Primrose Birdie Framed Pretty

Howdy!  I got to spend some time crafting yesterday, and well, it was very good for my soul! {smile}  Crafting, sewing, baking, and pretty packaging - all make my soul happy!  I'm not quite sure why, but the whole process of 'creating' is what makes me shine.  {smile}   I hope that you know what truly makes you 'happy' and what fuels your inner peace.  And I know I am blessed to have the time, opportunity, and 'vision' to do these things.  

I picked up two white plastic frames from Ikea, about three years ago.  Both frames are 5" x 7".  One frame is rectangular and the other one is oval.  I knew that I loved the design, but wanted to 'do' something with them.  So they sat in my stash for a  l o n g  time.  At first, I thought that they needed some paint.  Ok, spray, chalk, what?  And do I do a distress technique, or faux metal, or dry brushing, or ????  The thoughts in my head swirled at all the possibilities.  Too many ideas, it made me nauseous.  So, I focused my attention on what to put in them.  And the possibilities were endless.  I tucked the frames away in a cabinet, and moved on.  

While in Phoenix, last month, I picked up some beautiful, and I do mean beautiful fabric.  Ridiculously priced.  But drop dead gorgeous!  I picked up three different materials from the Rachel Ashwell collection.  Three different textures, and weights, and three different prints.  

here is what I did with the rectangle photo frame:

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Primrose Poplin Fabric

Recipe:  I added two pieces of blanket batting, and then one 6" x 8" piece of this beautiful shabby chic fabric!  (I washed and dried the fabric as soon as I got it home, from Phoenix.)  I didn't iron, or adhere the layers of fabric.  I wanted them to have that wrinkled, worn look to them.  

I added the only pale mint crochet doily I had in my stash.  [thank goodness, it is one of the larger ones I had.]  I tried rhinestone pendants, vintage brooches, and antique ribbon sliced.  Nothing looked 'right'.  So, I dung around in my Melissa Frances resin stash.  [I have too many pieces in this stash, as well.]  

At first I tried the bird cage, the nest, a door knocker, and then, I reached for the bird.  But it felt as though it was missing something under the branch.  I tried buttons, vintage brooches, rhinestone buttons, and then it occurred to me!  Add a door knob!  I tied 4 different ones, until I found this one! [and yes, I have a stash of door knobs - don't judge me {smile}]  *To keep the door knob from falling forward, I added two pieces of chip board to the back of this framed insert.  The screw goes through the chip board, batting, fabric and doily.  I did add some diamond glaze to the threads of the screw to help secure the door knob to the piece.  But the door knob was 'missing' something.   

I got it!  ribbon.  More specifically seam binding!  and I purchased a whole roll [yes, 125 yards, of this beautifully soft, pale, pink seam binding] while in Phoenix.  So, I made a triple bow.  I purposefully left the tails of the bow long.   I wanted them to hang over the photo space.  I wanted some bling.  I cut a 2" length from my rhinestone chain stash [I have a lot of stashes] and hot glued the rhinestones to the center of the bow.  And viola!

I am super happy with how this little project turned out.  Now, I need to start the oval frame.  {smile}

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope that I have inspired you to look at some ordinary items around your home with a 'new' eye.  Jazz-up some of those ordinary items, and make them work in your space.  This frame [along with it's other part of the pair] are to be hung in the hall bathroom.  I have decorated that space shabby chic, and very feminine.  As, I am the one who mostly uses it.  I wanted a pretty space.  {smile}

Dreamy Mint Card

I know that I have been absent lately.  Life has gotten crazy.  I went to Phoenix last week, and was gone the whole week.  I had a blast, did some junking, shopping, swimming, and spending some really great quality time with my oldest granddaughter.  These moments are precious, and don't happen often.  So, I was totally present, and we had a blast!

So, now that I am home, and back into the groove of working, and unpacked, I wanted to create something.  So, I headed to a couple of  my favorite challenge sites, and created something beautiful! {smile}

I started with a great sketch @ Mojo Monday Challenge.  And I love this current sketch.  Very user friendly, and easy to work with regardless of the pattern paper you select.

My last stop was @ Crazy 4 Challenges, to check out their current theme: use springtime flowers.  

and here is what I crafted:

First, let me give the disclaimer: this is NOT a square card.  I don't do square cards.  I know, how crazy.  But, I just don't. {frown}

The card base and the journalling card are matted with my favorite kraft card stock - Paper Studio.  I love the color.  But the weight isn't as heavy as I love, so I always add card stock to the inside of the card.  

I wanted something mint, something girl-y, something pretty, and I found a sheet of this beautiful mint and gold foil polka dot pattern paper from My Mind's Eye, from their On Trend collection.

I added a peach-pink pattern paper for the belly band.  This pattern paper is from Authentique, the Grace collection.

I added some machine stitching.  I did a double border stitch.  Nothing fancy, just super sweet.

I used a journalling card from the Coffee Break collection by Prima.  I did my hand-stamping to the journal card before I adhered it to the card front.  I used the Loving Thoughts stamp set by Stampin' Up!  I also used basic black classic ink, by Stampin' Up!  I adhered the journalling card to the front of this card with foam tape.

I wrapped some pale pink seam binding around the card front and tied a multi-loop bow.  To add some sparkle, I tied some thin gold tinsel around the bow and tied a simple bow.  I adhered a pale blue/aqua mist paper blossom to the top of the bow.

And finally, I added a black cork coffee cup to the upper right corner.  

Well, thank you for looking.  This card is actually for a very special girl friend.  We are spending a whole day crafting next weekend! and I got her a little gift. {smile}  I hope she loves it!