Carpe Diem and Bloom Mini Album

Hi friends, This is an exciting post for me! I am sharing my latest mini album with you, made with tons of love, and I sure hope you enjoy looking at all the little details I packed into this small treasure!

I began with the adorable Camera image from the Carpe Diem Collection of papers used throughout album. To ensure this would be sturdy, and have dimension, I made it into a dimensional piece backed with heavy chipboard. I then went crazy making handmade flowers, for a floral scene that is full of texture. Only two of these flowers were pre-made. 

To begin your story, I made this awesome shaker, which doubles as a hiding place for a picture. The quote reads: Your Life is Your Story, Write Well, Edit Often.
The sequins add shine and the sequin bow and ribbon complete the closure.

All pages have pull-out tabs, and they all have lovely details that play off the paper colors and textures. Here I created a lovely scene with additional glossy dots that I added to the ephemera, so as to create a realistic milk-glass image. 

This page has a journaling tag complete with layers of vellum, and gold hearts topped with a vintage button. The yellow flower is glimmered up and pearls add a delicate touch.

Kindness and Love, a little stitched tag topped with a polka dot brad, and the little doe has a nose that shines!

This little book reveals more small pages, and can only be seen by opening the small gold locket. There is a golden edged vintage lace peeking through the layers of images. Reminiscent of an old-world journal.

Monarchs and flowers adorn this page, with removable die cut. You can decide where to place your images, and whether or not to mat your pictures!

Behind this mat is an actual banner, and the adorable teacup has added texture with enamel dots and glitter. 

Here this sweet little bird adds whimsy to this layout, and the paper clip is removable. Two additional banners top off the handmade embellishment.

LOVE!! A banner with Cotton panels, all with little fringed edges, and a swipe of pink!
Do you see the tiny little stars?

This gorgeous layout has more butterflies, and a delicate blue shimmer in the ribbons and bow. 

A floral Collage tops this flap, which reveals yet another space for a photo.

Happy Souls Shine! Reads the added dimensional photo mat. This can also be placed where you like in this book!

If you like to journal, then this page offers you opportunity to do so, and another place to add your pictures. This one, with a darling little clock. I added gems and sparkle to the wings, as well as the teacup.

The last element is another peek-a-boo page, with a great quote from the late Robin Williams, and another camera, this time in the floral and black, with tons of dimension!

Here is a picture of all the added photo mats, and these do not count the 6 inserts already available!
I hope you love this mini album as much as I have loved creating it! 
Please be sure to visit my Etsy Store if you are interested in taking this one home!
UPDATE ***SOLD***
If you prefer to see it in video, watch and share:

Be inspired, Be blessed!
Raquel


Peek-a-Boo Lace Brassiere Card


 Hi all,
This is a very special card that I made for a special someone. The woman receiving it underwent a double mastectomy. We all know, this is a  a traumatic experience for anyone and also a time when any degree of gentleness that can be bestowed upon the recipient is absolutely important.

Gentleness is the sentiment I wanted to convey with this beautiful card and envelope, and as it was requested, a little humor as well. Laughter is the best medicine of course!

I began with a brassiere that I designed and selected a soft pink pattern for. 
To make it even more delicate, I added several layers of antique lace, tulle, and texture throughout with soft embossed papers.
For a very feminine touch, the corsage included pretty flowers and a feather. It was important to me that it still keep the message that she is beautiful.


The shaped card does open, and there is a secret message inside just for her that reads: 
"I'm here to support you". This was customized just for this card, and the larger background also opens to provide room for a larger message to be written.


This card is very layered, so I was sure to make a matching envelope that would fit it nicely, and closed it off with a floral bouquet made from ephemera, a doily, and an antique bone button. This is all set on a beautiful background of floral and pink papers.
I hope that you have enjoyed this post, and that you are always inspired by my blog to spread gentleness to others. 
Be inspired, Be Blessed! 
Raquel 

Swan Mother Mixed Media piece


Hi friends!
I had a little request to make a mini album with a Swan theme, and well...it led to this!
I wanted to find the right image and decided that rather than search the internet for the "perfect one", I should just paint my own. After all, this is what I LOVE to do!

