Use gold paint to embellish your photos.

A small bottle of metallic gold paint has become the new item I use to embellish many of my craft projects. I purchased it from Michaels Craft and for less that $1.50 you can get a lot of bang for your buck. The paint is made by Decor. It is called "Dazzling Metallics" and the color is Venetian Gold.

All you need to do is put a small amount of paint on a piece of scrap cardboard. I apply paint with a cosmetic sponge. I buy a large package at the dollar store. Then I don't fret when I through it away when I am finished applying the paint. A small amount of paint goes a long way. You can always add more, but you can't remove it once it's on the photo. I brush all the edges of the photo and let it dry for a few minutes.

I always cut a double mat out of colored card stock. I do this for all pictures. It's a bit more work, but it's worth it. I also brush all side of the each mat with the gold paint. Once again, go light on the paint. Once everything is dry you can glue the photos to the mats and you are ready to add them to your project. This photo was from the project in the previous post. I added it to the page in the anniversary book and then embellished it with papers, a silk flower, a vintage button and some old ribbon. I added more gold paint to the paper and the edges of the book. Next time you have a craft project that involves paper and photos, try out this technique. You'll be amazed at how a little bit of gold paint can embellish your creation!

A Creation of Memories....

It was on to another creative project this week. I've had no time to clean up the crafting table. I finished one photo memory book and moved on to another creation. My good friend Julie asked me to make a accordion photo book for her in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. She scanned the photos in black and white (I think in those days that's all they had was black and white photos). She told me to do whatever I wanted and that she "trusted me". Sometimes I think makes it more difficult. I am always worried that it won't be what they wanted. Well I finished it and wanted to share the creation with you...

The cover was made out of a wonderful gold embossed paper and I paired that with a wedding paper. I found some beautiful embroidered ivory ribbon and heart locket. The closure for the book was an old pearl and gold button with a thin satin ribbon. I brushed the edges of the cover with a gold paint. I love using this gold paint on my projects. I'll post tomorrow how I do this. Well with the cover finished I was ready to start the pages of the book.

The book is two sided and each side has eight pages. Now the fun begins...

This is were you have to be creative. Each photo is double matted and brushed with gold paint. Then this is where the embellishments come in. Lots of decorative papers, buttons, ribbons, lace, pearls and trinkets.

I distressed a copy of the couple's original wedding invitation and decorated it with lots of embellishments.

One of my favorite blogs to read is The Feathered Nest. Dawn is very creative and I applied some of her ideas from a piece of her art named "1 Thessalonians Collage Artwork". By no means am I on her level of creativity. You MUST check out her blog. I was happy with how this came out and it really added to the vintage look of the book.

More pages of Memories.

I added two pages with pockets on them. I used the embossed gold paper for the pockets. My friend had told me that the best man and maid of honor had sent them a letter to congratulate them on 50 years of wedded bliss. I wanted the happy couple to be able to store the notes inside the book and tuck them away into the pockets. I added a photo of the brides engagement announcement onto a handmade bookmark that was tucked into the pocket and could be pulled out to view.

I delivered the special creation to my friend yesterday. She was very excited to see the finished book. When this gift is presented, I hope this special couple is reminded of happy days from the past and is blessed with with many more blessed memories in the future.

A birthday gift filled with memories...

One of my favorite things to do is creating a gift that becomes a treasure for years to come. I love to create photo books and journals.

Today I finished a small book filled with memories from our recent vacation with my sister. The book is a birthday gift for my sister Renee. It's been two long years filled with trials for her and her children. One year ago she lost her husband to cancer. During the weeks vacation I tried to capture photos that would bring back happy family memories. I added embellishments to the pictures and made a matching gift bag with a poem about sisters.

The book cover tells her that our family will always be there for her. The hang tag has the word HOPE. Hope that the days ahead will become easier and the hope that Our Lord and Savior has given us to endure the trials that we may face during our earthly journey.

The pages were filled with photos of her family at the cottage which has brought happiness during many sun filled summer days.

More happy times together with grandma and grandpa and the grandchildren sharing another wonderful vacation day.

All the kids gathered with my sister on one hammock. Laughing and reminding her how much she is loved.

Other pages were in the book. Pages filled with photos that tell a story of a family who love each other. A family who can count on one another during the happy times and the rough times. The last page had a pocket. The pocket holds notes that each of us wrote to my sister. Notes letting her know how much she is loved. I'm going to see my sister tomorrow. I can't wait to give her this gift. I hope it will bring a smile to her day.

Take time to do what you enjoy!

Having my own custom drapery business leaves me little time to sew for pleasure. For years I would make all my clothes but once I had my children and my business grew, there was little time to sit at the sewing machine and sew for myself. It's been quite some time since I made something for myself (other than an apron). While shopping with my friend, I found this wonderful Cotton print with a coordinate to match. I thought it would make a fun summer dress to wear. I made the purchase and promised myself that the fabric would not end up on the shelf along with the many other patterns and unmade projects I have purchased over the years. It was off to the workroom to begin the dress.

