love letters...

 

I'm a hoarder. I'll admit to it.. I love collecting and never using scrapbooking embellishments, pretty patterned paper, ribbons.. buttons(especially buttons)... The usual suspects. But, long before I discovered scrap booking and card making I kept every little item from when my guy and I were first dating; movie stubs, concert tickets..you name it. The other day while going through some boxes I came across little notes we used to leave each other in between shifts, when we both worked two jobs(one of which we worked together).

Most days I'd arrive at my car after shift to find a note tucked under the wiper blade of the windscreen of the car.. or slipped in through the window. It was a pick me up at the end of a long shift, knowing we might not be able to see each other. They are not perfect in any sense.Those little notes, written on any piece of paper available, take me back to the very beginning of our relationship and make me smile. A little notebook was passed back and forth between jobs- to write in at any spare moment, to update each other.

In order to keep these notes and pages in one place(and pretty them up a bit) I've decided to make keepsake love letter keepers...tea stained envelopes-all shabby, glittery and romantic.. they make my heart smile and sing just as those little love notes did back then.

This is just part one... I wanted to enter the challenge over at The Shabby Tea Room(my first challenge there ever!) It is a pretty amazing challenge..which you can read all about here. As usual I'm just squeaking in on the deadline.. I used the middle line of the bingo card: Buttons, flowers and glitter/glimmer. *sigh* definitely not a challenge at all...I love incorporating all of those elements on my creations. Given more time on my part, I could have found a way to incorporate all 9 elements..

As you can see its the front of an envelope. I love altering envelopes...these I dunked in some tea to give them an aged look. As usual I kept it pretty muted and stuck to cream and pink...I used a lot of my fave products: Melissa Frances papers (they just ooze romance) and some of my favourite K&Company paper as well.. I tried to capture the glitter all over the buttons....and used some flower trim I had(also tea stained) and a flower under my chippy white glittered bell (how I love those little babies!) A little tag and Maya Road trinket pin help decorate the buttoned heart. **Inspired by the super talented Melissa Phillips altered heart shaped box found here** And of course some of my handmade trim tucked under the heart...
I do apologize for the dark photos. I will try and update them later today.. wanted to make the challenge deadline...I loved just sitting and creating for hours, taking my time.. that is the best part of crafting after all...
Stay tuned for more envelopes in the future.. Thanks for your visit!

~Becks

m.i.a...

This little fur-faced bundle of cuteness is keeping me away from my little blog for a while. That, and my guy being away on training courses for work for the week keeping me out of my craft room.. a puppy and a kitty to keep me occupied...
I hope to be back this weekend.. I'm itching to get into my craft room and just finish off some projects started for many great challenge sites which I've missed the deadlines for. *sigh* There's always next time I suppose :)
I'm also working on a tutorial, at the request of a very sweet blog follower.. so be on the look out for that too.. and a mini giveaway too.
Have a wonderful Friday!
Talk soon,
~Becks

winnerday...

Hey there!
I didn't forget about you...just a little behind in posting... thanks to everyone who joined up, left comments, and for my loyal followers who are always there. Such sweet comments and encouragement.. You gals are the best!
So without further adieu: the winners:

Package #1 "Summer Dreaming"  STELLA! Congrats:)
Package #2 "Basic Papers" FARRAH Congrats:)

Email me your contact/mailing address ladies (midnitelullabies@gmail.com) and I'll send your packages out to you :)

Before I go wanted to let you know I'll be adding these to my Etsy store later today:)

 Sweet trims, like little pennants. Slightly antiqued with tea and coffee stain...perfect for card layouts( I've been using this a lot lately on my own cards)sewing or doll making...The possibilities are endless! One yard of trim in each little bundle.


I'll be back with another little giveaway in a post or two :) There are so many awesome challenges I'm looking forward to entering this week (CCCB, Tuesday Trigger) so I better get my hands busy creating :)

Til then,
Happy St Patricks Day!
~Becks

pretty pockets...

One of my latest obsessions are pockets...pretty book print, kraft cardstock or envelope packets all dressed up and stuffed with something special. It's a good thing that over at The City Crafter Challenge Blog, my dear blog friend Ros has issued a pocket challenge! That gal sure knows how to pick challenges!

This project came about when I decided to showcase a gift card as its own gift. We've had one of a few baby showers around my part of the world so I figured I would make something pretty for mama as well. I could have resorted to sticking the gift card in the baby card but what fun would that be.. and it gave me an excuse to pull out some new PTI goodies and get to work.

Since I used a lot of blues and greens for the baby boy card I decided to keep it pale pink and creams with a pop of fushia. Lots of different layers to add depth and mix and match textures.. I love how the Victorian Lace border *just* peeks out from under the trim, with a dainty doily grounding it all.

