Family is the Anchor......... Prima Midnight Garden pt 2

Hello again

 I have a quick little post to share of an altered frame that I have made to hang in our home. I have used some more of the Prima Midnight Garden range, which is very elegant and lush.

I have had this frame for quite some time and never quite knew what to do with it, so I thought this might be the perfect opportunity.

I painted the whole frame with 2 layers of white chalk paint and when it had dried I gently sanded it back in places with a fine sandpaper to expose the black and give it a *shabby* look.

On the top have I removed the photo aperture mount strip  and popped in the photo with a panel of  Rose Receipts on either side of the photo to fill the rest of the frame.

In the bottom section of the frame I used a wide strip of Midnight Garden
This has some really pretty copper metallic detailing on it in amongst the flowers.

 I had some little wordy stickers that I picked through and chose those that I thought worked on this piece.

In my own stash I had some copper chipboard letter packs so I used them for the title and the quote underneath.... I also added some little copper dots to the corner of the frame.

I much prefer this look to the original frame and am now looking forward to displaying it at home.

Thank you for looking xx

Have a super weekend

Warmest wishes
Anita xx

Prima Midnight Garden

Hello again,
today I have a layout using the beautifully foiled Midnight Garden range from Prima.
This collection is a gorgeous mix of deep, dark florals mixing ruby, turquoise and creams with rich copper foiling and vintage designs.

I wasn't sure initially what photo to use on these luscious papers and it did pose a problem for me for  little while. However, I eventually came across this photo of my eldest daughter that was taken on a photo day at the nursery she used to attend. We had borrowed a posh frock from a friend for the photos and she sat beautifully for the sitting bless her.

The page is backed by a sheet of dark grey cardstock and on the left hand side I stamped using a Kaisercraft Clear Stamp in the Diamond design and some copper acrylic paint.

Using a sheet of More Roses Please to create the page I sliced down from top to bottom on the left hand side approx 3" in.... I also popped a 3" strip of  Feather Collector, sliced in half, behind the top sheet. I rolled both layers back separately to expose the reverse of the paper and also to show the Diamond stamping in the background and to create some dimension on my page.

Using 3 colours of Stickles in Pink, Copper and Midnight Blue I sponged randomly across the page which added some pretty sparkly highlights.

Using a Tim Holtz Tattered Florals large die I cut out a few flowers using sections from Feather Collector,  Old Map , and Travelling Ticket,
I layered them up, curling the edges and sponging them with Copper and Pink Stickles, then popped in some Pink Stickles for the centres.

 

Copper glitter card was used to die cut some swirls and vines that were added to the blooms. 

A couple of small panels were cut from Rose Receipts which I gently inked around the edges of with an old dark brown ink pad, I also added an inked small tag with a cute heart paper clip from Doodlebug. These were layered and tucked behind the photo.

Rather than matting the photo I popped it into a delicate chipboard frame and also added a chipboard title.

A few feathers were cut from the Feather Collector sheet and added below the title and I used a teeny sticker on the tag and under the title from a sheet of Pretty Little Studio sayings.

I finished the page off with sprinklings of sequins in various areas in coppers and golds.

I hope you treat yourselves to some of the gorgeous Prima papers, there are so many new and beautiful sets to choose from in the shop..... they really are stunning.

Happy Crafting

Warmest wishes
Anita xx

My Heart Belongs to You

Hello!

 Anita here with you today and I have a new layout to share, this time using the Loves Me range from Pebbles.  Double sided papers filled with striking patterns, hearts, cute animals, flowers and tags all in a range of eye catching pinks and reds. It will melt your heart!

I backed the layout on a sheet of Marischino cardstock and matted the photo with the same colour.
I used a sheet of  Huggably Yours and also Bouquet of Love, torn at angles and over lapped to make back up to an 11.5" x 11.5" square.

On the upper half of the page I splattered some drops of pink and black Distress Stain and cut a thin strip of the striped paper that I then added a pearly buckle to and stuck across the top of the page.
From the left over pieces of the 2 sheets I cut various flowers and sloths on hearts which were placed along the torn edges to create a border.

