the 'write' stuff...

 I just love making cards for teachers. They are always so much fun, bright and cheerful. To achieve a blackboard effect on my Curtsey Boutique tag, I’ve used some ink and my heat gun to replicate chalk on a blackboard.

 

To start edge your tag using either the edge of your stamp pad(pigment ink works better than dye ink here) a sponge, blending tool or a cotton swab. Add as much as you like, for whatever look you are trying to achieve.. To create the look of words being wiped away, in the middle I added a bit of ink using a cotton swab and then gradually wiped away the access with my pinky finger, swirling and smudging the ink to get a light background effect. Then using my stamp I added the sentiment and set all of the ink using my heat gun. I let dry completely before adhering to my project. Simple and easy way to achieve a chalk look without using chalk..

Hope that you give this little trick a whirl!

Cheers!
Rebekah.

Curtsey Boutique Supplies:

Gold Sequins

Yellow Baker’s Twine

Heart Shaped Chalkboard Tags

Other Supplies:

Seam Binding- French Market(Etsy)

Button - Craft supply

Template -  my design

Stamp - Papertrey Ink

 

  

currently...

Currently around here:

fighting a summer cold - boo!

wondering what is going on with the weather here...

marvelling at the thunderstorms that happen almost daily...

exploring the lakes out on the boat...

catching up on projects - crafty and other wise...

planning our one year wedding anniversary party...

pinning like crazy...

finding inspiration everywhere...

enjoying 'puppy and me' time almost daily...

figuring out a new craft room layout/decor theme...

trying to soak in as much sunshine as possible...

enjoying the outdoors...

wanting to slow time down, just a bit...

Hope you are enjoying your summer!!
~Becks

Curtsey Boutique Supplies:

*Sequins

*Star shaped paperclip

*green Bakers Twine

Other Supplies:

Template - The Cutting Cafe

Paper - Reccollections

Seam Binding - French Market(Etsy)

all that glitters...

I’m big into gift wrapping lately and decided to try my hand at decorated bags. This is perfect for tucking in smaller gifts when you don’t feel like wrapping with paper. I’ve used my great Curtsey Boutique supplies alongside some of my craft supplies to come up with a fun gift bag.

Gold seems to be the 'hot' colour lately and  I'm loving feathers- stamps and diecuts, as well as adding them to craft projects. So it seemed only natural to combine my two loves of the moment and create something special.

Today I have a quick technique tip to get those beautiful, bold, gold glitter bands. No need to mess with marking out lines and mucking about with glue.

My technique tip: double sided quick hem tape you can find in any sewing area of stores. Regular double side tape for paper doesn’t stick as well. The quick hem tape is made for fabrics and holds on beautifully. Simply decide how many bands of colour you want, trim to size and adhere, making sure to rub all over with a bone folder (or your fingers) to guarantee great adhesion of the tape. Peel off the protective paper and cover generously with glitter. Press the glitter into the tape before tapping off any excess. Voila! Mess free bands of yummy gold glitter! 

 I've used PTI's Feather Finery Stamp as well as MME-The Sweetest Thing date sticker and a Pink Paislee 'love' diecut. That sweet birdie paper clip is from Michaels.

I guess all that glitters IS gold... in this case anyway...

~Becks

Curtsey Boutique Supplies:

Baker's Twine

Muslin bag

Sequins

time to relax...

With our bathroom renovation underway and nearing completion, it got me thinking about quick and easy DIY bath gifts. To me there's nothing more relaxing than a nice bubble bath to soothe and rejuvenate the soul.

Using my Curtsey Boutique supplies I put together a little package, all ready to add to a gift for the bath lover in my life. I just love kraft bags wrapped pretty. The little wooden scoop is just too cute not to include. I stamped on "relax" with some Versamark solvent ink, so that repeated use near water wouldn't wash it away.

I filled the bakers bag with lavendar bath salts, folded and secured it then topped it off with a heart shaped doily, bakers twine and a tag. Quick simple and ready to give away. You can find all of these great supplies at the Etsy store.

~Becks

Hoppy Easter!

Hey all! Just hopping by to share a tutorial I did for Curtsey Boutique.

To create the bunny bag first start by taking out the hem and the twine at the top of the burlap bag and cut ear shapes out of the top. 

Using paint and a foam brush paint on two ears and then two circles to make the bunny body. Add a nose and eyes if desired. Using a piece of the twine removed in step one, thread through using a 

large needle to create whiskers.

Using a double stand of bakers twine, feed around the bag using a needle to create a drawstring/ bow around the neck of the bunny.

Add a tag with name and bow, and a white rolled felt flower to the back of the bag for the bunny tail.

Fill with candy and pull the drawstring close into a bow.

Create a whole herd of bunnies and give them away!

Happy Easter!!
~Becks

Curtsey Boutique Supplies:

Burlap Bag

Mini Rolled Felt Flower

Baker's Twine

christmas countdown...

