The Card is a CIRCLE!!!

Shabby Tea Room challenge this week is to make a circle card..."Ring around the Rosie".    I have a hard time getting the look I love with just a circle.... so I incorporated it into a step card... how much fun did I have....  I can't begin to tell you how much fun I had...

I also am entering this into Simon Says Wednesday challenge... as the theme is Anything Goes for this challenge... 

I started with a piece of paper that I adore... and haven't used... didn't have anything that was really calling to me... but this did... so I started to cut apart this precious piece of paper...

Why did I choose it for this challenge... well this challenge also says that the colors should be pink and green... and also a flower and also some BLING... well this paper has all that built right into it... the bling is on the hydrangea and the pink and green... oh I love pink and green together ... one of my favorite combos...  so this was just the perfect piece of paper... 

After cutting it all apart, All I had to do was glue everything onto a step card... love it...  how much fun!!!!

 

Here is the finished card... 

A close up of the flower... I used a burlap flower, then layered some book page flowers and some muslin flowers and they were all cut with Tim Holtz's Tattered floral die cut... my most used die cut in the pile...

 

You can also see that I used a Martha Stewart corner and border punch for the back panel... and I used a Provo embossing folder for the insert on that panel... 

 

In this picture you can see the bling on the hydrangea  ....

Loving it... 

 

Each little flowers is cut out of the 12 x 12 paper and put aside... until ready for gluing... also the little birds...  which I had to tuck into little places...  I used everything on that 12 x 12 paper... EVERYTHING was cut out... 

 

The little butterflies I doubled up on, to give flight to them...  and little pink bows were also tucked around in different places.. 

Can you tell I had fun??? 

I did...  and I just love the way it came out too..

I have a dear friend that is having a shoulder transplant in the fall.. .and she loves frilly things like this ... so she is going to receive this card... this ROUND card... it is ROUND!!!

 

Here is the round cards... it lifts out of the step card.. and it is round... 

 

I had to have a few things flowing off the circle... just for balance... and if you notice, not everything is glued down flat...  I love things that move on a card...

 

 

 

Inside the card is a message...  Celebrate Each DAY!!

How true is that... we need to do that each and every day to be thankful for whom we are in all ways... 

 

Okay... so I got a little carried away... this is the back of the card... I made the pink paper with some distress inks by Tim Holtz and white cardstock... love making my own papers... so very much fun.. .but the bests reason being that I get to create what I want in papers for my projects... 

 

When the card is removed, I wanted the base unit to still be pretty.. .so I added some birds and flowers there too...

 

A close up will show you how pretty even that area is... I just had to put a little bow there too... 

 

 

Okay... so that is my ROUND card...  it is Round... and I love it... hope you have enjoyed it as much as I did making it...

 

Thank You so very much for stopping by today and I love all the comments that you leave... I appreciate each and every one of them... and read them all... and generally will answer you back... 

 

Thanks again... and see you soon...

Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie 

Vintage Suitcases

A few weeks ago, I was chosen by Frilly and Funkie to be a Guest Designer.  What a wonderful honor to be chosen and to do a special project for you all to see.. I so hope that you totally enjoy all I have to share with you... Please go over to see my other pictures and write up over at Frilly and Funkie Site.  And stop by this GREAT store too while you are there... lots of goodies...  

When I was asked to do this project the theme given to me was VINTAGE TRAVEL.... so I instantly thought of my suitcases... I love making them... and have taught this class often.  Each person always adds so very much of themselves to their suitcase... making it uniquely theirs..  What fun is that!!!  

So here are a few that I have made...

This is the one I made for today... 

 

On this suitcase, I decided that I wanted a dual look... as when I did research on Vintage suitcases, I was shocked to see so very many different types and I wanted to make them all...  Oh how many can one person have???  So I thought it thru and came up with this one...  now for the papers...  Well Tim Holtz was the first place to stop...  and low and behold... look at this piece of paper... perfect for the vintage suitcase!!! 

 

 

Of course I had to add some WORDS...  so my Remnant Rubs worked out perfectly for this application...  even on the tag... 

And the corners... perfect Ideology for any vintage traveler's suitcase.   

 

Since this suitcase is more masculine, I had to add some tools to this man's travel... I know my hubby always has to travel with his favorite tools... just in case he might need to fix something along the journey...  This suitcase again is for a world wide traveler... with maps of the world on the inside...  Again some of Tim's Papers.... 

