Tagged: cards
Burlap Heart Embellishments
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, I decided to make heart embellishments out of burlap. The process was really easy, but I think they came out really well. Here’s the simple process.
Cut some ordinary burlap into smallish pieces. The bigger ones in the picture above measure about 6″ square.
I painted the burlap for interest as well as to keep it from fraying when I cut it into smaller shapes.
I cut the fabric into heart shapes. Some were cut with a die and others I free-handed.
Here’s the fun part! I took out a lot of my Valentine’s Day stickers, bling and graphics. I also took out some sequins and plastic flowers.
Here’s the finished heart embellishments.
I will use these little embellishments on cards, tags or gift bag toppers. I hope this has inspired you to get out some of that plain old burlap you have lying around and make some fun embellishments!
What’s Up?
It has been a couple of weeks since I last wrote a post but that doesn’t mean nothing has been going on here. In fact, it is because so much has been going on here I haven’t had a chance to blog.
Moss Cottage Vintage was supposed to participate in our very first barn sale, however, six straight days of rain changed our plans. We had a little problem with all that rain outside deciding it needed to come inside.
This is not good!
Across the ceiling and down this wall too.
We are still not sure where this water in the laundry room came from!!!
We have had the outside situation taken care of and now we are waiting on some bids to redo the ceiling and drywall. Like they say, “If it’s not one thing, it’s another”.
After taking all the merchandise that was supposed to go to the barn sale to our shop in Fredericksburg, that freed up some space in our sun room for me Martin to drag out all the boxes and totes containing stuff to make my Christmas arrangements. The problem was that I boxed up the stuff as I bought it and not in any particular order. Last week I spent half a day sorting through every box and re-packing them by category so when I actually start making the arrangements everything will be easy to find. The sorting and re-packing process made quite a big mess.
A great big mess.
More of the great big mess!
All sorted and ready to be used!
I have also been working on making some cards for another YouTube challenge. These cards are going to be distributed to women who are in the hospital battling breast cancer. It took me forever to come up with these because I really am not a good card maker.
Cards for a YouTube challenge.
The worst part about making the cards for this challenge is that each had to have a message written inside! I came up with a pretty good message and then printed it for each card. That way I could be sure the person was able to read it. My chicken scratch writing can be a little iffy. I did personally sign each card though.
Other than that I have also been working on a few little secret Halloween crafts that I cannot show because some of the recipients read my blog.
Forgive me for not writing sooner, but this time of year is super hectic for those of us who “make”. I will try to have my camera at the ready so you can participate in my next adventures!
Secret Happy Mail And A Little Project
This post is going to cover two recent events in my life. The first is the receipt of some Happy Mail! Who doesn’t love to receive goodies in the mail? My Happy Mail carries a little mystery with it though. The envelope it came in has a name and a return address, however, I’m not sure who it is. It could well be someone I spoke to at a show and I’m just having a senior moment. It could be someone who follows this blog. Or it could be someone who knows me through my Etsy store. Anyway, it’s kind of fun trying to figure it out. But while I’m figuring, let me show you what this sweet “mystery” Happy Mailer sent to me.
Happy mail received from a sweet mystery gift giver!
I got lots of sheets of deli paper which I have never had before. I can’t wait to “play” with these. I also received two fun shipping tags for altering. I’ve never seen a red tag before! How fun. I want to thank Marnold for sending me these wonderful goodies. You really made my day!!!
Now onto the other event in my life. I entered another challenge on YouTube. This one is sponsored by a very talented lady named Shemi Dixon. Her challenge is in honor of her birthday and she requested that the entries be handmade postcards. If you remember my post titled “A Little Piece Of Myself” I made brightly colored Scripture cards. I loved the process of making these so much I made some more of the large sheets and decided to cut one into postcard size for Shemi’s challenge. Here is the postcard I sent her.
Front of postcard for Shemi’s challenge.
And I stamped the back with an appropriate stamp.
Back of postcard.
If you would like to see the video where Shemi opens my package check out her channel Shemi Dixon on YouTube. She uploaded the video on September 17th and it’s titled, “Happy Mail and More Amazing Postcards From Maggie, Angela, Helen, Michele”. She is such a gracious host!
I had a lot more of this sheet left so I decided to try making greeting cards with some colorful blanks I had on hand.
Greeting cards made with my flower artwork paper.
I think they turned out really well. I know I will be making more of these!
It’s nice to get some Happy Mail and be able to paint and doodle in the middle of my big show season. It keeps me from getting too serious! Thank you Marnold and Shemi for giving me permission to play!!!
STUFFED!
A little over a year ago on May 27th, I posted a blog about smash books. I even showed one I made myself. Smash books and junk journals are what I call, ” Scrapbooking for the rest of us”. I haven’t gotten into proper scrapbooking yet, although I’ve seen some awesome mixed-media type layouts. Most of my photos are still lingering on my computer’s memory.The ones I have actually printed out are lingering away in photo boxes. “One day,” I tell myself. “One day!”
But what about the ticket stubs, playbills, receipts, candy wrappers, maps, postcards and other ephemera you want to hold onto? All of life’s little papers hold memories that deserve to be remembered. That is what junk journals and smash books are for. And the best part of junk journals is that there is absolutely no talent required to fill one. You can tape, glue or staple your papers in. No particular order is required. Then you can add doodles, stickers, sentiments or nothing. It’s entirely up to you.
I have filled up the junk journal I made a year ago and there is absolutely no empty spaces for anything else. IT IS STUFFED. So here are some random pictures from my stuffed junk journal.
In my next blog post I will show pictures of the awesome new junk journal that I got from my friend Camilla in a swap. And if you’d like to make a junk journal for yourself, see my post from May 27, 2013. If you’re not inclined to make your own journal, but still want one to fill, please visit my Etsy shop at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MossyCottage?ref=si_shop where I have many to choose from. Once you start “smashing” things into a journal you’ll see why it’s become so popular!
A Little Serendipity
I have already started making some things for Christmas, and yes I know it is only June. As any artist or crafter knows, one must begin making early in order to have enough stock to get through all the holiday shows. This year I plan on doing several shows in the fall so my efforts have to be doubled! Well, after one particular project using real 1950’s Christmas wrapping paper I had a pile of scraps leftover. I just don’t have it in me to throw away vintage supplies so I had to find a good way to use them up. Pinterest to the rescue! I found a perfect idea at this site:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DaQzUn3TTA
So I decided to make some serendipity squares of my own. Here is the pile of vintage paper scraps. Can you hear them crying to be used and not tossed out? No? Hmmm, I could.
First I took a piece of white cardstock and randomly stamped a flourish on it.
Then I tore up bits of the paper and just stuck it on in absolutely no order whatsoever.
It looks like a mess doesn’t it. It gets better, I promise. When the glue dried I stamped on top with some more flourishes to add some extra depth. Then I cut the paper into 1 1/2″ squares.
Using my paper trimmer made easy work of it. Next I cut 2″ squares from black and aqua cardstock to mount the decorated squares on.
Now the fun part. I added a little embellishment to each one. I used rick rack, buttons, bells, beads, rhinestones, string, stickers and who knows what else to make each one special. Here is how they turned out.
These little goodies can be used as gift tags, attached to a plain greeting card or used as an embellishment for a mixed media piece. I have another use for them, however, but I’m keeping it under wraps (pun intended) until this fall!
I hope you remember this little art project. It took me no more than an hour to make all of these and it was an hour of pure fun. No art talent required, any age can do this and the environment will thank you. So go ahead, create a little serendipity for yourself!
glitteronmyface 