Friday 18 January 2013

Lace Love

I have been working on another guest book and it was perfect timing to work in with this weeks challenge at Simon Says Stamp challenge of Lace Love. I wanted to use some of the paper doilies I had tea and coffee dyed and of course added a little distress ink!

This big fat guest book cover is made from good old cereal box cardboard and covered with Kraft card. I played until my fingers turned brown with Distress stains in Walnut stain and vintage photo and then glimmer misted with tattered leather. I ripped up three coffee stained doilies for the base layer and then added kraft and corrugated card with some of my rust embellies that I have made with my new Tim Holtz die - Tiny tag and tabs. Lots of my favourite distress inks in Walnut stain, Vintage Photo and the new must have and my new favourite Gathered Twigs (I love this colour!!!) I wanted the cover to be flat enough that it is easy to write in the book.


The inside pages are made with My Minds Eye papers that I have tea dyed, baked and then ironed. It gives  a fabulous pattern and texture to the paper and it is a fabulous grunge look which is what the recipient wanted.
Easy binding with a running stitch on the spine and it is ready to be written all over by guests at the party - this party is a 21st birthday for Josie - Happy 21st Birthday Josie.


Lots of gorgeous Lace Love inspiration over at Simon Says Stamp



Thanks for visiting 
xx Michelle 













Wednesday 16 January 2013

How can I be behind already??

Happy New Year to you and yours.
I cannot believe that it is already the 16th of January. It is probably because I am already behind and I am in a state of anxiety and dread. This month is not one I have been looking forward too. My lovely son has just celebrated his 21st birthday and last weekend we partied. I am thrilled to have a gorgeous and fabulous young man as my son, but I wish it had taken him a bit longer to get to be grown up!! The second part of the dread is that in two weeks we will be helping him move 9 hours away to Film School for the year. Any Mother who has reached the dreaded empty nest will know exactly what it is like. Yes tissues are needed.
As a distraction I needed a guest book for my son and another one for his girlfriend and I realised that I had not shared a few photos here of things that are currently in production. This time the blog comes first. I have not yet videoed these projects.
Let the photos commence....

Ethan's 21st Birthday guest book





Good old cereal boxes provided the base and then I created a mosaic of texture with metal tape from the hardware store and Tim Holtz texture folders.


I created a fabric covered art journal.
The inside is filled with tea stained papers. The details don't really show here but this is deliciously tactile.


Pink and Brown Journal with My Minds Eye papers - Cover


Pink and Brown Journal with My Minds Eye papers - Inside is nearly finished


On YouTube tripledogdareu is having a challenge. This is where I am so far - lots of paper flowers

This is the link if you would like to join in the fun.



Today I am working on this guest book for a party girl this weekend. It is another 21st and the lovely lady wants grunge with favourite colours of red and green.


cover - doesn't look very good


Starting to look better with distress stains and glimmer mist


tea dyed papers, lots of distress ink and some home made envelopes - Hoping this will equal a gorgeous book by Friday!!

I will hopefully be able to post some completed photos and videos soon. In the meantime I hope everyone has a fabulous January, here in NZ we are in the middle of summer. I hope you are enjoying whatever season of the year you are in!! 

Thanks for visiting 
xx Michelle