Treasures Past - Petaloo

It wasn't so long ago that when the holidays came around people dressed up their everyday items instead of buying things to decorate with.  I was thinking of watching old movies and seeing women pulling boxes out from their hope chests; boxes that held treasured memories and trinkets.  That thought was the inspiration behind this altered box. 

I took a plain box and painted it with crackle paint and then used an ephemera pack to create a collage around the box.

Would you look at those poinsettias!  They are so beautiful and I decided to cluster them around a cream mixed bloom to help them pop!  I added those gorgeous green Velvet Berry Picks to fill out the cluster a bit more and bordered the whole thing with that fabulous green Canterbury Vine spray.

I tore and distressed some kraft resist paper and using a stencil I added some molding paste to decorate the top.  

I also created a cracked glass tag to help give it a more vintage and worn feel.

I don't know why but when I look at this I think of Judy Garland in Meet Me In St. Louis when she was singing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

Supplies Used:

Chantilly Poinsettias in red

Chantilly Velvet Berry Picks in green

FloraDoodles Mixed Blooms in cream

Canterbury Vine Spray in green

Here is a card I made using the same Poinsettias and Velvet Berry picks.

Supplies Used:

Chantilly Poinsettias in Red

Chantilly Velvet Berry Picks in Red

Chantilly Velvet Hydrangeas

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Hugs, Lisa

Swirlydoos June Reveal - Through The Looking Glass

What a kit we received this month! O.M.G!  The main kit was stuffed with so many extras this month; the embellishment add-on is outrageous, the flowers are off-the-hook and the technique add on contained LaBlanche stamps and paper and.....holy cow!  So many things and not enough room to mention them.  The paper in this month's kit includes Bo Bunny's Timepiece and My Mind's Eye Stella Rose.  We have subscribers that request a more "manly" kit every now and then and I think this kit fits that bill.  For me though, it took on more of an Americana feel.

This page includes a photo of my DD at the fair a few years back.  She was hugging a Living Statue.  These performers are pretty incredible; not only do they act like statues but they really do look like a statue.  The look on the performer's face in the photo is one of contentment with a Mona Lisa smile.  If you could see this up close and in person, it would tug at your heart strings....trust me.  I LOVE the script paper from My Mind's Eye!!!  I found myself wanting to hoard it. :)  It is kind of hard to see, but I tore the script paper horizontally and then I actually burned it...using a real flame!  I love the look of burnt paper. 

 

I handmade the pink flowers using some of the card stock that came in the kit.  BTW, the card stock was yellow.  I will be teaching this flower technique at Miss Art's Papercrafting School in July!

 I love this box!  In the embellishment kit we received some kraft glassine paper (Tim Holtz), along with some of his metal ink pen tips, mini light bulbs, a mini pocket watch, some keys....a lot of stuff!  I knew instantly that I wanted to take that $1 box I bought at my LSS and alter it.  The only items not from this month's kit are the metal feet, the key hole, and the material needed to make the big pink-ish flower.  It reminds me of a Revolutionary War chest.

After I covered the box in paper, I used one of the stamps that came in the main kit (a burlap-texture) and stamped all over the paper.  Then, I took a stencil from the embellishment kit and added some clock faces and numbers all over the box.  I took the chain that came in the add on kit and draped it around the box top.

 I tore one of the kit papers that has a map on it and added it to the top.  I crinkled and cut down the glassine paper to make that mini envelope.  I used Pearl Fixative Alcohol Ink to color the heart on the key and glued the other pieces down.  I made the large flower (another one that I will be teaching at Miss Art's in July).  Isn't that big blue ribbon awesome!!

This is for this month's sketch.  The photos are of my DH and he made me promise not to add too many flowers and NO butterflies to his page.  LOL!!  It is still killing me not to add butterflies on this page.  But....a promise is a promise *said through my gritted teeth* LOL

 I decided to double mat the photos and try to make some old photo corners by ripping some paper by hand.  I used the dark blue Stickles that came in the kit to dress up the corners.  I really love the Paper Rosette Sizzix die.  I decided to make my own ticket and added it to the top of the flower.

 We received some Tattered Angels Glimmer Glass in the kit too.  I took some white Staz On ink and colored in the word on the balloon so that it would stand out.  I took apart the chipboard watch with the "R" in it and I used some Lindy's Stamp Gang embossing powder.  These powders are too cool!  Just like her mists, these embossing powders are two-toned when they melt.  This one has blue and gold.

