SECRET GARDEN

Its really all about mothers day - and all will be revealed!  After my trip to my local craft retailer , you know the one that seems to be catching on - I came home with these.....

It wasn't as random as it looks..... I sort of had plans... they didn't have what I really wanted so this was the compromise. the idea was for Mothers Day cards - one for my Mum and one for my Mother-in-law, who is blind and I always try to think of something a bit tactile so she is able to feel around it!

after some very inky and painty fingers, and a desk that looked like a bomb had hit it, this is what I came up with....

A SECRET GARDEN

I covered the `book` with Paperartsy Fressco finish paint and then `aged` it a little with distressed ink pads.  The printed papers where just some I had around, that I coloured with distressed ink and stamps with various images - mainly Paperartsy ones! - I just love those! Then add some flowers cut out of the same papers with Tim Holtz tattered florals die - I just need the mini tattered florals now...., coloured a tag with distressed ink, added a few more bits - and it was getting there! The owl is a Paperartsy stamp, stamped onto metal with stazon.  There also hessian, ribbon, and the buttons are `real` vintage ones that come from a very large tin i have that were my Grandma`s (she was a seamstress), and she died in 1960!

The spine of the book has sentiments again printed from my PC, and self
adhesive gems on the raised bits.

Not a great photo, but this is the inside!

These flowers are made using another Papersrtsy stamp and die, one on sticky back canvas, all inked up and stamped with distressed ink, the other on metal.  

There are two mini canvases in the back, painted with fressco finish paint.

Then there is tissue tape, ideology, seed beeds, mini trowel & fork - and those little flower pots I bought - one covered in tissue tape!

This one went to my Mother-in-law, and she loved it - and I really enjoyed making it - I hope you like it as well!!