Here Comes the Bride's present...

Today is my cousin's wedding day, yahoo yahoo, it's the beginning of her Happily Ever After! So what better way to start it than with not only a fabulous present (that will remain a secret because I don't know when she is opening stuff) but with a fabulously wrapped present?

A very good friend of mine, the one that calls me her Yoda, so I guess that makes her my Padawan learner, helped me with this one. When I say help, I guess I mean I told her what to do and she did it so she learned while doing. But some of the elements were her idea, the black ribbon running the way it does was all her!

After the ribbon was placed we needed something large enough to fill the gap between. I pulled out some gold fabric and taught her how to turn it into a flower. Then asked her to add an element of sophistication by sewing on the pearls. Placement was entirely up to Michelle.

After that we found a center for the flower. Originally the black pearl broach had a rhinestone as it's center. We popped it out and placed in one of the pearls we had used.

The final touch on the actual flower was to trim the edges with gold glitter, this will also help with fraying.

To make it really stand out and to still fill in some space we added 3 gigantic fabric leaves, some gold glittered branches and a black feather or two.

Overall this is the most stunning wedding present I have ever seen and I am so proud of Michelle for putting it together and for me for being able to teach her to create something like this. I know my cousin is going to love it, and if not I know her mom does because she already told me.

Congratulations my dear Cousin...have a great day and I can't wait to call you Mrs!

A day Late, but not a dollar short. Happy Mother's Day

My post may be a Day late for Mother's Day but I don't think that my mother would say the gift was a dollar short ;).

About a month ago I was wandering through Michael's when I found Lisa M. Pace's book, Delight in the Details. I flipped through it a bit and decided to buy it. It wasn't until I got home that I realized what a treasure I had stumbled onto. The book is the best art book I have ever purchased!

It is chocked full of project idea's, one of them being a mother's day box. As soon as I saw the idea I knew I had to make one for my own mother. Like always I pulled a little of this and a little of that from the book to make the box my very own.

I started with Lisa's Faux Porcelain Flowers. This part was a bit tricky since the product Lisa used is no longer available on the market. I ended up using Stiffy and watering it down. Once that was dry I followed the remainder of her instructions. I don't think that my sealer was exactly the same as Lisa's because my flowers never took on a brilliant glass like shine but that could also be the difference in fabric stiffener used, because the paper I had them sitting on when I sprayed them got very very shinny.

When the flowers were ready I cut a piece of cardstock slightly smaller than the box top and started to build the box topper. The technique used for the lace that peaks out all around I already knew but Lisa has included it in her book also. To finish off the topper I added some hand died seam binding that I crinkled.

Before affixing the topper to the box I had to do something to the rest of the heart shaped box. I decided that a crackled look would be nice so I prepped the box with a natural linen acrylic paint, then the crackle medium and then I added the pink acrylic paint. I think my crackle medium is a bit old because it only worked in a few spots but that doesn't really bother me since a lot of the non crackled parts got covered. Next I dusted on some brownish inks to give it an older feel and to add some depth.

Around the lid of the box I wrapped a piece of hand died fabric that I stamped a swirl on. If I had it to do again I would have stamped the swirl design that I stamped on the fabric all over the bottom outside of the box. Even though a lot of it would have been covered by the rosettes I think it would have added more depth.

The last element is one that I have seen around a lot but didn't know how to do until I bought Lisa's book. I made 6 rosettes to go around the base of the box. Each rosette is made from white streamer that I dusted with brown inks and then glittered the edges of. On the rosettes I placed a chipboard heart that I had glittered and added the letters to spell out mother.

I created a set of 3 rosettes that have a shabby chic feel to them at the same time, those are for sale in my Etsy store.


Well, that's it for the box...I filled it with candy and mailed it out. I hope that my mother and mother in law enjoy them. I learned a lot making them and had fun doing it.

Come Not Near Our Fairy Queen

Here is my third page for the Alpha Stamps Yahoo Group swap Fairy Books. Real quick recap on the swap requirements, use the chipboard book, a fairy image and a 3D item.

For this page I really used the Collage Image as inspiration. There were so many hidden details in this image. It wasn't until I already had the image on the chipboard page and the fairy's wings glittered and them 3D'ed that I noticed the poles and decided to create the stick polls. I cut twigs and wrapped the in coordinating ribbon (I was going for a May Pole type look) and then glued them down.

I cut some little images (like the bird with a mini fairy on his back pictured here) from Graphic's 45 paper and added them to the polls. I also added a bit of glitter to the ribbon in various spots.

In the bottom corner of the collage image was a phrase. I decided to create these banners, using a technique Laura shared at Artfully Musing. I stamped into paper clay one of Alpha Stamps Banner Stamps. Once it was dry I trimmed it and then painted it with alcohol inks before adding the phrase and sealing the entire thing. (I have some of these on sale in my Etsy store. If you mention this post I will do free S&H on this item.)

