Rolled Bookpaper Wreath

I'm on a real roll ...... get it? Hah! Okay -- here's a fun project for ya. You need an old book and some coffee filters. Yes, you read that right! First, you take the book apart at the spine and begin rolling one sheet at a time. I simply stapled the bottom of each 'cone' because it was the quickest way to do it. And you need a jillion of these. Sorta. I just rolled them while watching TV. Multi-tasking always makes me happy.

Then I fired up the ole' hot glue gun and began adhering them to a piece of foamboard ... until it looked full enough to my liking. I was not very methodical in placing my rolled 'cones' but you could draw a circle on the foamboard to aid in perfect placement if you want to. I didn't because the inner-artist in me just wanted to wing-it! :)

Now here's where the coffee filters come in. I purchased the brown/tan ones, but I think the white ones would be pretty too. There are 7 coffee filters in the center, each one is folded 3 times and stapled, then hot glued in place. They kinda make their own fluffy fan shape, much like the big tissue paper flowers we used to do in high school for our parade floats!

I then used a little bit of diamond stickles on the edges of the coffee filter flowers to add some glitzty glam to this victorian beauty. I love it! Looks great on my wall! You could put about anything you desire in the center ... hot glue in some Christmas bulbs for a festive touch. How about pastel Easter eggs? Maybe some home-made scrunched flowers, or felt flowers, or crepe paper rosettes? Or how about an entire center made of vintage buttons?! I'm just sayin ... the sky's the limit, girlfriend!

A Little Valentine Love

I'm getting ready for our monthly swap club, and I decided that it's not too early for a little Valentine Love! It's a one-piece wall hanging (note there are two pieces showing here), cut from plain ordinary chipboard ... such as the back piece of a 12x12 stack of designer paper. After cutting the chipboard base, then I painted it with acrylic paints ... first with pink, then with gun-metal grey, then added a touch of creamy white to the center. Once dry, then I overstamped the entire piece with brown polka dots. Now all that was left to do was the fun part -- embellish!

The pleated flower medallions were made from old book paper. Then I cut a Spellbinders Labels 5 die, and embossed it with a cuttlebug folder and then touched up the embossed areas with a light blue ink pad.

A heart was the perfect center, especially with a cute little sentiment such as S.W.A.K.

I hung one on each side of the antique china cabinet in my dining room ... my mom would be pleased! The cabinet first belonged to my grandma, then to my mom, and now to me. And I cherish the memories it holds. Later this month on January 28, it will be one-year since my mom went to her heavenly home. You see that flag on top of the china cabinet? It was from mom's funeral -- she was a World War II veteran. This is a very special room in my house for sure! The last year has held many emotions for me. I miss her so. But not enough to wish her back ... heaven is lucky to have her and my dad. There is indescribable peace in knowing that Jesus welcomed them home!

So ... I'd say this is a VERY special little Valentine, wouldn't you?

More Gift Sets!

Do you get the idea that I like to create gift sets? These cards use more papertrey goodies, because I am in looove with the mat stack dies and matching stamps! It's a little hard to tell, but the paper that I used was already pre-glittery so it made for some real bling. Snazzy!

Once again, the sentiments used were a mix between Papertrey and Waltzingmouse stamps (see prior post). Hey -- they were already out on my desk so I used them!

This card is my fav! The bookends sayings is just too cute (Papertrey set All Booked Up) and the tiny paper doiley behind the mat stack is by Martha Stewart.

Wouldn't you like to get a 'Hi" card in the mail like this? I WOULD! Or ...

maybe you would rather receive a "Hello From The Heart" card like this! I heart these cards. Period.

Lace Doily Meets Cards

Just playing around ... with paper lace circles and some pretty papers. This set of cards is so so so so simple, yet so so so so elegant. That is four (4) so's! Of course, Papertrey stamps and dies make everything easier, matchy matchy-ier, and funner (I'm sure those are real words!). I did mix in a few Walzingmouse Stamps too. Love love love.

The Get Well Wishes sentiment is from Fancy Phrases by Walzingmouse - it's a real "go to" stamp set. I used Papertrey's Fillable Frames #4 die and matching stamp border, then overstamped the entire label with a misc. french script background stamp, using Smokey Grey ink by Papertry. So soft and pretty, especially with the button accents!

Have you tried Papertrey's Mat Stack collection of matching dies and coordinating stamp sets? They make e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g better! This card uses Mat Stack 1 (my personal fav)! Looks great on the lace doily!

Oh be still my heart --- this flower says love all over it! I used Beautiful Blooms II #1 and die cut several flowers, and once again I overstamped it with french script using smokey grey ink. Subtle. Nice. Leaves are from the Dahlia die and I simply hand-drew some lines on the leaves once they were cut out. The nice little squiggles are from Waltzingmouse Fancy Phrases (didn't I tell you it's a great go-to set!?) These cards are bigger than normal (5x5) and they fit perfectly inside the plastic box that your Papertrey Stamps are packaged and delivered to you in (save them!). I made two of each card, and put them with coordinating envelopes all inside the pretty case, for a great gift set. Have a great day!

Blissful Banner

This cute little banner was inspired directly from my friend, Melis, on this post. Her photo's are better, but they are almost identical. I saw it, I loved it, I wanted it, so I made it! I used small squares of burlap for the center, and layered on a white felt star and then decorated each one with some sort of glitz. The banner itself is from Papertrey's banner dies, including the trim on the top -- it's a breeze to use!

I used cream seam binding to tie the bows, and topped eat bow with a button tied on using red twine. Such a cute little Christmas-y feel to it!

The word "bliss" is spelled out on the little hang-tags. A good word, don't you think? Good for more than just the holidays .... it should be good to hang during the entire winter season!

I can see myself enjoying making banners for many more occasions!

Hope you have a BLISSful kind of day!

Christmas "Microscope Glass" Necklaces

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (belated, of course, but genuine none-the-less)! I've been truly on-the-go since Thanksgiving but I didn't want to miss posting a few goodies that I was able to work on throughout the holidays. These adorable Christmas necklaces were the perfect gifts for my precious little granddaughter and niece. Simple too. 1x1 inch memory glass and frames (by Ranger), hanging on a fan-pull chain (purchased from local hardware store), and I added a cute little crystal jewelry heart.

I used some Christmas scrapbook paper, and specifically cut out the part that I wanted to frame, and then stamped the words on there separately.

Same technique with the 1x3 glass slides and frames. I gave these as gifts to all the girls in my family when we gathered together for Thanksgiving.

I've seen these necklaces for sale on Etsy for a pretty penny, but I think these are just as cute and believe me ... they are affordable!

Since the frame simply clicks open and shut, it would be fun to cut some "interchangeable" pieces of scrapbook paper that one could simply switch out the necklace after the holidays are over. Oh, I love it!