 

Now this is the back of the suitcase... during those years people were given decals to put on their suitcases and this was even popular when I was in college...  maybe it still today... not really sure, as I don't travel like that anymore...  have a farm is enough of a daily JOURNEY for me... 

 

Anyway... this is a very well used and traveled suitcase... and again it is a Tim paper...  and the word JOURNEY... it is again a Remnant Rub...  Using a tape measure for a strap around the suitcase and also the corners for the suitcase were all trimmings from Tim Holtz again...  love that ideology... 

 

Okay...  so if you know me at all.. .you know that I am very prolific... and have to have choices and all kinds of pretty and fun things around me... so I had to also do a feminine suitcase too... 

 

This is the top of the suitcase and I used seam binding that I dyed to match this paper etc... and braided it to create the handles of this suitcase.  Sheet music was used for the corners of the suitcase. 

 

 

I used a piece of Tim's paper for the body of the suitcase... but started to embellish with flowers and things from Graphic 45's pad called Diary of a Woman. 

 

I used tissue tape from Tim... as it was so perfect to give the look of straps on the suitcase..  and another flower. 

 

More Ideology... yes I happen to be a huge fan of ideology... it just always works so well for my projects and things I need to play with... 

Now for the inside... wow I really started to have fun...  grabbed another paper from Graphic 45 and then went to town adding laces, trims, bows and even a little mirror on the top of the suitcase.. which was a must for the lady of that time...  On this vacation, she took a lot of pictures... (another Tim paper)  and was also the 1912 Fashion plate...  LOL...  so much fun. 

 

I also had to make a little book for the inside of this suitcase...

 

 

 

This of course is all Graphic 45 papers and embellishments... so cute... and each page has a pocket for each day of the vacation... and the pictures for that day are in the pocket... 

 

 

Of course a little write is due too... and there is room on these pages... the pages are a paper from Tim and it is the days of the week... how perfect for a weeks trip someplace... 

 

 

Now since I love to make these... here are some others I have made in the past... 

The other two you just saw are 4X5 inches... and 2 inches deep...   the top one here... the blue one is only 3x4... much smaller and so cute...  love all sizes... and you really can make these any size you desire... as they are simple to make.  once you have made the first one... that is... 

 

This was a special one I made... made out of Suede cloth paper...  so your hands had to be CLEAN at all times... and if you had any glue the suede cloth would pick it up... I was amazed that I was able to do it... not only once... but I made two like this... with matching books... 

 

Of course you can embellish these anyway that you choose to do so... with catches... etc... I also embossed the suede cloth here so that it looked like a special leather... 

 

 

 

For those that LOVE Tim's papers... I know you know this one..  all the license plates... how special for a trip... 

 

I used dyed ribbon for the handles here... 

 

My Mother had traveled all over the world... and I one birthday I really didn't know what to make her... at 93 it is difficult... and so I made this little suitcase and the book inside... I made it for each country and state in the US that she had been to... she was ecstatic with this special little gift...  loved it and showed (of course) all her friends what I had made for her... and.... where she had traveled in her life...  I used K and Co paper on this box...   

 

I made this one in a class...  nothing really amazing.. but I did use plain white paper and stamped using 6x6 stamps...  loved it...  (at the time...) 

 

 

Had to share this little folder book with you that I made for the blue suitcase... it has seahorses all over it... (done with texture paste...)  Love it... still has some more embellishments to go... and hopefully I will be able to use this for a challenge soon!!!  Maybe not...  but I did have fun making the book... again Graphic 45 papers.. 

 

So there you have a VINTAGE TRAVLER, as I see it... 

I could have made a tag, or a card... but wanted something special for all of you... so I do hope you have enjoyed this...  I love making these special little suitcases as presents, and for special people...  hope maybe you will too...

 

Have a wonderful day... and thanks so much for stopping by for a visit... hope to see you again soon...

 

Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie 

 

My Girl

Sometimes when you are doing challenges, which to me is an excellent way of socialization with people you like and have things in common with... but also it teaches you so very much about techniques and also about yourself...  so one of those days hit me about a week ago... and I started to play for ME... 100%... not for any challenge or a class or anything... just for ME... 

