Curtsey Boutique Lovlies!

Hey there... hope you all are having a great week so far!  I know I am more than happy that tomorrow is Thursday and that means two more days until the weekend!  The hubs will be off work so I am hoping we can finally have a little bit of summer time fun together.  Seems as though we haven't had enough of that lately and summer is going by just way too fast. 

Today I am in the mood to share some of my latest favorite projects that I've created for Curtsey Boutique!  I absolutely love designing with bits and pieces from the Curtsey Boutique because there are always an array of perfect embellies to add to any project I'm working on.  Seriously, totally cute stuff.  Check out the shop if you love anything fancy, frilly, vintage or shabby chic! Please note however that the shop is currently on vacation and will re-open August 10th. 

First up I have a Burlap Drawstring Bag that I decorated.  The full tutorial can be seen HERE! 

 

 

I created the kraft paper flower by die cutting some kraft lunch bags from the shop with some Spellbinder's floral dies. I then dyed the canvas brad and wooden button and burlap butterflies (also from the shop) with some Ranger Dylusions spray ink. 

 

Next up is a sweet gift bag that I had created to enclose a bracelet that I had made for my mom to give to her for Mother's Day this past May.  This bag is just perfect though for gifting a surprise to someone for practically any occasion... birthdays, best friendships or simply "just because"!

 

 

 

I've used a lined pink treat bag, a plain white doily, a dyed yellow doily, a pink glittered bird, yellow rolled felt flowers and a torn fabric strip all from the Curtsey Boutique shop.

In addition, I used Diamond Dust glass glitter, a rub-on sentiment (Kaiser Crafts) and colored feathers all from my craft stash. 

 

And finally... here's a pretty Birthday card I put together!  This one uses another yellow rolled felt flower from the shop as well as some white seam binding that I dyed yellow with some Glimmer Mist spray. 

 

 

 

The cardstock used on here is all Core'dinations (Gemstones and Core Couture collections), and the Cardstock sticker embellie with Sentiment is a Core'dinations/Darice brand from the David Tutera card collection series.  Don't you also LURV the polaroid-like chipboard frame from Recollections that I picked up at Michaels?  I think they are cool... as well as the fabby looking Heidi Swapp resist paper on here too.   By the way... the butterflies... yep, Cricut cuts of course, lol!  These are designs from the Picturesque cartridge! I seem to cut these butterflies a lot :)  

 

So there you have it!  I have many more new things to share with you from Curtsey Boutique, but I will get to sharing them later after the shop and blog are back to their regular schedule next month.  Before I sign off for the night though, I just wanted to remind all my crafty friends that I am still patiently waiting to hear if I will be joining the May Arts Ribbon Design Team for 2013-2014!  The big announcement should come  on Monday, July 29th, so I do have the entire weekend to wait it out yet! Please keep your fingers crossed for me and if you like, you still have time to check out all of the finalists 2nd round audition projects HERE!  I really would love and appreciate all of your comments and support over there on the post too if you have any extra time!  Thanks friends... and take it easy!

 

Some Oldies, But Goodies!

Hello, and Happy Sunday to one and all!  Not all too excited that tomorrow is already Monday, but it is what it is, and I may as well enjoy the rest of this day off!

 

So today, I thought I would break out some oldies (well not too old, just not too recent either) that have previously been published to share with you all.  I know that not everyone subscribes to the magazines and may not have the opportunity to flip through them on a monthly basis either, so I wanted to show some of the things I've created which you all may not have seen before. 

 

These are all from last years Summer issues of Cricut magazine.  The following "Best Wishes" tag and envelope card from the May 2012 issue really turned out beautifully I thought. 

 

This is the envelope, which  I wanted to be just as fancy as the inside tag.  I cut both the envelope and the tag using the Cricut Damask cartridge.  You will see in the next photo that I cut out a tag with an intricate damask design.  But, I then used a portion of the leftover intricate pieces as a mask for the outside of the envelope.  This was sprayed with a teal Glimmer Mist.  I really like using negatives from Cricut cuts as masks for my projects... definitely a favorite technique!  

 

 

The patterned papers that I used for this are from Glitz Design and all that gorgeous ribbon and trim is May Arts! The black crinkled silk ribbon adds just the right amount of elegance!   

 

Here's a look as well at the reverse side of the tag...

 

This last card features some My Mind's Eye papers and I must say, I loved the way this card turned out so much that I'm not sure I can even give this friendship card to anyone.  I think I may just frame it and keep it for myself!

 

 

This card was published in the July 2012 issue and the cuts for this card came from the Give A Hoot Cricut cartridge.  I'll tell ya, the combination of the yummy plaid paper with the Core'dinations Vintage cardstock just makes me squeal, lol! 

