Challenge Day at StampNation

Hello!

Today is a fun challenge, my favorite kind, and it's happening over at StampNation!  (Go here if you're not a member but would like to check it out.)  I've been invited to be a guest designer for the month of March, and the challenges happen each Thursday.  Today's theme is "Embellish It" (yes, I told you it was my favorite kind), and you simply need to add three (or more) embellishments to your project.  Are you kidding?  My motto is "embellish the embellishment," so this one was right up my alley.  

I've embellished a pillar candle to the nth degree, starting with melting tissue thin pieces of, well...tissue paper (a decorated paper guest towel) into the wax.  It's a two-handed yet very easy process, and the tissue actually becomes part of the candle's surface.

Here's a look at the back.  The surface is actually smooth (rolling the candle while hot is part of the process), but the tissue paper itself sometimes takes on a textured look.  

The center wrap is comprised of vellum, torn and inked, a strip of net ribbon, a strip of cream lace and a strip of vintage velvet ribbon.

My favorite part is the "flower" that I made from bits of vintage lace, new lace, a vintage applique, string pearls, a rusty metal piece from Mexico, a button and some bronze glitter glue.  I love making these unique "flowers" out of scraps of lace that might otherwise be discarded.

Here's a close up of the metal piece.  I have no idea what it is, but my mother brought it from her annual artist's trip to Puero Vallarta and it was perfect for this project.

As if all those embellishments weren't enough (they weren't), I also rubbed on a bit of gold Rub 'N' Buff over the surface.  It was the perfect finishing touch.

The nice thing about this project is that a pillar candle burns down inside and doesn't drip, therefore there's minimal risk of burning the outer surface and thus the embellishments (though you might feel more comfortable using this as a decorative candle only).  Once it's burned deep enough, you can even put a tea light (real or battery-operated) inside. 

Being a scented candle (spicy cinnamon), the scent was heavenly while I was working on it.

Thank you for joining me, and I hope you'll head on over to see what the rest of the Design Team at StampNation has created for you!  Then join the fun and create something with three (or more!) embellishments too!

Happy crafting!!

Challenges:

Craft Hoarder's Anonymous #3 - Vintage or Retro (I hoard vintage lace and pretty paper napkins and guest towels!)

This candle is for sale in my Etsy shop!

Vintage Valentine

Hello!

Valentine's Day will be here soon and I have several cards to make for members of my family.  As some of them check my blog, it will have to remain a surprise which one is for whom, and they shouldn't assume that the ones without tons of ribbon are for the guys and the ones with tons of ribbons are for the girls.  Nosiree, equal ribbon opportunity is afforded everyone in MY family.  Heh.

This is a rather understated little card, not in keeping with my usual overblown fashion, but I wanted the trim on the darling postcard image to stand out.  It is true vintage hand tatted lace and I only have a snippet of it left.  So dainty and adorable with its little flaws and such.

The image is from Heather Hudson's Vintage Valentine Full Size Postcards set and can be found here.  Sooo sweet. 

 Here's a close up of the hand tatted lace.  And of the stitching I added to the background.

 The little banner is from Heather's Victorian Vintage Curvy Banner set.  That set is FULL of darling curvy banners in all colors and patterns.  The letters are from her Vintage Shabby Alphabet Text Boxes, and the little hearts are faux buttons.

I've left the inside blank for now except for the little tiny heart "booklet" which will hold a special little message.  It's from Heather's Conversation Images Hearts and Bases (this is one of the bases).

And that's that.  Thank you for joining me and I wish you a lovely weekend full of whatever makes you happy.  My daughter and I will be doing some "junking" today in a local thrift and antiques shop, then tomorrow I'll be cooking all sorts of football food and watching the Superbowl with my husband.

Happy crafting!

Floral Heart

Hello!

It's time for another challenge over at A Gem of a Challenge, and this week (Challenge #88) the theme is "Spots or Stripes (or both)."  This challenge will run from 8:00 AM July 13, to 6:00 PM July 19, and the prize for the winner will be 2 individual digi images (NOT SETS) from Pink Gem Designs. So do head on over and see what the rest of the lovely Design Team have created, then join us, won't you? We'd love to see you!

My project today uses several items from the PGD store, starting with the striped and dotted digi papers.  They have been discontinued but have been replaced with so many lovely new digi papers that you really owe it to yourself to check them out.  The stamps are Flower Heart and one from the Vintage Occasions Sentiment set.  I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut both stamps out after printing.

I colored the heart with chalks and then added Perfect Pearls in their centers.  I haven't used my Perfect Pearls in ages - for most of them this was the first time, and it turns out I was able to use every single color I have!

I used one of my handmade stick pins with a little added charm and put it through the hand dyed seam binding bow.  I didn't have any pink striped baker's twine, so I colored that myself too.

Some stitching, vintage lace and a few more pearls finish things off.

Thank you so much for joining me today and I wish you a lovely Saturday doing the things YOU want to do, be it crafting, spending time with the family, or both!  And don't forget to visit us at A Gem of a Challenge and play along.

Happy crafting!

Challenges entered:

Oozak #17 - Anything Goes w/a Girlie Theme
The Ribbon Reel #57 - Picnics
Simon Says...  Pin It
Divas By Design - Charming
Crafty Ribbons #52 - Anything Goes w/Ribbon
Frosted Designs - Ribbon, Twine, Washi Tape (use at least 2 of 3)
613 Ave. Create #27 - Anything Goes + Create Your Own Challenge (I used patterned paper, plain paper, sentiment, sketch, die cut, liquid pearls, pearl [on the bow], baker's twine, ribbon, lace)
Oldie But Goodie - In the garden (stickpin and chalks are over 6 mos. old)

Sketch N Stash #117 - (used very neglected Perfect Pearls, every color I own, which I haven't used in over a year)