 This page is a bit different for me.  I decided that a high contrast b&w photo would look really good with these papers.  I off set the mat behind it and used another stamp that came in the main kit to create a border around my black card stock.

 I used a Spellbinders Heart die and then dry brushed some white paint across it to highlight the embossing.  I layered it over a piece of Gimmer Glass. 

 We received a very cool transparency sheet from Kanban.  It had embossed and glittered shapes all over it.  I fussy cut out one of the shapes and created a flower out of it.  I placed a gorgeous red rose in the center.

Phew!  I got a lot of mileage out of this kit and created some very different looking projects.   I hope you were inspired by something I created from this month's kit.  Thank you so very much for stopping by.  I appreciate your support!

XO, Lisa

Altered Chest of Drawers

The Technique Kit that was offered with our March Swirlydoos kit was this lovely chest of drawers made by Kaiser Craft.  I really had a great time making this. 

While I was working on this it took on a life of its own. I had plans to make this lavish and lush little chest of drawers, but once I saw the text paper that came in the kit everything went out the window. My personal (home) style is very laid back and casual. I live in a house that was built in the late 1790's by farmers, so it is very simple. This chest of drawers more matches my style; vintage, warm and little worn by time.

I went with crackle paint that I inked with vintage photo and peeled paint. Misted it with water so that the ink could get into the cracks.   I also added alcohol ink to two of those cute little bottles so that they stood out a little bit more; more like depression glass.

I used sterling silver embossing powder and yellow perfect pearls on the candelabra.




















Then I took an old lapel pin and made a mold for UTEE. I poured bronze UTEE into the molds and when they came out I used Emerald and Pearl Perfect Pearls powder to age them so that they matched the really cute little pocket watch.

I am using mine for odds and ends from my scrap table. Things like small transparencies that I have stamped, extra flowers from cutting dies, and small DA pieces. Here's to hoping that my cats don't destroy it!

I hope that I have inspired you to give this a try.  The Technique Kit comes with the chest, patterned paper (not just what you see on mine), coordinating colored paper, velvet paper, pearls, the pocket watch, little glass vials, the candelabra, the dangling jewels and more!!!! Hop on over to Swirlydoos and snag one.


Thanks so much for stopping by!!!  

XO, Lisa

Swirlydoos Reveal Day!!!!!

Today is reveal day for Swirlydoos February kit, Things Remembered.  This month we are treated to Grandmother's Attic from TPC Studios, mixed with a little Core'dinations and Making Memories, stunning flowers, rub ons, jewels and embellishments. Top that off with the stunning Add On packages that all coordinate with the main kit and you have a GIANT kit that will blow you away!!! Some of the subscribers talk about laying everything out on their bed and then rolling in it!  LOL  Guess what, I believe them.

The picture was taken a few years ago while we were camping.  The camp had a lot of lake frontage.  Some of the prettiest sunsets I have ever seen were on Lake Ontario, and this is one of them.

Swirlydoos is now partnered up with Dusty Attic!  We are always treated with such yummy DA pieces.  I love the way this gorgeous piece of Dusty Attic turned out.  I painted it with Claudine Hellmuth's Blank Canvas acrylic paint; then I used one of the rub ons that came with our kit.  I fit nearly perfectly.  Then I went over the edges with some Vintage Photo Distress ink.  I added a few butterflies that were also a part of the pack of rub ons we received.  I have a thing for butterflies.  I've tried not to add them to a page, but I always end up putting one on there.

I added some lace and I fussy cut a section from one of the coordinating papers in our kit.  I finished it off with some Liquid Pearls and a butterfly that Lisa Gregory color coordinates for every kit.

This page is for this month's sketch by Beggahuna.  I kept it simple.  I used some Core'dinations cardstock that came with the kit as part of my background.  I misted some white Petaloo flowers , that came in the kit, with Perfect Pearls Mist and then distressed the edges and crinkled up the petals.  I took another piece of Core'dinations card stock and fussy cut the clock faces to be used as the flower center.

I stamped on my photo and behind my flower with a rubber stamp.  I took a piece of Dusty Attic, a scroll, and I cut it in half so that I could use it around my photo.  I painted it and added some blue jewels.  The leaves were made using a stamp from Heartfelt Creations and a piece of coordinating card stock from the kit.  I cut them out and then inked them using a combination of Memento and Distress Inks.

