Brag Bags

I never take a purse anywhere....but I might have to change that. I just think this is so cute....and keep in mind...all the photos are in pockets, so you can brag about the kids today....the dogs tomorrow....the cats the next day....and change the photos just as often as you want!



I'm using photos of my cousins kids (Hi April & Nathan!) and Kerry's grandkids for this purse....because their ages lined up.



But you could use K-4th grade, or ancestors, or photos from your last vacation.....anything you want! There are five 1x2" photos on this side.....



and 2 business card sized photos on this side.



I love the clear pockets. Now here's another idea....take the 1x2" inserts and cut them down to 1x1" inserts....and cover the entire side with inchie stamped designs. And yes - it's another class for San Diego - I think we'll have to go shopping with our new Brag Bags when we get them done!

Mobile home, part 2

I just loved your guesses as to what this was going to be and why I call it "mobile home". My friend, Kelly, gave me a Judy's Stone House heart shaped wood purse and asked if I would decorate it for her. You can see the original box purse here

And I happen to know that Kelly collect's bird houses. So I thought - what a cute idea....turn this purse into a bird house.



So, the purse is "mobile" as you can take it with you....and it's a home for birds....a bird house.....so, it's a "mobile home" for birds!

Now you know why Kerry was laughing! LOLOL!!!! We do have fun around here!!!

So, taking a closer look - I drilled a hole in the middle and outlined it with layers of nestabilities cut dies. Once I added the brown, I knew I had to go back and add some brown penwork and distress the edges. It didn't look right as pale as it was.



The little bird is just a cheap (3 for $1.99) white feathered bird from the craft store. BUT.....I watercolor painted the thing. How cute is that? Added a doo-dad tape measure (Design Originals) and wire to the top of the wing. A ring thru the nose (did you know bird's have nose rings?) and a key hanging from that.



On the head is a watch part and on the back, a bead, a watch part and a Tim Holtz spinner. Beyond words cute!






I covered the wood beads on the handle with paper.



Bought a grapevine wreath, soaked it in water (underwater basket weaving 102) straightened it out and hot-glued it to the box along with moss and fern.



Literally went out into the back yard and broke off a tree limb then cut it for the bird perch.  You can see from this angle that the's plenty of depth - but I think it will look just fine as a birdhouse.



Fine detail of wire wrapped around a do-dad ruler.  About time I started using up some of my really old stock.  "Borrowed" the concept for this idea from Nancy - one of the members of my yahoo group.  Thanks for the inspiration Nancy, but I still like what you did a whole lot better....I just don't do birds!  LOL!!!


From this view, you can see how I used the brown pieces of scrap for the inside edges of the house.  I did a colorwash using turquoise acrylic paint on the wood before I started.

I still just crack up when I think "mobile home"!  LOL!  But I am totally in love with the cricut and what you can do with it.  And remember, I made all this on my 2nd time using the machine... it sure is easy and not much of a learning curve at all!

So, with all the cricut diecuts, ink, penwork, and embellishments....I think I did a pretty good job of turning this heart shaped purse into a "mobile home" for birds. Oh me! I hope Kelly loves it! It's certainly brought a lot of laughter to our house this week!!! Maybe sometime I'll share the story about the 5 drills that got reduced to 2 drills yesterday!!!  But hey! I can now drill a hole in anything!!!  LOL!!!