Petal Drop Valentine

Hey everyone!  Happy Valentines Day!
Lots of stuff going on behind the scenes these past three weeks.  New products, new classes, and preparing for the trip to South Africa with Tim and Mario the first week of March.  Can't even tell you how excited I am to travel back to South africa again.  This will be my 3rd time to make this journey (and it is a journey - 27 hours to get there!) and I am just as excited to go as I was the first time, back in 2007.  Each time has been unique, and I'm sure this time will be no exception.  Looking forward to seeing many of the women I have met and stayed in contact with over the years though Facebook.  And really, who wouldn't want to go on a trip with Tim and Mario? I know, I'll say it again...lucky, lucky girl.
Anyway, my desk has been in a continual state of mess, clean up, mess, clean up.  I guess at least I clean up between projects!  My husband surprised me with a new work table when I returned from CHA in January and I'm still trying to figure out what would make it the most efficient use of the cubes underneath.  A work in progress I think!
Also on the home front, golf season has officially started for the high school district so the DH is home late 4 nights a week, which is really cutting into his afternoon napping.  Then there is the darn Olympics that are keeping us up way later than usual!  Now add in the Westminster Dog show...we are NOT even dog people but for some reason I love watching dogs on TV!  Well, I think I've gone on long enough.  On to today's Valentine project.

Gather a few papers that coordinate - large scale, small scale, dark, light, pattern and text.  It all works.

Cut the papers into random width strips, no wider than 1 1/2".
Cut a piece of scrap cardstock 5 1/2 x 6" (the size of a Bigz die).  Adhere the paper strips to the cardstock with a glue stick, repeating some of the patterns.  The strips run horizontal across the 5 1/2" width.
NOTE: most of the top and bottom will be cut away so I used larger pieces on the ends.

 I used my sewing machine to add a zig-zag stitch to a few of the the seams.

 I also added Industrious Sticker Borders and Tissue Tape.

A new Bigz die was released this month called the Petal Drop.  It might seem like a simple die but I think it has a lot of potential...just watch.  The die cuts three petals.  When cutting, you will need to make sure the paper you created runs across the petals.  This picture shows the paper face up, but when I actually do the cutting, I like to have my paper facing right side down. 

Here is the result...three perfect petals.  And because it's a Bigz steel rule die, there is no problem cutting through all the layers I created.

Since it's Valentines Day the theme should be love, so I'm just going to use two petals to create a heart like this.

Now I need a surface to put my heart on.  I folded a piece of light pink cardstock in half and cut it to 5 x 6 1/2".  I used Antique Linen Distress Ink and the Latticework Layering Stencil to create a simple background then sprayed it with Perfect Pearls Mists.

 Hard to see on camera, but it gives it a subtle shine.

 I added my heart to the card front and stitched right down the center with a zig zag stitch.

Next up, a little embellishment...Another new die, the Mini Prize Ribbon (ships April).  I cut a grungeboard Prize Ribbon then spread a thin layer of Glossy Accents across the top.  Quickly add Pumice Stone Distress Glitter and leave it to dry.
You might notice the center is not glittered.  I couldn't decide at the time how I was going to treat it so I did not add the glue/glitter to the center. 

Here is how it ended up...with a Muse Token sentiment.  It would have been better with glitter under the F but that's how it goes sometimes!

 I added the prize ribbon to the center of the heart with Wonder Tape.

Label letters are up next.  I like to line the letters up on my finger, then sand and ink the word at one time.

Add the word to a red vial label (you know I couldn't have a project without a Vial Label) and a Remnant Rubs sentiment on the side.

And there it is...simple, simple, simple but that heart looks like it took hours to create.  I thought I might have problems with the thread coming loose on the cut edges, but that never became a problem.  I do love the final result...now to get it into a envelope before the DH comes home from work!

now carry on!
paula

InLinkz.com

Collection Folio

So the question today is...can you mix Found Relatives with real ones?
The answer - yes.
And I'm gonna prove it.

Enter the new large Collection Folio...a huge hit at CHA.  Super heavyweight kraft colored "chipboard" (for lack of a better term) that can hold up to multiple layers of paint and multi-medium without warping.  The kraft color is awesome, so no need to cover it with paper unless desired.  And the spine inside?...so many ideas for that (this is only the start).  I will mention that the elastic band on the Folio is removable in case you want to slip something on to the elastic, as I did with the Wordband, or you wanted to replace it with ribbon, jute, etc.

I used Wallflower paper on the cover, my favorite Found Relative (love the polka-dots!), and a couple new dies, Frameworks - trellis and Curvy Banners.  It's all about the details here, from the color to the texture.  The metal bird is part of the new Adornments - Nature set.

Frameworks continues into the inside of the folio, this time I used Sticky Back Canvas and paint.

There are at least 5 layers of paint and Multi-medium over the (much anticipated) Layered Butterfly.  This die comes in a special pack - one Bigz die that cuts the Butterfly shape and a texture folder that gives you the detail of the wings.  I have used the butterfly die to cut and emboss Ranger watercolor paper, chipboard and Grungeboard...every single one looked amazing.  I believe the new Layered dies are a June ship, so time to save the money to get one or two!

I used the new Industrious Stickers to add quotes throughout the project.  This one was printed on a transparency so the Wallflower paper could show through.

Inside the project, the layered spine becomes a gallery of sorts, one layer leading to another.  Since I used the words "Precious Things"on the cover, I gathered a few quotes that would support the theme. I printed them either on paper, as you can see here, or transparency.  It always amazes me when using a transparency over paper how it will remain in place without tape...in fact it can be difficult to even pick it up to adjust it.

I used layering stencils and Distress Ink on each section of the spine.  Lots of stamping, Remnant Rubs, Ephemera and even some glitter.  The layer with the heart on it is a piece of packaging plastic I cut using the Ornamental die.  I also colored the plastic with Alcohol Ink - pool before adding the heart and Remnant Rub - Love.

In this section about travel, I used Vial Labels to record dates of trips taken over the years.  You can see I also used my sewing machine to add a #8 tag that has been stamped (Words For Thought CMS132).  Notice the quote next to the picture?  Looks like it is printed on the Wallflower paper, but it's printed on a transparency and laid over the paper.

 

Here you can see I used a 4 x 4" picture as a pocket.  I have my Instagrams printed at Printsagram (say that 3 times fast).  A super user friendly website to choose your photos...cons: the shipping cost.  $7 to ship any quantity so the more you buy the better.  In the end, it will cost you about .80 cents a piece for the 4 x 4" but the matte paper is ultra heavyweight and I LOVE that, so I keep going back despite the shipping cost.

The cut leaf shape is from the Decorative Strip Spring Greenery.

You can see in this section the spine is now wide enough to journal on (loving that heart layering stencil).  Again, another Instagram used as a pocket for hidden journaling.

I ended the project with this last quote:

“Your problem is how you are going to spend this one and precious life you have been issued. Whether you're going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are.”   - Anne Lamontt

I loved working on this project just because it gave me time to reflect on what is precious to me.  Things that were more personal, like thoughts about my husband, were written inside cards and tucked away in a few places.

I hope this gives you a bit of inspiration for a project on precious things.
What would be on your list?

now carry on,
paula

InLinkz.com