I added pink rhinestones and attached a Tim Holtz clear acrylic tag using shimmery DMC floss to finish it off. The phrase didn't all fit on the banner so that is the only reason I used the acrylic tag, but I really like this addition.


To finish this page off I added some fibers and leaf ribbon all around the edge and some pretty pink flowers placed randomly along the bottom. I also added pink rhinestones to the ends of the ribbons on the poles.

If I had this one to do over I would leave the ribbon I wrapped around the pole longer so I could wind it around the edges, especially at the top. I think it looks very bare up there.

Behind the Fence

This is my second page for the Alpha Stamps yahoo Group swap Fairy Garden Book. My first page Grant Me Wings can be viewed HERE. A quick recap, we had to use an image of a fairy and the chipboard book along with including one 3D item.

For this page I wanted to create a picket fence for the fairy to be walking along. The fence is made out of sticks, like pop sickle sticks but without the rounded ends. I took a sharp matt knife to them to ruff them up at bit and then painted them with tim holtz crackle paint. Once that was dry I added a touch of brown ink to give it a more distressed look. To build the fence I used two long pieces layed horizontal and then cut the other sticks to various sizes, spacing them out till I achieved the look I was going for.

I selected an image from the green fairy collage sheet found HERE. To add some umph to her I beaded her belt and attached a set of German scrap wings. She is 3Ded on the background.



I made these little hummingbirds a while back using a technique Laura showed us on her blog Artfully Musing. They are made of paper clay. Once they were dry I brushed them with some brown inks and then coated him with some warm ice glitter before sealing him and placing him on the fence. I had a set for sale in my Etsy store but it got snagged...I am working on getting some more uploaded. If you are interested drop me a note and I'll send them directly to you (no silly Etsy charges).



To hide that the image was not large enough to cover the entire chipboard page I cut strips from the top and bottom of the image. It was much taller than it was wider. And glued those to the side before adding the flowers I had cut.

The finishing touches on this page are the fibers ribboned through the fence, I was hoping they would end up looking like vines.

I love my fence and hope whoever receives this page loves it too.

Grant me Wings

Alpha Stamps latest Swap with the Alpha Stamps Yahoo Group is a Fairy Garden Book Swap. Participants were asked to use the chipboard book, make 4 pages and include a Fairy image and something 3D. There was no way I was passing this swap up!



This is my first page. I will be uploading the others over the next few days, time seems to not be on my side these days. A few months ago I was lucky to receive an ATC by Laura from Artfully Musing, she had created a wand that took the cake, in my opinion. So I decided to do the same here. Mine is a toothpick painted silver with a string of beads hanging from it all hidden by a punched out flower I glittered and a small blue flower. To me, this is the key element of this page, it makes everything work.






For the background I used the entire Fairy Image, although it was not quite large enough to cover the chipboard so I painted the sides to give it the right color. Then I kaleidoscope embossed a swirl all over. Once that was done I added the 3D elements, the fairy which I accented with glitter, the little girl and the wand.

I'm a big fan of framing my pieces in some fashion so I pulled out my sewing machine and made a ruffle out of twall, glued it down and then added the vine, which I accented with glitter. As a final touch I distressed some blue flowers, added some clear pebbles to their centers and attached them.

The backs of all of mine are similar, I hate leaving it just covered in pretty paper so I made a rosette, dusted it with coordinating colors, attached the fabulous fairy (one of my favorite stamps by Alpha Stamps) and then added my information.

I really enjoyed this swap and can't wait to show you the rest of my creations.

We have Strawberries...yum!

A few weeks ago my daughters and I made a rainbow garden and the green thumb bit my oldest. Every weekend since then she has wanted to plant something, and I've let her. Two weeks ago we went to Lowes and they had strawberries on sale, so that's what we got.

I'm not sure what this type of pot is really for but I have two and somewhere I thought I saw that they were strawberry pots (but then again that could all be in my imagination). So we

planted our strawberries and waited. The information said it would take 2 weeks for them to produce a strawberry, and right on time, we have a single strawberry! Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep a 4 year old from picking it! I've never dealt with fruit before so I'm not sure when the best time to pick it is but I have a feeling it should get a bit bigger.

Anyway, she is loving all the gardening and we can't wait to eat our strawberries, even if I do have to split one three ways.

Shaby Chic Mini Matchboxes

This month the Circle of Friends had an open theme so I decided to try my hand at a mini matchbox.

I feel in love with one that was sent to me as part of a MAMA swap. Melanie of Artful Interludes created this beauty, since receiving it I've learned how to make the little flowers and went hunting for a bird to use. Alas I had no luck and was about to scrap the entire project when Laura at Artfully Musing put up a fabulous tutorial on how to create your own molds.

So with a lovely box for inspiration, the skill and supplies to make the flowers and a way to create a bird I went to work. This is what I came up with.

