Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Sweet Stamps: Altered Birthday Frame

This is my last project for Sweet Stamps as a guest designer. I really enjoyed my time with them this month and loved working with all of their gorgeous stamps.

The Project
My grandmother celebrated her 92nd birthday this past weekend and I wanted to make her a gift and card set. I was thinking along the lines of something monochromatic and elegant, and here is the result.



The Process
Vellum is back in popularity right now and I thought it would be the right base for the wings of some butterflies. I used this medium butterfly stamp and stamped it onto vellum using white embossing ink and white embossing powder.


After heating it and cutting it out, I wrapped the butterflies with some wire floral stamen to make the antennae. If you want color on your butterflies, color the reverse side of the vellum with markers before cutting them out. 


I purchased a plain wooden frame from Target to hold a 5 x 7" photo. I chose a very wide frame so I had more room to decorate. Since I wanted more of a monochromatic look, I printed the photo in black and white. I toyed with the idea of painting a light coat of white paint over the frame, but decided the butterflies would stand out more over the dark wood. Instead, I painted some wispy tendrils using white craft paint. To make it more durable, I added Mod Podge over just the tendrils. 


I made a few small ribbon roses and adhered the butterflies and roses onto the frame with come clear craft glue. 


I also added some smaller butterflies I punched from vellum using a Martha Stewart punch that matched the look of my stamp. I finished it off with some adhesive pearls.


I made a matching card using vellum over white cardstock. I drew in the tendrils and wrote the happy birthday sentiment in Chinese with a white pen. I added three of my extra butterflies, a few pearls and some Prima ribbon. I hope my grandmother will like this matching set.



If you have a project with roses on it, please join Sweet Stamps this week in their roses challenge

I'm entering the frame in the following challenges:
Altered Eclectics: Anything Goes Altered Items

I'm entering the card in the following challenges:
A Little Bit Crafty: Clean and Simple
Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings: #80 Shabby Chic and Ribbon

Thanks so much for stoppin' by,

11 comments:

msmith434343 said...

Oh my goodness how lovely! Such beautiful detail! You are very talented and she will love them

Anonymous said...

Love your tutorial! Thanks for being a guest designer at Sweet Stamps!

Madeline said...

Gorgeous projects! Love those dimensional butterflies!

Dictionary said...

This is so pretty, love the matching card. I bet your grandmother loved this.

Anonymous said...

So pretty! Love that you matched the card and the frame with those beautiful butterflies.

Roxie said...

The butterflies sure dressed up that frame, it looks wonderful!

~ Kendra ~ said...

Lovely altered frame! love the butterflies!! Beautiful card as well!!

May said...

Stunning frame, The butterflies are so Beautiful...& the matching card is Perfect... Love it!! Thank you for joining us at Altered eclectics...Hugs May x x x

gracescraps@gmail.com said...

What a gorgeous frame and card. Love how you used the vellum!! Thanks for joining our Shabby Chic & Ribbon Challenge at Really Reasonable Ribbon!! ~ Blessings, Tracey

Garden of Grace

Heather said...

Lovely Frame and Card!!
Thank you for playing along with us at Really Reasonable Ribbon!
Hugs
Heather

PaperDaisies said...

Absolutely stunning. Love your creation. Thank you for joining us over at Ladybug Crafts. Hugs Nina

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