Make your gift-wrapping its own work of art

The best part of the holidays is the spirit of gift giving and you put a lot into finding the perfect gift for someone, right?So don't wrap it up in some ho hum store bought paper, make your gift a work of art in itself!

Go to the Gel Press blog to check out the matching tissue paper too! And while you are there, give me a gift of a comment, they mean so much to me. To know that you took the time to leave me some love really does mean the world to me.

A charming gift box for a friend

I'm not really going into how I made this yet as this was my practice before making a tutorial over on Gel Press®. However, I couldn't wait to show some pictures of how it turned out.

I really enjoyed painting my box using the gel plate along with my DecoArt Americana Multi-Surface paints.

I love the way the butterfly hovers above the flower and the heavy gem button is perfect for keeping the end of the ribbon hanging down.

I also did the inside of the box too, but next time I am going to use a smaller pattern for the inside.

The last really cool thing is making matching tissue paper to wrap the gift in.

All in all I can count this trial run a success and will make another one along with a step out tutorial soon.

Frosted box

You might guess from the shape of the box that I used an old Valentine candy box to upcycle. They make a great size gift box although mine is going to hold something different and you have to wait until my next Arnold Grummer blog post to find out. 

I wonder if anyone can guess what it will be? ...hmmm?

I also used something (that is controversial in my group of friends) to cover the box with...

old Christmas cards!

Some people consider this horrific to recycle a card because they keep them, (like forever) but hey, if you send me a store bought card, it's gonna get recycled. 

Now handmade cards on the other hand are another story!

I made a very short slide show video for you to watch if you are interested in the process :)

Also entering this in Really Reasonable Ribbon challenge
using the Snowflakes on Red Satin Ribbon

#LOVEYAWHOLEBUNCHES blingy gift box

I made the most scrumptious gift box with The Buckle Boutique self-adhesive rhinestone sheets! 

First I traced the box onto the back of the Dazzling Diamond adhesive sheet and cut it out with my scissors. Then I painted the inside of the box with DecoArt's Americana Multi-Surface Paint, and yes...I should have done this step first because I also discovered a small area along the bottom of the box that had the sheet pressed right up to it and knew I couldn't paint that edge without messing it up, so I used my Faber Castell PITT pen to color it in. I also used a Sharpie to outline the edges and smudge them to really make the box pop.

Now I get to embellish the top of the box! I added a flower and a sentiment using my favorite glues, Helmar! They make adhering products to the rhinestone sheets a snap!

The sentiment stamp come from Susan K. Weckesser-Jillian Vance design called Love Ya Whole Bunches.

I decided it needed something on the inside cover so I decoupaged a magazine image cut into a heart shape using Earth Safe Finishes Decoupage.

I just love how my little blingy box turned out!

They are so easy to use and so much fun if you want to give them a whirl they have some Sample Packs that you can try out. 

May Arts - Halloween Challenge

I have to say that I was very excited to be in the top 20 that gets to compete in the Halloween Challenge over at May Arts. It's an honor to be chosen and I sincerely hope I hold my end up because there are some AWESOME ladies over there designing some amazing projects with ribbon. We got to choose 4 ribbons to work with, these were my choices:

http://www.mayarts.com/halloween-craft-challenge/

I made the center of my flower by knotting the black silk ribbon repeatedly until it formed the size I needed. I stamped 'hocus pocus' onto the wide orange ribbon accenting between the words with white pearls, I just love the tiny pom pom trim on it!!

The sheer spider web ribbon was looped into a big bow and then shredded for texture. The fuzzy black burlap string was wound around the box and knotted on the sides with orange pearls accenting the knots.

A big dangly spider hanging from the burlap string guards the treats within!

Cricut Craft Room - free cut -spider
BugBites - Magic Spells stamps
StazOn - ink
Tim Holtz - grunge paper
Helmar - 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, Craft & Hobby Glue, Gemstone Adhesive
Frosted Designs 2013 October Mixed Media Kit - 
( Deco Arts - Orange, black paint, Fancy Pants corrugate paper )

Entering my Halloween treat box in:
Anything but a Card - #28 Orange and Black
Craftin' Boutique - #12 Halloween

Paper Playtime - Use 3 different papers

Ch# 18 Use 3 Different Papers

Begins: Monday, Sept 2

Ends: Sunday, Sept 15

Sponsor: The Robin's Nest http://robinsnest-scrap.com/

Prize: $15 Gift Certificate

2nd Sponsor: My Craft Spot http://craftspotbykimberly.blogspot.com/

Prize: 1 Metal Dies Set or 1 Stamp Set (winner's choice) MUST HAVE USA ADDRESS


Another altered cardboard tube box. :)
I am discovering that the round shape appeals more to my customers than a square box shape. I now have all friends on alert for keeping strong cardboard tubes for me!

