An altered statement brooch for Tresors de Luxe

This is my last project for Tresors de Luxe! It's been fun and I will continue to admire all the lush proejcts my teamies create :) Now on to the project...

I created this altered brooch, a shabby statement accessory, to give my jewellry box a kick in the pants. It's sort of half altered art, half craft medal of honor... and I'm smitten with how it turned out.

I've used a piece from this Fleur de Lis Ivory Lace Trim to hold that watch fob charm in place.

Behind the hob I've braided some Ivory Lace Trim and White Lace Trim and scraps with some ribbon and organza and wound it into a sort of nest to create a background for the watch to rest upon. A little Rhinstone heart at the bottom adds a nice touch and a smidge of colour.

I've pinned this piece to my boring old jacket and can't wait to show it off!

Fleur de Lis Ivory Lace Trim
Ivory Lace Trim
White Lace Trim
Rhinstone heart

Other:
Watch fob charm
Rose coloured rhinestones
Satin ribbon
Organza
Vintage image
Brooch backing

An Impish Convoy for Alpha Stamps

This month at Alpha Stamps is all about little houses. I had a couple of ideas bandying about... but they refused to cooperate and I ended up with this sort of impish convoy instead.

I don't mind that they misbehaved and did their own thing. You can't get mad when projects don't turn out as expected... or don't cooperate at all. Sometimes you just have to go with it. Sometimes THAT is the point ~ to play and enjoy the process of making. To get something... anything!... out and done on that work table. Wheeled house shaped shrines? Why not!

If you have a pile of "to-do's" in your work pile, maybe a little impish convoy is what you need too. A project to make for the sake of making, even if it doesn't make too much sense, to keep you out of trouble, and to drive the rut goblins away.

If you are so inclined, here is a list of the materials used in making these wheeled wonders:

Provincial Hydrangea Scrapbook Paper (Love!)
1/2 Inch Pale Pink Paper Roses*
Spoked Wheel Set - 2 Inch
Tiny Fancy Wheels Set*
Mini House Shadowbox 4 - 4 Inches Narrow*
Mini House Shadowbox 1 - 4.25 Tall*
Mini House Shadowbox 2 - 3.25 Tall*
Mini House Shadowbox 3 - 3 Inches Tall*
Sheet Moss*
Flat-Back Gold Star Studs - 12mm*
Flower Soft - Sweet Pea
Little Darlings Collage Sheet
Little Imps Collage Sheet

Or see the whole shebang HERE

Thinking of Spring Paper and Lace Crown for Tresors de Luxe

The wood stove is working overtime and the snow is falling steadily. While there is a thick blanket of white outside, I'm dreaming of warmer days and the promise of spring.

I've combined some sweet Tresors de Luxe laces with papers from the Madeleine collection from Bo Bunny.

While it may not be my 'go to' colour combination... I gotta say, I'm lovin' the way this Carnation Pink Lace Trim compliments the vintage minty green of the Bo Bunny paper. The Silver Beaded Trim is really pretty too.

And those Ivory Chiffon and Mauve Chiffon Flowers with Pearls and Rhinestone Center add a lovely lush accent to the frontpiece of the crown alongside a bundle of Rustic Ivory Shabby Chic Flower Embellishments

Want to create your own crown to wear as you dream of spring and warmer weather? Here's my supply round up.

Ivory Chiffon and Mauve Chiffon Flowers with Pearls and Rhinestone Center
Rustic Ivory Shabby Chic Flower Embellishments
Carnation Pink Lace
Silver Beaded Trim

Madeleine collection from Bo Bunny

Paper butterflies


P.S. Sorry for the lack of posts recently. I'll be back in full force soon ;)

Shabby Pink Kerchief Hearts for Tresors de Luxe

Valentines day is fast approaching but there's still time to make a little something for your sweetie (or anyone else who needs a little love).

These sweet hearts are created from an old kerchief but any scrap of fabric will do. These won't be handled often so I've simply quick stitched around the edges, giving a rustic, shabby look. There's something terribly sweet about handstitching, it weaves good thoughts into the piece your working on.

You can enhance your hearts as much or as little decoration as you like. I really like the combination of the primitive stitching with opulent Tresors De Luxe embellishments.

How about a heart dripping with pearly beads and sequins WHITE LACE APPLIQUE and IVORY CHIFFON FLOWERS?

Or maybe something a little more sentimental with a vintage picture tucked in with some artificial flower embellishments...

In the end, what matters most, is your personal touch and letting someone know they are dear to you.

WHITE LACE APPLIQUE GL-036

IVORY CHIFFON FLOWERS WITH PEARLS AND RHINESTONE CENTER
WHITE BEADED APPLIQUE AP-023
Rustic Shabby Chic White Artificial Flower Embellishment FL-025
Rustic Light Blue Shabby Chic Flower Embellishment with Wooden Beads FL-097

Cotton kerchief
Ribbon

Woodsy Gypsy Wagon with Walk Through for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts

This Gypsy Wagon. 

It was love at first sight. 

I swooned. I 'oohed' and 'ahhhed'. Finally, I could resist no longer and had my way with it!

Isn't it darling?! AND I've got two videos to help you create this project. THIS ONE is me blabbing about how you shouldn't feel overwhelmed at all because it's pretty dang easy to put all those bits together. The second video is a walk though for decorating and embellishing this bad boy and can be found HERE.

You absolutely 100% do not need to decorate the wagon as I have, but I hope the walk-through gives you a few ideas and a bit of inspiration. 

There are other Gypsy Soul products that you might want to consider if you're making this piece. The 4 Panel Windows are a good fit for the side openings. And these Victorian Corners look amazing as decorative elements on the wagon. I've placed a Faux Metal Number Plate on the back... just because I'm smitten with them and use them at every opportunity.

