True Friends {Carta Bella} Inspirations

Hello dear crafters.

It's time to celebrate true friendship...time for sharing...and I'm happy to share my ideas and inspirations with you all. I hope you heard this saying "think outside the box" and if you do just don't forget the box. I sure didn't forget mine and I have a triple box of inspirations and much more! The Carta Bella True Friends collections are so beautiful, fun and colorful and just right for these ideas and projects.

 Beautiful Day Box card

This is a regular version (vertical or portrait type) of box card made out of cardstock. I have fun dressing it up with Carta Bella True Friends collection, a few die cuts, doily and coordinated sticker.

 This is how it looks inside the box card...

   Simply leave it as it is or add a photo inside the box...makes an amazing card to gift a friend.

True Friends Easel Box card

I have came up with different versions of the box card.  This one is a combination of easel card and box card.

And because it is an easel card, it looks like the friends have a playground to play. You can always use that part to write a message for the receiver, just mat it up with a plain cardstock or maybe write directly on it. The flowers were simply made using Tim Holtz Alterations Tattered Florals die and an adhesive pearl at the center.

The back view of the easel card...the more reason to display this card.

 And when the easel card is close...

 Friendship Box Tag

Yes, a box in a tag or a tag with a box. I was so delighted when this idea came into mind...a simply wonderful and creative idea.  

 

 

I love how it is see through and I use the solid color papers from the collection to die cut. Decorated both sides and covered it up with transparency (acetate).

 

 

 Now, let's have a look on another inspirations outside the box.

True Friends Layout

 

 

Here is a layout on friendship using this paper collection. A glimmer misted and masked page with fussy cut outs, punching, die cut flowers, die cut butterflies and sticker from the paper line.

 

 Here is another project, something beyond the page...a frame. Perfect base for creating a home decor or a gift to a friend.

  Live Laugh Love Frame

The frame measures 30x40cm. I have used the new Prima Mix Media doll stamps and did some paper piecing. The background behind the dolls was created using modeling paste dabbed with a stamp to add a stucco texture then directly applied  Prima pastel chalk inks. The layout on the frame are behind the glass while the bird, flowers and leaves are outside the glass.

 

 

 The flowers were made from the same paper collection and using Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret  die (HCD 727) one of the many new dies available at Paper Lane.

 

 

I have fun creating and designing these projects. I hope I have inspired you and you'll give them a try.

If you are interested to recreate any of these projects, visit Paper Lane and book your place.

Cheers,
Irene 

Altered Frame in Black & White

Hi there!

My post today is an altered project.

This is the second time for me to alter a frame.
The color theme is black & white. 

Well, for some they like black & white color combo
so does one friend of my mine.

Here is my altered frame:

 

Black & White {Altered} Frame

The paper in the frame is from Me and My Big Ideas.

Painted the flourishes black then

 embossed it with Ranger Holographic embossing powder.

The dress form from Tim Holtz Alterations Sewing Room

 was painted white then embossed with Stampendous Shabby White enamel.

Added Stampendous pearlized mica fragments on the dress stand.

Embellished it here and there and the frame is done.

Had fun altering this frame and love how it turns out.

Try it out and create one.

Have a great and inspiring day!

Cheers,

irene

Pretty Paper Studio: Challenge #6 - Recycle it!

It's time for another challenge at Pretty Paper Studio. 

The challenge is pretty fabulous and pretty simple. 

'RECYCLE IT'

To play along:

• Just make a project: scrapbook page, card, altered project or any ideas you have in mind that uses a recycle item in it, totally up to you.
• The project has to be new, means that it is posted after the announcement of this challenge. 
• Share it in Pretty Paper Studio's Challenge #6: Recycle It! Album in Facebook Group.  
•  Deadline: July 15, 2012.
• Of course the winner will receive a prize, a twenty five dirhams gift voucher.

  

Here's my inspiration for this challenge:

 Leeds Castle

I made a 12x12 layout using cardboard as a base. This a cost-effective page with lots of recycled materials. I started by peeling the layer off the cardboard to reveal the corrugation underneath, painted it then did a bit of embossing and a brush of Perfect Pearls. I gather a selection of recycled materials such as yellow pages from an old telephone directory  for my flowers - scroll down for the flower tutorials; pattern paper labels for wordings...

 product packaging for photo mat; assorted paper bags for title, wordings and leaves (cut freely then painted green); dressmaker pins to accent the flowers...

doily as a decorative lace...

thick brochure to die cut my flourishes, for Precious moments wordings (Arabic interpretation included) and punch some butterflies...

 I use some items from my stash such as brads, buttons, hemp and leftover adhesive pearls/rhinestones

Since there was still leftover from the cardboard, I decided to make another project. I created a cardboard photo frame.

