flake frames

I found some small wooden frames to make over for gifties for my friends for Happy New Year packages I put together. I am not ever organized enough to get things all done before Christmas so why not a Happy New Year gift??

First I started by painting them black.



Next I put some crackle medium on them and then painted them white.
I put some of my miniature (about 2") hand cut snowflakes in them, matted on scraps of black cardstock. It's always good to use up scrap sizes of your paper stash!

I thought I would like them on the metal easels that I had painted white (in the photo above), but I opted for just using the fold out easel stand that comes on the backs of the frames instead. The metal easels will be used for another project I'm sure!!

Then I decided the frames needed something else, so out came the sanding block and I gave them a more weathered and distressed look.

I put them inside some cello bags all wrapped up in some tissue paper and tied with raffia, along with some other hand cut snowflakes kept nicely flat for packaging in the cutest little zip lock bags I found at the dollar store- they had little blue snowflakes printed on them. I just love finding goodies like that when I am not even looking for them. Sometimes the dollar store can be quite a bit of crap, but then every now and again you hit the jackpot!

I am considering making up some of these frames with miniature hand cut flakes to offer in the shop. As soon as I find some time... 'cuz remember, my friends got Happy NEW YEAR gifts and NOT Christmas gifts. *Ugh*

By the way, this is the tag I put on the outside of the cello bag where it was tied with raffia.