From the sheet of Tag You're It  I chose 5 tags that I liked with various sayings on and threaded them through with some 3mm Satin Ribbon, then arranged them across the page.

I cut the Fox, Typewriter, Cookie Heart and banner shape from left over tags and added them to the page and then just finished it off with a few sprinklings of sequins ( who doesn't love sequins!!)

This is the perfect paper collection for up and coming Valentines Day, whether it be for a love filled layout or making that special someone an extra special card....but also for lots of other themes too, why restrict yourself!
You can see all the Pebbles Collections in the SHOP along with lots of other needful things.

Warmest Wishes

Me and My Girl ...... Prima Georgia Blues

Hello Again.

Here is another layout using Georgia Blues Collection from Prima. These papers are an absolute pleasure to create with and I am rather sad that I am at the end of my stash of them ( I think I shall have to be putting in a order for some just to squirrel away and keep just to stroke and admire!!) I had one whole sheet left in my DT kit and some scraps from other sheets left over and I knew they were just right for this photo of my youngest daughter and I on her prom night.

I based the layout on a sheet of The Watermark and used the reverse side, that has gentle filing around the edges. Using one of the stitches stamps from the 49 and Market Gabi's Line Stitch set I dabbed it with a Distress Stain in Blueprint Sketch and stamped around the edges of the page from each corner. I also used some bubble wrap that I removed from the centre of a jiffy bag ( it was tiny bubbles and just perfect!) and chose 3 colours of acrylic paint, Cobalt Blue, Platinum and Silver. These were gently sponged onto the bubbles and then laid onto the page, pressing gently so as not to pop the bubbles.

I took some Dusty Chipboard from my own stash ( there is a great selection of various chipboard embellishents in the shop) and gave it a watercolour brushover with some blue paint and then added Silver Beadazzles, Blue Glitter and Silvery Liquid Pearls onto the berries.

I used up left over strips and panels from the sheets of Memory Lane and Written Chapters which were gently inked around the edges using an old brown inkpad. These strips were then layered up across the page before adding the photo which was printed in a 5 x 5 format.

I used Pink Fresh Studio Puffy alphabet stickers for my Title in black. These are available in a variety of colours in the shop.

I added a piece of cotton lace below the photograph.

And then added the chipboard spray when the glue and Liquid Pearls had dried.

I also printed out some butterflies, which I fussy cut and added in various paces on the layout to finish it off.

So that's it....I am all out of delicious Georgia Blues papers now....gutted! At least its a good excuse to pop over to the SHOP and do a little retail therapy isn't it???

See you next month, I hope you liked my layout xx

Warmest wishes
Anita xx

25 years.....Prima Georgia Blues

Hi There

Here is a recent page I made for my DT post over at Papermaze. Its using Prima's Georgia Blues papers.

I wanted to add another layout to our Silver Wedding Album and thought this range would be just perfect for it. The top photo was taken the year we were married and the bottom one whilst on our Silver Anniversary Road Trip.....this photo was on a steamer at Ullswater.

 I used a sheet of Midnight Blues for my layout, the deep navy blue with the mix of white and blue roses and silver foiled fine script is really striking.

 White acrylic paint was used and sponged through a diamond stencil, it was also drizzled and splattered across the page. On a couple of the large drops of paint I used a cocktail stick and dragged out points making it look star like. I also gently sponged some paint around the photo edges, instead of matting them.

 I added some Prima Emerson flowers with a mix of other flowers and die cut leaves from my stash and a chipboard embellishment from Dusty Attic.

I have quite a few butterfly files on my laptop and thought I would like to add some to my page, so printed them out onto white card, fussy cut and Stickled them , raising their wings on small foam pads.

I also added a small doily behind the top photo , the printed vellum packaging from some Prima flowers and a panel cut from a sheet of  Memory Lane   behind the other photo. Also a sprinkling of sequins, small wooden hearts and a couple of lengths of cream cotton lace.

 I completed the page by making a title using some silver glittered chipboard letters.

Warmest Wishes
Anita xx

Lantern Retro Makeover with Authentique *Jingle*

*Another Christmas catch up post*

Hi There and Happy New Year Everybody!!

