French Market Paper Cones

These lovely French Market paper cones with Blessing tags were recently featurned in a Josephine and Napoleon  collection in the popular Chautauqua Online Wedding Magazine and Directory. 

Stop by the Chautauqua Wedding Magazine and see all the pretty French wedding items.

http://chautauquawedding.com/2012/10/napoleon-josephin/

Traveling Pants: An Unexpected Princess Carriage

I've just returned from my trip in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia, U.S.A. and even there, I found a car and carriage museum that showcased this beautiful Circa 1727 Carriage produced in Paris, France.

Made for the exchange of Princesses ceremony.

I was struck by the colors and details.

The door panel has a lovely scene still visible.

Unfortunately, I could not get good photography of the whole carriage.  The structure of the wheels and undercarriage where huge. 

Later that same day, I came across another smaller museum and found this antique notions cabinet with all the different color treads.

All the colors inspired me and are still fresh in my mind.  Time to get my sketchbook out and work on a few new designs.  In the meantime, I'll toss my traveling pants into the laundry, and get them ready for my next trip.

All my best,
Valerie

Treasures For A Lifetime

What a wonderful idea for this wedding couple.  They wanted their guest to leave prayers, blessings, advice and thoughts for them. 

The table card lets everyone know the intent of the prayer cards.  The couple would then put all these cards into a time capsule and open it on their 5 year wedding anniversary.

The whole project had a vintage garden shabby chic style to the materials.  The Blessings paper cones are from the Madeline paper collection.  The prayer cards are hand-stamped with flowers and then rubbed with sepia ink for an aged appearance.  The cards have plenty of room on the front and back for guest to write on.

I just love making pieces that will be treasured for a life time.

All my best,

Valerie

Bold Blue and Vintage Flowers

Being bold with color can push any designer to try a new approach to classic pieces.  Mixing vintage style, chocolate brown and pastels with navy blue, pushed me to approach this wedding ceremony paddle fan with an open mind.  The results worked beautifully. 

The base is made from 110lb ivory cardstock.  The edges are rounded for a softer effect and hand-rubbed with sepia ink for an aged appearance.  The text is custom chocolate ink and I used a vintage German botanical print of the Christarose on both the front and back of the fan.

Two-sided table numbers were made as a flags and carried the vintage flower theme.  The client already had a flower pot base and wooden dowel post, she just wanted a pennant / flag style table number with chocolate brown numbers, navy blue accent, and vibrant flowers for the background.

Adding the sepia ink to all the edges pulls the vintage feel all together.

Trying new and different colors together can certainly add flair to your next project.

All my best,

Valerie

Making Crepe Paper Flowers the Melissa Frances Way

Attended the Scrapbooking Expo in Orlando, Florida this weekend.  Had a really great time and found lots of goodies.

Although I took a few classes, my favorite was  Making Crepe Paper Flowers with Melissa Frances.  What a wonderful lady!  She is a hoot.  I'm adding her blog here for you to stop by and check out what she is all about.   http://www.melissafrances.typepad.com/

We made these altered art stacked boxes.  I keep thinking this project looks like...cake...cake...cake.  Clearly, I was hungry during class time.  My flower on top came out pretty good.

Stopped by Melissa's booth after the class, to check out all her lovely items.  Wow, pretty...    pretty...oooh...ahhh.  Yes, I think I drooled a bit.  Her collection offers beautiful flowers, trims, papers, and embellishments that guarantees the crafter quality products and exceptional design ideas.

Did a quick make-and-take with her daughter Ali.  We made a mini album from one piece of 12 x 12 cardstock.  Added vintage ink, Melissa Frances vintage style C'est La Vie cardstock stickers, and of course, glitter.  Very pretty.

Picked up some great deals at the show. 

S.E.I. had this beautiful butterfly paper Field Notes...love it.  Planning a mini album with this paper.

Picked up these great LaBlanche silicone stamps.  The designs are stunning.  Of course, I found a bunny to add to my collection.

And last, but not least, found a bin of My Mind's Eye papers.  Seriously reduced!  Being the paper crazy girl that I am, I elbowed my way in, and came out with a pile of Lost & Found sheets that are beautiful.  I'm think'in Christmas. 

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Blessings,

Valerie

Flowers and Flourishes: Continuity In Design

I really like designing stationery and paper goods that carry a theme across many different pieces.

