Blog Hop!

Hi! Today, I'm participating in my very first blog hop, which is also the first ever Joyful Stars Blog Hop! If you are coming from Jean's blog, welcome! You are in the right place. If you aren't familiar with the concept, it's pretty simple. You follow the links from one blog to the next until you get back where you started. Today, everyone participating is going to be showing you some beautiful artwork that you can make with materials featured in the current Close To My Heart Idea Book. To see the entire Idea Book, check out my website.

I decided to play with a bracket frame that I've had sitting in my box for a while. I was originally going to use some paper from the Buzz and Bumble paper pack, but I cut it totally wrong. Wrong shape, wrong size. Just wrong. So I decided to cut a 'trial piece' of white paper so I could mess it up a couple more times, which I did. However, once I got the right size, I liked the idea of the white, and stuck with that!

I cut a piece of sweet leaf cardstock into half-inch strips. Then, using my clear ruler, a pencil, and LOTS of patience, I adhered the strips onto the frame. After they were all adhered, I trimmed them to fit the frame.

Then I cut a bunch of flowers in three different shapes with my Cricut and the Art Philosophy Cartridge, which coordinate with the flowers from the 'A Blossom' stamp set. I stamped them using Tulip and Gypsy ink. I also sponged some larger flowers to add a tint of color. I didn't love how it looked, though, so I added some purple and pink sparkles that I found in my stash. I know they are CTMH, but honestly, I have no idea how long I've had them or where the came from.  Sorry.

Looking at the frame, I still didn't think it was finished. It needed.... something. I realized what it was missing was a focal point, which, since it's a picture frame, should be the picture in the middle. So I added a photo mat using matching purple card stock with a little bit of Silver Shimmer Trim (which, incidentally, is one of my favorite products). I haven't decided what photo should go in here yet, or if I'm going to gift it or sell it, but whatever I do with it, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  To find out more about any of the products used, more information about Close To My Heart, or about crafting classes, leave me a comment or shoot me an email!

Now, hop on over to Helen's blog to see some of her gorgeous artwork!

Be Crafty!
Meredith