French Lace Adorns Guest Design Team Project for Crafty Me Shop

I had a wonderful opportunity to be a guest designer for the Crafty Me Shop on Facebook.  There is a video at my YouTube channel that shows all the gorgeous French laces and trims that were sent to me to make what ever I wanted.

 I choose to do an altered suitcase that will store all my vintage photography and postcard collection.  Tilda papers where used on the inside and outside of the box.  An image of Countess Henrietta Vernon painted by Thomas Gainsborough in 1767 is featured on the front.

 Laces were trimmed to create a cameo around the portrait.  A large jeweled trim of rhinestones and pearls accents the French lace across the front. 

 The inside of the box has the Tilda paper as well.  The sepia photograph was printed on fabric and I fussy cut the lady to fit inside the lid.  Butterfly wings were glued behind her to add whimsy and depth.  More French lace runs across the bottom and up the side.

Visit my YouTube channel at FaithfulCrafter1 to see the entire video explaining the project.

Valerie

Making French Vintage Style Recipe Cards

 

I was asked to design some recipe cards for a bridal shower that had some vintage style to them and a little French country feel.

 

 The cards need to fit inside a recipe box the client ordered and wanted 4" x 6" cards and dividers.

I selected a French Speckletone 80# cover cardstock in Oatmeal color and used black text and ink for the hand-stamped images.

 Came up with a couple of designs using different fonts and she like this one.  The fork & spoon and rose images are two different looks.  I have another Jane Austin that is coming out soon.  These can be printed on white, cream of the French Speckletone...which is my favorite paper right now.

 The client selected the rose patterned cards as the recipe box had a rose on it as well and would coordinate nicely.

 She wanted matching dividers of I came up with these.  Used a lovely Spellbinder die for the tab piece and mounted some on the left, center, and right with a rose image stamped in the center.

 Packaged them all up and off they go to a happy customer!

And as in most of my designs, there is scripture on the back that reads Love the LORD with all your heart. 

Have a blessed day,
Valerie

Mixed Media Prayer Journal Cover Design

So far, I really like the way this journal design is evolving.  I've had a chance to play with some of my favorite stamps, embossing pastes, laces, and artwork to pull together the covering for my latest project.

The cover art piece is a painting by Thomas Gainsborough, one of my two favorite artist, Reynolds being the other.  This portrait is of Countess Mary Howe painted in 1763.  There is a brilliance in how her costume has been painted.  Wearing a lightweight summer dress of pink silk overlain by an apron of lace and layers of lace on the arms. Her pearl necklace is stunning and set off her delicate face.

I used different laces and small pearls to compliment the artwork and bring out in a tactile way, those elements across the cover.

The use of mulberry paper flowers, stained, and brushed in clear gold glitter adds a richness that would be expected by Countess Howe if this were her book.  I added a vintage gold and rhinestone crown to add some metal detail to the design.  I feel challenged to add at least one piece of vintage jewelry (a passion of mine) to each item I design.

The books spine was a particular design effort as it is 2 1/2" wide and 9" in length and I wanted the book to be able to stand up on a shelve if that is the way I wanted to display it.  So the spine needed extra strength and attention. 

I used extra-heavy weight cardboard stock, then ran it through a damask embossing folder to create the relief.  Painted it with Silks acrylic glaze which added tons of shine. Wanted the look of rich oiled leather. Added the vintage style old gold metal plate and title paper Prayer Journal. 

Added a metal element of a key plate after dying with gold ink as it was copper color.  Put a title banner across the front Oh Lord, hear my prayers. 

You can watch the step-by-step mixed media tutorial of this whole process on my YouTube channel faithfulcrafter1.  If you like this type of tutorial, please like, comment, and subscribe.

Have a blessed day,
Valerie

Mixed Media Prayer Journal Tutorial Part 1

Creating a mixed media junk journal using scraps from my shop.  Part I shows the construction of the cover, book binding, and inside pages.

This book is going to be a prayer journal.  It will have areas for pics of family, journaling sections to keep track of prayer requests, praise reports, areas for scripture memory work, Bible study plans, as well as thoughts and reflections section.

Design theme will be vintage 18th Century, French and English influences, with a touch of shabby chic!

Working right now on video showing the mixed media tutorial of designing the cover, spine, and back panels.

Wishing everyone a Happy and Blessed New Year!

Valerie

Creating Unique Hand-Made Vintage Style Wrapping Paper and Tags

With upcycling and repurposing a focus right now for crafters, I played with designing gift wrapping paper and matching tags using scrap Kraft packing paper from my shop.

Smoothing out the packing paper, I then randomly hand-stamped the vintage angel and Believe images using Ranger Archival Ink in black. 

The tag uses matching scrap Kraft cardstock as a base sheet, then topped with a second sheet of the hand-stamped image of the angel. 

The tag has jute twine secured at the top with tails and also a scrap piece of matching green ribbon knotted with tails.

I distressed the edges of the top sheet with Vintage Photo ink and then sprayed the image using Tattered Angels glimmer mist in a light gold color.

The repeated pattern carries across the entire sheet of paper, so even the back is decorated.

 

The crinkled Kraft packing paper lends an aged effect to this hand-made vintage shabby chic style of packaging. 

Thanks for stopping by and leave a comment.

Merry Christmas,

Valerie

Marie Antoinette, Queen of France

Just received my new book Marie Antoinette.  I found it while touring France and visiting the Palace of Versailles.

This is a beautifully designed book and covers the life of the ill-fated queen, her husband, and children.  It begins with her life at the Viennese Court, then marriage to the King, court life at Versailles including Petit Trianon.

 The book finishes with her down-fall, the revolution, and tragic end.

