Magnificent Men a la Sarah Engels-Greer

Hello! While I've been buzzing away the last few weeks it seems I haven't shown you any completed projects. Gah! I've been making hundreds of hat pins but cutting very little paper. *sigh* How does this happen?

Anyway, I have a story to tell you. Christmas 2010 I "gave" my Husband his library, a large room off our bedroom that really had no purpose. We had a wall of bookcases and a chair, but not much else. While he was at work one day I outfitted the room with library-type stuff including a 12' rug, library table, more furniture and assorted other bits and pieces. It turned out beautifully!

So, how does one top *that*?

Last December, as I'm floundering away at finding The Perfect Gift for my husband, I ran across a project made by Sarah Engels-Greer. The sky lit up and I could hear the angels singing! Of course, I could make something for the library!

I tried to take inspiration and make my own but her original design is so darn perfect for Husband's space that I couldn't "improve" on it. Sarah and I emailed about it a few months ago and she gave me her blessing to post. I've waited until after her piece was published in Craft Stamper to show mine. It's important to both of us that credit goes to her for original design. Please visit her blog (you'll never want to leave!) to see gorgeous details about her Magnificent Men!

So, without further ado, here are my Magnificent Men:

The box is Configurations with the acrylic front

Left side close-up

Right side close-up

On the bookcase

This project was an incredible amount of work - Sarah called it a "labor of love" and I definitely agree. It took a long time to make but it was worth it. Thanks Sarah!

Thanks for visiting today!

Cheers,
Susan

A Bird Does Not Sing...

Hello and happy Monday crafty folks! I hope you had a gorgeous weekend and your Monday started with a smile. :)

I've been working on beaded hat pins and brooches and such for so long that I haven't touched paper in ages. Feels like it, anyway. My smile comes from the sheer joy of remembering *how* to make a card and making one from the delicious Pion Designs "Fairytale of Spring" paper. I've been sitting on it for weeks and finally used a wee bit this weekend.

Before I started, I knew I needed a little poke to send me in the right direction. My lovely friend Linda, also known as The Funkie Junkie, started up a new vintage-themed challenge blog called Frilly and Funkie. The challenge theme is "I'll Take Your Word For It" and the idea is to let a sentiment take center stage on your project.

I wanted to use my new Pion Designs paper, but I don't have a lot of sentiment stamps that would work with it. After searching around bit I found this bird one hanging out with the punches in the shoe rack behind the door. Perfect! The bird is from a package of K & Co. die-cut bits and the branch cut from a PD paper using the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Mini Branch die.

The music notes are Dusty Attic, onto which I gobbed pale pink crackle paint... which didn't work very well. I covered it all in Glossy Accents to seal and set it aside for months (because I can't throw anything away). Finally it found the right project!

Flowers are a combination of really old Wild Orchid and brand spankin' new Wild Orchid. The crochet flowers are Michael's Recollections line. I added the stamen to the bottom one and used the top left one as a mini doily.

In case you're wondering, I got the hard-to-find Pion Designs paper collections from Linda's Etsy shop. You can still shop there, or at her new Zibbet shop. It's just a coincidence that I'm entering a Funkie Junkie challenge with Funkie Junkie paper. It doesn't get me an advantage or anything... does it? *wink*

Thanks for visiting today!

Cheers,
Susan

B is for Baby!

Hiya crafty friends! It's a gorgeous Tuesday here if you ignore the frost on the windows. The sun is shining and should melt all that off shortly, right? Tonight we're going to a baseball game and will definitely bundle up!

Here's a project made with Graphic 45's Little Darlings. It's the sweetest paper line I've seen in ages! I originally intended to use my papier mache A B C letters for another project but was inspired in another direction. Got to go with the muse, eh?

Don't let that floating eyeball in the bottom hole scare you. It's just a sweet little one!

Don't you just love this flower extravaganza? Yummy. The laces are all vintage tatting found whilst rummaging through antique shops or as a gift from my fabby sister. She knows exactly how to make me giddy!

The B is 9" tall and covered with papers from the 12x12 Little Darlings pad. The back is covered with the sheet called "Little Darlings", on which the front has the baby face peeking through to the front. It worked out perfectly! The satin finish comes from matte Modge Podge and edges are inked in Distress "Gathered Twigs". The pins are handmade by me.

I sort of feel like this still needs a little something, but I'm not sure what it is yet. I will put small feet on it to balance it out. It's a little top-heavy and will fall over with the tiniest of touches, thanks to the lace on the bottom.

She's a little darling! Thanks for visiting today. I hope you have a creative day!

Cheers,
Susan

Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue Album

Hiya crafty folks! I made this album as one of my Graphic 45 design team audition projects, and I wanted to take up a little lot of space here showing you all the lovely little details. It's a 6"x7" album decorated with the fantastic Tropical Travelogue line, including the die cut elements. I had a lot of fun with it!