photo collage

Framed Photo Confetti

I just love Darcy Miller from Martha Stewart Weddings. She is so talented and clever! I happened to see the episode where she was sharing

her scrapboxes with Martha. SO AMAZING!!!

One in particular caught me eye...The Framed Photo Confetti Box.

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/family-history-in-the-making-darcys-frames-and-scrapboxes?lpgStart=1&currentslide=14&currentChapter=1#ms-global-breadcrumbs

Well I didn't have any photo confetti, but I have lots of pictures and a photo printer. I didn't do a step-by-step of this as I wasn't blogging yet, but will do one as I'm going to recreate the above picture for both of my brothers. (Not really worried about spoiling the surprise for them...they're not exactly craft/food blog followers! )

Basically, this is what I did:

I made a file folder on my computer with a special label just for these pictures.

Then I went through folders I had already created for each of my family members, copying the pictures of them that I wanted to use and transferring them to the above mentioned folder. (I tried to be sure there were an equal number of pictures of all the siblings...if you have children, you know how this goes...lots of pictures of first child, some of 2nd child and, well, the 3rd child has the fewest.) This one has 120 pictures. I took each picture, transferred it to a Print Shop program, cropped and resized to about 7/8" square.

The page was full of tiny black & white photos of my sweet family.

Then I made my own "confetti" by punching out each picture with a 3/4 circle punch. On a 12 x 12 piece of heavy white cardstock, I lightly lined out a grid in pencil. I erased the lines except for the "+" where the lines intersected. With mini glue dots I randomly added each photo. I also created a little label that I also printed with the photo that said "Earley Family, Est. 1959" I added it to the left corner, close to a picture of my paretns at their wedding. Since I didn't have any scrapboxes or shadow boxes on hand, I used a 12 X 12 frame I got 1/2 off at hobby lobby. It worked great!

I made this for my parents as a late 51st Wedding Anniversary gift. They seemed to really like it!

button monogram pillow

The next thing that I would love to make is something that I found on etsy at Letter Perfect Designs.  I'm all for helping out the individual sellers as opposed to paying the money towards the big industries that are taking over American retail, but when I see something that I think I can do, I look at it as a challenge.  When I saw this, I saw a challenge (a beautiful challenge at that)!

Isn't it gorgeous?  I have a thing for monograms...evidently I need help remembering what my new last name starts with :).  

Making Chippy Safe

MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2010

Making Chippy Safe

I cannot tell you how many times I have brought the cutest chippiest painted antique health hazard home from a yard sale or flea market.  Shabby Chic made chippy desireable, but it's rarely mentioned how dangerous it can be for a home with little ones.  So, what's a girl to do when she has 2 toddlers who are going to want to eat the chippy paint on her latest find?  For a couple of years, all of those pieces in my home have been painted over, sold or banished to the basement. 

One of the pieces I couldn't part with or paint is my antique iron crib with chippy white paint.  Now, because of some furniture rearranging, I have room for my crib.  It is one of my most favorite finds, so I was thrilled at the idea that I could use it again. The chippy paint put a damper on that excitement.  Something had to be done to make it safe for my boys.

I pulled it out of the recesses of the basement and brought it into my painting booth.  I rubbed the entire crib with fine steal wool to remove any chipping paint.  (Make sure you wear a respirator throughout this process, chippy lead paint can be a hazard to you as well!)

I then wiped it down with a damp cloth.

A couple of coats of Krylon spray poly in satin, 30 minutes, and one sore finger later...and it was safe to  bring up from the basement.  Well, I had to let it dry, which really tested my patience!

I love this antique crib set up as a day bed.  It's actually very comfortable to curl up on.

Now, I just need to convince hubby...

Make sure to come back to share your furniture post at my Furniture Feature Friday link party.

STAMPED TWILL TAPE

stamped twill tape

Here is a simple way you can personalize any gift, card or scrapbook page. You can use any stamp, ink pad, and twill tape to make a cute ribbon that will add a special touch to your gift.

We've used pigment and dye inks, and both work well. Staz-On is also an option. You can even use re-inkers to dye your twill a different color!