I used Canson Mixed Media paper, my Sennelier Watercolors,  Ranger Oxide inks, Spectrum Noir Markers, and gold acrylic paint, among other things...
I added little details as I like with texture paste, and made sure I gave it my personal touch with different design elements. This was simply for fun, and I look forward to incorporating this painting into my other projects just as I have before. I love doing this, as I get to make one-of-a kind items that you won't find anywhere else. Let's face it, swans aren't a new "thing", but this one has a lovely gaze, as her little baby looks into the water. 
My message behind this piece is simple. Tranquility is sometimes found in simplicity.
May you be inspired, and Be Blessed!
Raquel


Special Little Girl Square Easel Card


Special Little Girl

Hi friends! Today I am sharing a special little card I made for a young girl using my Santoro London Gorguss Girl Stamp : No. 55 All These Words. These adorable little girl stamps add so much whimsy and beauty to any project, and they seem to say a lot with their sweet little faces.

I began by coloring the image in soft lavender colors, and making the background a soft-watercolor-like wash using Ranger Oxide Inks. To make the image pop even more, I added Recollections Glass Glitter on the star in her hands. 

I used Stitched-and scalloped dies nested on top of each other to add texture, and dimension, while keeping within the color scheme.
For a touch of femininity, I also added flowers, specialty yarn, and pearls. To continue the theme of the stamp, I was sure to include little stars, stitched in silver, as a little wand, and also a two-layer tag topped with star-themed paper.

The inside also got the star-treatment as a space for a little note, and the sentiment in silver reads:
Praying for you
I say this is a complete easel card that would brighten anyone's day!
I hope that you have enjoyed this little card, and if you like to see live images, here is a video:

Thank you for stopping by!
Be inspired, Be Blessed!-
Raquel 

The Love Story Mini Album

Oooh La La!!
Can I say any more about this awesome Parisian style Mini Album?
It has the cutest details that were just begging for a super girly project!
Here I will share with you what I made...


As you can see, the cover has beautiful layers of a variety of flowers, all cascading on the front-right hand side, with added details and layered pieces. The title: The Love Story. Who gets to write it? You of course!
I have included a beautiful Eiffel tower, in gorgeous shimmering silver paper, as well as a film strip created with Vellum. This is all backed up with layers upon layers of beautiful sturdy card.

This mini album with hold all of your treasured memories for a very long time. No need to worry about the structure, as it has a very sturdy spine, finished in lovely laces, and even a dangling charm with added baubles, flowers, pearls, and Eiffel towers. 



The inside pages vary in size. Some have antique laces, as you can see in this picture...

I balanced the pages with plenty of room for pictures, because you don't want to forget any of your special moments, and that is what this mini book will help you do!

For those special little notes not everyone needs to see. I have included tags that you may personalize with a small note, date, or message to the one you love.

There are trims, laces, and pearls for the added special touch...

Who can resist the lashes!! These images are flirty and playful, with a classy elegant balance. 


Just for fun, some of the pages expand, but have embellishments like the one above. Strolling along Paris on a bicycle is every girl's dream! This page has additional hiding places for more pictures!


To frame a more elegant picture, there are added pages with shimmery, romantic frames. These remind me of the decadent laces only found in France.

To finish the last page with a fun twist, I created a shaker tag. It includes golden seed-beads, as well as flower-shaped sequins. It is topped with the sentiment : LOVE
This album was tons of fun to make! Please watch the video if you like to see live images. 