Follow Your Heart

 Here's a picture on how I made the frame:

Frame steps

After the paint dried, I did a bit of embossing, brush with Perfect Pearls the same way I did with the layout and also used the same recycled materials.The sides of the frame were coated with gesso.

For the flowers, I pulled out some yellow pages from an old telephone directory. It is tissue thin and easy to crunch up.This is how the flowers were made:

1. Hand cut or die cut scallop circles or just plain circles using the yellow pages. I used 7 scallop circles. When using pattern papers, spray it with water or mist it so it will not tear off.

2. Punch a hole at the center and attached a brad.

3. Crunch up layer by layer then all layers together around the brad.

4. Distress the flower petals as desired then arrange. It is now ready to use as embellishment to your projects.

I hope you find my recycle project inspiring.

Create yours now and play along with us.

For more inspiration on this challenge, 

visit other PPS design team's blogs 

 Donna & Shruti 

and see how they made their awesome projects. 

Don't forget to leave them some love.

Hugs, 

Irene 

Pretty Paper Studio: May Kits Revealed

Hi everyone! Time moves fast and here comes May!

Pretty Paper Studio has revealed their second kit yesterday
Over the Rainbow

Over The Rainbow Card Kit

Over The Rainbow Scrapbooking Kit

 To purchase the kits please visit www.prettypaperstudiouae.com or 

place an order via email: ppsuae@gmail.com

Today I'm also sharing with you my projects from
Over The Rainbow Scrapbooking Kit.

 My first layout is based on this month's sketch provided in the kit.

Adore

I handmade the flower from American Crafts pattern paper 

Neapolitan Dear Lizzy Fresh Blooms.

Gives the page a fresh look combined with those fun Flutterbys garland.

 Other layouts I made from Over The Rainbow Scrapbooking Kit

Beach Fun

I made this an interactive page. 

I wanted the boat to move across the page at the same time have some hidden journals.

See the boat on the other side of the page and the hidden journal revealed...

Isn't that fun!!!

Dressed Up  

I dressed up the page with handmade flowers!!!

 

There's much stuff left in Over The Rainbow Scrapbooking Kit and 

here's some inspiring projects that I have come up with:

Altered Frame - Over the Clouds

Favor Pockets

The full kit comes in a big paper bag. 

I cut it up and made these favor pockets!

A great way to recycle things up and make beautiful stuff !!!

The favor pockets has enough room to tuck...

tea gags

 craft items

or any small sweet treats that you wish to put a smile on your friends

or your love ones face!!!

Gift Cards 

Ready to be attached to a gift!

I used Hero Arts - Arts of the Card stamp 

that I have purchased over at Pretty Paper Studio shop.

couldn't resist showing you how these gift cards look when opened!

Gift Tag

I also made a small gift tag using the same stamp.

Favor Box

I attached the gift tag in a small favor box I made. 

Great for small treats to give!

And lastly a card...

You are my Sunshine SMILE 

This one is dedicated to all of you,

my followers, friends and visitors or anyone who happens to pass by my blog.

You are my sunshine and you make me smile.

Other shop items I have used in these projects are: 
Jenni Bowlin Chewing Gum Ink, Jenni Bowlin Lemon Drops Ink, 
 Jenni Bowlin Speckled Egg Ink, Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink,
Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool,  Jenni Bowlin Soap Powder Acrylic Paint Dabber,
Glossy Accents and American Crafts Precision Pen Black.

I have fun creating all the projects using

Pretty Paper Studio's May Scrapbooking Kit: Over the Rainbow

 Do visit their website shop, here.

You can also find PPS and like at FB, follow on twitter, 
view on You Tube, flicker and Pinterest.

I hope you like it and have inspired you all. 

Thanks for dropping by.

Hugs,

Irene

Altered Frame

Hi everyone!

Today I want to share a frame that I have altered. This is my first completed altered frame. Did try it out before but it didn't turned out the way I wanted it to be.This time I'm happy the way it turns out. I altered this frame and gave as a gift to my friend for her birthday. 

 Altered Frame

The frame is from Ikea which I've got sometime back. Used Tim Holtz Alterations Sewing Room and Elegant Flourishes Bigz Die. The pattern papers are from Basic Grey Kissing Booth. The flowers are a mixture from Prima, Mulberry and from a local shop. The big leaves are from Prima and the smaller ones were punch using EK Success. The sentiment is from KaiserCraft - Life Sentiments. There's a lot of space in the frame for my friend's photos.

a closer view

I will be playing along and sharing this with:
Make it Monday # 86 - Anything Goes Linky Party
Prairie Fairy Friday # 77 - Anything with Flowers
PanPastel UK #15 - Add A Flower

I hope you like it.

Cheers,

Irene