Okay, so maybe it's too early. Or way late, but I thought I'd share one of my favourite DIY projects to date. I had seen this idea *here* and wanted to try it for quite some time now. And now I have, using simple everyday items, and some of my great Curtsey Boutique supplies. My take on this sweet advent calendar:

To begin with I painted an 18 inch embroidery hoop with some Antique White Web acrylic paint and let dry. Once dry I traced the inside circumference of the loop onto some sturdy thick cardboard. I cut it out and made sure it was a snug fit inside the hoop. I then cut a circle about 3 inches larger than the cardboard circle and pulled it taught over the cardboard, hot gluing the edges making sure the face of the fabric was stretched and free of wrinkles.  Fit into the hoop and let the fun begin.

I knew I wanted to stick to a few pops of colour but mainly keep it neutral. I started with these great kraft envelopes with journal cards from Curtsey Boutique, along with small tags, small glassine bags, doilies, twine, burlap die cuts, snowflake die cuts and muslin bags. Other supplies included washi tape, bottle brush trees and wreaths, thumbtacks, burlap, felt, mini clothespins etc. Sky's the limit to decorating, so long as you have 24 little packets to countdown to Christmas!

Of course it's a personal choice to decorate how you like, but here I've jazzed up plain white tags with pretty washi and stamped names. Wrapped them in twine and adhered with mini clothespins.

Using confetti I made pretty little see through packets with small glassine bags and closed with washi.Using the same washi tape I adhered it to the mini clothes pin.

Using burlap I cut out a mitten and stocking, and made little pockets to stick instructions in.

And here it is all done. It would be easy to change out envelopes or packets each year to update. I can't wait to use it this year for Christmas.

~Becks

love, oh love...

What I'm loving around here lately:

Warmer temperatures and longer days... spring is around the corner, I can feel it...

Up-cycled(and mainly free)new workspace desktop for my craft room...

My BBC dramas and comedies, love curling up with them(mainstream t.v pales in comparison)...

Organizing and categorizing old and new craft supplies...

Nautical themes and pale colour schemes...

New family room reno almost completed...

Getting back into exercise regimens...

Playing hockey with the girls Wednesday nights...

Phone calls to back home and to old friends...

Birthday season (part one) beginning next month...

SO much to be thankful for and to love... inspiring my crafty projects lately, thought I'd share this one with you...

Thanks for the visit!
~Becks

Curtsey Boutique Items:

4" Red heart doilies

Medium glassine bag

Rolled felt flower

Red and Pink Seam Binding

Bakers Twine

winter blues...

I can't wait for spring. This winter is taking its toll... extreme cold temperature for longer than usual periods of time. The bright sunshine is the only reprieve from the bitter cold. It streams through my windows and fills the rooms with warmth and light. Thankful for the sunbeams.

Thinking spring I made these using some of my Curtsey Boutique goodies for a co-worker of mine, using my paper scraps. I often don't have the heart to throw away even the smallest of pretty paper scraps.  Two different versions, one with stitching and one using ric-rac. Pretty CB sequins add a pop of sparkle.

Some Basic Grey papers add an almost sky-like background. An added doily mimics the kite flying high in the clouds... Hope you like it:)
Before I go, a little song we used to sing on Good Friday, where our tradition was making paper kites and flying them all day long. Like stained glass windows in the sky...

Let's go fly a kite,

Up to the highest height!

Let's go fly a kite,

And send it soaring.

Up through the atmosphere,

Up where the air is clear

Oh, lets go fly a kite..

(From Mary Poppins)

Thanks for popping by!
~Becks

Curtsey Boutique supplies:

5" French Doily

Seam Binding

Bakers Twine

Turquoise Sequins

celebrate today...

This year I decided to send out fun 'outside of the box' cards after the hustle and bustle of Christmas had died down. Usually each year my best intentions to get Christmas cards out fails, generally because I'm too busy making cards for other people.. I won't complain... no, never. I love seeing people's faces when they get their stacks of handmade cards made by me. Such a great feeling. So, instead of worrying about Christmas cards, my new tradition will be to send out greetings in the new year. 

Here's a little tutorial I did on my 'cards' for this year for Curtsey Boutique:

Measure and fold a medium sized glassine bag to fit inside a standard envelope. Wrap a 6 inch doily around the front of the bag and secure with tape. Fill glassine bag with various sizes, colours and textures of confetti. Add sequins. Sew top of bag at the fold with gold thread to keep confetti in.

On your computer using Word or Photoshop, create a tall rectangular greeting and print out. Trim bottom edge to make it look like a long banner. Edge with glitter and adhere using a stapler. Add snowflake embellies. Stamp a greeting along the bottom edge of the bag and heat emboss.

*Technique tip* To get a perfect straight edge of glitter all around the banner, carefully adhere double side tape to all edges making sure there are no gaps. Peel off other side and cover liberally with glitter. Press the glitter into the tape before shaking off excess. Perfect, straight glitter lines every time!

Shake up the confetti and enjoy!

Curtsey Boutique Supplies:

Medium Glassine Bags

6 inch doily

Christmas Snowflake Die cuts

Other Supplies:

Gold Thread – Ravelry

Sequins-Craft supply

Confetti

Card stock + printer

Double side tape

Glitter

may all your Christmases be white...

