Fun with Pencils

I always have loved to color.  I loved the way new Crayons colored so well fresh out of the box with a new coloring book as a child.  It was always a treat to get to pick one out at Ben Franklin's Five & Dime way back in the day!

I am having even more fun taking classes from Alyce Keegan at Kit & Clowder.  I love how she goes over each step so slowly in her videos and details in the class booklets.  This past month's classes were wonderful!

I played with the images from Molly Harrison.  She creates the most wonderful fairies that are available on her Etsy shop.  I tried to do a night and a day version.

Here is my night:

And here is my day:

I can't decide which one I like better but I sure had fun doing them!

Gracie

Beauty from a File Folder

Oh, my!  This was such fun to make!!!  A beautiful stuffed envelope from a file folder!  You can purchase decorated file folders or do like I did and decorate a plain one.

I covered my folder with paper from my stash and found another coordinating paper to play with.  I used red double-sided tape on each seam to be certain the "envelope" would hold together after everything was folded.  I added the coordinating paper to the front flap and used it to make a pocket on the front of the file.  I used hot glue to add lace, ribbon, the birds (from Michael's), a key charm, some mulberry roses, and a pretty pink feather.  Then the real fun began!  Stuffing it!

I added ribbon, rick rack, three tags, three embellished paperclips and a host of other goodies tucked inside.  I tried to give everything a vintage look.

Now go pick up a pack of $1 folders and have fun!

Gracie

A Clipboard? Really!

I really love making items look vintage.  I have a growing collection of mulberry roses, butterflies, buttons, vintage photos, etc.  Today's fun started with a $1.98 clipboard!

I love how it turned out!

I started by covering the clipboard with paper from "The English Garden" by Hackney & Co.  I then hot-glued lace to the outer edge of the entire board.  Next I began adding vintage embellishments.  There are several pictures from Tim Holtz and images from The Graphics's Fairy printed and the edges curled to look aged.  I added a beige doily, metal charms, mulberry roses in several colors and flat-backed pearls.I added an organza bow to the clip with a rose in the center.  The final touch was a large butterfly I received from a crafty friend.

You can take just about any object and make it lovely!  I hope you are encouraged to make something lovely today!

Gracie

A Happy Box

Do you have a crafty friend who would appreciate some crafty goodness in a box?  I had the pleasure of putting a box together for a swap.

I bought a plain box at Hobby Lobby for $1.99 but there are also some smaller at The Dollar Tree.  My box had 17 compartments.  I tried to place different colors in each compartment and added embellishments to match the ribbons or flowers or lace in each compartment.  I even added stick pins and embellished paperclips.

After I finished I tied it up with bows and stuck a beautiful butterfly a wonderful crafty friend made!

I really think I will be making more of these for gifts!

Gracie

A Simple Calendar

I have the hardest time keeping up with dates.  Seriously.  I have had a problem with numbers ever since I developed epilepsy - I even have a hard time with my home address and cell phone number!  So if it is not on a sticky note stuck on my craft table in front of me I will probably forget an important date.  To try to help I have several calendars.

This is one of my favorites:

It was really fun to make!  

I started with a center step card base sized for an A2 card.  I used peach card stock (don't know if you can tell but peach is kind of my favorite color).  I had a printed card stock in my scrap box and used it to trim out a background.  I also used raspberry card stock to mat the print on.  I offset the calendar in the corner and decorated the upper corner.  I hot glued a metal clock charm, mulberry roses, pearls, and a large rhinestone.  I then simply tied a ribbon around the center step and made a bow.  

The calendar is small enough as to not be in the way but pretty enough to enjoy and I can keep up with the date.  Sort of.  If my phone is handy.  And my watch...

Gracie