I started with a standard ATC-sized illustration board background. I then used some Tim Holz Distress Ink to add some hints of blue and rose over the entire background.  Next I added a rubber stamp art image of a woman’s lovely face in black ink. Then I added some black, textured fabric ribbon around the opposite corners. I added a butterfly and flower sticker to the bottom right corner, and a metal gear and brad to the upper left corner. And I finished it all off with distressed letters, spelling out b-e-a-u-t-y on pieces of paper.

This turned out better than I expected actually. Now I just need to make a few more!

First up is the envelope that all my little goodies will go in. I wanted to make several small gifts for each gal, so I decided to make this envelope to put all the items inside. It’s a brown Kraft envelope, stamped with script text, the word, Simplify,  and a primitive crow, and then I added a rusty star as an accent.

I made some bottle cap magnets too. I kept these very simple: just a punched circle of scrapbook paper that resembles ticking fabric, topped with a silver heart brad. If I had some UTEE, I would have used that on these too. But I didn’t have any, naturally. I still think they are cute though.

I also wanted to include some paper goodies that could actually be used. So first I made these paper flower gift tags. I used some cardstock that resembles a gingham fabric and punched out a floral shape. Then I added a white, embossed paper flower and a black brad to each tag. I topped them with some coordinating black ribbon. So they can use these as a gift tag for someone’s gift if they’d like to.

I also created some hangtags. I started with a plain hangtag, which I stamped with a faux wood texture. Then I added a butterfly stamp, and I also stamped the word, believe. I finished them off by distressing all the edges with Tim Holz Distress Ink, to give them that primitive grungy hangtag look.

I love how all these goodies turned out! I think I’m going to make one more little something for each envelope. Not sure what yet, but I’ll come up with something. I sure hope that the ladies at the Girlfriends Gathering will like these goodies as much as I enjoyed making them! Making things for others is really like giving a gift to yourself, because it just makes you feel good to do it!

I started with a plain wooden birdhouse that I found at JoAnn Fabrics. I painted it a buttermilk yellow color all over. Then I added some light turquoise colored scrapbook paper with a copper-looking pattern on it to the birdhouse roof.  I also added a burnt sienna color around the bottom edge of the birdhouse for some color contrast with the yellow–and to also tie in the with copper-looking color in the roof paper.  And for just a hint of texture. I dabbed on some copper ink on top of the burnt sienna edge color. Once those basics were finished, I began with embellishments.

First I added a decorative paper element around the birdhouse opening. It’s a K & Company piece that I used a craft punch on to cut a hole out of the center. Then I added a Tim Holz metal gear element near the top of the birdhouse front.  Next I used a decorative rubber stamp to create a border design around the birdhouse using copper ink. I embellished that with some light turquoise ribbon. Then I added a fabric flower with a copper/bronze brad and a metallic bird embellishment.  And I finished it off with a 3-D sticker that says, Inspire. I’m always inspired by nature and things outdoors, so that seemed an appropriate sentiment for this piece.

I had so much fun making this birdhouse, I think I might do a whole series of them. I have been jotting down ideas for future projects, so we’ll see what comes of it in the future.

Have a safe and creative end to your holiday weekend, everyone!