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas... it makes the day seem more cozy and special. Almost like you are in a snow globe. I just love that feeling. Every year I put up the handmade snowflakes my sister makes me. She is super talented. Even if there is no snow falling, every time I look at the window I see beautiful snowflakes.

These were the inspiration for one of my favourite cards this year. I found all sorts of pretty wooden snowflakes at the craft store and couldn't resist painting them and glittering them up in a shower of sparky goodness...

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write.
May your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white...

~Becks

Supplies used:
Curtsey Boutique Doily
Curtsey Boutique Snowflakes

pocket full of love...

I finally got around to sending out my wedding thank-you cards. It always seems to take twice as long when you make your own by hand. It was the last DIY touch to our wedding, and I love how they turned out.

Since our day was full of love and family, I wanted our thank-you cards to reflect the feelings of the day. The hearts burst out of the envelope and seem to float away; our way of spreading the love to all who were there and who couldn't be there, but had us in their thoughts.

I used the same muted colours we had for our wedding. I just love creams and soft pink together.The doily theme stayed with me, (I used large french doilies to wrap our invitations and then tied with some rustic twine) as well as a little lace- to remind me of the pretty, vintage tablecloths my mama found and let me borrow. So many great memories wrapped up in these little cards.

I hope everyone loves receiving them as much as I did making them.

~Becks

Supplies used:
Curtsey Boutique Silhouettes
Curtsey Boutique Doilies

thank-you teacher...

As kids my sister, best friend and I would often play school. There was something about writing on the chalkboard with different coloured chalks, marking papers and keeping attendance that fascinated me. We would set up our classrooms all over and take turns 'teaching'. We had lined books which we made up to be like the attendance books... marks books to record our students test scores. I loved those days we would play school. I enjoyed going to school as a kid, maybe more so for the social aspect than the academic.

Now a days some of my good friends are teachers, and the hard work they put in day in and day out astounds me. Shaping young minds, teaching the next generation... Since I love all things school themed lately I decided to create a simple thank you card fit for anyone's favourite teacher. I've had a few in my life that had a remarkable impact on my life today. My sweet and talented blog friend Joanne made me some of these cute apples, after I saw one of her gorgeous creations using them. Aren't they darling!?

I'm loving the turquoise, red and white color combo!Some more of my Curtsey Boutique supplies: lovely doilies and bakers twine. Yum!
What teacher inspired you as a child?
Thanks for visiting!
~Becks

she comes by night...

 

She comes by night, in fearsome flight

in garments black as pitch,

the queen of doom upon her broom,

the wild and wicked witch, 
a cackling crone with brittle bones 

and desiccated limbs,

two evil eyes with warts and sties

and bags about the rims,

a dangling nose, ten twisted toes

and folds of shrivelled skin,

cracked and chipped and crackled lips

that frame a toothless grin.
She hurtles by, she sweeps the sky

and hurls a piercing screech.

As she swoops past, a spell is cast

on all her curses reach.

Take care to hide when the wild witch rides

to shriek her evil spell.

What she may do with a word or two

is much too grim to tell.
-Jack Prelutzky 

Inspired by Halloween crafts and poems... using some Crafty Secrets papers and stamps to create a creepy treat bag. Some Curtsey Boutique goodies used here today as well. 

On the countdown to All Hallow's Eve!
~Becks

Supplies:
Paper-Crafty Secrets CD4- Creating with Vintage Halloween
Stamp-Crafty Secrets- Halloween Postcard stamp set
Curtsey Boutique: Paper bags
Curtsey Boutique: Halloween Doilies
Curtsey Boutique: twine

terrific treats...

It's Halloween! It's Halloween!

The moon is full and bright.

And we shall see what can't be seen

On any other night. 

Skeletons and ghosts and ghouls

Grinning goblins fighting duels,

Werewolves rising from their tombs

Witches on their magic brooms.

In masks and gowns

we haunt the street

And knock on doors

for trick or treat.

 Tonight we are the king and queen

For oh tonight, its Halloween!

-Jack Prelutsky.

Some sweet treat bags using fun Curtsey Boutique bits and bobs.. Great sugary glittered bat and crow cutouts... embossed bags(how cute) and terrific twine in Halloween-y colours.. it's love I tell ya!

Happy Haunting!!
~Becks

when one door closes...

another opens...

This week marked my last week as part of TSTR design team. I was super sad to say goodbye, but super excited that I get to say HELLO to embarking on a new exciting journey as a part of a fab new team. I'm delighted to announce I've joined the Curtsey Boutique Design Team.
I was so surprised and tickled pink to see an email inviting me to the team by Carrie Ann... the super talented lady behind the store and the blog...
Handmade embellies soooo beautiful, packaging and lots of other goodies, take a peek around the shop and drink it all in and let it inspire you! I'll be sharing my creations with you all starting in October, so watch this space:)

Be sure to check out the announcement *here*

Happy dancing,
~Becks