Almost a Box

Almost built! This is the box (missing the final side) that will become a Disney piggy bank/ vintage suitcase. I am using foam board at the recommendation of the boyfriend. Apparently chipboard wasn't sturdy enough for him! LOL So far this has been a slow process. I have no pattern, no measurements, etc. Basically I have been flying by seat of my pants and loving every minute of it! By the end of today I am hoping to get the other side on, covered and then start altering the patina. I am aiming for the look of aged leather and aged hardware.

Stay tuned, there is lots more to come!

On the Horizon

Whew! It has been a crazy, CRAZY few weeks! The good news is that I can now completely focus on what I love the most, CRAFTING! 


It started last weekend when the Scrapbook Expo was in town. I spent all day Saturday there checking things out and shopping up a storm. I found some amazing stamps from The Rubber Cafe, lots of trim from Tall Mouse and lots of other goodies from various other vendors. I would recommend that if Scrapbook Expo is in your area you check it out!


Today I did another trip to my local scrapbook store and loaded up on paper. I have been DYING to work with Graphic 45 collections! On my list was Olde Curiosity Shop, A Ladies Diary, and Kraft Reflections. Unfortunately the shop did not have any in a 12x12 pack so I had to piece together Olde Curiosity Shop (I hope I have them all) and was only able to get a few Kraft Reflections(that I will order online). As for A Ladies Diary, I was able to get the 8x8 pad which is perfect because I envision tags and gorgeous cards! I also stocked up on scor-tape because I use it for everything!


Now that I am stocked up, its on to the projects. I have so many swirling in my brain its nuts! First I am going to make a Disney suitcase that will double as a mini album holder and a piggy bank. Then I want to make another album in a box for my sister who is in LOVE with the Olde Curiosity Shop collection. After those two I am thinking its time to finish some UFOs (unfinished objects), of which I have a bunch! There is a Halloween mini, my Tim Holtz
Destination Unknown mini, and about 300 pictures that need layouts. I also want to organize a card swap, possibly a tag swap, and get my holiday cards going. WHEW, Im tired just thinking about it! 


SO KEEP CHECKING IN! I will post pictures of during and after of the projects and PLEASE leave comments. I am dying to hear feedback from you guys! 

Hello Doggie Card

Here is my latest creation! I made this for my sister, who like me, is a dog lover. All of the paper is from my stash and the stamp set is from the current Close to My Heart catalog.


The card base is cream. The dark brown and reddish orange are layered and sized to show about an 1/8 border on all sides. The dog is stamped on another piece of cream in brown Stazon. I then colored it with Bic Mark It permanent markers. To get some of the lightness around the mouth and ears, I went over the permanent marker with the Copic blending marker to leach out some of the color. Before I glued the red/orange piece down, I wrapped it with hemp twine and tied the knot. Then with pop dots, I popped up the thought cloud over the twine for some dimension.


Here is a great tip to get started using permanent markers to color your stamped images. Start out using the Bic Mark Its ( I got mine at Wal-Mart) and just purchase the Copic blending marker. Experiment with shading and lighting areas and see what you come up with. Thats what I did here and I am thrilled with the results!

Enjoy and I hope this inspires you to get some markers and see what you come up with!

Americana Card

Here is my final card for the 4th. To begin, I made a cream card base then covered it with the navy star paper which is from Jo Anns in their by the sheet bins. I then cut the cream strip that runs down the middle and hand stiched with embroidery thread the zig zag  strips in red. The red star print is from the Bo Bunny LIbery Collection. Then I stamped another cream piece with a firework stamp in red and navy blue and embossed them with clear detail powder. The flag is also a stamp on cream cardstock, cut out and then covered with coordinating glitter glue. The red scallop strip is cream with red spray ink. The frame is navy blue and tied with the same twine I stitched in.

Out of all that I made this is my favorite( and took the longest)!

Have a wonderful 4th!