Let me know what you think, and if you have to have one, I am happy to personalize it for you in your language of choice! 
Be inspired, Be Blessed!- Raquel

Contact me via e-mail for special orders at: paintsandglitter@gmail.com
Find me on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/paintsandglitter

All orders must be pre-paid, Paypal Only. For serious inquiries, feel free to email me with the address provided. All items are handmade and will vary due to their unique hand-made nature. Postage is included in final pricing**
**US and US Territories
Se habla Español

Gorguss Girl Pocket Tags


Hi all,
I am sharing some Pocket Tags I made for a recent swap. I decided to use the Simple and Clean style, as well as some adorable stamped images from Santoro London's Gorguss Girl Collection.
I simply loved how they turned out, and hope that you also enjoy them!
First, I used my Cricut Explore Air 2 to cut out scalloped edge tag pockets. This image cut out with a small window, but I decided that a matching scalloped tag would be the perfect addition as a backdrop to the required embellishments and sentiments.
Here is my 1st pocket:
I stamped and colored the Gorguss girl, and added a banner, heart, butterfly and bow dies from Brenda Walton's collection for Sizzix. I am loving this set, and thing it's absolutely adorable!

On the inside tag,I used a Sizzix embossing folder to add texture to the backdrop of the Postage Stamp shaped tag. To finish it, I also added the bicycle embellished with pearls, and topped it with a tiny heart tag and twine.  

I followed the same design with my second tag, which I also embellished with a second, smaller tag created with my Cricut. This time I embellished it with a Tim Holtz heart shape cut in silver card, as well as a gem, an acrylic red flower, a silk red flower, and another Gorguss girl. The sentiment, from Heidi Swapp, reads Cherish Each Day, and the inside of the pocket is finished with my Swiss dot embossing folder.

Following are some videos that display these makes, as well as the entries of the swap and other details. Be inspired, Be blessed! -Raquel


Gorguss Christmas Swap, Christmas Ornament, and Shabby Chic Box

Swap anyone?
I recently participated in a group swap and I had so much fun! The theme was Christmas, the required items were a few memory dex cards, and a Christmas Ornament. After deciding on a few little details, this is what I came up with...
I wanted to make sure I thanked my partner, so I began with a 4" square easel card and a matching box. I layered my stamped image, pink and white papers using the Spellbinders Labels Nineteen (S4-311) set.

The interior of the card is embellished with a glass snowflake, a pink label stamp from Santoro London, and grey snowflakes against the white background.
 I embossed the remaining snowflakes in pink and white inks on the exterior layer, adding sparkle with different embossing powders.

I also embossed the gorguss girl image, and added the stamped snowflake-layered with vellum snowflakes-made with a large Martha Stewart punch. Little details included sequins, Distress Oxide Ink in Iced Spruce, a pearl heart, and pretty pink ribbon to finish it off. The edges got distress Stickles for a little sparkle. 
Watch me make this box here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjVfVWN67c8
This beautiful and shabby Box was the perfect compliment to house my card, and I made it using my Cricut Explore Air 2, and a snowflake patterned paper that I distressed and layered. To complete the box, I layered a piece of glossy white vellum that I embossed with a Crafter's Companion Embossing Folder. I finished this with Vellum Snowflakes I made with a large Martha Stewart Punch, a gorgeous pink bow made with Seam binding, and some added tulle, twine, and a mini tag. 


Next was the Christmas Ornament, which I made layering papers and chipboard to make it sturdy. 

The base layer was a beautiful striped paper, and I decided to keep the top layer very feminine and pretty. For this, I stamped, colored, and layered a Gorguss girl image. To make her stand out, I distressed the background using Ranger Distress Ink, and to add dainty details, I embossed tiny little holly and berry images in white embossing powder.
For a fun presentation, I also gave my partner the cards and some goodies in a gorgeous pink-sequined stocking. 

This beautiful sentiment came from a Recollections Stamp Collection called Christmas Noél
I also added more snowflakes, this time in pink and white, with a pearl center on each. I used matching papers, and two Martha Stewart Snowflake punches, layered together, and glittered for sparkle.
To see the rest of the goodies and details, please watch my video, and leave me a thumbs up if you like what you see!
Be inspired, Be Blessed- Raquel 


Here's my latest project!

Boots & Bouquets, TCK#74

Hello friends, Today is reveal day for Tonic's craft kit: Boots & Bouquets. This is easily the greatest value available for exclusiv...