I hope that you can see that the third pattern paper was cut into a scalloped border, and since I believe in doing the things the hard way, I added the pearls and stickles to it after it was adhered to the the round box. Yes, I firmly believe in challenging myself to the fullest! lol

Cricut - Giant Flowers cartridge
Sassafrass Lass - pattern paper
Ranger - stickles, liquid pearls
American Crafts - ribbon

I hope you go over to Paper Playtime and join us in our Use 3 Pattern Papers challenge!

Try it on Tuesday - Collage with a twist: must include some script

I love collaging, there is just something fun about getting all gluey and messy!

I wrote a post called "Box Artist" the other day because I am always humbled and amazed when someone buys them. I never thought of myself as a box "designer" but I now received my first commissioned box so I'm extremely thrilled.

Like most of my boxes, they have tops that are held together by Velcro. I love using the MS doilies because they are actually quite sturdy.

The ribbon on this one is adhered onto the bottom of the box to keep it from slipping. I also didn't have to do anything to the inside of the box except paint it as she is wrapping the gift in tissue paper to put inside it.

Here is an up-close of the collage, I tore book test and a scrapbook paper into sections and glued them on, next a layer of printable butterflies

followed by a layer of tissue paper to soften the effect.

entering this in:
Creative Inspirations: Inspired by Anything Goes
Moxie Fab's - Tuesday's Trigger: It's Collagical

 Martha Stewart - miniature doilies
Apple Barrel - acrylic paint
velvet ribbon - stash
K & Co. - paper
flower, and fluffy "thing" - JoAnn's

Here are the butterflies, feel free to use them,

 they were a free printable that I got from Donna Downey.

Paper Playtime - pattern paper

Ch#15 Use Pattern Paper

Begins: Mon, Jul 22

Ends: Sun, Aug 4

1st Sponsor: 
$15 Gift Cert. to The Robin's Nest
2nd Sponsor: 
1 set of Metal Dies or 1 Stamp Set 
(winner's choice; must have USA address) from My Craft Spot
Winner announced in the WINNERS Page Tab

Do you ever have any trouble mixing pattern paper? I use to, didn't like it one bit actually, but in the last couple of years my thinking has been turned around and now I love it. Here, for my little altered box, I mixed 2 different lines of paper. 

I have fallen in love with boxes, and evidently so have my customers at the Art MoB because this one has already sold! It is made out of the cardboard spool from Christmas ribbon. The bottom and top rounds were also cut from chipboard and attached.

Almost all my boxes come with velcro closures. 

And I paint the insides to match.

I add LSD to keep the wings up and separated so that they won't flatten out, I mean we want the recipient to see all that pretty paper!

Cricut - Paper Trimmings, p. 36 ( butterfly )

p. 52 ( circle )

My Minds Eye - pattern Paper

Prima - pattern paper ( script )

Really Reasonable Ribbon

Helmar - Liquid Scrapdots

Martha Stewart - doily

So I hope you get out your pattern paper and play along with us!

Barbecue: transitive verb

In some parts of the country, such as Texas and Tennessee, your answer probably involves a method of slow-cooking with indirect heat. If you're a Northerner, you might just point to your backyard grill.
The word has different meanings, but a single origin.
When 17th-century Spanish explorers landed in the West Indies, they saw native people – the Arawakan – drying meat over a frame. The Arawakan called the wooden rack a barbacoa. The explorers borrowed the term.
Barbacoa soon came to name not only the frame but the process of cooking (not drying) meat. Now, of course, barbecue can name the cooking structure, the food, the cooking method, or the social occasion.

pronunciation
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BIGGEST PRIZE EVER!!!!!!!!

( ya'll are sooooo lucky!! )

One lucky winner will win an online class worth $65.00

This online workshop includes direct access to the artists, all 15 projects & videos, each artists personal video tutorials, supplies lists and project photos.
With your unique link you will gain access to the classroom where you can stream the videos AND/OR download each video directly to your computer. The video will be yours forever once you download it, (however, we plan to keep the classroom accessibly to registered students indefinitely) and gain immediate INTERNATIONAL access to your inner ARTIST today and join in this unique creative experience 

Plus... Donna's new Internationally inspired Vol 2 Workshop

  has a total of 5 teachers and 5 projects. 

WOWZERS...RIGHT???

( I wish I had a chance to win this!! )

Here's my project that I created, an up cycled Christmas ribbon spool made into a gift box. Over the music ribbon is a layer of tissue paper aged with Distress ink and the twine was wrapped around in the spaces where the ribbon didn't meet.

 I cut 2 butterflies out. Stuck my straight pin in through one butterfly and then glued the second one on top to hide the pin head. Then stuck the butterfly into the flower giving him a "floating" appearance.

The box is held together with Velcro, first the butterfly part opens

then the lid

  

Really Reasonable Ribbon - black, and music ribbon  

Kaiser Kraft - pearls

Ranger - Distress Inkm stickles

Prima - flower

twine - misc.

