Paper Bag Swap and Spring Peonies

Peonies are one of my favorite flowers and these are from our garden.

As promised, here's the paper bag book I received from Cathee from Art and Soul, my swap partner from the Yahoo Altered Art group.

Beautiful, right?  Love the colors and ribbons she used.

 I love that she celebrated all the beautiful things of Spring.

 Thanks again, Cathee for this awesome keepsake and to Dee Moran for organizing the swap.

Hope you are inspired by the Spring and are creating.

Altered Altoid - Marry Me

This is my first try at altering an Altoid Mints Tin. I really enjoyed it. I made it into a proposal tin. Wouldn't it be a great idea for someone to use to propose to their loved one.

One thing I didn't account for is that when painted, the lid is hard to close shut. So, I would recommend, no paint. The paint got covered anyway after I got started embellishing.

This is the front where I tied a piece of seam binding and a heart charm. Also, trim the top lid with pink rack rack.

The back has the painted surface and the flower cutout from wallpaper.

Inside cover I adhered pretty tissue, then a vintage inspired picture of a couple dancing. The other side has the pretty tissue as background. The vintage photo of the couple with flowers was spritz with a bit of water, then I scratched the words, "Marry Me".

Below you see the whole "booklet" with the marriage proposal. The awesome boutennaire was given to me by someone who had me as a swap partner. This was an extra wonderful suprise she sent me. Isn't it adorable?

Here's the front lid. After the paint, I covered with this adorable little girl, glitter and lace flowers.

Hope you're having a terrific week.

Till next time,

Nelly aka Bella Nella

Anniversary Frame and a Dozen Darlings

I'm still without my beloved PC, so it hasn't been easy to download photos. I'm quickly doing this on my daughter's PC which is not the ideal, but here goes.

This is an anniversary frame I made for a friend who needed an anniversary gift for a friend. I used a yard sale frame which I brushed with some white gesso on the edges to tone down the gold. I then made a ribbon bow to which I attached some tiny pearl trim, a silk Peony and bling from an earring. A true repurpose, recycle, upcycle project.
I'm hoping its well received.

This is a quick layout from a book page. I used a flower cutout from wallpaper which I gessoed a bit. At the top, an amazing handmade paper I got from a swap. See how it was glued in a square pattern (I know there's a better word to describe it, but it escapes me right now) leaving open squares. I love its color too. I used a smaller piece that was coming apart after I cut it at the bottom of the flower too. The sweet picture of the 12 children is from a vintage photo I picked up at an antique store. Pieces of pink vellum cut with wavy scissors. I decorated the bottom of it with rick rack and lace and stamped throughout the background. Click on the picure for a larger image and to see details.

Dozen Darlings - By Nelly aka Bella Nella

For those in the USA, I hope you're enjoying the summer everyone, I'm already stressing about how soon it'll be gone.

I have many more photos of my altered book from the internet class I've been taking and a fat book I worked on for my daughter's high school years for her graduation. I'll post those soon too.

Nelly

Girls and Dresses

I'm still struggling with computer trouble so I can't post my latest creations. These are older projects I worked on. I'm almost finished my altered book from the online class and will post that as soon as I am able to.

This cute little dress is a paper form I got at Michael's. I covered in paper first, then adhered ric- rac, fabric, buttons, velvet ribbon and fabric rose. This sweet girl wall hanging, was adhered on a backing from an old frame that came apart. Very sturdy substrate and the back is covered in a velvety black fabric. The striped background is a piece of wallpaper, then a decoupage tissue square and book page circle. Of course, some lace and bows. It hangs on a piece of lace as well. Don't you love that old key! I got that at an antique shop this past winter as part of a set of 3. I'm thinking of offering this piece for sale.

Thrift Shop Saturday

Here's more to my lace and trim addiction. I did keep it a small selection. And the brass rings, I thought I would use as hangers for some of my pieces, if I ever get creating again, that is. Got one of these pedestal glass bowls before, don't remember when, but I saw 4 more at my local thrift shop this Saturday, so I picked them up too for .75ea. Love pedestal containers!!

Love the beige shading of these buttons.

A cute and simple hankie for my collection. So unique, I thought.

Not something I would pick up (too country for me), but I just so loved the dainty blue flower edging on this. I might cut that out to use in my art, that was my thought.

A satin baby pillow I couldn't resist getting. It might fit my travel pillow which I keep in my car and what an elegant and pleasing cover for it.

For my pedestal collection. I'm not generally a fan of this green, but for $1 it would have been foolish to lrave behind.

Love the dish and the shells; the whole package $2.50. Alright!! The question is: use the shells in my art or live this as is to display? I can't wait for some beach time and this visual is just wonderful. I might take the littlest ones to use. Usually my favorite ones are the small ones.

Well, it was a fun Saturday. I haven't done much thrifting lately and I was just dying to. Its always such a high for me.Now to get into one of my favorite places for inspiration, aside from blogland, Somerset.

And I'm so lucky to now have a subscription thanks to my mother in law. My first Somerset Studio issue arrived, YEA!!