Picture box project...so far...

I don't normally publish unfinished projects, but I am trying to get back into blogging :D

My MIL asked for a painting by me for Xmas.... I was flattered.....hubby was sheepish.

She would like me to paint a portrait of one of her grandchildren.....I was thrilled(proud)...hubby was silent...

oh!  Not one of my children?.....I said no!

But in the spirit of a loving wife, I told hubby I would make a special frame for the photo she wanted me to work from.

I am even using my precious(stroking) Anna Griffin 12x12 no longer available scrapbook papers...

and this is where I am up to right now...

The finished piece will be in a 12 x 12 deep box frame. These are wonderful for making and displaying special scrapbook pages as gifts.

 *see all my lovely Anna Griffin stuffs*

I chose 2 papers for the background, fancy cutting one to make a frame for the other...

 it's easiest to cut a large section out first...

 before trimming down and laying over second piece.

 Next I took a photo mount to use as a frame within the frame...

but it looked a bit boring...

 so I rummaged through my Anna Griffin stamp collection...

 over-stamped with pigment ink...

 added a little shading with a pale promarker, and a bit of "weight" to the corners with a gold gel pen.

I still have to build up the page with decoupaged roses and stuff, but I think MIL will be pleased with it when finished.

And for those who feel I'm being a little mean not doing the painting she wanted....she's never even asked for a photo of my boys...who are also her grandchildren.

Enjoy :D XXX

Quick update for Brenda...a fellow Bumblebee :D

Just because I haven't shown any cards I've made lately(for quite a while actually), here are the first 2 Christmas cards for this year :D

Yes I snaffled me some more Anna Griffin product (like I don't have boxes full already)

and the shine is from the "snowy acetate" dome I have made on each card.

But now at Brenda's request :D, more of my little wooden witch, who is transforming herself into a Faerie so she can go to Magaly's Party on the 25th :D

Witchywoo needed some sparkle, so I have painted her with Twinkling H2O's

not forgetting her rear view!!!

Tempted as I was to dress her in black, she decided rich Autumnal colours were more appropriate for this particular party :D (sorry you can't see how shimmery she looks because the sun went in :S)

...and no Faerie disguise would be complete without wings. These are some I had printed out already on acetate.

Now to add some sparkle...but that has to wait for another day :D

Enjoy :D XXX

Flutter4 By4 :D

Todays card is made up from lots of bits of stash :D The main elements are toppers from y Anna Griffin Spring Card Collection, while the scrummy textured paper is from the Luxury Oriental collection I bought from Create n Craft (Bought one got one free!!!)

Haven't used a butterfly for ages, so I thought I'd make it the main focal point on this 4x4 card. Just added a few stickles to the colour spots :D

I have made it for the following challenges;

Flutter By Wednesdays# 158 Polka dots (background dp)

4X4 Fridays# Birthday

Creative Card Crew# Wings

Totally Paper Crafts#70 Summer

Enjoy XXX

Cards of Rememberance

A bit of a downer as posts go today :(

A work colleague of hubby's passed away last week, she was younger than us, and had only been feeling ill for a few weeks. After going to the doc's for a quick check up, they found she had cancer (every where!!). She and her family hadn't even had time to let the news sink in before she was taken from them. Hubby only found out as he had made a trip to her office to see how she was feeling, and walked in as her other colleagues were being told the sad news. Hubby had known her for the best part of 20 years, and considered her a valued friend and is very upset about the whole thing. As a family, we deal with death in a very open and matter of fact way, yet it is the 1st time hubby has lost someone in such a quick way.

He asked me to make a card for him to take to the funeral on monday, but he didn't want it to be sad. He says she was a lovely cheery person, and she loved flowers. So this one is for Patty, who will be sorely missed

Inside I have put a verse by Christina Rossetti, from her poem Remember;

"Yet if you should forget me for a while

And afterwards remember, do not grieve:

For if the darkness and corruption leave

A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,

Better by far you should forget and smile

Than remember and be sad."

This is the second set of poppy cards I have made for Jane'ts poppy appeal over at The Stampman Challenge Blog
For this set I have used a Joanna Sheen Poppy fairy stamp, and kept them clean and simple.

Not for Challenges XXX

Just a quicky :D

Got my new Anna Griffin Spring card making kit Thursday(anniversary pressie), and this is the 1st of many cards I will be making with it for my own stash.

The paper flowers and raffia I already had :D

I Luuuuuurrrrrve Anna Griffin's style :X Mwah!

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges;

Moving Along With The Times#95 Recycle (rafia from bed frame packaging)

Stamping Vacation Lots of Paper challenge#Circles + Squares(pattern on foiled paper)

Creative Card Crew# Recycle Something( rafia +paper flowers re-used from an old home decor project)

Truly Scrumptious#55 Vintage