I used a flower die cut over one of the pages in the kit.  The page was already die cut, but I wanted more of the background paper to show.  It has a really nice contrast.  I took my die cut and embossed it with UTEE.  In a few places I cracked the UTEE, giving a cracked glass effect, and then inked up the cracks to highlight them.  Since I didn't emboss the entire page, I ink over some of the places where the UTEE was uneven and my ink was picked up by the paper and is much darker.  This give the paper much more of an antique and time worn look.  

I used a piece of the patterned paper and T!m's Tattered Flowers die to make my blue flowers.  I misted them and then balled them up in my hand while they were still wet to give them a more natural look.  I took a strand of the crystal beads that came in our kit and cut the crystals out individually; I used these for my flower centers.  I took some of the coordinating pearls that were also in our kit and placed one in the center of each flower.  I took a piece of the coordinating cardstock and using a verse stamp, I stamped the card stock.  I then used my favorite leaf stamp from Heartfelt Creations over the top.  I fussy cut them out and colored them using Fantastix and Memento Cottage Ivy ink to give them a hint of green.

I cut out another one of Lisa G.'s coordinating butterflies and added a pebble in the center.  We received a package of pebbles in the kit too!

We are also treated with a Technique Kit every month.  These kits are always a lot of fun and offers everyone a chance to try something new.  This month the kit included this gorgeous frame and a lovely spray of flowers, some DA chippies, and jewels just to name a few.  

I decided to cover my frame in molding paste to give it some texture.  Once that dried, I used some Pool Adirondack paint and painted the entire frame.  Then I added a few torn pieces of sheet music and adhered them with matte multi medium.  I went over everything with some Vintage Photo Distress Ink and then misted it with water so that the ink would pool up in the cracks and spread across my sheet music a little more.  When that dried,  I went over the entire frame in Broken China Distress Ink.  I misted it with water again and let the ink go where it wanted.  Then, I covered some of the peaks and a few other random places with gesso. The gesso will act as a resist to the next layer of ink.  When all of that dried, I went over it again in Broken China and misted one last time.  The photo is a scan of an original photo taken of my DH's Grandmother in 1914.

I hope something here has inspired you.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  I appreciate your visit more than you know.


XO, 
Lisa

Wonderland Box & SNR Exclusive Sneak Peek !!!

Happy Halloween Bloggers!!!!  Scrapbook News and Review's next issue is set to debut today!  In this post I've included a few projects that will be in this new issue from two other incredibly talented staffers!!!

This is my Wonderland Box.  It is only the second altered box I've ever done and I had a great time making this.  Who doesn't love the Halloween in Wonderland paper from Graphic 45?!  So whimsical and rich in color.  It really wasn't all that hard.  All you have to do is 1) find a box, 2) paint the box, and 3) embellish.  That's it!  Ok, I did lightly sand the box and cover it in gesso first, and ink, paint and mist the embellies, but that's it!  I promise!!! LOL

I went through Micheal's and found this cute little bat and that medallion was on sale in the jewelry section. I thought that the Dusty Attic iron gate and tree branch went really well with the paper.

 

This is my DD's eye that I cut out of another photo.  Don't stare at it for too long because it is enchanted and you will be hypnotized into thinking you are Sister Maria in The Sound of Music and you will go skipping through your neighborhood twirling and singing!!! ......Ask me how I know.... LOL!!  It fit perfectly inside the Tim Holtz Metal Frame Plate.  I glued it to the back and then filled it in with Glossy Accents.

  

Aren't those metal corners awesome!!!!  They are really heavy and just beautiful in real life. 

This is the inside of the box and you are looking at the top.  The paper is yummy.  It is flocked and feels all velvety.  I added a small mirror I also found in the jewelry isle.

 

This is the inside, bottom of the box.  I carried the flocked paper down to the bottom as well.  Since I am one of those people who doesn't like to have trinkety things just hanging around the house UNLESS they have a purpose, I decided to make this box "work" during Halloween.

I took the playing cards that came in the paper stack and made them sturdy by gluing a thin piece of cardboard to them and then glued black card stock to the back of that.  As you can see, I took some Halloween ATC cards and glued them on the back.  We are also using these cards for our favorite Halloween recipes as well as recipe cards for potions and spells!!!  Mwah-ah-ah!!!!!  My DD and I went foraging through the woods and took pine cones and pulled the "scales" off of the open pine cones.  We put them in a small velvet bag and these are now "Dragon Scales" to be used in one of the fake potions.  We also made unicorn horns out of baking clay, but they seemed to have disappeared....hmmmmm.  Anyway, this is now a really fun Halloween box that pulls double duty and holds all kinds of treasures inside!!!!

NOW, for the Scrapbook News and Review Sneak Peak......drum roll.........

This is a layout of a very dear friend, Mandy Harrell.  I love her to pieces and her work is nothing short of inspiring.  I am forever stalking her blog and her work and pouring over them inch by inch.  If I could just get inside her head, I would be rich indeed!!!  Here is a page that she submitted in the Masks and Stencils section of the magazine.  She does Steampunk like no one else!!!  Girlfriend has it going on.  Isn't it gorgeous?!

I love the Mixed Media section and I am such a fan of the staffers in this area.  They inspire me so much!!!  I've actually decided to jump in this area and learn and play.  They are so generous with their skills and talents.  Check out these little inchies from another incredibly talented staffer, Heidi Myers.  Aren't they awesome??!!!

I

What are you waiting for?? Head on over to Scrapbook News and Review and get inspired!!!! 

Trick or Treat Mon Amour

Trick or Treat Mon Amour is the name of my Witch's hat.  I was just playing with paper yesterday and thought it would be fun to try making a Witch's hat.  I love this time of year!!  The smell of the leaves on the ground, the cooler air, the deep blue skies up against the colored trees and we can't forget HALLOWEEN!!!!  I love Halloween.  I have a collection of glamor witches, and old worn grandma-like witches that make their way out of storage to show their lovely faces for a month.  I saw the Broadway show Wicked and if you did, you know that Elpheba was anything but a wicked witch!  Love her!!!  I had a hard time getting a picture that does the hat justice.  At times I would look at the pic and say "that doesn't even look like a hat".  Hopefully you can tell it's a hat.

I'll get back to the hat LOL!  I used some paper from my September Swirlydoos kit.  This paper is from My Mind's Eye.  I don't have any formal instructions or a tutorial for you because I made it up as I went along.  I had no idea if it was going to work so I didn't take pics.  I'm sorry, but I will try to explain what I did.  I know that you can find patterns online if you search for them.  I decided to just wing it and was having too much fun to follow directions!!!

The first thing I did was grab a 12x12 of patterned paper.  I love the damask page from MME.  It's very glamorous :-)  I twisted it into a cone shape (about a billion times) until I was happy with it.  I used a glue dot to secure the bottom and then cut off the excess.  It wasn't a perfect cut and the cone sat a little lopsided , but who cares!  This is about having fun, and who wants a perfect hat anyway...boo!   Then I guesstimated what size the brim should be.  I cut an 11" circle with my Cricut on a coordinating piece of MME.  I also decided to cut a circle out of thin cardboard (the kind that comes with the paper you order) to glue the brim to in order to give it some strength and stability.

I used a wet distress technique on the top of the hat.  I worked the water in gently on the inside and outside of the hat.  I dipped my fingers in the water and worked both sides at the same time.  I did this to about 80% of the hat top.  I wanted to keep the bottom stiff so that it would be more stable.  The wet distress gives it an old, worn look which is what I was going for.  Then I took some Black Soot Distress Ink and lightly went over the creases.

I used Glimmer Mist on the bottom of the brim so that it matched the top and to give it some sparkle.  I used some more Distress Ink around the edges to cover the card board and then over the top to grunge it up just a bit more.  I started working the card board so that it was more flexible and added an up-curl to one side of the brim and a bit more of a wavy edge around the rest of the brim. I also distressed the edge.  My new October kit from Swirlydoos came with these really neat transparency doilies.  I liked the way they looked on my hat, so arranged them on the brim and glued them down.

Then I took little strips of scrap paper to affix the top of the hat to the brim.  This is where online instructions and patterns would have you cut a little extra on the hat and bend it out so you could glue it.  Not me!  I did this one the hard way.  LOL  It still worked out.  I took some gorgeous Webster's Bloomers Trim and went around the bottom of the hat where it meets the brim.  My dear friend Wendy made me some flowers and I used the big black one.  Isn't it pretty!!!  I had a feather spray in my stash that was perfect as well as some little flowers, doo-dads, and rhinestone flourishes. I had this spider web butterfly that I got at Micheal's and glued that to the top along with another feather.  The last thing I did was add a potion to an ATC card and glue that onto the hat.  In case you are interested the potion is how to get rid of smelly feet LOL!!!!

 

Well, I hope in some small way this has inspired you to throw out the directions and just play and figure it out as you go.  I had a great time trying and I'm sure that the hats I make going forward will get better each time.  TFL!!!