It wasn't until I had began to cut out the pattern that I remembered how much I once enjoyed sewing for myself and my boys. It was a super easy pattern and there was no zipper! It only had 4 pieces to the pattern and I whipped it up in an hour. I wore it that evening with a cute pair of pink shoes. I loved wearing something that I created.

I liked it so much that I made another dress out of a black and white fabric. I'll post that one later, I forgot to take a picture. Wait a minute, I'll be right back I'm going to take the picture now so I can include it in this post........ O.K. I'm back with the photo uploaded. I can't tell you how many people have commented on both of these quick and easy dresses.

In addition to working on the dresses, I finished two aprons for some summer apron swaps I was in. This apron was for a swap called," Your Partner's Profile". My partner liked polka dots and fruit so what would be more fitting than some fabric with watermelon printed on it and lots and lots of polka dots!

I also had finished the apron for the "Hittin' the Trail" cowboy swap. My partner in this swap was from Texas and loves horses and Rodeos. The fabric was perfect. I added a few Yo-yo's and a couple of large star buttons for the Great State of Texas.

These past few weeks have taught me that all work and little play makes it easy to forget the things that you really enjoy doing in life. Life is a blessing. Take some time to do the things you enjoy. I'm headed off to the fabric store this week. Before you know it the seasons will be changing. I have my eye on a cute jacket pattern with plaid fabric that has Autumn colors.

An easy craft project for the garden...

During my recent vacation to Traverse City, Michigan, I spent the afternoon on a garden walk. One thing that caught my eye was a "Tea cup rain catcher". I asked the owner of the garden where she had found such a unique item for her garden. She told me she had received it as a gift. I looked it over and thought that this might be something I could make. When I got home last week I was off to the antique shop to look for some tea cups. I think I've mentioned that PINK is my favorite color, didn't I??? Well there it was a beautiful pink tea cup with roses. Roses are my favorite flower. The same vendor had another tea cup with the colors that my friend likes. So now I had the beginnings to my new craft project.

Next I headed to Home Depot to buy the copper pipe and fittings. With a little help from someone in the plumbing department, I had everything I need to begin crafting.

With the copper pipe cut and using some extra strong glue to attach the saucer to the tea cup, I was ready to display my new treasure in my garden. Now all my garden needs is a summer rain shower to put my rain catcher to good use! Isn't antique shopping great when you can find a creative use for an every day item.

Ding..Dong..It's the doorbell.

The mailman had to ring the doorbell today. I know what that means, it's a package which is to large to fit in the mailbox. Whippie!!!! My apron arrived from the "Partner's Profile Apron Swap". My partner was Karen and she did a wonderful job. Most importantly it was PINK. Did I mention I love, love, love pink!

The apron was very girly. It was made out of a vintage sheet.The package included a vintage hankie and matching kitchen towels. My boys were laughing at me wondering how an apron could get me so excited. If you love aprons, you'll understand. Most of all I was happy that someone had used their talents to bless my day.

Can't wait to put it on this evening and fix dinner. Better yet, I'm going to wear it all day long!

God has blessed me with a dear friend....

It was my birthday last week and boy did my good friend Amy spoil me. We have been friends for 25 years and we have so many things in common. We both love crafting and whenever we have a "girls get together" you can bet that our first stop is the fabric shop!! Before you know it they are announcing that the store will be closing in 15 minutes, so get your fabric cut. We always ask each other where the time has gone. My birthday celebration was no different. First stop Joann Fabrics. Two hours later, we left with our new fabric treasures which will soon be stitched up into some new aprons. We then went out to dinner and talked and talked about...well everything and anything. My dear friend couldn't wait till after dinner to give me GIFTS. Not one gift, but many gifts. It was like Christmas in July! The first gift was a purse. She was sooo worried that I would like it. It couldn't have been more perfect. She also included a hankie and she did all the needlework. This is one of her many talents. It's almost to nice to use as a hankie.

She also got me this wonderful frame with a picture of my husband and I. It was a wonderful gift and very fitting because our 20th anniversary was last week also. Amy had taken the photo in June at her son's graduation party. She had even added the flowers to surround us in the photo. How clever she is. Can you believe there is more. A vintage pattern. I hit the jackpot! Yes, by having such a wonderful friend who is so thoughtful and a pattern to boot. And last but not least, some note cards in the shape of tea cups. I just love them and have already used a few. They are reserved for only the most special thank yous... She also made me some homemade mailing labels which were so cute.

Thank you my dear friend for blessing my special day with your kindness and thoughtfulness. You are a true blessing in my life.

I thank my GOD For you every time I think of you… Phil. 1:3