Gift Idea - 3D Frame

I created this framed photo as a Christmas gift for my mother-in-law. It features a picture of her as a young girl of 17 on a date with her future husband at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto in 1955. I love the Roxie paper with this photo, not sure why but it just says retro to me. The shadow box frames were bought in a pack of three from Michaels for about $12.

I started out looking at scrapbook layout sketches for inspiration and ended up using a card layout sketch. Since the actual working space available is about 6" x 7 1/2", card sketches actually work well. This layout was inspired by a past Mojo Monday sketch #155.

I wanted to do a video tutorial for this, but don't have the time right now. So here are the measurements for anyone interested.

Cardstock Background - 10" x 8"
Designer Paper Background - 10" x 8"
Left DP strip - 6" x 1-3/4"
Center DP strip - 6" x 1-1/2"
Right DP strip - 6" x 2-1/2"
I used my Spellbinders to cut a shape for across the bottom, but you could put a rectangular piece across the bottom at 1-1/2" x 6"
Photo Mat - 5" x 4"
Photo - 4-3/4" x 3-3/4"

I don't own a Cricut yet, but if I did I would have made some 3-D flowers using the Art Philosophy cartridge instead of the prima roses. I distressed the edges of the paper with Desert Sand ink and an edge distresser. I coloured the center rhinestone on each of the rhinestone brads with a Copic marker so that there would be a touch of Juniper on the right side. I changed the colour of the top of the pins using liquid glass mixed with black re-inker and popped the photo with a double layer of 3-D foam tape to pop it up higher.

Supplies: (all CTMH except where noted)

Paper - Roxie designer paper, Black & Juniper cardstock
Stamps - Circle of Love (D1438), Because I Love You (C1259 - retired)
Ink - Black, Smoothie, Desert Sand, Juniper, Black re-inker, Copic marker BG72
Accessories - Paper roses (Prima), Rhinestone Designer Brads, pins and rhinestone button - Bling Assortment, Bamboo Waxy Flax, Bitty Sparkles, 3D foam tape, Liquid Glass, 1/2" Black seam binding (May Arts), window charm (unknown)
Other - Edge distresser, leaf punch (Martha Stewart), Labels 18 (Spellbinders)

Close To My Heart Sneak Peek - Rock the Block Campaign

Check out the video below for a sneak peek at one of the new products that will be available in the Spring/Summer Idea Book for 2012. These My Creations Collage Cubes will be available in a special promotion that starts December 19th and runs through to January 31st. The Rock the Block campaign also includes and exclusive E sized stamp set.

It's Been a While - A Couple of Photo Frames Today

Hello everyone. I can't believe it has been over a month since I posted to this blog. I have been very busy with other priorities so haven't spent much time in my crafting room.

I do have a couple of photo frames to show you today, that I donated to a craft sale earlier this month. I picked up these wood frames at Michaels for $1 each. They suited the purpose, but I wasn't very happy with the stand (a small dowel to be placed in a small hole at the back), so I didn't make as many as I had originally intended. These would make a great gift, but I would invest in a better quality frame if I was to make them again.

The first two frames are the same, just different shades of steel blue cardstock were used.

I painted the backs and sides of the frame first with black acrylic paint. I traced the inside opening of the frame unto my cardstock and marked the outer edges of the frame on the cardstock with pencil. I cut out the inside opening (I found it easier to do this before gluing to the frame rather than after) and stamped the image 'Live, Laugh, Love' from the stamp set "Love Life" around the outside. Then I covered the front of the wood frame with 2 way glue, glued the cardstock to the front of the frame making sure to center the opening on the cardstock with the opening of the frame and then trimming the outside of the frame using a craft knife. I then sprayed the whole thing with a matt finish spray sealer.

The frame below is a result of:
a) not cutting out the center opening before gluing the cardstock to the frame. I trimmed the center opening after the paper was already glued to the frame and had a difficult time getting a clean cut (hence I had to add the additional black paper cardstock frame to cover the rough edges)
b) touching the front of the frame with paint on my fingers. I had a couple of spots to touch up with the black paint on the back of the frame and accidentally got paint on the front of the cardstock. This frame was suppposed to be the same as the blue frames above, but I had to change it to cover the unwanted paint. The stamp set used was a retired set called 'Make It Count'

For this final frame I used paper from the retired paper pack 'Miracle' to cover the frame and paper from the retired paper pack 'Perfect Day' for the rose. The letter stickers are from retired 'Silhouette' My Stickease.