HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Today is Valentine's Day and in honor of our patron saint of love,  St. Valentine, I decided to have a contest!  

Just leave a comment describing your BEST Valentine's Day and you will automatically be eligible for a prize!  

The prize is a $10 gift certificate at the craft store of your choice, 

Michael's, JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, Ink Paper Rubber, Scrapbook Page, Archiver's, Stamper's Ink etc.
  

Leave your comment NO LATER than 9 p.m. CST, TODAY.  The winner will be announced on tomorrow's post.  Check back as I will not be emailing results.  If you win, you have 24 hours to claim your prize.  Winner is chosen at random by using Random.org. 

(If prize is not claimed another name will be chosen the following day)

"How I made the Bridal Plaque" Tutorial

Hi Bloggers!
So many of you have asked me how I made the Bridal Plaque featured on the Graphic 45 website.  I have put together a photo-tutorial for you so that you can see step-by-step how it was completed.
If you have any questions after viewing it, please leave me a comment below and I will answer all your questions promptly!

Here we go!

Select the papers you want to use.  I used le' Romantique by Graphic 45

Paint your frames if desired, I painted mine using colors that went well with the paper collection.

Cut sections of paper to suit your story.  Mine was a bride, so I selected pretty brides from the paper collection.
Use paper glue to adhere paper to tray.
I ended up using different paper than shown here in this photo, as you will see at the end of the tutorial!

Move the finished frames around on the tray until you like the arrangement.

Before the frames were adhered to the tray, I added some bronze colored GLAZE to my frames.
It gave more of an antiqued look to them.

I also experimented with adding green paint to the peach frame, and peach paint to the green frame.
Then added the bronze GLAZE.

After gluing the photos to the frames, the frames were hot-glued to the tray and I could start to decorate.
Be careful using the hot glue gun, add the glue to the tray, not the frames.
Note: At this point I was still experimenting with where the frames should go.  I decided to put them on in order of age.
That way it almost seemed like a walk through history.

Next add all your embellishments, lace, buttons, and trinkets to the tray.
I used craft glue, and also used Glossy Accents.
With the lace I used glue that wouldn't show when dry.  Use your best judgement here.

I used the same papers to make a coordinating card

This is a close-up of the tray.  You can see all the little details.

Another close-up showing the beading, and details of the lace and flowers

After all trinkets, keys, buttons and bling were added,  antique lace and beading was adhered to the sides of the project.
You can also see that I used the Tim Holtz corners to add pizazz to the piece.  It really did look like an antique!
If you have additional question,  I encourage you to write me a comment below!

Happy Crafting!

ReNae

Valentines for my friends!

Hi Bloggers!
Just wanted to post a couple Valentine's I made for some dear friends!

I hope you like them.  They were made in the same fashion as some of my Vintage Christmas Cards, with lots of lace and yummy vintageness!  One more day until Valentine's Day!  See you tomorrow!

Happy Crafting!
ReNae

A project made with the Graphic 45 "Le Romantique" Paper Line

Hi Bloggers!

Here is a little something I whipped up this weekend!  It was a gift for my cousin Jeff's Bride-to-Be, Alison.  I wanted to make something that showed her a bit about the family she was marrying into!

This project featured the last 4 generations of brides in Jeff's family.  It started with Jeff's (and my) Great Grandmother Elizabeth, Grandmother Frances, his mother Barbara, and lastly, Ali herself!

This is a 7 Gypsies Printers Drawer, decorated with Graphic 45 Le' Romantique Papers.

Here is the plaque on the table at the shower.

I made a matching card (shown above) to match the plaque.

Subscribe to Drew's YouTube channel and WIN a VAGABOND!

 SUBSCRIBE and WIN! 
Just click on the above link and subscribe to Drew's channel on You Tube and you will have a chance to win a


VAGABOND CUTTING MACHINE!


Good Luck Everyone!

A New Year, and New Resolutions

I promise to write in my blog at least twice a week!

As many of you may already know, my dear Grandmother Ernestine passed away on Christmas Day.
She completed her 102nd year of life here on earth, (Dec. 26th was her birthday)

I was with her by her side, until the end.  She whispered into my ear on Christmas Eve that she hoped she would go to Heaven.  Grandma, I know you are in Heaven, because you were and are and angel.

I love you and always will remember all the lessons you taught me, from how to make Chicken Soup, to how to treat others.

I hope you were proud of me, and will continue to watch over me as you did when you were here.
I love you!

Ernestine age 2, a beautiful angel, just like now!

Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child

Peyton is one, and he is really enjoying the Christmas Season this year!  Last year he was a newborn, so my daughter and her husband Shawn are really enjoying watching him ooh and ahh over the Christmas Tree!  Here is a photo of Peyton as he admires the tree at the Marriott Hotel in Newport, R.I.