Mariner Mini Album using Tonic Memory Book Dies, and Cricut Design Space

Hi friends! I hope this post finds you well. If you are looking for inspiration, I hope you find it here with this beautiful mini album! I will share with you all of the gorgeous details added on every page. Let's begin!
On the cover I added images to give the introduction to our Nautical Journey!


The teddy bear is dressed with his own little Navy hat, and behind him I added the layered boat with details in Glossy Accents, glitter, and a banner I customized to show off the baby's name. The helm tops it off with a tiny red brad in the center. The spine of the book is in corrugated cardboard for a masculine touch.




Page one opens with an underwater scene. Little stars, coral, seashells, a sparkly sea star, and a little blue fish complete this scene. I reinforced the photo corners with chipboard for added dimension.

On the opposite page, a couple of waves hold the picture mat, and a little yellow sunfish jumps in for fun! The background is full of adorable whales!


This page is tagged with a little sentiment for fun, and holding it all together is a big beach ball! 

Here I created a scene with a lighthouse that appears to be lit from the inside, The wave splashes with a glimmer, and the dolphin rides along with two stars...

This page is titled : Our bundle of joy. To allow for perfect picture placement, the mats are held with washi tape until mom decides which picture will stay on the pages.


This page holds a pocket filled with two tags, decorated to match, and it also has a collection of shells, orange gems, and LOTS of dimension. Stickers and dies were used to complete little aquatic scenes.

Here I used a lovely corner die with swirly waves, topped with iridescent seahorses and shells. The waves will hold strong, as they are backed with acetate to form a pocket, and the umbrella on the added tag is also made with lots of sparkle!

On this half-page I created a crabby scene, and also added a ribbon pull to allow for easier flipping of pages. It is also magnetic, and it's titled: Baby Boy...

This serene scene holds a darling photo mat with tiny footprints and the tuck spot has a sweet jelly fish and matching seashells.


On this side, the little octopus collage is held by a matching piece of twine,  and a vellum tag onto the side of the page, adorned by a cluster of shells...


This helm wheel has a sparkly sentiment I embossed onto vellum. It reads: Moments to Remember...


Here a little turtle hides behind a wave on yet another tag. The smaller tag on the page holds the tiniest little lighthouse. I adore little details!!

First mate is the title of this page, which reminds me of a late sunset, and little crabs along the shoreline...

For more fun, I made another page with a large beach umbrella, and created this scene with stickers from the paper collection. I used Splash by Bella Road for Echo Park.

Lastly there is a two-page scene where you can relax on the beach on a towel, created by a wide ribbon, or the beach chair facing the bright sun. On the opposite page is a small whale with a message that reads the beautiful Psalm 139:9-10.


This completes my mini album. I hope that you have been inspired to capture your own story in a book!

May you Be inspired, Be Blessed!- Raquel

For a video version: 



Mini Album : Bluebird's Proposal

Hi friends!
Today I am sharing my latest mini album using Tonic Studios Memory Book Maker dies, Santoro London Gorguss Stamp: Bluebird's Proposal, Frames, and Doily Dreams Digital paper line.
This is an absolutely beaitiful and endearing little book full of goodies!

I also made a coordinating gift bag to go with this mini album. Read my Altered Butterfly post to learn how I made it!


For my cover, I used the Gorguss Girl image stamped onto Digital Paper of my own design. I colored the image with coordinating inks and pencils, fussy cut the paper, and made a pocket to house a tag with a scripture message To complete the cover, I also added dragonflies, pink pearls, flowers, an altered birdcage, and little wings for the small girl image. I finished it with a small sprig of greenery with tiny silver butterflies, and altered the background with gloss and glitter. 

                                               

The tag is also embellished with a bow, pearl, and smaller tag that has the tiniest silver butterfly. All papers are distressed with Ranger Oxide Inks. 


The spine is complete with a vintage trim layered atop an embossed silver cardstock. The matching doily is threaded with a cream ribbon, and topped with a beautiful heart-shaped gem.

I made a total of 6 pages for this book, alternating with pocket, and singular pages. Each pocket contains a tag embellished with a seam-binding bow, a cute little button, and it is wrapped with beautiful trims and laces for the recipient.

The back of each tag is made complete with additional stamped and colored images from the Frames collection.These images are darling, and complemented the paper line perfectly, as the frames also look like little doilies. 

Here are close-ups of some of the pages, as well as the inside cover. 


For an added surprise, upon opening the book you will see a matching shaker tag that contains sparkly sequins, butterflies. and blue seam binding that echoes the colors on the little Blue Bird, the beautiful papers, and the altered wooden butterfly. This shaker is also magnetic, and stays put on the inside cover!!



I finished the back with a layered grouping of pinks and silver. The top-most layer is embossed with doilies and distressed with pink ink to help it stand out. 

I had so much fun making this mini album, and it was had to part with !

Please watch my video for more details and inspiration!



Be inspired, Be Blessed!
-Raquel 



Shabby Chic Butterflies and Handbag



Hi friends!
Today's post is all about being creative on a budget, and still making fabulous embellishments to either dress up a handbag, or use in other projects!
This is a perfect idea for swaps!



Who doesn't love Butterflies??
Well I know that I do, and I found these little pretties at my local Dollar Store. To make things even better, they also had little handbags in pastel colors in a pretty velvet fabric.
I selected both, and took them home with an idea in mind.


I embossed the silver paper in my Spellbinders Platinum 6 for added texture!

This is what I came up with!! 
As you can see, I altered the butterflies, adding embossed silver paper, tulle, wired ribbon, smaller butterflies, pearls, and gems.

To gift these little beauties, I added them to tags so the recipient can easily remove them.

Aren't these spectacular?
I made them each a little different, even making a Flamingo Butterfly. Named after the little pink feathers that adorn its center below. That one even has a heart-shaped pearl tiara!


These little beauties are enclosed in the pouch that I embellished with vintage lace, trims, ribbons, and pearls. One of them decided it wanted to rest on the front of the bag also. I think it looks perfect!!


Paper Butterflies cut from Doily Dreams Digital paper collection, available on Etsy.
I hope that you enjoyed this post, and for a full tutorial and more details, watch my video here:

Contact me for orders or inquiries of any items seen on my blog!
Be inspired, Be Blessed, -Raquel





Shabby Chic card using Santoro London's Little Leaf

Hi friends, 
Today I am sharing a beautiful card made with papers that I printed from home using digital images. I also used Santoro London's Gorguss Girl Stamp: Little Leaf.
She is a lovely little image, and I used the same papers to ensure her little dress matched the scenery.
To make her background pop and add texture, I added silver paper as a background to the butterfly themed paper, and vintage lace.
I colored the image using several markers and pencils. Then added the little flower to her hair for a soft-feminine touch.


The front of the card also has a birdcage that I made and backed up using clear acetate. To embellish, I added dragonflies, bees, vintage buttons, lace, seam binding, and glimmery gems.

The inside of this beautiful card also mimics the outer shape. I used Tonic Studios Memory Book Maker Dies for this card, and several items from my stash.
I hope you have enjoyed this card!
Be inspired, Be Blessed!
-Raquel



Shabby Chic Mini album with Doily Dreams digital papers!


Hi friends, 
I have been so blessed to have won the amazing paper collection titled Doily Dreams. Designed by Carolyn from Teatime and Dolls. It is such a feminine and pretty collection, and each paper is shabby and beautiful! 

I decided on making a mini album that was simple, but beautiful.
On the cover, I made a small shaker element using one of the ephemera pieces. It is a lovely birdcage, housing a vintage dress-form, covered in flowers. 

To mimic the elements found in the paper line, I used flowers, butterflies, and birdhouses.
 The sentiment scroll on the cover was inspired by the lovely script also found in the paper line.
The laces are also very elegant and match the papers perfectly!

The front and back inside covers have delicate touches with scrolled photo corners and blue pearls. 
Each page features one of the lovely papers from this collection, and all have a little tuck spot for photos or your favorite notes. 
To add a soft touch, I decided to make added tags in Vellum, with embossed sentiments. All page fronts also have vintage laces on the bottom borders. This kept is pretty, and soft.  
Some of the ephemera from the collection is seen here also.

Of course a Shaker Tag had to be included. I used the same pretty papers, added golden tulle, pompoms, pearls, trims, a heart-shaped doily, and painted a beautiful birdcage in colors to match.
Even the back of this mini album is spectacular to look at.
I hope this has inspired you to make your own! 
Visit Carolyn for this spectacular paper collection. You will love it!!
Be inspired, Be Blessed- Raquel 

You may purchase this album here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/paintsandglitter

Watch for more details:






Masculine Cards, You Totally ROCK!!

Today I am showing you one of many options when making a Masculine Card. Perfect for Father's Day!
I have made this tutorial easy, and you can tailor the cards to suit your needs. If you're anything like me, you likely have many supplies right at your fingertips that you can easily substitute for the ones I've used. 

I began with a primary-color palette. This is always the easiest route to take when making masculine cards. Save the frilly colors and textures for the girls! 
For the front of my card, I first stamped the Guitar image in Ranger Archival ink in Black, followed by heat embossing in Green embossing powder. 
If you can't bring yourself to use dark colors, or simply don't have them, don't fear. Give those light-colored papers some masculine touches by either adding a wood-grain, or cutting shapes that can be interpreted as having a masculine touch on your cards.

This gorgeous guy got all his coloring from Tim Holtz Distress-Oxide Inks. He is also embossed in an awesome copper tone!

I used Cricut Pearl paper, which is shimmery and soft in color. The difference: I cut it with my Tonic Memory Book dies, in a shape that echoes the shape of my stamp. Graphics can change everything!
These cards also have a touch of fun, but it's not the focal image. I used Sheena Douglass stamps, and the dancers are stamped in a matte black. The only shine here are the added enamel dots. This still allowed me to keep my card classy and elegant. Not dainty. 
I added other touches on the inside, and made sure to leave room for a message. What sets these cards apart: Triple matted inside layers, which echo the textures the front of the card has as well.
Follow my Video instructions if you like, and let me know what you like about these cards, or if there's any other type of card you feel challenged with. I am happy to show you what I have learned along the way!!

Be inspired, Be blessed! Raquel 

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


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...