To personalize your twill tape, just cut it to the size you need, select your stamp and ink, and stamp away. Try repeating an image over and over, or using alphabet stamps to write a message. You can buy twill tape in various widths and colors, so the options are endless.

(In case you are wondering...here are the links to my stamps: Cupcake and Wish Big, Seattle Space Needle, Paris). Our friend Anne Beale also sells a collection of three sizes of twill tape on one card--a great way to test this technique out. Enjoy!

GIANT ART

Big Art from Small Items

An idea from Blueprint that I did love was to photograph something that's small, blow it up really big and frame it.

I love the antique letter here. The handwriting, the stamp, the ink smudge...

Other items they suggested photographing: a pretty flower from your sister's wedding, your grandmothers china, a vintage button package (reminds me of this post), an old ruler, a cool ticket stub that brings you happy memories...

Here are a couple of sources for large-format printing:

U Printing (I've heard these guys are especially good)

Large Format Posters

Mega Print

Numbered Tags

rench Enameled Numbers

I've been perusing french blogs lately. I can't read a lick of the language but haven't taken the time to Google translate because I'm mesmerized by the pictures. One item I run across time and again are those wonderful enameled numbers. (I read that they are vintage wine barrel markers) I've been dying to create my own.

The trick seems to be in finding the blank tags. I got these brass ones at my local True Value hardware store in the key department. You might even try a pet store. If all that fails, google "metal tags" for lots of sources on the internet.

Materials

metal tags

sand paper

white spray paint

StazOn ink pad

clear embossing powder

parchment paper

twine

Tools

number rubber stamps

electric fry pan

spatula

Lightly sand the tags to provide a tooth for the spray paint.

Spray the tags with white paint then allow to dry. Using black StazOn ink, carefully stamp numbers in the center of the tags, beneath the holes. *note - placement of the numbers was the hardest part. I think I will invest in clear number stamps in the future.

Place a sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil on the surface of an electric pan. Turn the heat to 350º and heat tags for about 30 seconds. Remove with a spatula and place on a piece of copy paper. *Even though I show a large number of tags, it's better to do just few at a time.

Immediately cover the tags with clear embossing powder. The heat from the tags will warm the powder and slightly melt it. When cool, shake off the excess powder. Place them back on the fry pan until the powder fully melts. (just a minute or two) Remove.

I threaded twine through the hole and wrapped it around an old mason jar.

I've seen these tied to candles, flower pots and glass cloches. Perhaps for table numbers at a wedding? Tag your own wine?

Enjoy a little bit of France in your part of the world. Tres jolie.

DESSERT RECIPE

y Favorite Dessert For The 4th Of July...

I was a little girl when my mom started making this 4th of July dessert for our family, and now I make it for mine.

And as far as we are concerned...

Independence Day just isn't complete without it!


It's pretty and delicious and entirely worth the effort it takes to make it!


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Red, White and Blueberry Dessert Squares
Crust:
1&1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup margarine or butter
3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

In a large bowl combine flour and brown sugar. Mix well. Using a pastry blender cut in butter until coarse crumbs form. Stir in walnuts. Lightly press mixture into a baking sheet measuring 15" x 10" x 1". Bake at 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely.

Sprinkle 1 pint of fresh blueberries over baked crust.

Filling:

8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 - 7oz. jar of marshmallow creme
1 - 8oz. container cool whip (thawed in fridge)

In a large bowl beat cream cheese and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the marshmallow creme and beat just until combined. Fold in cool whip. Spread over blueberries. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm.

Sprinkle 1&1/2 pints of fresh raspberries over whipped topping.

Glaze:

2&1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn starch
4 cups water
1- 0.6oz package raspberry Jello

In medium saucepan combine sugar, corn starch and water. Mix well. Cook and stir constantly over medium heat until mixture thickens and becomes clear. Remove from heat and stir in Jello until dissolved. Cool glaze until lukewarm. Carefully spoon glaze over raspberries all the way to edge of pan. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm.

Cut into squares (the bigger the better!) and enjoy!

Makes about 25 squares.

Make sure to store any uneaten servings in the refrigerator or the dessert will melt.

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I hope you all have a wonderfully delicious 4th of July!