Altered Mirror

Still in altering mode. I've had some Ik*a mirrors in the cupboard for at least a few years but never got round to doing anything with them. However, when I saw the new Botanica collection from Craftwork Cards I just couldn't resist it and thought it would be perfect for a mirror.



I had prepared one of the mirrors ages ago by giving it a base coat of paint (which was as far as I got with it at the time!), so all I had to do was cover it with Botanica papers and add a few extra elements cut from the papers, which I attached with silicone glue to give them a bit of dimension.

I also stamped some sentiments (by Paper Artsy and Katzelkraft) over the paper, and inked around the edges with gold Brilliance ink. Finally I lined the inner edges of the mirror with some gold German scrap, which just happened to be exactly the right depth.

The large butterfly and the bird were cut from the toppers which are part of the collection, and the small butterflies from the papers.

The Botanica collection is so pretty, and with its nature theme of butterflies, birds and flowers it is right up my street! Might have to send for another pack so I can keep one just to admire!

PS. Just realised this is also eligible for the Butterfly Challenge, so I've entered it!

Thanks for looking!

Tissue Box Covers

I saw these pretty tissue box covers, by Angela Barkhouse on the JustRite Stamps blog and thought what lovely gifts they would make.

Angela shares her tutorial for making them on the JustRite blog (see link above), but my tissue box wasn't quite the same size as hers, so I decided to design my own.

They are actually very simple to make. I assembled the box from offcuts of mountboard and covered it with scrapbook paper (K & Co. and Hot Off The Press). I used Nestie dies (Labels 5) to cut the hole in the top and make the side decorations, along with a Cheery Lynn die (the butterfly) and Leone Em punch ( the fern). The sides opposite each other are identical. The top and bottom borders were cut with the Die-namics Scallop Ribbon Border which makes a double sided strip, but I wanted just a narrow border so I cut it in half lengthways.

And that was it done! Easy peasy! The scrapbook papers were some I had had for years, and everything else was offcuts and snippets, so I even managed to use up some more old stash!

It would make a great gift, but I think I might just keep this one! However, I'm entering it in ValeryAnne's inaugural Butterfly Challenge, which began last week and which will be running fortnightly. I really hope it takes off (!), it's the perfect challenge for me!

Thanks for looking.

Fairy Nuff!

We have a new challenge for you at Stamping Sensations, one which I've really enjoyed making a card for, and I hope you will too! A bit of escapism, just the thing to take our minds off the miserable weather we've been having lately! We'd like you to show us your creations on the theme of

*** WINGS, FANTASY AND FICTION ***

We're thinking butterflies, fairies and mythical or fictional characters here, but you are of course free to interpret the theme however you like.

Our fantastic sponsor this month is Crafty Devils, see the Challenge Blog for details of the prize they have generously donated.

Anyway, on to my card. I bought the Lavinia Stamps Hobbit Home stamp ages ago, but had been waiting for a suitable occasion to use it. It was perfect for this challenge!

All the stamps I've used here are by Lavinia Stamps. As you can see, I partially cut around the door so I could open it, and made a little scene to put behind it. (The tree, hill and birds are hand drawn.)

 Background papers are Bo Bunny "Autumn Song", butterfly and leaf dies by Cheery Lynn, and sentiment by Stampingallday. Circle and scallop circle dies are Nestabilities.

Butterflies and fairies are two of my favourite things, so I can't wait to see all your gorgeous projects! Thanks for looking at mine, and keep those entries coming in!