Vintage Dress Form Tag

Hi Friends,  Today I'm sharing a Vintage Dress From Tag I created for Jo (aka Texlady) in our Brats Birthday Card Club.  I love vintage and sewing themes so this was really fun to create for Jo and she really loved getting it!  I used the Cricut "Artist" cartridge from Stampin Up to make the swirly topped tag and label.   Here's some information on how to create your own and a few close-ups I hope you enjoy:

I paired the dark navy blue and gold foil cardstock with the "Damask" sheet from Teresa Collins "Now & Then" paper collection.  I really liked the striking contrast of these papers together.  The Prima flower was sprayed with Gold Foil Bloom Spray, added a bit of Diamond colored Stickles to finish the center, then softened the look with a bit of gold tulle gathered behind the flower.   The sentiment label was simply a 1" version of the same tag cut and it made a perfect background for my "Have a Beautiful Day" sentiment. 

I used Tim Holtz's "Alterations" die to cut the dress form and thread spool.  Decorating the dress form was my favorite part.  I had some Websters Pages navy blue lace that I used as the dress base; added some vintage cream and gold crocheted trim around the neck, waist and bottom.  Then I highlighted the waist with a few little Stickled roses and some gold tulle.  I added another small rose at the neckline and finished the top and bottom of the dress from with some Gold Pearl colored Pearl Drops.  To highlight the dress form, I added a cream doily behind it along with a swirly gold foil die cut, and a pretty floral print I fussy cut from the damask paper.  They layered up nicely with foam tape which give the tag some extra dimension.  

Finely, I finished off the tag side with some vintage lace given to me by my dear friend Martica.  I repeated the dress lace across the bottom, added a vintage spool top and a thread wrapped spool; then finished it off with a handmade stickpin.  

You can find a list of supplies I used to make this tag here:  http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=641373&m=view&id=5321411

Well friends that's it for me today.  Thank you for dropping by, your visits are very much appreciated! I hope you enjoyed this pretty vintage tag and encourage you to create something beautiful today!  Until next time, have a joyous day! ~ Dawna

Butterfly Birthday Card

Hi Friends, Today I'm sharing a butterfly card I made for my friend Shana (aka Dryla) for her birthday.  I can't take credit for its design, as it was designed by Laree, the new owner of  "The Stampin Post " for our regular card class.  I enjoyed making this pretty card and it really brightened Shana's special day!

I love the sanded down embossed doily in the background and die cut tulle butterflies on top of the layered paper butterflies.  We also learned how to burnish mica flakes to make the sparkling gold strip and little butterfly. 

The card flips up and the inside features a pocket for a sweet note card.

Well friends, that's it for me today.  Thank you for dropping by, your visits are always appreciated.  Until next time, have a joyous day!  ~ Dawna

Sweet Birthday Card

Hi Friends, Today I'm sharing a pretty, yet quick and easy birthday card.  I created this for my dear friend Susie (aka Scrapsmart).  For papers I chose the "Sweet" page from Kaisercraft "Be-YOU-tiful" collection.  To begin, I cut the yellow background to 5x7 and the aqua card top to 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" to leave a 1/4" frame of each color around the card.   I distressed the edges of both layers then roughly sewed the edges using two different stitches. Then I fussy cut two flowers, shaped and inked them, and added a Kaisercraft "Sparklets" in sea breeze to finish the centers.  I dipped the leaves in a bit of  "Diamond Dust" for added sparkle and made a few Prima wire sprigs for a finishing touch.  

To assemble, I adhered the bottom yellow mat to a basic 5 x7 ivory card, layered on the aqua mat and  curled up the left corner to add a white "Soprano" flower from Prima.  I arranged the rest of the flowers to my liking, popping up the yellow ones for added dimension.  Tucked in the white flowers, leaves, and sprigs around the yellow flowers and there you have it, pretty yet easy and simple!   

