Today's share project is a decorated picture frame with an embellished insert panel.

Read on for a quick tutorial.

This project was the basis of a class I taught last month at Melbourne's Craft & Quilt Fair. My first foray into craft show classes!

How To:

1. Remove back of picture frame, and cut Designer Series Paper (DSP) to fit the size of your frame.

2. Embellish DSP as desired – we used Basic Jewel Rhinestones so it was very 'blingy' in real life. 

3. Stamp images from Pennant Parade (p37 Aus/NZ Idea Book & Catalogue), and punch with the Pennant Builder punch. Layer, and join pennant pieces with Bakers Twine.

4. Tie or adhere banner into position. Our frame had a gap of approx 2cm between the back and the glass, so we had plenty of room for raised embellishments and lots of Dimensionals. Remember to take into account how much space you have behind the glass before sticking everything down.

5. Adhere DSP panel to back of frame (to stop it sagging behind the glass) and reassemble frame.

6. Decorate outer frame with paper flowers, rosettes or punched shapes. We put tiny adhesive-backed rhinestones in the centre of our flowers – for added sparkle!

TIP: This project is a great way to use beautiful papers with large, bold images, such as those found in Timeless Portrait.

Remember that all the Designer Series Papers in the current catalogue are retiring at the end of the month, so this is your last chance to get them. 

Well, craft fair season is well and truly upon us here in Victoria.

A big hello to all the lovely crafters I met last month at the Craft & Quilt Fair in Melbourne, and in only TWO WEEKS we'll be at Paperific!

I'll be there on SATURDAY 1st of SEPT. Come and say hello!

Happy stamping,

Click to enlarge

Here's another double-page spread from my 2012 Days-to-Remember Calendar.

To make headers for the right-hand page, cut a strip of patterned Designer Series Paper or cardstock to 1" x 6". Embellish with die cut letters, sponging and stamping.

I love adding embellishments to my pages, but here's a tip: the extra bulk does add up! Too many 3D embellishments will mean the pages won't sit flat, although you can kind of get away with it on a standing calendar like this one.

The flower above was probably one of my 'thickest' embellishments (for wont of a better word!) but I just couldn't resist layering those Crumb Cake, Marina Mist and Soft Suede flowers. With the glimmer brad in the middle, the flower was a great fit for the page and the photo.

Click here to check out the JULY page.

I hope all my demonstrator friends in the US and Canada are having a fabulous time at Convention this week. I hope to join you next year! (A girl can dream…)

Happy stamping,

I was having a little clean up of my computer files recently, and realised that I never posted photos of my finished 2012 Days-To-Remember Calendar by Stampin' Up!.

This a great little blank calendar ready to be personalised, with perforated tear-off pages so when the year is over the pages can be stored in a 6×6 scrapbook album.

This is what I did with mine.

There was a bit of excitement earlier this year when my calendar appeared as the Off The Page Feature in Scrapbook Creations magazine! It was my first ever project submitted to a magazine, and first ever published.

Scrapbook Creations Magazine, January. There was a 'technical issue' during production and my instructions got a little mixed up with another project but it was still fun to see the calendar in print.

Here are some photos of the July layout.

Parts of the Beau Chateau designer series paper were embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder

Recipe (all Stampin' Up! products): Extreme Elements, Word Play, Crumb Cake card stock and Seam Binding Ribbon, Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper, Cherry Cobbler cardstock and Seam Binding Ribbon, Soft Suede cardstock and ink, Square Lattice embossing folder, Decorative Label punch, Scallop Trim border punch, Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamps.

The Days-To-Remember Calendar is GREAT value (only AUD$18.95!) for a wonderful keepsake or Christmas gift. The pages are undated so if you don't get around to making it this year you can use it in future years. Love that.

And the coordinating 'Calendar Alphabet & Numbers' stamp set is perfect for personalising your calendar. These stamps come as cute little 'pegs' (AUD$35.95) and all fit in a nifty storage case too!

(Want both the calendar AND the matching stamps? Check out the bottom of this post for a special deal). 

I'll post some more months/pages from the calendar in the coming weeks, so stay tuned. If you've got a spare minute, let me know you visited by leaving a comment. Big thanks 🙂

Happy stamping,

SPECIAL BUNDLE OFFERS:

The finished calendars make perfect Christmas presents for friends and family!

Get ONE Days-to-Remember Calendar PLUS the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set for $50 (+ $5.95 p/h) 

Save $4.95

Buy TWO Days-to-Remember Calendars PLUS the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set for $68 (free postage)

Save $11.80

Buy THREE Days-to-Remember Calendars PLUS the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp set for $80 (free postage)

Save $18.75

(Note: This special is only offered by me – Simone Bartrum – as your independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator, and is not a Stampin' Up!-wide offer. Valid until end of July 2012.)

Contact me to place your order and I'll get it delivered straight to your door.