

I assemble my album by gluing 2 pages together on each gate fold, keeping patterns in mind

so that they coordinate.  (9 pages including front and back covers)

When you have the album all glued together it's time to embellish.

Completed Album and Wooden Purse

             With the album complete, I now I remove the  hinges off the top and bottom of the purse

                                                so I can paint it. Let it dry and put the them back on. 

                              Be sure to put the hinges and screws in a safe place they are small  and can get lost easily.

            Once the paint is dry, I then cut the paper for the front and back covers of the wooden purse

                                                        glue papers down, and embellish.  

 photos of some the finished pages



I used Prima flowers, Stampin Up Ribbons and hand died Ribbons
along, and Kaiser Craft chip board pieces along with other pieces
  embellishments in my stash. 

I used Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Paper Collection 8'x8'

This is the album inside the purse.


Thank you for taking the time to read this post, please contact me if you have any questions on how
to make it...It is really very easy   (approx. 3 to 4  hour  project)

Macrame Bracelets

Finished two bracelets a gift for a friend...