If I Coiuld Freeze The Picture and Make it Last Forever

Morning Friends,

Nothing says winter like snowflakes and icicles!  But here in beautiful Southern California we don't get too much of either,  so a little "make believe" was in order to pull off this winter wonderland.

Missy Loves Bird Watching

To start things off, let me introduce you to my lovely fur baby "Missy."  She is a large Maincoon and just turned 12 years old over Christmas.  She's a momma's girl, but likes to socialize so she'll come out to say hello when company comes by.   Her favorite past time is bird watching.  In the mornings she sits with me at  the desk while I catch up on blogs, make comments and enjoy my coffee.  She's been a godsend this past year as I've finely made the transition to a happy empty nester. After all who could be lonesome with this loveable face following you around every day? 

To create this layout I used: 

~Teresa Collins "Dec. 25th" Cricut Cartridge for the snowflakes, swirls and birds.  
~ Krylon's "Silver Marker" to color the tree and ice cycle ledge.
~"Diamond Dust" to create the snowy ice cycles.
~Teressa Collins "Summer Stories" Paper Collection for the sentiment card, matting and back ground paper. 
~Tim Holtz's "Branch Tree" die.
~ Spellbinders "Icicles" die.
~ Martha Stewart's Punch Around the Page "Snowflake Set."

I Wish I Could Freeze the Picture and Make it Last Forever

Here are a few more snowflake close ups:

Right Corner with Prima Diamond Flower Centers

Left Corner with Prima Diamond Flower Centers

Well friends wherever you're visiting me from today, please stay warm and cozy!   Thanks for dropping by and may I wish you a happy day dear friends!   Hugs to All ~ Dawna

 

Birthday Card Club - January Creations

Morning Friends,

One of my favorite things is to get 'happy mail."  While this tradition has almost gone by the 'buggy whip' there are still a few of us who really appreciate the time and effort that goes into letting someone know your thinking about them on their special day.  To make sure that something more than bills come in the mail this year, a few of us at sb.com have started a Birthday Card Club.  There are twenty of us signed up to participate which means we'll all be taking turns creating and receiving happy mail throughout the year.  Here's a sampling of what I sent out for January celebrations. 

This card was designed by Linda Bradbury (one of my favorite card designers) and is for my friend Lorna who celebrated her birthday on the 1st of January:

Sweet Wishes Outside Card Cover

Sweet Wishes Inside Flap

Next came my friend Bren who celebrated her birthday on the 9th of January. Again these are Linda Bradbury cards I learned to make in class with her last year and I just love these wonderful creations!

Gather Together Outside

Gather Together Inside Note Card

Gather Together Outside Note Card

Then for the last of my January cards, my friend Donna celebrates a very special milestone this year as her 60th birthday is on the 21st.  Here's the card I created for her:

French Bird Card Cover

Inside Sentiment - Oh yeah, I did get it glued down! 

Sun Flower Close Up

Well there you have it!   When it comes to creating something from the heart, it really doesn't matter what you chose to do.  Just enjoy discovering your creative process and share it with others so we can enjoy your create journey too.

Thanks for dropping by and for those that have a minute, I sincerely appreciate hearing from you.   Make it a happy day friends!  Hugs ~ Dawna

Saint Valentine's Wedding Day Gift

St. Valentine's Wedding Day Shadow Box

Hi Friends,

Catching up this morning with a few year end posts.  This is a gift I made for our friends Kathy & Charlie who were married on St. Valentine's Day in 1987.  Kathy and I met in 2009 and one of our favorite pastimes is browsing around the antique shops in Old Town Temecula to see if we can find something we can't live without!  lol

 

 Well over the years Kathy has given me many special crafting trinkets and I took this opportunity to use a few of my favorite ones on their special wedding layout.  Among them is this beautiful tatted cameo and these wonderful gold quilted heart buttons. 

To create this layout I used Webster's Pages "In Love" and  "Post Cards to Paris" paper collections.  I framed the  background by using a piece of black textured cardstock then punched around the page with Martha Stewart's Tear Drop punch and used a Krylon pen to distress the edges in gold.   Then I framed the outer punch work with gold foil cardstock.  For the inside page, I used Martha Stewart's Vintage Lace punch and backed it with red cardstock.  Then finished the inner page off with a bit of zigzag stitching. The dark red and hot pick flowers are hand made rolled flowers and the remaining mulberry flowers are from Wild Orchards web site.

Fir the key to my heart element, I embossed a Kaiser Craft filigree heart and key with gold embossing powder, added a vintage label (with the title work printed from my computer) and did some picture matting for a nice clean finish.

Thank you for dropping by my gallery and if you have a minute, I always appreciate hearing from you.  Make it a happy day friends!  Hugs ~ Dawna

"When Pigs Fly" Photo Tray

When Pigs Fly Photo Tray

Morning Friends,

Today I'm sharing a fun and funky photo tray done in Graphic 45's Olde Curiosity Shoppe paper collection.   This collection has been out for a while but its still available from on-line scrapbook stores.