 In this case, a client that liked the flowers and flourishes pattern, wanted this image on her wedding program and reception table numbers, escort cards, and menu.   She wanted all of her items to have a vintage appearance combining a femine and some masculine feel to the materials.  Her preference was mocha brown and peach color choices with ivory.

I started with the wedding program, using ivory cardstock base, I built panels of ivory edged in sepia ink to give the program an aged appearance.  The 3/8" peach satin ribbon was knotted and secured across the cover.  The flowers and flourishes pattern was stamped in sepia ink particially at the top and bottom. This was a large program and measured 11" x 4 1/4" folded.

The inside panels are also rubbed in vintage sepia ink and hand-stamped with a portion of the flowers and flourishes pattern to continue the theme inside.  Care had to be taken with the layout and design of the inside panels, so that the stamped pattern would line up appropriately.

At the reception table, these lovely two-sided tent style table numbers adorned the table scape.  The ivory cardstock base hosted a full pattern of the flowers and flourishes stamp trimmed with a ragged edge and heavily rubbed with sepia ink.  The peach satin ribbon ran across the lower third of the panel and was topped by a raised panel of brown linen cardstock and ivory cardstock top sheet.  The number panel is raised with dimensionals. 

Each guest received their escort card upon entering the reception area.  The cards had a coordinating brown linen cardstock base, hand-stamped flowers and flourish pattern edged with vintage sepia ink and an ivory top sheet with their name and table number assignment. 

The menu design completed the package of wedding materials that the guest would see at the reception.  A base of brown linen cardstock had a matching flower and flourish full panel (like the table number) with the ragged edge rubbed with vintage sepia ink and had a peach ribbon mounted across the panel.  The menu was printed onto ivory cardstock and rubbed with sepia ink as well.

This set of hand-made wedding materials came out exceptional and the client loved the finished product.    I have to admit though, it was labor intensive, and I was happy to get this project completed.  Believe it or not, I still like the flowers and flourishes pattern, even after as many times as I had to stamp it for this complete project.

All my best,

Valerie

Pretty Maids All In A Row

When I was a little girl, I love cutting out paper dolls and all their cloths.  Yes, guilty...I played with Barbie and loved it!  Today, I am having just as much fun with these pretty gowns.

They are custom made to match the bride's choice of color for her bridal party.  Each one is added to the card, which the bride invites her choice for Maid or Matron-of-Honor, Bridesmaids, Junior Bridesmaid and Flower Girls.

Doesn't matter what color, I try and come up with some unique gown pattern or design.

Some seem even more for formal than others.

Some seem romantic.

Next, I am designing a new style gown.  I'll show you when I get it done.

All my best,

Valerie 

Making Ribbon Flowers and Trimmings

I recently came across this wonderful book by Helen Gibb titled, "Ribbonwork, The Complete Guide."  It has been around a while, 2004, but has the detail and techniques for creating beautiful flowers that I want to learn for my art projects. 

The book is visually stunning and colorful.

The details of the techniques are graphically laid out well.

 At first, this book seemed intimidating, but after working with it for a while, it really is inspiring!  The price tag was a little shocking too, but this book is substantial in its construction and information.  Well worth the money.

Hopefully, my flower designs and trimmings will turn out as pretty as the ones in the pictures.

All my best,


Valerie

Using Antique and Vintage Jewelry In My Art Work

I have been collecting vintage and antique jewelry my whole life.  Each piece holds a fasination for me.  Who wore this?  Was it a gift from a loved one, or did they buy it for themselves?

The delicate nature of these pieces have lasted over time, and are still useful even in their worn state.   Re-purposing old jewelry into my art adds a vintage and antique deminsion to my work.

Did she feel like royality when she wore this crown pin?

This one is very worn and the patina is great.  The gold tone metal monogram is pitted and scratched.  The wood is still in good condition and adds to the weight of this piece.

This charm bracelet has a history to it.  The charms are delicate and meaningful to the previous owner.  A martini shaker, a chair, a bowling pin, random bits of someones life. 

Did the gentleman that owned this tie clasp use it regularly or just for special occassions?  Because of its petite size, did it belong to a woman?

Was this key representative of true love?  Did it promise that someone holds the key to their heart?

  These little treasures, from the past, will make a fine embellishment to my new art work. 

All my best,

Valerie