Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Guest Designer at City Crafter

I have the pleasure of being a Guest Designer at City Crafter Challenge Blog this week, where the theme is "I've Been Framed."  Kirsty Vittetoe asked me a while back, and I felt completely honored.  Her challenge is one of the best out there, featuring stylish designs from the Design Team and the players, week after week.  Thank you for having me, Kirsty!

More than a year ago I picked up two framed items from the dollar store, specifically for the frames, and never did anything with them.  This was the perfect opportunity to alter one.

The cross is set back, shadow-box style.  The back of the mat, which features the words, looks like this:


I cut a piece of pink cardstock the same dimensions as the mat.  I used a craft knife to cut out the opening.
Then I decorated the mat with all sorts of papers, stamps, trim and punches.


In the recessed area, I stamped different images from a new-to-me set by Our Craft Lounge called Vintage Traveler in light shades of Distress Inks.  Then I added a large fleur-de-lis brad, which at first was too bright-shiny-gold for this project.  I sanded it with a nail file, then rubbed some white craft ink over it, and wiped with a tissue to remove the excess ink. 


Some pearls were added in the corners -- of course!

The patterned papers are bits of the most beautiful giftwrap I have up in the attic.  Since I bought it, I've been dying to use it in crafting somehow.


If you want to play with us, head over to the City Crafter blog and check out the details.  :)
Thanks for joining me today!

Colleen

Stamps:  Our Craft Lounge 'Vintage Traveler', Stampin' Up! 'Elizabeth'
Paper:  Pink Pirhouette, Very Vanilla, Whisper White cardstock; gift wrap
Ink:  various Distress Inks, Always Artichoke, Whisper White craft ink
Punches:  Iron Gate and Lattice Edge borders by Martha Stewart
Other:  pearls and fleur de lis brad by Recollections, gold cord

18 comments:

Marisa said...

This is fabulous, Colleen!!! Love all the details and punches you used in the various sections.

Andrea Ewen said...

This is beautiful Colleen...how super crafty and resourceful you are! Of course, I love all of those intricate punches and the colors are so soft and delicate! Congrats on being guest designer!

Virginia L. said...

Absolutely fantastic, Colleen!! Love the framing theme!! Congrats on your guest design at CC!

Benzi said...

Ooh, I love it! Beautiully framed and the papers are fabulous. Congrats on the Guest Design position.

Cecelia said...

Hello there;0) Congrats on your DT spot! I absolutely LOVE this frame. It is so beautiful! Love the papers you used and the french feel;0) Hope you are having a great week so far;0)

Hugs xx
Cecelia B

sparklygirl-Tina said...

Hi Colleen

Well done on the guest DT spot. Love your altered frames my fave is the second one (but both are fab!)

Hope you are well.

Hugs

Tina

Savannah O'Gwynn said...

BEAUTIFUL! LOVE the colors and that frame!! Congrats on the GDT!!!

Linda Callahan said...

This is gorgeous! You did a beautiful job in every way!

Cibele Glazer said...

I wanted to come by and thank you for leaving such a wonderful comment on my blog and was blown away by this project! Such a gorgeous piece of artwork you have created!!! The details and colors are beautiful. I will now look at frames at the dollar store in a whole new way. :)

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

This is absolutely gorgeous, so glad to have you as our guest this week. Your beautiful project is so inspiring and I am sure our viewers at City Crafter would agree with me, thanks for being our special guest this week!

Maria said...

Congrats on being guest designer this week for City Crafter Challenge! You created a lovely project with the frame! It looks like springtime in Paris...so soft and pretty! Gorgeous paper, border, and pearls...love it!!!:-) Hope you are having a great week...hugs!:-)

Emily Keaton said...

First, a huge congratulations on the honor of being asked to guest design at City Crafter Challenge, Colleen!! What a wonderful experience--quite the feather in your cap!!! And second, that gorgeous framed creation is a work of art. Stunning!! I just love all of the different elements you pulled together for this. Everything is so pretty. And any gal who uses bits of pretty giftwrap in a paper crafted project is a gal after my own heart. :) That's just the sort of thing I would do!! Thanks for the huge dose of eye candy, my friend!!

Ros said...

Love your frame Colleen ... thanks ever so much for joining us as GD this week

Jinny Newlin said...

So pretty, Colleen! LOVE the dimension and your soft, elegant, color palette! And CONGRATULATIONS!

Leslie Miller said...

Good heavens! A silk purse out of... well, maybe not quite a sow's ear, but you get my drift. Huge improvement, and beyond! Gorgeous, Colleen!!!

Leslie Miller said...

ps: Forgot to give you my congrats on your fun new assignment! Enjoy it for the week!

Shirley said...

How wonderful and creative! A really artistic and pretty design!

Unknown said...

You rocked as our GD.. This Altered frame is amazing.. I wish I would have thought of something like this..

Hugs, Linda

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