I wanted to make a DOLL... yes a doll.. a paper doll.. no not one that you change like we did when we were younger... but one that is made from all kinds of scrap papers... and you and I both know that in this art form... we have way too many... so trying to use them up can always be a situation that truly needs ones attention...  I have given even some of mine away... and the people I give it to love it... as it is new to them JUNK... LOL.. but the good kind of JUNK... 

So with all that in mind.. I created this project that I call

 

My Girl..

 

is it me???  you be the judge... I sort of think in a lot of ways she is me... but in some not...

 

I still love her... and until I make another one... she will be my favorite...

 

My Girl stands about 12 inches tall.. and is about 4 inches at the bottom... first thing that is not like me... LOL.. anyway... that is her!!! 

 

 

 

I will show you different parts of her... the top part is two pieces... her arms and shoulders and head are all one piece... the lower part has straight edges...  from the neck to the bottom of her skirt.. I always wear long skirts...  love them... so comfy..

Okay... I will show you her head up close later... so her neck piece is a button I bought a long time ago... and just love it... so had to use that finally... 

her dress is entirely made of scraps of paper... and I tried to use the smaller pieces... hey the larger ones are good for larger items.. you never know when you are going to need a large piece...

 

Her heart is a piece of greet glass... and it was given to me by a friend over 14 years ago... a very sweet gal, who also got me started in making 1000's of boxes.. .LOL.. Love you Mary Heald...hope you see this...  she also gave me some little butterflies and such... I have used them all.. with the exception of this one... 

I also used TH Remnant rubs for the words and some of the things like butterflies etc... 

  

 

On the lower half.. .I made the flower... more on that later... but I also made the feather... I cut a piece of paper the shape I wanted the feather to be... and then used a pair of very sharp scissors to but the sections of the feather...  *remember I said to learn about self...  I am learning patience !!!!  of all kinds... LOL..

The dragonfly has separate wings that have are glossy.. and the copper wire was fun to mold thru the skirt...  the butterfly is two layers and the top one has 13 gem stones on it... so very glittery in real life...  (I dont' wear that much jewelry anymore at all... so not me... but I love to create it... ) 

 

The head...  I love to spin, felt and create my own wools... so these pieces of wool I dyed using my distress stains... !!!!  WOW.. not washable... but so vivid and GREAT...  and the little flowers I also made with a punch and also some stamen...  so adorable... reminds of flowers I use to love as a small child...

Her face... a Butterfly... (Not me... but hey!)  it is a rub on decal type from TH...  just wanted a fun face...

 

Following are just some close ups... and then more...

 

wire bracelet... and giggle ticket in kraft

 

 

 

Okay... the flower... I LOVE flowers of all kinds...  and wanted another New type of flower...  so I took an old book and cute out about 10 poinsettias (the med from TH Die)  and then dyed them purple... and put them onto a wire of stamen...  love it... nice new flower for me.. 

 

The doll stands free.. as I have used another Tim Holtz die cut... called Small Easel... love it for so many things... especially some cards even that I send to older people... they love to stand them up so they can be viewed by all... 

 

 

I use to make a lot of jewelry for New Age Stores... and have tons of feather and such left over from that long ago time...  and so I made some really long droppey turquoise wires with feathers on the end...

 

 

Last but not least... an ear ring from my Mother In Laws gem jewelry... can you image wearing this...  it is heavy...  and a clip on... yikes... must have been painful plus... 

 

Okay.. so my girl is standing in front of me as I write this... and there is a lot of things on her that I didn't write about... but... I am sure you can see that she is loaded... 

 

I wanted to share her with others... and so I though about challenges... and low and behold...

 

A VINTAGE JOURNEY...

"Just Stain It" 

Since I make a lot of my papers using Distress Stains... I think this qualifies...  I always use distress inks... my fav to say the least...

 

 

The Kraft Journal

#182  Funky Junk

 

My first time entering this challenge... but this so fit...

Hope you all enjoy it... 

 

Yesterday sort of seems like a blur...  I did way to much.. and tomorrow I have a class here in the studio... but I had so very much fun with this GIRL.. and hope it inspires you to create one too... 

she is easy to make... and everything you have on hand... even the paper... anythings goes with something like this...

 

Hope you have a super great day... and see you all soon..

Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie    

 

 

A JOURNALING Day for SURE!!!