 

Voila! Pocket perfection. I started with a kraft envelope base that I got awhile back at a local office supply store. (They are cheap as chips and I have to admit to hoarding these as well.) I used some Girl's Paperie papers, kaisercraft rub ons, tea stained tags from my stash, Maya Road trinket pin and my new PTI edges dies and stamps. It all came together pretty quickly and I was more than happy with the overall effect (I should mention it was also a hit with the ladies at the shower)
I'm off to post this challenge up on their site now. A quick thank you to the ladies for picking me as a showcase artist for last weeks challenge! Such an honour!
Have a great night,
Thanks for stopping by,
~Becks

introducing Sweet Treat Trims...

Hey there,
I'm excited to let you know that my Etsy shop is back up and running.. with the first batch of  what I'm calling my "Sweet Treat Trims" series. There is now a mini etsy feed located on my sidebar that should take you directly to my little shop.. I'll be adding to it as soon as my little fingers can whip up some more unique trims.. shipping is included for my fellow Canadians and my American neighbours for this batch.. and for those of you interested but live elsewhere- I've created a free shipping coupon just for my faithful blog readers! It's my first attempt at coupons on Etsy so please contact me should it not work. The coupon code for non Canadian/American shoppers is : BLOGGERFREESHIPPING (no spaces)

Thanks for your time, interest and amazing comments! I appreciate it more than you know!
Have a good night friends, I'll be back soon with some new creations:)
~Becks

spring fling...

Spring is coming...I'm willing, hoping and yearning for it..even today as the temps reach -22 degrees, the sun is shining gloriously..a teaser of what is to come..I can't wait to get out and plant a garden, to play outside with the puppy without piling on the layers. Feel the warm sunshine and watch the trees come back to life..
Today I'm squeaking in a challenge..almost missed the deadline. with colours like these how can I resist?? They speak to me and are some of my favourite to play with.

Alot of my favourite things used.. layered paper flowers in the softest blue, complete with a chippy white bell for a centre.. shabby stitching..that icing on the cake-yummy coarse Martha Stewart glitter on a Maya Road chipboard heart... its love all around.

 

A little swatch of creamy felt to sit the heart on..adding just the right softness I was after. A tea dyed mini tag hides behind my layered paper flowers..a gift from my MIL this Christmas.

 

Maya Road trinket pin..and some more of my handmade trim..half pearls...yummy! I took the idea for the sentiment from the "I love Paris" in the challenge photo..

 

How I love these colours together..reminiscent of Spring ahead of us..pinks, greens, blues and creams..I used some more of my Basic Grey capella papers.. I can't get enough of them! Ali Edwards and Tim Holtz stamps(very subtly stamped in Versamark ink on the pale pink paper..) I'm off to post this to the City Crafter Challenge Blog site..
Thanks for visiting!
Have a happy Monday!
~Becks

a study in yellow...

A weird title today..I"ve decided today to pay homage to a title of one of my favourite programs of late, the BBC's  Sherlock..have you seen it yet? A modern day take on Sherlock Holmes in 21st century London, with the ever so cute Benedict Cumerbatch as Sherlock Holmes. *sigh* One of the episodes was titled "A Study in Pink", hence the title today.
I've decided to jump right back into some challenge sites; get some creativity flowing. See all of the creations from many, many talented ladies..First up is Moxie Fab Worlds Tuesday Trigger..have you seen this picture? Those yellow doors; mouthwateringly good!

I have to admit, yellow isn't a colour I gravitate towards.. but decided to dive right in and get it done. As you all know I prefer lighter, muted colours- pinks, creams and blues..I never showcase yellow..its always an accent for me. I used some Basic Grey papers- how I love to mix and match different layers and patterns..

I have been digging book print lately...had to include some to balance out all of the yellow.. See that delish trim?? A new project of mine..soon to be coming to my Etsy store(time is getting away from me lately. It will be open very soon!) I love that I can make my own unique trims!!

Maya Road chip board heart covered in sheet music and text..Yellow glitter brightens up some Maya Road wings..gotta love MR chip board shapes!

 I'm happy with the over all look.. a few bright pops of yellow, but mostly soft and subtle..I should break out of my comfort zone more often..what do you think??
Well, that's it for me today.. remember the giveaway is still open here.. feel free to enter! Can't wait to see more friendly followers!
Have a sunshiny Saturday!
~Becks
ETA: I just love that the very multi-talented, uber sweet Melissa Phillips has brought back her photo inspirations courtesy of A Creative Mint.. happy day! Her delicious photo this week also features yellow, so I decided to share over at her blog as well!