Cricut - Paisley cartridge

Also entering this in:
Really Reasonable Ribbon - #75 'Anything But a Card & Ribbon' Theme
2 Creative Chicks - 3-D challenge #4

obviate: verb

to anticipate and prevent (as a situation)
or
make unnecessary (as an action)
pronunciation
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Happy Easter to everyone!
 

 

 

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Here are my Easter projects that I made for my friends and neighbors:

2 egg cartons filled with goodies for the elderly neighbor ladies who live below me.
And I made up a lot of Peep S'more's and handed them out to my friends, they get their's early since the Easter bunny has to hand deliver them! lol
 ( This Peep S'mores will be hung from the door knob for the girl who lives across from me along with the neighbor's below who get the egg cartons.The Easter bunny delivers theirs during the night for them to have a surprise in the morning !! )

I did change how I put the goodies inside the egg cartons, I like this much better than the orginal version. You can go to Try it on Tuesday to see the first version and you still have until April 8th to play along with our Recycle It challenge!

 

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Did you know that there is a PEEPS web page? HA!


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Yesterday I was asked by Winnie ( concerning my Art MoB 6 month recap  )
"Is the shop you sell for online as well so others can look and order from it as well?"

The answer is no. I chose to not do an Etsy shop because I want to obviate dealing with the Post Office on a regular basis. I love being in a shop where I can restock and then can walk away from it. I am lucky that I live in one of those tourist towns where there are a lot of people visiting the shop. ( excluding the months of January and February ).

If you are interested in the card recap, go here.
For the mixed media wall hanging recap, go here.
 

traduce: verb

to expose to shame or blame by means of falsehood and misrepresentation

or

 violate, betray

 

pronunciation

 

"Traduce" is one of a number of English synonyms that you can choose when you need a word that means "to injure by speaking ill of." Choose "traduce" when you want to stress the deep personal humiliation, disgrace, and distress felt by the victim. If someone doesn't actually lie, but makes statements that injure by specific and often subtle misrepresentations, "malign" may be the more precise choice. To make it clear that the speaker is malicious and the statements made are false, "calumniate" is a good option. But if you need to say that certain statements represent an attempt to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse, "vilify" is the word you want.
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Frosted Designs - Fabulous Friday Challenge, Give a Gift

Electric Paperie - Altered Boxes

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Valentine's Day/Love & Ribbon Theme

 

This is the box that I began with, along with white tissue paper.

 

I sprayed the white tissue paper with  Ranger's Dylusions Bubblegum Pink and after it dried I stamped Autumn Leaves hearts and flowers all over. Next I put a layer of Golden's Gel Medium over the box and adhered the tissue paper to the bottom of the box. The top layer was adhered with Helmar's V2 Spray, because it's a clear top, it's fixed to the inside.

 

I found this puffy hair clip at Walmart and thought it would be cute as a topper. I added a Maya Roads flower to it with my hot glue gun.

 

I strung some alpha and word beads onto some floss and sewed them into the flower.

I love how fluffy this is!

And it's created so that the person who buys it can just open it up to put their present inside, and the person who receives will always have a pretty box to keep for their treasure. I wrapped Really Reasonable Ribbon around the box and used my hot glue gun to secure it with Velcro pads.

 

I'd love to get a present in this, wouldn't you?

buttonhole: verb

to detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the outer garments of

"Buttonhole" is easy to pin down as a noun referring to the slit or loop through which a button is passed to fasten something, but its shift to a verb meaning "to detain in conversation" requires some explanation. "Buttonhole" is an alteration of another verb now long out of use: "buttonhold," which literally meant to hold on to the buttons or lapels of someone's coat when speaking to him or her. In the mid-19th century, English speakers altered the verb to "buttonhole," perhaps as a result of hearing "buttonhold" as "buttonholed." The overlap is apparent in an early instance of this spelling, an 1862 London publication called All Year Round: "The man who is button~holed, or held … and must listen to half an hour's harangue about nothing interesting."

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Today was a day of playing, with nothing intended but a lot accomplished through the act of "messing around". It began the other day when I was making some boxes for the Art Mob. They weren't suppose to be "tie dye" looking but accidents happily happen sometimes. I laid the white tissue papers in the bottom of my spray box and misted one with Rangers Dylusions Fresh lime and the other one with Bubblegum Pink....what I didn't realize is that they were soaking up previous colors that had been sprayed in the box, so I got this result:

pretty cool, huh?

So that spawned an idea on this overcast rainy day...I needed to add some bright fun into the forecast. I also needed a background for a wall hanging that I am currently working on, so I went to my spray box, removed the bottom wax paper from the top box and laid it into the bottom box

then I spritzed heavily with water

 

and I laid my white gessoed board into it and pressed down...I got this!

which then prompted me to add the coaster swap pieces that I am working on for my Mixed Media group

It may have been dark and gloomy outside but it was bright and cheerful inside!

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This is the post when I made my spray box . It doesn' show you step by step instructions on how to make one but you can pretty much see how I did it; if you want to make one of your own :)