Baby Boy - Customized Frame

I made this frame for my nephew's baby boy who was born recently.  We are having a shower for him today.
I started with a good quality yellow metal frame.  I cut a 20 x 24 inch sheet of Mi-Tentes card stock in navy blue down to match an 11x14 inch mat I had, leaving a tiny border around the center opening.  These 2 layers were adhered together with quick dry adhesive.  The opening is 9.5 x 7.5 inches.
I cut the letters with the Cricut and the Storybook cartridge.  This alphabet is great because it is mono spaced so figuring how large the letters needed to be was very easy.  They were cut at 2.25 inches tall from the same card stock paper as the mat.  I added the the date of birth which was cut at 2.00 inches tall to get more elements into the space.
I added a central decorative element of owls on a limb.  The clipart is from CLKER. I colored the owls navy. I duplicated the image and reversed the one on the left.  I printed it onto vellum then clear embossed it.
I chose a sheet of Stampin Up Daffodil Delight which matched the frame perfectly.  To it, I adhered the letters of his name along the top, the date of birth along the bottom, the owl vellum and the red heart punchie between the large owls.  I adhered the yellow card stock to the mat.  I cleaned the glass and reassembled the frame.  Super happy with the finished product.  Photographing it was the biggest challenge.
I always get a book for new babies and their parents.  Reading is important. 

Paris Mixed Media Canvas

I'm preparing some art work for an event in the Christmas season.  I have only done this type of mixed media once before.  Check it out here.
I am working with Gotrick Stretched Canvas 8"x8"and Liquitex Acrylic Paint. I taped the back with painters tape to keep it clean and provide a defined edge.  I mixed this toned down pink with Winsor Newton Permanent Rose acrylic along with some white and black Liquitex.  I painted the canvas with a large brush including the sides and left to dry over night.  The next morning I applied Tim Holtz Textured Paste with a palette knife through a Heidi Swapp Stencil and just pressed some paste around the canvas with the knife. I left it to dry while I took my morning walk.  I had planned on applying some elements by printing some Paris graphics reversed on freezer paper and transferring them to the canvas.  This DID NOT work. You need a solid and hard surface to press onto and of course the canvas is not.  Plan B.  I diecut the Tim Holtz Eiffel Tower in chipboard and a black shadow layer.  I applied 3 coats of Titanium White to the chipboard making sure I got the sides as well.  I adhered the black shadow just offset a bit to the right.  The white was pretty stark so I took a chance that my printing had not dried on the freezer paper.  It printed pretty well onto the painted chipboard with using a brayer to apply even and consistent pressure.  I cut the letters with the Cricut and the Storybook cartridge at 1.5 inches.  Again white letters with black shadows to repeat what I did on the tower.  The tower and the letters were adhered to the canvas with Quick Dry Adhesive.  I have rubbed some of the edges and corners with a bit of black paint. I then spattered the canvas with some black paint using a old toothbrush and a butter knife.  I'm happy with the way it turned out.

Submitting to Mosaic Monday hosted by Judith at Lavender Cottage. 

Calendar - Inspirational Words

This was an alternative idea to photos.  I found 12 inspirational words and cut them on the Cricut with the Storybook cartridge in black paper.  I selected some subtle scrapbook paper as a background for these great words.  These were quite bit more work than the photo ones.  What do you think? Leave me a comment.