Petit Trianon-The Queen's Refuge is also covered very well, showing the buildings, clothing and lifestyle while the queen was there.

Sincerely appreciate the level of details the book offers regarding Dressing The Queen as well as her furnishings and room décor at the palace.

The photography and details are gorgeous throughout and is a must-have for those interested in life and times of Marie Antoinette.

With love,

Valerie

Declaration of Love

I was asked to design a Civil War North & South themed

wedding invitation set for a couple that participates in historical re-enactment

and they wanted a blue and grey themed set. 

The Declaration of Love tri-fold invitation set looks like

an official proclamation document from the desk of either Grant or Lee!

The red satin ribbon and rhinestone heart appears to have a official proclamation to the main invitation.  Metallic silver cardstock base, with navy blue second sheets present the white top sheets.  Elegant fonts are used to provide a vintage feel overall.

Metallic gold hand-stamped images are an elegant touch to this official proclamation of Love.
Oversized RSVP card is accompanied by an Monarch size envelope making a statement to your guest. And an oversized Accommodations insert card finished out the package.

 

A beautiful North & South Civil War themed wedding invitation suite arrives to the guest neatly wrapped in a red satin bow and tails. 

This was one of two designs submitted for this client.  Design Two will be shown next week. 
All my best,

Valerie

P.S.  Scripture panel on the back of the invitation is 1 Corinthians 13:13, And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is LOVE.

TEA TIME Paper Tea Cups

New to the shop are these adorable TEA TIME paper tea cups. Beautiful patterned cardstock is used to create these lovely 3D tea cups ready to fill with goodies.

Great for tea parties, bridal showers, wedding favors, baby showers, guest can have a lovely take-home gift!

Measuring 2 3/4" height x 3 3/4" wide at the top of the cup, these favor containers can hold candy, tea packs, a cup cake, and are adorned with satin ribbon and mulberry paper flower.  Glitter monogram tea tag is tent-style and has Bible scripture inside. 

Many patterns from vintage to modern available with coordinating twine, glitter monogram, flower, and ribbon.

Looking forward to seeing what folks do with these little cuties at their next event.

Enjoy,

Valerie

Jumping The Broom Vintage Southern Charm Wedding Program

Capturing the look and feel of the Old South was a lot of fun when creating this custom wedding program for my client.  This one has a vintage Southern Plantation style charm throughout the book.

Vintage ivory lace, satin ribbon, and embossed damask panel are featured on the cover.  Sepia ink is hand-rubbed on the edges of the book and panel for an aged appearance.

Die cut raised panel with vintage hand-stamped image finishes off the cover detail.  The vintage hand-stamped images carry the old plantation Southern charm theme to the inside and back panel as well.

This customer wanted to have on the back the history of Jumping The Broom as it was the finale of their wedding ceremony.  Scripture included on this program is from 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is Love.

I kept thinking about all the historical home tours I have taken over the years with their restored interiors, old wall papers, and even the vintage clothing that is an obsession of mine and tried to create the look and feel of the Old South.  By combining the vintage lace, satin ribbon, embossed damask pattern, and vintage hand-stamped images, I was able to create this truly Old Southern Plantation style program book.

Blessings,

Valerie

Mixing Shabby Chic and Rustic Style

Mixing a little shabby chic style with some rustic cardstock, created this sweet Save The Date card.

We're Tying The Knot along with monogram cover is embellished with hand-stamped petite French image of floral spray and ivory seam binding knotted with tails.

The gate fold card opens to pull the seam binding knot together in the center.  Lovely images of ribbon tied flowers and a delicate wedding ring with bowed ribbon continue the petite vintage images inside.

The location of the event is on the left side panel and scripture from Ephesians 5:31 ...And the two shall become one graces the far right panel.

The rustic Kraft cardstock combined with the delicate seam binding added just the right touch to this cute Save The Date card.

God bless,

Valerie

Design Studio Sneek Peek

I've been renovating my design studio and am still in the process of painting, moving furniture, and re-organizing everything.  Thought I would share a little sneek peek into my design studio.

This is a painted cabinet that holds my cardstock, lace, trims, and product samples.  The cardstock sheet are in plastic expandable sleeves that have an opening at the top that snaps close.  I am able to keep all my scraps together with full sheets.

I am not fond of plastic storage, so I dressed up the front panels of these stacking drawers.  The unit is 15 drawers high and contains all my inks, tools, paints, rhinestone/pearl embellishments, glitter/embossing powders, punches, and swatch books.  I used Prima Marketing cardstock cut into strips, and then created a label to mark the drawers.  It really came out pretty!

I use glass Mason jars to organize many of my loose desk top supplies.

This old distress painted metal tin container holds all my art journaling supplies.

This is a little painted shelf unit that holds some of my favorite inspiration pieces from my travels.  Still painting the plaster wall behind the unit.  Going with Antique White walls.

Some of my bulk vintage lace stored in a large French metal container. 

This is one of my storage containers for my smaller trims and lace.

I have a lot of rare wood block mounted rubber stamps and use a wire rack system that goes from floor to ceiling to organize all of them.  Most are organized by subject matter: flowers, religious, animals, backgrounds, frames, toile, etc.

I know viewers like to see the complete studio tour, so I was thinking when my studio is finished, of producing a design studio tour video for YouTube. 

My clear stamps are organized using Avery Elle plastic sleeves, and Jennifer McQuire Ink YouTube video has the tutorial on how to set this up.  It does work amazingly!

My ribbons are stored by size and color in a drawer system.

I hope this sneek peek was a little interesting to those of you that craft.
If you have questions on how I store items, or you would like to see more studio tour info, please write me below.

Many thanks for stopping by.

God bless,

Valerie