My Graphic 45 Design Team Audition

Good Morning!

Yup! You read the title right! I am trying for the Graphic 45 Design Team! I dug deep and pulled out my vintage side and went to work.  I am excited to share with you my designs.... grab your coffee or tea or choice beverage and check it out... it's a little long...

First up, baggage... we all have some but nothing like this!

Here is the front of my suitcase.  I am please with how this turned out as it came out pretty close to what I had in my head.  I used Graphic 45 papers of Botanicabella.  The trim along the top is some metal jewelry chain that put up some double duty.  (You will see further down...) Around that is some black trim from the local fabric store.  The words 'journey' is stamped on some of the dp with Versamark and heated with some white embossing powder.  The letters are from MFT's Banner Day set and punched out using my 1/2" circle punch.  I then popped up with letters using some black pop up dots.

Here is a close up of area decorated.  Here, I used some flowers from both Prima and Recollections.  I also added some seashells I found along the shore in South Florida while on vacation and some feathers.  I cut out some paper from Graphic 45's Communique collection and used my Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers die for the window.  I adhered it over the seahorse, rolled and tore a little the edges, and then finished that off with some black cotton twine.  I then added some tulle flower sprays, stamens, and images cut out from the same Botanicabella collection for additional dimension.  The metal sentiment is one I had for a while, but I do believe it is from Making Memories. I distressed it a bit with Tim Holtz hand sander and finished it off with some Ranger Alcohol Inks.

Here is a side view of that dimension.

This suitcase started off as a plain paper mache suitcase.  I really liked the idea of keeping the inside plain to give it that basic, old looking suitcase.  You can see here the hinged opening. The flower trim is  some trim I found at Hobby Lobby and felt it to be the perfect trim for this project.

Here is a close up of the luggage tag and hardware of the suitcase.  Don't you love that handle?

Next up, a little journey down memory lane...

This is a collage I made using a 12 opening collage tray and some photos of my husbands grandparents during World War II.  I only had 3 to play with but I made do.  I used Graphic 45's Commuique collection for the backgrounds and some of the details.  Click on the photo for a closer look. Also used are some Prima Flowers, feathers, and metal accents I have had forevah! The corner flourishes are cut out using my MFT Die-namic Fancy Flourish die combined with the feathers.  I used many features of this paper collection to make for some of the "embellishments" such as the newspaper in the 4th opening and the pen and stamps in the 5th.  Tags from this collection were also used in a few openings.  For the frame around my husbands grandmother, I used my Spellbinders die that fit around the opening and then used the next size down to create the frame.  I adhered that and added some self adhesive pearls, metal heart, and some tulle trim I bought at my lss.  For the Army title, that is a dimensional sticker from K&Co. while the metal Courageous token is from Tim Holtz.  I used my nameplate Quick Cutz die and stamped the year with an old SU! number set and finished that off with some mini brads.   The calendar represents the month the maternal grandparents were married and and that is a sticker from SRM Press.  The flower cut out is another MFT Die-namic die. Lots of different trim used throughout including more of that chain! :)  You can't see it, but I used some Tim Holtz Glossy Accents in Crackle for the top of the red stamp on the bottom.

Closer images...  Here is the top half of the tray...

Here is the  bottom half....

Let's see how we look, shall we?

Here is a hand mirror I altered that started off as a plain wooden hand mirror.  I used the Botanicabella collection to cover it front and back with Modge Podge and add some images cut out from this collection.  I added some flowers cut with my MFT Die-namics, Spellbinders for the top fluer de lies, and some feathers.  The mini flowers are some I have had picked up somewhere in the floral department! I wish I knew where so I could get more colors, but I haven't been successful.  I finished it off with some metal accents and ribbon.


But wait! There's more! Stay with me...

Scrapbook? Now, we know this is not my forte, but I refused NOT to do one! : ) Here is a picture from a few years back...

Again, this was made from the Communique collection.  This was a page that I wish I used a different pattern, but by the time I made that decision, I had adhered everything already! I used my Spellbinders die for the background of my photo and my MFT Die-namics dies for the paper roses, mini flourish, and grey doily.  I added some pearl flourish from Zva Creative and self adhesive pearls to the inside of the roses.  The 'joy' is a rub on from K&Co which I made a tag for it to be put on.  I added a large eyelet (remember those?) some ribbon, a mini calla lilly, and a corsage pin.  Here's my little secret to using pins so you don't stab the person you may be giving something to with one.... I use a drop of hot glue that has been cooled and use that as an end to the pin. Simple yet effective!  The letters and numbers are some chipboard alphabets from Paper Studio.

Here is a closer look of the roses.

Let's accessorize now!  And we are going to accessorize...

Here is a necklace I made using chain, (remember that chain?) in antique gold and black and strung some pearls.  For the accents, I first took some punch outs from the Communique and added some resin to the tops.  I let that dry over night and then glued the to the accents.  I then used those accents as the connections for the chains.

Close ups of the accents.

Now, here is what I do most of the time.... card making! 

This card is made using kraft cs and some dp from the Bontanicabella collecion.  I sewed along the edges of the two coordinating dp and added some lace and ribbon along the center.  I then used my MFT Die-namic doily die for the popped up layer and another piece of the collection cut out and also popped up.  For the sentiment, I used SU! Fancy Flexible Phrases and finished that off with some black mini brads.  You have to have a little bling, so I added a self adhesive rhinestone to the ribbon.

OK! My final project! Time for notes! There is a quiz you know... HA! 

Here is a notebook I made using a piece of chipboard from Paper Studio, scored with my MS Scoreboard for a deep impression, and covered with some paper from Bontanicabella.  I added some lace and black ric rack trim and again, a flower cut out with my MFT Die-namics die and finished with a self adhesive black glossy dot.  I completed this with an oval name plate over a stamped bingo card image from a set of Tim Holtz, some buttons, and velcro to keep it closed.  Here is the inside...

Well... that was my audition! I hope you enjoyed looking at my creations as much as I had fun making them.  Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a peek!! Keep your fingers crossed for me and I will keep you posted! Have a great Thursday!!