 

Here's another close-up of the detail...

 

 

Remember you can always click on the photos to view them larger!  This card really packs the layers and texture that I love :)

 

Okay... I guess that it all I have to show you today.  I also want to tell you to head on over to the May Arts blog this week.  Tomorrow, Monday, July 15th will be the kick off to them sharing all the Design Team finalists' projects.  I'm so excited... and eager to see if I'll be one of the new May Arts Prima Ribbonistas!  The announcement and revealing of the new DT will be made on July 29th!!  I am so nervous, so please keep your fingers crossed for me... THANKS! 

A Decorative Woven Burlap Framed Monogram with May Arts Ribbon!

I seriously do not know where the Summer is going!  Can it really be July?  I've really been super busy, as I am sure much of blog land has been too.  Perhaps I am not the only one who hasn't had as much time to devote to their crafting these hot, hot days!  I'm sure I am not alone.  The 4th of July holiday was pretty fun and relaxing.  On the 4th we saw some fantastic fireworks here in the State College, PA area after we devoured a delicious Bloomin' Onion and dinner at Outback.  Then on Saturday we had a picnic and more fireworks at my brother and sister-in-law's new property that they affectionately refer to as "The Haven".   But now the holiday is over and it's back to the normal routine of life which is okay with me because it also means that my favorite season will be here before we know it.  I so can't wait for it to be Fall!  I'm already thinking about it and filling up the calendar with everything I want to cram in... October sure isn't long enough for me, lol :) 

 

On a crafty note, I was able to get to work on my project for the second round of the May Arts Design Team call this week and today I am really excited to be sharing with you all what I created.  My project uses the May Arts 2.5" Burlap Wired ribbon in both natural and green (398-25-11, 398-25-16) as well as their brown 400 y Burlap String (SM33). 

 

To tell you a bit about my idea for the project, the frame that I used to create with I found at a second hand store.  I had been looking around for a beautiful but inexpensive mirror to hang above our fireplace mantle for the Winter season and so one day I scored this divine ornate framed mirror for $5.00!  Quite the bargain!  Anyway I proceeded to hang it above the mantle and it looked really nice... until it fell the next day and the mirror smashed into bits.  But, not all was lost because I was still able to salvage the gorgeous frame.  I knew I could put it to use perfectly some other way, and I think I succeeded!  I have been wanting to create a framed monogram décor piece for my home office, so I envisioned a really textured design... and this beautiful selection of burlap May Arts ribbon did just the trick!

First I got to work by painting the frame to coordinate better with my room décor and with the colors of the burlap that I selected.  The frame was originally a dark hunter green like this...

 

 

I am now loving the fresh new color.  I painted the frame with a Metallic Krylon spray paint... in brushed bronze! 

 

 

The new color really shows off and highlights the ornate details. 

 

Now for the fun part... weaving the burlap ribbon for the background!  I started by cutting a piece of cardboard into an oval base to fit and be inserted into the middle of the frame securely.  This oval cardboard piece also serves as the base for my woven ribbon background.  I then cut several pieces of ribbon to approx. 20" in length each.  I then laid the ribbon horizontally in alternating color,  over the cardboard oval base. 

 

 

I then flipped the base over and folded over the ends of each length of ribbon, securing each of the ribbon sections to the back side of the base with some masking tape. 

 

 

Now flip the base over again to the front and cut several 32" pieces of ribbon.  These are the pieces that are now woven into the pattern vertically as shown!

 

 

After the pieces are all woven together, the ends of the vertical pieces can also be folded over and secured to the back side with more masking tape.  Here you can also "shape" and "mold" the edging of the entire oval base until you get the perfect shaping to fit snuggly inside the frame.  To secure the piece into the frame I used a heavy duty stapler gun, but you could also use a craft glue if you like. 

 

 

To create my initial which will be framed inside, I selected my font and cut it out from cardstock using my Cricut Expression.  The initial is from the Paper Lace 2 Cricut cartridge.  Each "A" was cut from cardstock 3 times and I glued all 3 together to make the initial sturdier. 

 

 

Now apply a double stick adhesive to the surface of the letter and begin to wind the brown burlap string around the letter until the entire surface is wrapped.

 

 

After the initial was complete I then used a fabric glue to adhere it to the woven burlap background.  I also decided to decorate the feet of the letter with some pretty felt flower and doily embellishments  from the Curtsey Boutique. 

 

 

I love my new framed monogram... and I especially love the woven burlap texture!  It's a  lovely shabby chic addition to my office space. 

 

 

I sure hope you've enjoyed my latest creation and that maybe I've inspired you all toward a new direction in creating with ribbon... after all, ribbon isn't just for bows!   Enjoy!  :)