"Butterfly Book" GCD Spotlight

Have you ever just wanted to BANG, BANG, BANG!!! That is how I felt over the last few days, sometimes I get frustrated with things that are completely out of my control which I am sure most of us do.

Well here is a book that I did using the fabulous Chip Art tools from Melody Ross, anytime you can "Bang, Bang, Bang" it helps with frustration.

The butterfly is the coolest, I used tole painting techniques on both the cover and on the butterfly. I painted the cover black, when it was dried put crackle paint over the top, when it was set up I then paint over the top with Antique White and Mod Podge. I aloud it to dry and then antique it lightly with a watered down mix of Spice Brown paint and Mod Podge.

Here are some of the inside pages. They are 5x7. Lots of places to journal and add photos.

Check the top right page out. It has pleats, easy to do. Cut a 1x12" piece of paper and crease every 1/2" to make the pleats. I hand stitched mine with embrodiery floss but you can get the same look with a sewing machine or just put some ribbon on it. I love the new GCD Chip Art Tool and products. Their paper is the coolest, lots of really sweet embellishments, chipboard and can't for get the Mallet and metal dies to use to get lots of great impressions. If you haven't tried it you should. It is so awesome.

"Baby Girl Book and Box"

As promised from yesterday blog entry - the baby book that fits nicely inside of the beverage box. I did have to cut the front piece that seperates the two spots so I could get both the book and the rattle in the spot.

I used Pink Stitchery paper from the Homespun Chic Collection on the covers of my book. I took a white doily and sprayed it with glimmer mist, glue it to the front and cut it to fit the front cover. I used a rub on from Imaginisce "From the Heart" on white paper to go behind the Homespun Chic Layered Frames. Glue your frame to the front of your book (make sure that it glued really, really well). Once it is secured I used Glossy Accent to fill the center of the frame. I allowed mine to dry over night. It will create a glass look. I add small flowers and gemstones from Recollections once I knew that it was dry.

The inside pages are the Homespun Chic Collection Recipe Cards. I used the K&Company Suzy Ultman - Lion Steps for my months on the pages of my book. I used Homespun Chic papers and cardstock for my mats, stickers from Karen Foster Smile & Giggles Stickers, Prima flowers, American Traditions Stickers, Recollection flowers, twine, buttons, gemstones, lace, and ribbon to embellish my pages with.

After my inside pages were completed. I put my book together and added a metal tag from Flair Designs to hang off the jump rings, make sure to tie some pretty ribbons on your jump rings.

"Recycle At Its Best"

I made this sweet baby girl gift box for my GCD project this week, I have been getting a lot of things accomplished since I have been spotlighted this month on the GCD facebook. I can't thank everyone enough for all the sweet comments and visits to my blog.

I used a beverage box to make my gift box from. I covered it with papers from the Homespun Chic Collection. I used Petite Blossom, Mod Flocking and Stitchery Glitter paper and a frame from the Layered Frames embellishment. My ABC's are My Minds Eye Sophie. I also used Prima and Recollection flowers, along with some gemstones from Recollections and a lot of buttons and twine.
Here is a closer look at the details of the frame and the flowers. Homespun Chic is such a beautiful collection.

Come back tomorrow and I will share about the book that is inside the box. So simple but so cute.

Magnificent Mini Cards

Seems like the rave right now are these 3" x 3" mini cards so I made these 6 mini cards using the GCD Studios Ella Blue Collection - Raleigh, Georgia, Tara and Frances Paper.

On the first two cards I embellished using some chipboard flowers which I covered and I made the leaves by taking a 1/4" strip of paper, misting it slightly with water and wrapping it around a small wooded skewer. When dried I carefully removed and formed into a leave gluing it next to the flower. Add buttons that had been threaded with crochet thread.

The next two cards I did some simply layering, addy some brown mesh to the top of chipboard oval, some buttons and gemstones. The last two cards I used Bazzill Basics Whirlpool Gingham Strip Ribbon, an EK Success border punch; again added some gemstones and threaded buttons. Now I will tell you how to make this beautiful flower.

You will need a 1, 1 1/2, 2 and 2 1/2" circle punch, you can do it in scallop punches also. Punch one of each side, mist each piece with water. Wad each circle up to get alot of crease lines in it, the more the prettier. Allow it to dry completely, ink (I used Chestnut Roan ink). Adhere together and than and your center embellishment; gemstones, buttons, brads, etc. Hope you enjoy and try them out.

Imaginisce-August Sketch Challenge

I made this card for my take on the August Sketch challenge that was designed by Sarah De Guzman over at Imaginisce.

I chose the Splash Dance papers for my project. I used Bubble Bash, Polka Dot Bikini and Ocean Motion. I took the Ocean Motion and fussy cut my waves out to go around my 3 1/2" opening of my card. I used the Imaginisce Snag'em Stamps-Octopus, Crab and Blowfish. I colored them in using Copic Markers and gave their eyes some dimension by adding a little bit of Glossy Accents. I added some of the seashell stickers that I had left over from a previous layout.

On the inside of the card I took the Tim Holtz Cracked Embossing folder and embossed some white cardstock. I then used Rangers Juniper, Lettuce, Sandal and SnowCap Dabbers and painted over the embossing. Once it was dried than I distressed the top of the paper with Tim Holtz Broken China, Aged Mohogany and Tea Dye Distress Inks.

I cut the embossed paper up and layered it so that my images would fit nicely between the layers. I hope you enjoy my card, and try doing some layering on your next project.

Imaginisce Blog: i-rockin' a 12x12 Leather Album (and HUGE giveaway)

There is a huge giveaway over at the Imaginisce Blog. If you would love to have an I-rock I would go and visit their site

"Homespun Chic Card Tin

I made this lovely tin using the Homespun Chic Collection. Inside are two A2 cards, one 3 x3 card and a gift tag. I have them further down on the blog post.
On the top of the tin I place one of the Layered Frames from the collection and backed it with some of the Vintage Sewing Pattern paper. Love Prima Flowers so just had to add them to the top of the tin along with some bling, lace and tulle. It turned out to be a wonderful gift to give to someone special in my life.

I selected Heidi Grace's Dream stamps to use in the collection. The heart on the first card is from the Melody Ross Chip Art hearts that I covered with a piece of the Vintage Jane paper. The heart gives dimension to the card, I also took one of the Glass Paper clips and broke off the paper clip so I would be able to continue my theme on my cards and glued it to the center of one of my circles. All pieces throughout the collection is inked with Warm Red Colobox ink. On the button of the 3 x 3 card I enjoy using twine to give button character and depth as to have it just glue onto something.

On my Dream Card I stamped my image and than using my Copic Markers -R24,R27, R29 and G14 I color in my frame. I used the G14 on the borders of the other projects also; again just to give consistency to the cards and tags. I added one of the Glass Paper clips to the top of the Dream frame and placed it and the Imagine frame up on pop dots. Also placed a few of the Prima Flowers and some Kaisercraft bling to my tag. Hope you enjoy my gift tin and make a few for your gift giving.