Now for my full-on gushing. There are plenty of opportunities for embellishment with this piece. You could go absolutely bonkers with fillagrees, frills and decorations. You could lose yourself in colour and trims. Really, this is one of those projects to pull out that 'something special' that you've been saving for just the right time. It's a crafty splurge.

Don't forget the insides! Even with the roof fixed into place it's fun to peek through the windows and see what the little people have been up to. 

Now for the big fat supply list!

Gypsy Soul Products:
Gypsy Wagon
Victorian Corners
4 Panel Windows
Faux Metal Number Plates

Other supplies used:
Natural bark
Glue
Acrylic paint
Paper leaves and flower
Lace trim
1:24 Rectangular Table & 4 Chairs
Flower Soft - Sweet Pea
Narrow Gold Fleur Dresden Borders*
Mini Floral Dresden Borders - Antique Gold
9mm Antiqued Swirl Bead Cap*
7mm Flower Washers
Tim Holtz Long Mini Brads
10mm Clear Glass Marbles
Gypsy Fortune Teller #1 Collage Sheet
Tiny Curved Hinges

Weathered Magic Potion Bottle for Tresors de Luxe

I've seen a lot of stunning altered bottles that have been embellished with bits of lace and wanted to give it a try myself.

My bottle is on the smaller side but I think it's perfectly sized as a sort of fairy tale potion bottle.

To embellish, I deconstructed three different laces from the January Blog Design Team Kit to fit just-so.

From this angle you can see the little flowers around the top of the bottle. They are from this Ivory Lace Trim. (They totally remind me of four leafed clovers so I would be sorely tempted to turn this into a bottle of good luck!) The pieces that drip down the sides are snipped from this White Lace Trim. Around the bottom I've wrapped a length deconstructed from this White Lace Trim.

I really wanted to create a weathered forest fairy-tale look so I brushed some tea onto the lace to give a bit of age. I pushed some wiry moss into the mouth of the bottle, then pushed the cork into place. To finish it off I've added a some ornate keys and Stamped Metal Brad. Ta da! Little magic potion bottle!

Supply round-up
Ivory Lace Trim BN-029

White Lace Trim LA-025

White Lace Trim LA-135

Small glass bottle

Moss
Tea

Ornate keys 

Stamped Metal Brad

A Petite Pink Villa for Alpha Stamps

This month's Alpha Stamps kit theme is Amour (Valentine Paper Theatres). I got totally sidetracked with their new itty bitty furniture and instead of a theatre created a petite pink villa, a sort of miniature romantic getaway.

A Frame Front Room Box is used as the base of this piece. Holes have been cut into the sides and back and laser cut window frames added. The addition of a Shadowbox Facade to the top of the box adds some nice visual interest.

For the exterior I first covered the piece in paper, then, using the Stone Wall Chipboard Texture Sheet I applied random patches of acrylic gel medium. I painted the entire piece, then added wash of darker paint allowed to pool in the crevices giving a good impression stonework without covering the entire piece.

Inside, a sweet little scenario of shared tea, crumbs and honey.

The table and chairs, and china cabinet are made of chipboard, 1:24 scale, and assemble quite easily. I've kept them simple with a coat of paint and a snip of paper, but I'm certain with a bit of ingenuity they would provide a solid base if you wanted to be a bit more elaborate. Tiny cushions on those seats would be absolutely darling. 

You'll find a long list of all the bits included in this piece below... but can we talk about that Green Pumpkin Teapot for a second?! There are a number of those little veggie/fruit teapots at Alpha Stamps and I think they are freaking adorable.

Grab a tiny book from the bookcase and let's head up the wee ladder.

This little loft is cute as buttons. It's so cute my camera is jealous and refusing to show just how sweet it is. (What a jerk.) ANYWAY... there's a little bed for getting cosy, maybe reading a book, maybe do a bit of romantical snuggling *wink wink*, or just for having sweet dreams. And let's not forget that Gold Candleholder to read by (which is really, really nice quality btw).

The pink bunting, flowers, curtains and ribbons may be a bit dramatic... but if you're going on a romantic getaway isn't that exactly what you want? What I wouldn't give for a weekend in a private pink villa, sipping tea, eating sweets, reading, and snuggling by candlelight. *dreamy sigh*

See something you like? Here's a link to all of the goodies I've used.

Alternatively, here is a big fat list of the individual supplies used:

Amour (Valentine Paper Theatres)
Frame Front Room Box 

Theatre Francais Shadowbox Facade
Acorn Caps*
Mini Silicone Bread Mold Set - Smaller Loaves
Mini Silicone Bread Mold Set - Larger Loaves
Mini Silicone Cake Mold Set
Creative Paperclay*
Silicone Mold - Architectural Flourishes*
Thin Looped Dresden Borders - Black
Mini Floral Dresden Borders - Antique Gold
1/2 Inch Bright Pink Paper Roses*
Sheet Moss*
Set of Unlabelled Jars, Bottles & Tins
Gold Candleholders
Old Fashioned Grocery Cans
Mini Red Shadowbox
Miniature Potted Plant in Basket
Small Wooden Spools
Wood Mini Spools
Green Pumpkin Teapot
Miniature Silverware - Set of 20
White Plastic Salad Plates
Little Household Goods Collage Sheet
Old Fashioned Grocery Rectangular Tins
Plastic white teacups
Round Table & 2 Chairs
1:24 Cupboard Hutch/China Cabinet
1:24 Chipboard Bed
1:24 Book Case
Chipboard Windows