Monday Motivator: Bee Merry

Everyone needs a little motivation on a Monday, but this Monday is different. Christmas is just a few days away, so you're no doubt already in motion, and I'm willing to bet that at this point, Santa's list is nothing compared to your own "to do" list. This is also the time when many of us begin to realize that while store-bought gifts may work for many people on our list, there are some people in our lives who require something different -- something meaningful, something personalized, made with love. That's all fine and dandy, you may say, but it needs to be (1) inexpensive, and (2) easy to create, and (3) wrapped and ready in a day's time.

Lily Bee can help! With a little assistance from some supplies from my stash and some vintage sheet music, these Lily Bee papers became the perfect match for this photo of my lovely daughter.

I began by covering a $2 frame with gesso, and then I painted around the outer edges of the frame with green paint. While waiting for the frame to dry, I turned my attention to matting the photo atop a piece of misted vintage sheet music and a combination of Audrey "Hollywood" paper and French Couture "Handmade" paper. I then sewed around these paper "frames" a few times, loving the way that imperfect lines translate to added charm.

Once the frame was dry, I added bits and pieces of Audrey "Graceful" and "Hollywood" paper, as well as more French Couture "Handmade" paper, trimming the edges with a scissors, and sanding a few areas as needed. I added a coat of decoupage medium, let it dry for a bit, lightly brushed the frame with green paint, and then finished with another coat of decoupage medium.

The finished product:

It may not seem like it at first, but this really is a simple, can-do project. Even if it's not a picture frame that you attempt, hopefully this post gets you motivated to add a little handmade cheer to your Christmas list.

Speaking of added cheer, don't forget to check out the Lily Bee 12 Days of Christmas giveaways. We're on day 8, so there's still time for you to add that "very" to your merry. Leave a comment on one of the daily giveaway posts, and to double your chances, become a fan of Lily Bee on Facebook, and leave a comment there as well.

Happy Holidays!