Marie Fabric Journal

As long ago promised, here are the photos of the fabric journal I made from the kit from I received from the wonderful Debi in a swap through our Marie Antoinette Mail Art group.

I must admit this is one of my most favorite projects.  The process was truly cathartic and the finished result just made me so happy (I love it when that happens!).  Hopefully my daughters will appreciate my handiwork and cherish it as I do when they are older.  At 2 and 4 years old, they already know just who this is in my book, they say, "Oooh Ma-wee.  Beautiful momma."  Isn't that enough to melt your heart.

Well, Miss Debi sent me so many beautiful things and I was sorry (almost mourning) when the book was finsished... So I kept on with the fun and made a bag in which to store the actual journal.

The front of the bag.

Closer up

The back of the bag.  I love creating with neutrals.

The front of the journal.

The sides all poofily luscious with trims and fabrics.

Oh my, now I need to go get this book and look at it (and best of all feel it) again.  :)

I'm taking my hubby out for his birthday tomorrow night, but it requires a new dress for me which I get to shop for today.  It's going to be a great weekend ~ all smiles here.

Hope you have a beautiful weekend too! 

Mystic Paper May Project

Oh boy did I ever have a wonderful time playing with the Tim Holtz Kraft Resist Paper from my Mystic Paper kit this month.  Be sure to stop by the other design team member's blogs (Jenna & Sheri) to see what they did too.

I just love kraft colored paper so, I wanted to get as much use out of the 8 sheets of paper as I could, including the backs.  I decided make a journal using fabric hankies as the covers with the cool TH papers all decorated inside.  The plain back side of the papers makes perfect space for writing.  Hard to see them here but the TH charm and pin I attached to the seam binding bows say, "Wonderful Thoughts."

The front of the journal

 Inside the with all the pages layered up.

Close up of the AWESOME paper.  You can see the resist, in the swirly line and the black printed butterflys.  I painted them with Glimmer Mist.  In the very last photo here I took a pic in bright sunshine so you can see the actual sparkle.

Some stamping and inking on the blank side of the paper.  As well as the cool Paris postmark resisting the pink Glimmer Mist.

Music notes resisting peach GM.  Plus I added a Crafty Secrets journal spot and stamped a little.

This ledger page I folded and glued to make a pocket, then used Mustard Seed ink followed by Iridescent Gold glimmer mist.

Look at all these fun layers.  By this point I was really playing!  See how I tied seam binding around a page to hold pieces on... like the envelope tag here.

I love this pattern paper.  I painted the lady's hat and dress with Glimmer Mist.  You really have to imagine this book all glittery which is so nice with the muted kraft.

More painting with GM, this time in a patchwork style.

This page I tried to just splash paint haphazardly (but leaving "Paris" untouched.

So here you get an idea of the sparkle all throughout the journal and also how nice and shiny the resist is on the paper.

I hope you liked looking at my journal.  I feel I really only scratched the surface with what neat things could be done to this awesome paper.

Have a wonderful day! H

Mother's Day Brooch Swap

I played for the first time at A Swap for All Seasons in the Mother's Day Brooch swap.  My wonderful partner, Mary, sent me the sweetest package and brooch.

She sent the package all wrapped up in the most gorgeous doily which she laced shut with ribbon.  Genius!  Then a super great tag that will be a perfect bookmark.  And even extras ~ a yummy soap that made the box of everything smell delicious, and a tiny bear measuring tape (adorable and oh so useful).

And inside that wonderful fabric covered, music lined box?  The most beautiful sachet and a Mother's Day Brooch that seems it was simply made for me.  :)

Here I am wearing it today.

Here is the package I sent to Mary.

She said she liked cameo pins, and I found a really interesting 3D cameo brooch for her.

Mary is a quilter so I made a pinwheel square and added an "M" applique and some lace.  I thought maybe she could add a hook to the back to hang it up and decorate it with more brooches, or have it on a table flat even.  Then I wrapped the whole thing in a color coordinated hankie.  I hope she liked her package.  I had such fun with this swap and having her as my partner.

Happy Mother's Day y'all!

Tea Cup Tuesday

Last week for Terri and Martha's Tea Cup Tuesday I shared the beautiful tea cup swap Wanda sent me.  Here is the cup and giftie I mailed off to her.

Wanda wished for pink and green or pastels (and "loves roses"), so here is the cup I found and fell in love with for her.  The background that the roses are floating on is the palest baby blue color.  I thought it was quite lovely.

The mark is Adderley bone china.  And again, I love the pretty crown and even the off centeredness and other markings.

 The set also came with this not truly matching, but coordinating dish.  Wanda collects those gorgeous sugar cubes like she sent me, and she said it is perfect for them.

This is the package of extra goodies I sent.  Several cards full of lace and trims, tea tucked in little paper pouches that I sewed, and a french ephemera journal with a fabric cover.

Here is a closer picture of the journal.  I thought it might be fun to write in as she has tea, or maybe to tuck photos or mementos inside.

These some of the inside pages.  My favorite is the first, a to-die-for amazing French ledger page with beautiful calligraphy.  I won it as a prize in my Marie group from a dear friend of mine, Rhonda.

Mystic Paper Kit

Oh wow, I am so excited about the paper I got in this month's Mystic Paper kit.  Eight, that's right 8 sheets of the new Tim Holtz paper.

The paper is gorgeously printed and super luscious even though it is kraft colored.  The best part is the varied "water mark" looking print which resists inks, color, mists and the like.

Be sure to check out Sheri and Jenna's blogs to see what they got in their kits this month.