I covered the matchboxes with a pink and white decorative paper that I stamped some french script on and dusted a bit with brown ink.

The flowers are made from white crepe paper that I embellished with pink glitter and a pink pearl for the center. The leaves I aged a bit with brown ink.

The birds are paper clay that I left white but added a warm ice glitter to. To hide the seems on the side of the box I glued on some lace ribbon. The finishing touch is a word that I covered with crackle glaze.

Inside I painted the box white, added some pink felt and filled with a little gift.

I can't wait to see what the other members of Circle of Friends created. Open themes are always fun!

On a side note, I made a bunch of extra birds (because I love them sooooooooo much) and I've got some on sale in my Etsy store. So hop on over and check them out! If you mention this post I'll knock off the S&H.

A very "Royal" Swap & Cup

I've been posting about the MAMA Tea Cup swap for weeks now, but they have all been what I sent, well drum roll please because here is the really fabulous stuff, what I got from Becky!

To remind you real quick about the swap requirements we needed to get our partner a tea cup (English, French, German) some of our favorite tea and a small gift. Becky did an Amazing job (and that isn't showing nearly the enthusiasm I have for what she sent me).

This photo shows absolutely everything she sent me, all the goodies were stuffed inside the bag and I just kept pulling out scrumptious tea bags after scrumptious tea bags and then there is the silver spoon (yep she sent me a silver spoon!) the lace doily the handbag, the tea towel and the cup.

I'll start with the tea cup. It's actually one I've been eyeing for some time now. It's a Royal Vale with french blue or Robbin's egg blue (I never know which is the right description I just know I love the color) and all the flowers are in gold!

I just love the shape of the cup, delicate but yet not something a man would feel uncomfortable holding (at least I don't think so).

The Tea's Becky sent me are going to taste scrumptious when I drink them out of this. She sent a slew of flavors, Organic Apple Red, Cranberry Pomegranate Green Tea, Pomegranate Delight Black Tea (I can't wait to try this one), Constant Comment, Meyer Lemon with honey, French Vanilla, Vanilla Caramel (which is Becky's favorite) and some organic tea. Most of it is caffeine free which I am super excited about because come 4 pm I am always craving coffee or tea and it's too late for me to have caffeine. I'm high energy without the stuff :)

Okay now I'll talk about the beautiful small gift she made me. It's a darling french inspired handbag that I can't wait to show off.

The French image is printed and sewn on she added touches of glitter to it (which of course I love, after all I am the Glitter Tart). The ruffles at the top are scrumptious, I think she used a ruffler, I'll have to ask, I've been thinking about getting one for my sewing machine. And then there are the handmade flowers and lace.

I've taken some close up shots because I can't begin to describe how lovely this bag is. Just look at the fabulous gems she added to the flower.

I think this is my favorite swap so far this year and it might just go down as my all time favorite swap ever! I am thrilled with everything and will be able to enjoy it for years to come.

French Charmed Winnings

This weekend my mailbox was stuffed full of a fabulous item, my winnings from the French Charmed Giveaway! Let's just so that I was super thrilled when I saw my name attached to the winning item, this way to gorgeous for words pillow!




As soon as I found out I won I knew just where I was going to put it. The lonely dinning room chair that sits off in the corner, waiting for DH to come home and sit in it again. When he does get home he may have to share because I love the way it looks there.

If you love anything French you have got to go check out French Charmed, and there newsletter is fabulous!

Thank you so much for pulling my name out of the hat, I will cherish this pillow for years and promise to take very good care of it.

Pepto-feather encrusted fiasco!

A few weeks ago I ran across a wonderful tutorial on Sweet Floweret's blog for an Easter Egg Tree. I thought it was a wonderful idea and very kid friendly so I decided to make it with my daughter this past weekend. We made some changes, and well I'm not so sure I like them. To me it looks like the feather monster threw up all over it (sorry).




I knew we were not going to be able to find the eggs used in the tutorial but I had seen some at Michael's that I thought would work, and I am not a fan of the bright green grass so yes, the feather boa was my idea (eak!). Michael's was almost entirely sold out so I had to improvise and bought as many eggs as I could, but I was a bit short.

We came home and got right to work, decided to leave the ribbons on the eggs (probably another mistake) and took apart the egg garland that I had bought to substitute for some of the eggs. With the hot glue gun fired up (and burning me on a number of occasions) we got started. My daughter diligently handing me an egg each time I asked and helping me wind the boa around the Styrofoam core.

As I said we were some eggs short so instead of trying to find some at another store (yep should have done that) I cut the top of the cone off and then glued on the topper.

Well, the topper was yet another mistake in this feather monstrosity, when you have feather overkill don't add more feathers. I love the cute little chicks but they don't do anything but get lost and look stumpy (since I cut the top off funny).

Oh well, can't win them all, and my 4 year old loves it. I don't think it will be making an appearance next year on the table though. Maybe I'll re-do it right.