Today is Monday... a lot of fun things happen around here on a Monday...  today in the way we farm, it is a good day to ferment veggies... so I made 10 Liters of Kraut, 10 Liters of Kim Chi and 10 Liters of GARLIC DILL PICKLES... YUmmmmm I took a class a few years ago with Sandor Katz (the king of fermentation)  and he makes it all so simple... so I love to do these things... and we feel so very much better when we eat fermented veggies...  anyway... that has really taken most of my day... but in between I have been playing... not a whole lot... but bits and pieces...  and this is what happened...

 

As I go along with these pictures you will see how the whole picture came together...  bits and pieces... 

I wanted to do the challenge A  Vintage Journey... so

JUST STAIN IT

was the theme... and so I thought and thought... had a few ideas.. and then the journal came into my mind.. .I have to admit... I have not been journaling for about a year now... just too busy etc. etc...

anyway... I wanted to get back into that... so I am going to do it with this JUST STAIN IT...  yes sir!!!!  

Well because my stains are on my worktable always handy it was just what colors to use... so I used a variety of them... as I wasn't really sure exactly where I was going...  just to have fun.. main goal... 

I think I used about 8 different colors... it is a hard decision .. there are too many that I love...  so I just turned the lazy Susan and where it stopped... I used that one...  just that simple... 

 

I would make it all go together anyway... so not a big deal... and they are all yummy so again... not a big deal... 

The sayings are the hardest to pick...

This one is special...

LIFE IS THE SUM OF ALL

YOUR

CHOICES. 

How very true...  sometimes we don't want to admit that... but it is 100% true... 

 

okay... moving on..

 

Simon Monday is all ABOUT J's... so I thought on that for a minute too... and JOURNAL.. Journey, Jams...  oh my goodness get out of the kitchen now... you are playing in the studio... 

Well a Butterfly jam???  meaning a lot of them in one place... ???  Okay... stretching it  a little bit too much... we will go with JOURNAL... 

 

Of course being Monday.. it is Zen Tangle Day...  OMG... no meditation today... up too early getting things ready for the fermentations... and also bean processing... and then Glenn picked a couple more gallons of Blue Berries... too much going on... no meditation.. .but I want to tangle... so I did... on my journal page...

The challenge today was to use your initials and pick out two tangles to represent you...  so I did that too..  Me2 and one that begins with a B that has flowers... LOL.. you know me... it has to have flowers... 

 

Just wanted to show you how my page is coming along...  so far...  that is ..

 

 

I love maple seeds.. and my husband will always collect some for me to use in my art... so I have used some... but always reserve some too...

 

 

Well... I love butterflies... and love them flying and everything that a butterflies does is fine with me...  so I wanted to show as many ways as possible with a butterfly on these pages.. so I thought about embossing them too... Well low and behold... two challenges ask for EMBOSSING... of any kind... this is the dry embossing, but the dragonfly is WET... with my new Texture Paste... love that stuff... I have almost used half a jar... need to get more NOW... don't like withdrawel...  of any kind... 

 

So this is for Simon Wednesday blog  (Emboss it! ) and also for Craft Hoarders (Who's the Boss!)   

 

A better view of my tangle for today... 

 

After taking pictures of my journal page... I didnt' like the way it looked... so I went back and mixed up some Textured paste with some Distress dyes and added these little hexagons all over the place... I made this stencil from Tim's Template... love to do that... and they are so fun and easy...

 

Closeups of those areas.. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This word is very meaning ful to me... I had a speech teacher in college that use to stand up in front of the class and lecture for hours... with her eyes closed and half of us would sneak out...  anyway... her favorite thing to lecture about was OBSERVING... how very important it is all the time...  have you ever observed something you use all the time... would you be able to tell me what a pencil really looks like.. you know the yellow one, with 8 sides... and the little gold band... and the band generally also has another color on it too.. etc etc...  what words are on the pencil... OBSERVE... 

So it was a reminder for me...

 

Journaling is a diary for the artist to explore the inner and outer happenings in their life.. so this is mine for today...

I did forget to put some kraut on there... but it will not be ready for a few days... so sorry about that... LOL..

 

Thanks for taking a look and stopping by for a visit...  also I love all the comments you leave and read each and everyone... as I cherish them... thanks again to all of you. 

 

hope you have a wonderful evening and also day...
Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie