Dirctions for Nosegay 'basket' for Tiffany in Tx.

This is one version:

Step One: cut a square from two sided paper or cut two squares and face the one with the other. I cut an 8x8 for the orange and green one and a 6x6 for this one.

Step Two: fold one side in upon the other until you have a cone shape. It doesn't matter if the top fold is above the bottom as in this one or below as in the orange and green one. It is your preference.

Step Three: poke holes in the back of the paper just below where the fold in the front is. I poke the hole from the front to make sure it is not going to show. Thread your ribbon or pearls or, in the case of the orange and green 'basket', wire that has been wrapped around a pencil and pulled out slightly to form large loops.

Step Four: run a thread of glue inside the edge of the top fold and press gently. Be careful not to glue this to the back of the 'basket' or you will not be able to insert candy or flowers. (with the orange and green one, I placed the chipboard flowers and their stems onto pop dots and arranged them before I closed and glued the flaps).

Step Five: embellish to your heart's content.

If anyone has any questions, please email me at eickmeier@hotmail.com Hope these directions help!

For a change of pace...

I made some more nosegay baskets out of left over pieces of scrapbook and specialty papers, odds and ends of ribbons and trim and left over pieces from some kits. Hope you enjoy these.

A Shrine to Home

We were asked to step outside the box with a project for this month at Genuinely Jane Studios. The little house shaped mini album was perfect for a project I have had floating in my head for quite some time...a shrine. I saw one that my friend Sandy did with a crafting group about a year ago and one that Regina, owner of Owl and the Pussycat Stamp Store in Ft. Myers, Fl. did and have been wanting to attempt one of my own.

I down loaded free vintage images off the internet of Victorian women who to me looked soft and feminine and the epitome of "home". I printed these onto canvas paper, used Pearlescent water colors, Prang metallic brush markers and Stickles to add color and texture. The background paper is crumpled tissue and layers of inks. The frames were originally an off white so I aged those with inks and Krylons.

The top panel reads, "Making a house a home is an art", the one to the left reads, "A safe harbor in a storm", the one to the right, "Where the heart resides" and the lower panel contains the famous quote from the Wizard of Oz, "There is no place like home" (with HOME on the acrylic heart that I used inks and Krylons on).

E helped me glue the panels together to create one Shrine or tribute to home. Now to get a hanger and put it up on my wall. I still have to coat it with Liquitex Matte gel and then let it dry.

Thanks for looking. I am a happy camper.

Genuinely Jane Studios reveal

This was one of my first reveals for this month. I took the stadium book and, using pearl added to acrylic paints, Pearlescent watercolors, a bit of gesso with some of Dr. Ph. Martin's Iridescent Calligraphy colors added, painted the wood in beachy colors. I wanted them to have that driftwood look. I made this as a thank you gift for a friend.

Tri-fold card directions

Step One: take one sheet of double sided patterned paper and cut it in half so you have two 6x12 inch strips.

Step Two: overlap the two pieces by one inch side to side and adhere.

Step Three: make a mark 3 inches from the bottom of the extreme left side of the paper.

Step Four: using a ruler and starting at the very top of the right hand side of the paper, draw a line that connects to the mark three inches from the bottom of the left hand side. You can use a regular ruler or a curve shape (June Tailor ruler). See info for curve template following next post.

Step Five: cut along the line. I use pinking scissors for added interest. Any deco scissors will work as well.

(SCROLL TO NEXT POST FOR LAST TWO STEPS)

Step Six: fold the paper into three equal parts with the front fold coming to the right.

Step Seven: decorate, sign and send. This card may require a larger than normal envelope and will require more postage. Please inquire at your post office for costs.

If you would like a paper copy of the curve template, please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to J. Eickmeier/1450 Watermill Circle/Tarpon Springs/Fl/34689