Home sweet home framed picture

You may have noticed that I've been using the Neighborhood wheel a lot lately! I spotted it on the March Frenzy special offer list at only £5.71 (down from £8.50!) and I'd forgotten how much I love it! Today I've used one of the houses on the wheel to make a little framed picture that would make a great gift for someone moving into a new house or just someone who loves their home! Look:

This was inspired by a sweet (and shockingly expensive!) embroidered picture I saw in a local gift shop.

The faux gingham was made with the Solid Stripes background stamp and is my favourite way of using it.  Notice that I've mounted the picture on a piece of textured card stock for that linen look.

The word 'sweet' is from a little-seen sentiment stamp set called Hello You. You'll find it on page 86 of the Idea Book and Catalogue - I use it quite a lot! I just wrote the word 'home' - it's quite easy to form relatively even letters using the faux gingham as a guide.

That little heart has been snipped from one of the flowers in the Boho Blossom punch. I love how tiny and perfect it is!

Here's how to make this picture:

• Stamp a square of 'gingham' onto a 7.75cm square of Very Vanilla card stock, using Bashful Blue and Marina Mist markers and the Solid Stripes background stamp. TIP: Leave two of the stripes uncoloured to make a square shape; use a stamp-a-majig for accuracy.
• Use the stamp-a-majig again to stamp the word 'sweet' at the bottom of the gingham. Write the word 'home' on either side using a Real Red marker.
• Stamp a house with the Neighborhood wheel. Colour it using markers and an aqua painter and cut it out using sharp paper snips. Attach it to the gingham with dimensionals.
• Cut a tiny heart out of one of the small flowers on the Boho Blossoms punch. Glue it to the picture.
• Mount the panel onto an 8.25cm square of Basic Grey card stock.
• Stick this to a piece of textured Very Vanilla card stock cut to fit a square frame.

Supplies
Stamps: Neighborhood wheel, Hello You
Ink: markers
Card stock: Very Vanilla textured and smooth, Basic Grey
Other: Boho Blossoms punch, square frame

I loved making this quick and easy project and I have an idea for another picture too, so watch this space!

Well, yesterday was Shrove Tuesday - a day for eating pancakes in our family. I have a brilliantly simple recipe (6 oz flour, 3/4 pint milk, 3 eggs - throw them into a food processor and whiz for a few minutes. Cook each pancake in hot butter and serve sprinkled with lemon juice and sugar) which is supposed to be enough to feed an army. Actually two armies! Hmmm. Put it this way, I think I'd better double the recipe next year!

It's Three Minute Thursday tomorrow and I have a speedy little set of cards to show you. In the meantime, if you'd like to buy any Stampin' Up craft goodies or a catalogue, or if you have any questions or suggestions, do send me an email and I'll get straight back to you.
Happy crafting!