When Pigs Fly Window

Apothecary Window

This is one of those projects that really stumped me.  I adore the paper collection and always wanted to try my hand at a photo tray.   But when I completed the design work, it sat on the board for months before I finely decided that I liked it enough to glue it down.  Does that ever happen to you?   You think you like something, then you start second guessing yourself.   I'm pretty sure this situation happens to all of us at one time or another.   I'm glad I finely decided I liked it.    Here's a few more close ups that I hope you enjoy:

Upper Photo Tray

Lower Photo Tray

The techniques I used to create this project were very simple.  I used two Martha Stewart punches, the Deco Fan for the bottom of each photo opening and the Tear Drop punch for the top.  I used plain black textured cardstock to make these punched elements.  Then I cut my photo mats at 4 x 6 from different pages from the paper collection and used Tattered Angles spray in Aqua and Bronze to highlight the outer corners of the whole tray.

Olde Curiosity Shoppe Window

Flying Pigs and Butterfly Window

I framed each opening with aqua rickrack and brown leather trim.  Then I embellished each opening with coordinating chipboard and metal elements for added interest.   Except for the wings, all of the other metal elements (ornate corners, keys, bugs, butterflies, etc.) are available from Michael's.  The wings are from Teressa Collins, the flowers are from Prima and the photo tray and apothecary bottles are from 7 Gypsy's.  All of these products maybe found at Hobby Lobby or other on-line scrapbook stores.

Apothecary Jar Window

Swift Messenger Window

I orientated the tray sideways, with the handle on the left, so that I could use it to attach black tulle and various sizes of black ribbon.  I fussy cut the pigs and the curious lady and added them, along with the flowers, to the raised frame.  Although it took me a while to decide to glue it down, this project was so easy and very fun to make!

 

Well there you have it!  I hope you enjoyed "When Pigs Fly" and that you're inspired to spread your wings and try something creative today.  Thank you for dropping by my blog and for those who have a minute, I sincerely appreciate hearing from you.  Make it a happy day friends!  Hugs ~ Dawna

Sanctuary By The Sea

 

 Sanctuary By The Sea 

 Happy New Year Friends,

Today I'm sharing this lovely picture of my beautiful grand daughter Quinn and myself taken this past summer.  Quinn grew up very camera shy so the few pictures I do have of her are very precious, especially the ones with her smiling!   Over the years I've managed to snap a few pictures of us together but this one is by far my favorite!  

I created this layout using Authentique's beautiful vintage seaside inspired "Fresh" paper collection.  Here's a list of supplies I used to create this clean and simple layout:

Supplies List

2 ea 12 x 12 Bazzil Cardstock - Cardinal Red
1 ea 12 x 12 Bazzil Cardstock - Lakeshore Blue
1 ea 12 x 12 Authentique's "Fresh" Paper Collection - Pure
1 ea 12 x 12 Authentique's "Fresh" Paper Collection - Crisp
1 ea 12 x 12 Authentique's "Fresh" Paper Collection - Free
1 pk Dusty Attic Chipboard Set - Shells 
1 ea Ranger Ink - Liquid Pearls - Platinum Pearl 
1 ea Stem of Dusty Attic Grass Cluster Chipboard - No longer Available (Substitute if Desired)
1 ea Ranger Ink - Liquid Pearls - Avocado
1 pk Zva Creative Self Adhesive Pearls - White .5cm

1 ea Ranger Ink - Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Stormy Sky
1 ea We-R-Memory Keepers - Sew Easy - Red Floss
1 ea We-R-Memory Keepers - Sew Easy - Blue Floss
1 ea We-R-Memory Keepers - Sew Easy - Grey Floss
1 ea Wilton - Lace Doily - White - 6"
3 ea Queen & Co. - Goosebumps Rhinestones - Red
2 ea Little Scrap Shop - Mini Matchbook Stick Pins
1 ea Rangers Ink - Stickles Glitter Glue - Diamond
1 ea 4 x 6 picture of your choice

Tools List

1 ea We-R-Memory Keepers - Sew Easy - Piercing Mat
1 ea We-R-Memory Keepers - Sew Easy - Stitch Piercer Tool & Needle
1 ea We-R-Memory Keepers - Sew Easy - Zig Zag Piercer Tool
1 ea Zutter - Distrezz-It-All - Electric Distressing Tool #2
1 ea Martha Stewart Crafts - Large Circle Cutter
1 ea Kaisercraft - 14 x 14 Self Healing Cutting Mat 
1 ea Martha Stewart Crafts - Punch Around the Page Set - Large Butterfly Lace
1 ea Distress Ink Pad - Sponge Daubers 
1 ea We-R-Memory Keepers - Magnetic Working Mat Set (Optional) 
1 ea Ranger Ink - Inkssentials - Reusable Craft Mat Sheet (Optional)

Placeholder for my first tutorial film!  Be back soon with close-ups and a how-to video! :)