Mom's Birthday Box

So, now that my mom has actually received the gift, I can post the book box in which I sent her the gift! I saw this idea on Rachel Jakes' blog and I immediately fell in love with it. Thus, I had to give it a go. Rach is an amazing artist/crafter and I love all of her work. Be sure to go to her blog for the link to the tutorial for making the box. And take some time to look at all of her stunning creations and leave some comment love for her while you are there.

Without further ado, here she is, my favorite stamp of the You Are So Special collection (now available at Magnolia-licious).

Tilda has been colored in with copics to match the DP by Stampin Up. The DP is from last year and I don't think it is available any longer but there is one similar to it in pattern (but different colors) that is available. I just love my pinks and purples/plums so I had to have this one when it came out. The solid color cardstock is Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo.

Below is the inside of the book box. I have used the Vintage Tag Doohickey die on the front of the pocket on the left side and the Tilda Lace Doohickey die to decorate the box on the right side. Diana is out of the Tilda Lace die at the moment but if you contact her she can probably get it for you. The seam binding was originally white but was died with Glimmer Mists. It is so easy to die this stuff....I may never buy ribbon again. I love the crinkly/shabby look it has when it is done. Here is a tutorial if you'd like to learn how to do this. It is super easy!

The tag inside the pocket was made with one of my favorite Mini Magnolia stamps and Spellbinders Labels 1 dies. She is so versatile. You can use her for any kind of gift giving occasion be it birthday, Christmas, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc. The sentiment is from Lizzie Anne Designs. I think this set may be retired now.

Inside the box you can see the beads I got for Mom for her birthday. She has one of those bracelets that you can add beads to. I got her a set that is mostly silver but with a little color. By changing out just four beads, she can change the color scheme of the bracelet. Hopefully she will wear it a lot. I know she was over the moon when she called to thank me a couple of days ago. I'm always thrilled when I find something she really likes.

And, finally, the back of the box. I couldn't very well just leave those scraps of pretty plum DP laying on the desk now could I?

I can't wait to make another one of these! Maybe for Easter to put some candy in.......

Magnolia-licious Highlites Challenge

The challenge this month over at Magnolia-licious Highlites is to use pink, white, silver, and hearts. Well, after searching through my craftroom, this is what I came up with. I couldn't get out to the store to buy more supplies due to the huge winter storm moving through the area now but I thought it turned out okay considering I was using up scraps.

After inspiration from Kylie, I decided to make a mini-pizza box using a Magnolia stamp called Mini Love Muffin (available from Magnolia-licious). As much as I love the Magnolia stamps, I think I like the mini's even more since I tend to like smaller projects. I thought the little white heart-shaped sprinkles on the muffin went well with the hearts on the DP. After I took my photos I realized that I forgot to put the stickles on the little hearts on the muffin but I have added that now.

I had only one scrap of silver cardstock in my drawers full of paper. I tried to pull the silver out by coloring the muffin wrappter to match. This was also my first experience with seam binding and I am rather liking the shabby look of it. Below the seam binding is a little border created with the Tilda's Lace die (also available at Magnolia-licious).

Of course, I had to then make a matching Valentine's Day card to go inside. Nothing fancy, just a simple card. Using Spellbinders dies makes it easy to whip up a card in a jiffy. Both images (on pizza box and card) were misted with Glimmer Mist but you can't really tell it in the photos. One of these days I'll learn how to take good photos of my projects...

I was considering the possibility of shoveling the driveway but I think for now I'll just head back to my craftroom and play some more! Hope everyone is keeping warm during this storm of the century. =)

Coloring with Copics: muffin wrapper - C1, C3, C5, icing on muffin R81, R83, R85, muffin - Y21, Y23, YR24, halo around muffin - RV00, RV000

Monday Night Stampers

I have the most awesome Stampin' Up demonstrator! She graciously hosts a very talkative group of ladies in her own home each month and we have soooooo much fun chatting while we stamp. She always has the most creative ideas that could be used with not just SU stuff but all kinds of stamps. I'm so glad I happened on to her a little over a year ago......Here's to you, Linda!

Last Monday night we made the cutest little Easter boxes. These were very, very similar to the Round Top Box posted over at Splitcoast Stampers (it may have been the same template but we are not sure). Easy peasy to put together and oh sooooo cute. All of the stamps, papers, punches, and supplies

Spoonful of Sugar Challenge

I noticed that the challenge this week over at Spoonful of Sugar was to make an Easter Creation. I thought this cute little tin filled with Easter chocolates might just fit the bill! I purchased this tin a few months ago and just never got around to decorating it. I think it turned out rather cute with the ribbon blossom! Happy Easter =)

The stamp is made by Elzybells and the image is colored with Copics (available at 7 Kids College Fund). The paper and ribbon is from my stash, can't remember where it is from.

I Love Snow Days!

I love snow days, especially when school is called off the night before. Sometimes I think teachers want them more than students do although my two boys love them as much as me. I remember loving to play in the snow as a kid and making snow angels. I really never got into the snowman or snow fort thing. There was never a cup of hot chocolate as good as the one I drank after coming in from playing in the snow.....you know, the cup half full of hot chocolate and half full of marshmallows. I'm sure I'll be upstairs fixing some for the boys shorty!

So, on my day off, I decided to look for a challenge to enter and found this one at A Spoonful of Sugar. The challenge was to make a card for someone you love. I had just finished making the card below for my mom for Valentines Day so I thought it would be perfect for this challenge. So, Mom, if you're reading this, pretend when you get it in the mail that it is the first time you've seen it! Inside the box is a valentine gift that I'll have to reveal later....don't want to spoil the surprise. However, I will give you this hint......if you look carefully you'll see a clue!

Paper: Stampin Up Close to Cocoa, BasicGrey Bittersweet Collection
Ink: Ranger Distress Soot Black, Stampin Up Close to Cocoa, Stampin Up Rose Red
Coloring: Copics
Stamps: House Mouse, Karen Lockhart
Punches: Flourish punch by Paper Shapers, Heart Border punch by Martha Stewart, Curly Label Punch by Stampin Up
Other: Nestabilities, Ribbon Blossom Tutorial by Pam Bassett