It's Anita here today and I have been using some lovely Authentique *Jingle* papers to prettify a red lantern that I have had for a couple of years.

 I don't know if you are like me or not, but I just cannot resist a good bargain when I see one! A couple of years ago, straight after Christmas, I saw some red lanterns, filled with tiny little lights and reduced by 70%! Not one who can leave bargains on the shelf I quickly purchased 2 and bought them home and packed them away for the following Christmas!
 So then out they came for Christmas 2017 and they sat on the sideboard, sparkling away.....but actually looking quite plain. So this Christmas they came out again.....only this time they cried out for a make over!

I saw some of the gorgeous Christmas papers in the shop and noticed 2 lovely new collections from Authentique. They were both really nice but in the end I chose to use the Jingle papers.
I cut some of the multi coloured candy stripes from the sheet of Retro Holiday Candies and used them to frame each side of the actual lantern part.

I also cut the red and white candy cane stripes that framed some of the Santa images on the sheet of Retro Christmas Cut aparts and used these to decorate the top plate and base plate edges of the lantern.

The lovely retro ladies also came from the sheet of cut aparts and I fussy cut one for each side and also the Father Christmas was from the same sheet.

I trimmed a sprig from one of my long garlands I use to decorate our bannisters and wrapped it around the top of the lantern before adding a selection of Christmas flowers, berries, glittered ivy leaves and some miniature glass baubles to just finish it off.

So... keep your eye out for some bargains....you can have all sorts of fun altering them.
Happy Crafting!

Anita xx

Christmas Cottage Explosion Box..... Simple Stories Merry & Bright.

Hello There.

I am a bit behind with posting some of my DT work, so thought I would catch up and post this explosion box first.
I really cannot believe how rapidly Christmas came round this year..... Do you make lots of your Christmas cards? I have to be honest and admit that I am rather naughty and only hand make some for a few of my friends, they are all crafty ladies and I know we all appreciate a handmade card... I have a couple of large boxes full that I have saved over the years of ones I have been lucky enough to receive and I love looking at them.

I wanted to make something different for some very special friends of mine this year and decided to make an explosion box and use as a card for them.

I have been working with the Merry and Bright Collection from Simple Stories, its a vibrant mix of red, green and white with a mix of plaid, polka dots and various other patterns and also lovely decorative panels to choose from.
I used 2 sheets from the range.... 4 x 4 Elements and A Simple Wish along with a sheet of Red Hots Bazzill and a sheet of Ivy

There are lots and lots of tutorials on Pinterest, You Tube and Google, to create various size and shaped Explosion boxes depending on what you want to do and so much inspiration for decorating etc. I went for a simple, single layer box based on a sheet of 12 x 12 cardstock. It was scored at every 4 inches, this meant the sheet was split evenly into 9 squares. I cut the top right and left panels out and the same on the bottom right and left. This left a basic cross shape and when the sides were folded up it creates the lower part of the box.
I picked 5 panels from the 4 x 4 Elements sheet and used them to decorate the inner base and each empty side ( you can of course use photos if you prefer) I also added some Stickles to pretty the panels up and give some extra festive sparkle!
The outside of the box was decorated with panels of one side of the A Simple Wish sheet.

I wanted to make a little 3d scene inside and found these sweet little wooden cottages and a mini bottle brush tree which were perfect for the job. Along with some teeny polystyrene snowballs to finish it all off.

I used the 2nd sheet of card-stock for the lid. This was cut down to an 8 x 8 " square and then measured in at 1" 7/8 " along each corner, sliced inwards to 1" 7/8 and then folded to make the lid. This was covered with panels of  the reverse side of A Simple Wish and the very top of the lid had a 4 x 4 Element Panel added to it and Stickles added.

With the left over card stock I made a simple little mini album for some special photos to be added into.

These little boxes are lovely to make and are great for many different occasions.... why not pop onto Pinterest, Google etc and see what ones you can find!

Hopefully my friends will be pleased with it!
Thank you so much for looking at my project today, I hope that maybe you are a little bit inspired to have a try yourself.

Happy New Year to you all

Anita xxxxx