My son-in-law is a vehicle mechanic and my father was an engineer, so it’s no wonder I was drawn to the Classic Garage Suite in the Stampin’ Up! 2019 Occasions Catalogue. I’ve already made some masculine cards and gift tags using products from the suite, but today I decided do something a little different.
I thought it would be fun to decorate a picture frame ready for a photo I’m having printed.

YOU’RE A CLASSIC
I began with some Thick Very Vanilla Card and a Tranquil Tide ink pad.
First I stamped the oil can image from the Geared Up Garage Stamp Set. Next I coloured the can using a barely damp Aqua Painter to spread some of the ink from the shaded area of the stamped image. Finally, with my Big Shot and Magnetic Platform, I cut it out using the coordinating die from the Garage Gears Thinlits.
Next I stamped the ‘You’re A Classic’ sentiment. Then I cut that out using the #B3 die from the Rectangle Stitched Framelits. (Group B is the set of 4 nesting dies, and #3 is counted from the smallest up)
SPORTY RED CAR
For some reason I decided that the sporty car simply had to be red. Real Red to be precise.
I started by inking up the image using the Real Red ink pad and then turned it over so I could see the stamp rubber. Then using a Blender Pen I removed the red ink from the tyres and wheels. Each time I picked up some red ink I scribbled it off onto some scrap paper. Eventually all the wheels were clean.
Next I used the brush tip of a Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker to colour the wheels directly on the stamp rubber. Once this was done I breathed onto the stamp surface to remoisten all the ink, then stamped onto the Thick Very Vanilla Card.
My final task was to press firmly on the lid of the closed Real Red ink pad to transfer some ink to the inside. Then with a barely damp Aqua Painter I picked up a little of the ink and very quickly painted the body of the car. Finally added a little shimmer to the headlamps and bumper with a Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Brush.
Now the car was ready for me to cut out with my Big Shot and Magnetic Platform using the coordinating die.

SIMPLE LAYERS
I decorated the frame using Stampin’ Dimensionals to attach the sentiment, then the oil can and then the car.
Finally I used Mini Glue Dots to add a small metal wrench and key from the Classic Garage Metal Elements.
While I’m waiting for the photo, I filled the frame with a piece of Thick Very Vanilla Card. Then on top of that I added a Tranquil Tide design from the Classic Garage 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper Stack. Once the photo arrives I’ll decide how much of those layers to leave in place.
I’m really pleased with how this project turned out. It’s taken a relatively plain picture frame and made it much more interesting don’t you think?
Here’s some other blog posts where I’ve used products from the Classic Garage Suite.
- Classic Garage Accessories Sneak Peek
- Classic Garage Suite Sneak Peek
- Garage Gears For Girls
- When The Gears Finally Engaged
Oh, very nice. Are we going to get to see the photo that you put in the frame? This is wonderful as a gift idea and I’ve seen you do several of these over the years. Someone is bound to be very pleased, I’m sure!
Thank you Geraldine. I really enjoy decorating frames like this so you can be sure there’ll be more to come. I only ever show photos of other people when I have been given permission to do so, so we’ll have to wait and see.