The Perfect Ensemble

A heartfelt handmade gift means so much, both to the giver and receiver.  You know how much love goes into making something special, so it is equally important to know who your recipient is as you create it.  

I decided it would be fun to create an entire coordinated ensemble of altered artwork to mix and match for a good friend or two.

Finding vintage-style coordinating scrapbook paper online a few years ago,  I loved it so much that I bought all that was available.  It's a subtle Valentine mix of dark red, soft yellow, sage and black -not a hint of pink or bright red in the bunch. 

Since I just altered a wooden plaque (see February 2 post), I decided to create coordinating items, addeding a small notebook, pillar candle, clothespin clips, a large spiral notebook, a note holder, and of course, a glass jar filled with chocolate.

Here is the beginning of my embellished mini notebook.  I found these small spiral notepads (with pens) on our recent visit to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo -- in the college bookstore for less than $2 each.  Here are the before and after notepads.

                                     

And here is it is shown with thematching pen and altered clothespin clip.  Embellishments include ribbons, chipboard circle stamped with "Friendship is a work of heart," a wooden bead and metal heart charm, and of course, the coordinated scrapbook paper.

And a surprise envelope inside for love notes or perhaps a sweet gift card?

And a few stamped images throughout the pages.

...the large spiral notebook

...matching tile coasters

...an embellished pillar candle

and this altered glass hinged jar full of kisses--chocolate kisses!

And a photo of the complete ensemble:

Now it's time to steal a few of those kisses...xoxo

Linking up to these fab blogs:
Craft-o-Maniac


(Lindsey's first linky party!)

With all of my Heart

Ahh--another month, another project!   Although my plan is to post altered art projects more frequently,

until the dust settles (literally, as we are painting the house), I hope this project will inspire you.

This wood plaque caught my eye at Michael's, and because it has a nice wooden frame and a sturdy wire hanger for embellishing, I decided to give it a go, even though it was one more item I didn't need.  After this, I hope vow to create projects from my existing stash.  Is there an organization out there for us arts & crafts collectors hoarders, maybe with a 12-step program?  As long as I can embellish and mod podge the list, I promise I will try to follow it...maybe.  However, in all fairness to my art budget, I spend less on all my stash than my husband spends on one of his ski weekends. 

Starting with this mundane 7" x 9" wood frame,  I chose vintage scrapbook paper, and cut out a 5-1/2" x 7" piece for the frame center.  Before podging this, I picked out a beautiful buttery yellow paint for the outside frame edges, and a chocolaty brown color for the inset.  (Hmm, butter and chocolate--sounds like it's time to bake some cookies.)  After lining the inside frame with painter's tape to help me paint straight edges, I applied two coats of each color, allowing the first color to completely dry before applying the painter's tape for the next.  

And now for the really fun part: choosing embellishments. 

I picked out flowers, buttons, a heart clip, a metal "xoxo", L-O-V-E punch-out letters, a "with all my heart" sticker, clothespins, a metal tag, and coordinating ribbons. 

Here are photos of the finished frame.

 I modpodged the letters to slightly larger buttons
and used  a small button in place of the "O' sticker

 Because I love the idea of being able to interchange photos,

I adhered a 5" x 3-1/2" clear acrylic frame to the board. 

 and inserted pretty paper, which looks nice until a photo takes the spot.

 I mod podged complementary paper to the clothespins

and to one of them, I tied a metal tag that reads, "with love."

And the before and after, a project true to my tag line,

"Transforming  the mundane one embellishment at a time."

Just joined.

Welcome to my new sorority sisters!

Linking to:  Rook No. 17

Win a Silhouette!

What's smaller than a bread box and is totally crafty?  The Silhouette machine.  This is one of my must-haves for the year!  And one of my favorite bloggers, Kaysi, at "Keep it Simple" is giving away one of these beauties.  I'd keep my fingers crossed that I will be the lucky recipient, except I wouldn't be able to create anything as my fingers would be all twisted! 

For more information and to visit Kaysi's wonderful blog, visit http://craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/.  And while there, put in a good word for me!

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Top Ten Resolutions for 2011

Happy New Year! Let's ring in the new, and throw out the old. No, wait! Don't throw out the old. Instead, "upcycle" it.

As I near the age matching the year I was born (mid-50's), I find this creative phrase a metaphor for life. Instead of grumbling about all those things that we mid-50 year old women find astonishing (like hairs on the upper lip, a body in need of toning, and grumpy teenage children, just to name a few), it is time to upcycle ourselves: limit the sugar and white flour, exercise for life, share a smile more often, and stop being so hard on ourselves. The super-Mom syndrome of the past few decades is no longer acceptable. Instead, it is time to find a gentle balance on our continuing journey called life. That being said, here are my Top 10 resolutions for 2011:

 1. Donate un-used craft items to Girl Scouts.
 2. (Continue to) volunteer at senior centers.
 3. Organize (i.e., toss out) expired coupons, old receipts, and newspaper clippings that I saved to read (but didn't).
 4. Spend more time reading novels and non-fiction.
 5. Take a class to expand my computer knowledge (which will benefit my blog).
 6. Take vitamins regularly.
 7. Add a day of tennis to my bi-weekly tennis schedule.
 8. Hide the chocolate--from me (i.e., don't buy the stuff anymore).*
 9. Enjoy spending time (instead of arguing) with our younger daughter for the next eight months before she goes off to college .
10.Think outside the box (i.e., my comfort zone) and expand my crafting repertoire.

*This is going to be tough!

Let's start with Resolution #10: expanding my crafting repertoire; thus, I present my first altered art project for the new year:

2011 Calendar & Photo Canvas

Material List:

9" x 12" and 6 x 8" canvas panels

coordinating scrapbook paper cut 8-1/2" x 11-1/2" and 5-1/2" x 7-1/2"

acrylic paint & foam brushes

Mod Podge (glossy)

Binder clips

Buttons

Spiral paper clip

Hemp cord

2011 calendar, cut to fit smaller canvas (I found these for 50 cents at Michael's)

metal label holder & brads

4" x 6" acrylic flat photo frame

photo (which is interchangeable)

double-sided foam tape

assorted ribbon & ric-rac

silk flower (cut from stem and backing)

number stickers

hot glue gun

If you would like a tutorial, leave me a comment and I will be happy to email it to you.  Also, if you like this bright color combination, click here to see the matching mail & note holder I made last year.

Now onto Resolution #9:  enjoying my 17-year old--that is, after she yells at me for waking her...Happy New Year!

Doreen

Linking to these fabulous party blogs:

      

      

Holiday Treats

Now that our Chanukah celebration has ended, it is time to stir up some spicy egg nog and get my craft on with some special handmade Christmas gifts!   This is one of my favorite gifts to give to friends and neighbors:  A canning jar filled to the rim with delicious trail mix and red & green m&m's! 

After running the glass jar and lid through the dishwasher, and making sure they are completely dry, I filled the one-pint jar with a special blend of peanuts, butterscotch and chocolate chips, raisins and almonds.  I interspersed red & green peanut m&m's to create a delicious, festive colorful treat. 

I then embellished the outside of the jar and lid with holiday paper, red satin ribbon, a punched label that I stamped with the word "Holiday" and mini letters spelling "treats."  Then I punched out a large circle and mod-podged that to the inside lid.  After tightening the lid, I added a vintage style ribbon.  Lastly, I hot-glued holly and a bright snowflake button to the front of the jar.   

This makes a nice gift on its own. However, I decided to add a set of holiday kitchen towels and bright red and green place mats. Using a plain brown paper sack with handles, I embellished the bag with scalloped red paper, a name tag and two "slices" of holiday ivy and three red "berry" buttons.  Everything then goes into the gift bag.

This entire gift was very economical.  The jar and embellishments were on hand; the place mats are from the Dollar Store, and the towels are from HomeGoods.  Be sure to use fresh trail mix and candy.  And don't eat too much of the goods while you put this together or else you will have to find a much smaller jar...Happy Trails!

Linking to:
The Answer Is Chocolate

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