Well friends, that's it for me today.  Thank you for dropping by, your visits are always appreciated!    Have a joyous day!  ~ Dawna

Easel Brithday Card

Today I'm sharing an easel birthday card I created for my fried Yvonne.  Easel cards are fun and easy to make and they display so pretty all by themselves!  Here's a few close ups and a bit of information on how to create your own:

An easel is created using two different lengths of cardstock.  Make your front any size you'd like, then make the bottom the same width, but make it at least 2" inches longer than your front.  Score the longer piece at the bottom at 1/2" and again at 2"  Fold your scored lines like an accordion.  Attach the 1/2" area about 1 1/2" up from the bottom of the backside of your card.  Fold the second score line towards the front of your card creating a base.  You'll need to add a stop on the bottom of the card so the front will stand up by itself.  

Thick lace works perfectly as a stop for the top of the card. You can also use buttons, brads, punched cardstock, just about anything that will create a 'lip' to hold the card upright.  

I covered the top, bottom and the unseen areas with green cardstock.  I fussy cut a few flowers, painted them with Glossy Accents and finished the centers with Butter colored Micro Beads from Prima.  I layered a die cut background over contrasting cardstock, and popped up the flowers for extra dimension.  Lastly, I inked the edges with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo, added a few die cut Prima leaves, added sprigs of curled Prima wire and finished it with a punched butterfly.  

The decorating possibilities are endless with this style card so I hope you get creative and make one of your own!  Thank you so much for dropping by and I wish you a joyous day!  ~ Dawna

Listen to Your Heart

Hi Friends,  Today I'm sharing my first mixed media art journal piece.  Its been over two decades since I picked up my drawing pencils, so despite a few mishaps, I'm pretty happy with how this turned out.  This is the first lesson "Its Okay to Be You" in a series of art lessons being offered (at no cost)  by Tamara "Tami" Laporte in her "Art, Heart and Healing" series.  Tami is a an amazing mixed media artist who loves to teach, share and encourage artist to get in tune with their creative selves.  She is a beautiful soul, who's uplifting, down to earth, sweet and oh so funny.  If your interested you can find Tami's lessons at Willowing Arts located at:  http://www.willowing.org

I loved following Tamara's lessons and look forward to learning a lot more.  Thank you for dropping by and have a joyous day!  ~ Dawna

Steampunk Birthday Card

"Happy 18th Birthday Joshua"

Hi Friends,  Today I'm sharing a card I made for my 'adopted grandson' Josh for his 18th birthday. Whenever I create for my grandsons, I always seem to lean towards a "Time Fly's" theme.  Probably because they are all growing up so fast!  It may look a little complicated but actually with just a few simple techniques it was pretty easy and lots of fun to create.   

To start, I used Graphic 45's "Steampunk Spells" paper collection and its coordinating 6x6 cardstock pad.   I fussy cut a few flowers for the cover and inside with their vines or gears still attached.  Then I picked out a nice big hot air balloon for the cover and a small on for the inside.  I really wanted the big balloon to have a lot of dimension, so I adhered it to chipboard, distressed the edges (using TH Vintage Photo) and added a few coats of Glossy Accents to make it shine and really pop!  

Male Steampunk Gear Head Chippy from Gina's Design

Then I took this amazing Steampunk Male Gear Head chippy, a gift from my friend Donna from Gina's Designs and finished it with some Viva Inka Gold and Copper colored Metallic Rubs.  I used the same metallic rubs in green, azure and turquoise to finish the Leaky Shed Spring Butterfly.

Steampunk Male Gear Head Close Up

Putting it all together was pretty simple.  Before I adhered anything or double matted the background papers, I added the corner eyelets to the top piece of cardstock, roughed up the mat edges and distressed them with ink.  Then I roughly sewed the edge of each mat with different stitches.  I arranged the embellishments the way I wanted them, then used a clock face to stamp out a few peek-a-boo clocks and the inside sentiment.  Now I was ready to secure everything down.  I used some foam tape to lift the balloon up, tucked in a few flowers and the gear head, layered on some metal gears, butterfly sequins, and finely the birthday banner.  Here's the inside of the card and a final look at the cover:

"Live the Life You've Imagined"

Happy 18th Birthday Joshua"

Well friends that's it for me today.  I hope all you Steampunk fans out there enjoyed this fun, funky and cool masculine card.  Until next time, I hope you're inspired to create something from the heart!  ~ Dawna

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