Looking Into A Shabby Chic Garden--DT Project for Discount Paper Crafts

Found this cute little mirror at a garage sale and knew immediately that  I could make into a a shabby chic wonderland! It measures about 19 inches in length and about 7 inches in height. As you will notice from the pictures, there is a mirror on the right side and there "was" a picture of a bird on the left side. Of course, I immediately removed the picture and added my own cute papers from my DT kit.  I wanted the illusion of looking out the window on the left side and peeking into the shabby chic garden on the right side. I was sent the beautiful collection "Classic Elegance" by Melissa Frances. 6x6 paper, chipboard buttons, tags, crochet trim, plus some cute Petaloo mini flowers and metal corner pieces by 7 Gypsies, made this super cute! I started by painting the entire project with vintage white acrylic paint mixed with sand to achieve the texture around the perimeter. I also used this texture on all the flowers and embellishments. I then used 2 stencils by Crafters Workshop to add some texture to the mirror itself. Once the stenciling was done, I applied the acrylic paint/sand mixture around the stencil design to add some softness. I used a Lindys Stamp Gang pink shimmer spray around the painted areas of the project to give it some more shabby soft color and shimmer! Once the painting and stenciling was complete, I started to make this project pretty! I added tons of flowers by Prima, Wild Orchid Crafts, I Am Roses, and a few fabric flowers from my stash! On the left side of the project, I used gesso with a foam brush on the chipboard window shutters to achieve a very minimal texture effect. Using the brush, I pounced the gesso on, heat set it with a heat tool and then repeated the process 3-4 times. In the window area itself, I used the MF paper, some Bo Bunny "The Avenues" paper and also some paper from the "Vintage" line by Fabscraps. I cut the papers into pieces, distressed all the edges with the Prima distress tool, inked the edges with Tim Holtz tea dye ink and sewed around the edges. I then layed the papers down in a collage style. I often love to add some sort of "time" element to my projects, so on this particular design, I added a Chipboard clock by Leaky Shed underneath the window shutters and added a Tim Holtz large number amidst the flowers and embellishments. I also a Chipboard ruler by Prima Fairy Rhymes collection. On the right side of the project, to further add to the "time" element, I added a Prima metal clock and clockhand and another number by Tim Holtz. I had this wooden gate that I got from an album kit, I took the gate and cut it in half lengthwise and adhered it to the frame. I added a Prima resin angel to sit atop the gate as if he was watching over the garden area. Once again, I added tons of flowers and embellishments around the perimeter. I love to add fun accents to my projects, so if you look carefully, you may see a lightbulb, a metal lock and a cabinet handle!  Links to each of the products I used are below the pictures if you want to go to a particular item and a link to the store's home page is at the right on my side bar. Just click on the pic!  Here's pictures of the project:

Direct links to the products I used from Discount Paper Crafts: 
Melissa Frances Classic Elegance Collection:
Chipboard Buttons: http://www.etsy.com/listing/156157578/melissa-frances-classic-elegance?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=melissa%2Bfrances
Tags: http://www.etsy.com/listing/155551754/melissa-frances-classic-elegance-tag?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=melissa%2Bfrances
6x6 Paper Pad: http://www.etsy.com/listing/155556601/melissa-frances-classic-elegance-6x6?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=melissa%2Bfrances
Pink Crochet Trim:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/159429829/melissa-frances-pink-crochet-lace?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=melissa%2Bfrances
Petaloo Mini Fabric Flowers: Out of stock
7 Gypsies Antique Brass Trim Corners: http://www.etsy.com/listing/151334951/7gypsies-antique-brass-display-trim?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=7%2Bgypsies
Prima Odette Flowers: http://www.etsy.com/listing/150005706/prima-odette-collection-almond?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=Prima%2BOdette
Prima Cabriole Flowers: http://www.etsy.com/listing/125731254/prima-cabriole-collection-flowers-pink?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=Prima%2Bcabriole
Prima Junkyard Findings Clock Faces:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/116780350/prima-junkyard-findings-clock-faces?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=Prima%2Bclock
Prima Shabby Chic Treasures Metal Street Lamps: http://www.etsy.com/listing/108879950/prima-shabby-chic-treasures-street-lamps?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=Prima%2Bstreet%2Blamp
Prima Shabby Chic Treasures Resin Cherub with Bird: http://www.etsy.com/listing/105724426/prima-shabby-chic-treasures-cherub-with?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=Prima%2Bcherub
Prima Junkyard Findings Typo Bulb Small: http://www.etsy.com/listing/150295208/prima-junkyard-findings-typo-bulbs-small?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=Prima%2Btypo%2Bbulbs
Prima Crochet Trim (Alencon collection): http://www.etsy.com/listing/150314608/prima-alencon-collection-crochet-lace-1?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=Prima%2Balencon
Prima Crochet Trim (Alencon collection): http://www.etsy.com/listing/150315633/prima-alencon-collection-crochet-lace-1?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=Prima%2Balencon
Tim Holtz Ideaology Alpha Parts-Numeric: http://www.etsy.com/listing/126963637/tim-holtz-idea-ology-alpha-parts-numeric?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=Tim%2BHoltz
Leaky Shed Chipboard Clock: http://www.etsy.com/listing/150097252/leaky-shed-studio-chipboard-clock-1-104?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=leaky%2BShed

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs!