ETA: This home decor wooden frame, 7 1/2" square, was chosen as a Top Ten Finalist at Market Street Stamps! Please vote for me HERE. :) My creation is #4. Thank you so much!!
I have a good friend named Linda. My 9 YO is best friends with one of her daughters. Linda often has my daughter for playdates, takes her on excursions, and is a leader in our Girl Scout troop. She picked up my child's Girl Scout uniform and other supplies for me, sewed the patches on the vest, and brought it to the meeting. Linda took great care of my kid while she attended her first camping trip ever last weekend, with the troop. Linda is funny, compassionate, thoughtful and always willing to help. She was the first person to commission a card from me, too - the "
Inspired by an Anthropologie Mug" card.
I owe her so much, and wanted to make something extra special for her upcoming birthday.
Now, at the same time, I heard about a challenge at
Market Street Stamps. They're having the most wonderful Anniversary fiesta. If you use their stamps and enter your creation, they will narrow down the entries to a few finalists. Then on Thursday October 20th, everyone will be able to vote for their favorite creation. The prize? $600 in free stamps!! How awesome! I want to be the winner. ;-)
I used Market Street's
Vintage Wallpaper background. LOVE it! I stamped it four times in Sahara Sand ink on white cardstock to create my own designer paper. I left some areas uninked on purpose for a distressed look.
I used a wood frame ($2.99) from a local craft store as my base.
I had only a vague idea in mind when I began. It took me hours and hours, and much of that time was spent 'auditioning' different die cuts, punches and stickers on the frame. I asked my kids over and over, "How does this look? Or how 'bout this?" They were very helpful. :)
One of the first additions to the frame:
Infinite Loops double edge trim punch in white, and
Dotted Scallop in black. The venise lace is from eBay. These things I was sure about adding. After that, much pondering took place!
The next additions were die cuts - a
Parisian motifs large circle, cut down, and a flourish from
Fleur De Lis Motifs.
Then I thought of making a frame with
Iron Gate corner and edge punches. I used a square die to cut out the center.
Next came a portion of a K & Company die cut border.
And more K & Company die cut borders make an appearance. I trimmed only what I needed - one butterfly and a bit of fern.
I am also entering this at Moxie Fab's Textured To Perfection challenge. This frame is full of texture, with the lace, the pearls, the die cuts, with so much dimension.
I am SO proud of this creation. I think it is my best work yet, in the papercrafting phase of my life.
My 9 YO thinks I should make more of these to sell at an upcoming craft fair (my first!). While this is a wonderful idea, it is very time-consuming. I may have time to make one or two before the early November date.
Early next week I go in for surgery, and there's soooo much I want/need to do before then. Making more of these frames are not on the list! LOL
On Thursday, there'll be a new challenge for
The Play Date Cafe. You don't want to miss this one! It's our
Two Year Anniversary, and there are some AWESOME prizes to be had for SEVERAL lucky crafters!
Thanks for visiting me today. I know it was a very long post.
Colleen
Stamps: Vintage Wallpaper - Market Street Stamps
Paper: Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Whisper White - SU; white - PTI; patterned paper - SU (a French set, can't remember the name)
Ink: Antique Linen, Walnut Stain Distress - Ranger; Sahara Sand - SU
Punches: Infinite Loops double edge, Iron Gate corner & edge - Martha Stewart; Dotted Scallop - EK Success
Other: Die cut decorative borders - K & Co; venise lace; pearls; Big Shot; Parisian motifs, Fleur De Lis motifs die cuts - Spellbinders
