Spring Bling Handmade Flower Swap!

I have never had so much fun with lace and ribbon!  I joined a Spring Bling Handmade Flower Swap on YouTube, hosted by one of my favorite channels, TheScrappyBookworm1.  We had a partner and were to make them at least 6 handmade flowers and send them 2 packets of bling!  I had never in my life made a handmade flower before, so it was a lot fun learning and creating.  I decided to make them out of lace and ribbon.  I used gorgeous, springy colors and then also played around with some burlap ribbon and scraps.  In the centers of the bright flowers, I used fabric brads by Crate Paper and Martha Stewart.  For the smaller ones, I used a big bling rhinestone and for the burlap flower centers, I used vintage buttons. 

I had so much fun creating these for my partner Amy, who is tootookawaii on YouTube.  I also sent her some bling and other crafty goodies.  I wanted to thank Cynthia, (our host TheScrappyBookworm1) by sending her a RAK. (Random Act of Kindness).  I made her a card and included lots of goodies, including a bag of vintage buttons, cameos, and a handmade burlap clipboard that I created for her.  Pictures are below. 

A Handmade Birthday Gift.....

As you know from some of my previous posts, my mother-in-law loves Vintage Schoolhouse stuff.  I must say, I do too!  I found this Authentique paper called Curiosity.  It has some of the most beautiful color combos and is so distressed and vintage looking.  I made my mother-in-law 5 cards out of it.  The greys, yellows, teals and cream colors are so beautiful and I absolutely loved working with it.  I used the cream Recollections cards and envelopes from Michael's and inked all the edges with Walnut Stain distress Ink, by Tim Holtz.  I made chipboard pieces out of the tag pages in the 6X6 paper pad.  It was easy!  I just cut them out, inked the edges and glued them on a heavy, smooth piece of chipboard with my EK Success permanent glue stick.  Then I cut them out with my Tim Holtz scissors and used my hot glue gun to add them to the cards.  I love how the cards came out.  I tied them up with a big piece of burlap ribbon and put them in a vintage paper bag to give me MIL for her birthday.  She loved them and we are excited to make more with my leftover paper!

"She's Clearly an Emma..."

My great friend, Robin has 2 adorable, smart and witty, spunky and sweet little boys.  They have blond hair and a twinkle in their eyes.  She's an amazing mom and 6 months ago...she had Emma.  That little precious baby is the apple of every one's eye.  She's extra, extra cute and looks just like her momma.  She's fair skinned and blond with bright, beautiful eyes and full, rosy cheeks.  When I found out that Robin was having a little girl, I knew I wanted to make her a shabby chic, vintage mini album.  When I saw the Little Darlings collection by Graphic 45...it was beyond perfect. 

I made her a mini album using Recollections pink cards and envelopes from Michael's.  I inked all the edges of the cards, envelopes and paper with Antique Linen Distress Ink, by Tim Holtz.  I made the covers with chipboard and added some crinkled, dyed seam binding on the spine.  I also made a charm out of one of the chipboard tags from the collection and added glossy accents to make it hard and shiny.  I attached it to the spine with a Tim Holtz swivel clasp.  I started this project before Christmas and was so busy in the months after that I didn't complete it until a few weeks ago!  It turned out so nice and I also made her a card to go along with it. 

This is the card I made for her.

Here's the inside of the card.

This is the spine.  I used chipboard for the covers and added shabby chic seam binding. 



This is the back cover of the album.  I love this image...it reminds me of Emma.



Here's the front cover.