Bling Box!!

For you to truly understand the work behind this project, I am going to start with the "before" pictures, then the "during" pictures and finally the "after" pictures. 

 I found this old jewelry box at the Goodwill while on a "treasure hunt".  A dear friend and I took a "girls" day and  visited every Dollar store we could fine, a few scrap stores that we found along the way and every Goodwill we could get our hands on.  We found some awesome goodies at each one and this was one that I saw.   I have to say, Cheri has me looking at things in a whole new way.  I would never, ever looked at this and went "oh yes"!. 

 So, I stripped the doors off and all of the hardware and this is what I ended up with, an ugly box.  I sanded all the sides to rough up the paint/lacquer so that later one, every thing would stick better.  Oh..this is gonna be good!

This is all the hardware that I took off..cool huh? I ended up painting them all black and covering them with Mod Podge.

 The drawers were lined in this very ugly and dirty blue velvet.  It had to go..

 This is the mess I was left with once I pulled all that ugly stuff off.  I had to wash my hands after dumping it all in the garbage.   Now, you get to see what becomes of this ugly box....

 Drawers newly lined with paper.  I took manila folders and cut them to fit, then used Tim Holtz Distressed ink (Vintage Photo and Antique Linen) and colored the paper and glued everything in place.   Then......

 I started working on the outside.  I used Graphic 45 's Curtain Call paper collection and covered the entire box with paper. I used Mog Podge to adhere the paper to the wood and then cover the paper with Mog Podge again.  Such a cool look.....SEE WHAT I HAVE.....

 Something beautiful!!!!..... I painted the hardware black and then put a layer of Mod Podge over the black paint and then put on the layering accents.

 This is the back of the box.

 This is the left side.  I think I over did this side a bit... but I love it.   This box had this really cool handle on this side and when I put the ribbon and pearls on it, I wanted it to be a combination of a black tie and pearls, to go with the paper.    Easy enough to change if I should change my mind in the future.

 This is the right side of the box.

This is the top of the box..  Simple and clean.  Notice I am calling it my "Bling Box"....I love it!

Products Used:
Graphic 45 Curtain Call paper line
Tim Holtz Distress inks Antique Linen and Vintage Photo
Mod Pogue
Misc Ribbon and Pearls and bling.
Black paint.

Please leave a comment telling how much you love it too!

I am so bummed

I have a thumb drive that I have held onto for several years now and took it into Office Depot to see if they could access it and retrieve the photos that were stored on it.   YES!!!!!!... After all this time, someone knew how to get the little bugger to open up it's hidden treasures.  You see... the thumb drive was not operating right and I was never able to access all the files and photos.  While at Office Depot, a rep form HP was there and bing bang bong... he had all the data transferred over to a new and operable thumb drive.

I rush home so darn happy.  See... I have twin Grandson's and on that thumb drive were all the pictures had been taking since they were born.  4 years worth of photo's (they are almost 6 now and I have been storing those on a different drive).  4 Years is a whole lot of photos of twins....trust me... I took lots.  I put that new, fully loaded thumb drive into the USB port and opened up all the files.  Happy Day!!!!!     WRONG!

There were NO pictures....I do not understand.  I am so sad and bummed out and disappointed.  I just knew that they were all on that darn thing.  I held onto that bad thumb drive for 2 years hoping that at some point I would be able to access it and all for not.  It is now in the garbage.  Pictures gone, no longer available.. poof!  Memories all gone.

I feel like if I keep writing about it, it would make the ache go away.. but no.  I have to let go now, move on with what photos I have now.......

You light up my life

This is a lamp and shade that I purchase, no, they were not a set.  I started with a different shade and found it to be the wrong size...might help if I check first next time.  Anyway.. I paint the lamp pink and them painted creamy white over the pink.  Once dried, I sanded through the white until the pink started showing and stopped.   Then I put distress crackle paint on and let it dry.  Using Bo Bunny Crazy Love paper line and emplishments, I fixed it up...simple not fancy. I purchased all the Bo Bunny supplies from BlueMoon Scrapbooking

Great Grandma and my Twin Grandson's

Products used are Websters Pages, real dried orchid petals, inked dollie, misc ribbons

I love this picture.  I am a twin myself, so this is very dear to my heart.  My Mom and My Twin Grandsons.  

Christmas Reflection

This was not an easy project.   Altering a mirror is a challenge.  Reflection, paper, design...wow...a challenge.   I would think twice next time about including glitter.... it sticks to the mirror....ugh.  Then there is taking the pictures without being in them..lol.   Then there is the light...try and not get a reflection off it.   Then there is the back ground.  Make sure it is what you want.  With lots of help from a dear friend, finally a picture that worked.

Years gone by

I have very few pictures of my Dad.  He passed January 2010.  I found these pictures of him when he was in the Army and serving in Korea so many years ago.  Some of the pictures are rough, so I did my best to take good pictures of them.  This was a journey he went through and I know very little about it.  I was not even a twinkle in his eye yet when these were taken.

Products Used:
  Pink Paislee Parisian Anthology Mini and paper line. 
  Pink Paislee Parisian Anthology embellishments
  Tim Holtz Journal Tickets, Distressed Inks
  Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists
  Misc ribbon and embellishments

A ticket to Ride

This reminds me of the song by the Beatles, Ticket to ride.    I did not have enough room or letters for the entire song...lol

Product used:
Pink Paislee's Parisian Anthology paper line and embellishments.
Tim Holzt Distressed Ink Broken China and Black Soot

Family Gathering

I used the timer on my camera and was not left out of the picture this time...lol

Products Used:

Bo Bunny Noel Line, cut outs and trim

Stickels Burgandy Glitter glue

Recollections Rhinestone Strass

Misc ribbon, peral pin and gold pen

Laughing

Have you ever thought about the power behind a laugh?  I did, this weekend.  There is value in a good laugh.  I am not talking about the kind that is at the expense of another person, but the one that is because you love that person.   I had this kind of laugh this weekend.   

Have you ever thought about humor?  Not the sick kind, but the one that is genuine and in good spirit.   I had that this weekend.

Have you ever thought about friendship?   I have.  Friendship is a given, the value is in deserving it.   I had that this weekend.   

Laughter, humor and friendship...value beyond measure!!!

A new year is here

I am looking forward to 2011.  As I reflect on 2010, I am encouraged.

I would love to say that 2010 was an easy year.  It was at best, challenging.  Mortgage rates stayed at all time lows and many homeowners took advantage of them.  But many other homeowners had to give up their homes due to lost jobs, loan programs that were not safe or secure and they were unable to refinance them to safer products, so sad.

Along the way, I have met some incredibly wonderful people.  I have helped new homeowners see their dreams come true.  To see the look on their faces, is priceless.  2010 would give them many "firsts" in their new homes. I am so excited for them.  Moving into 2011, I am so grateful for the friendships that were discovered last year.  Inspiring, heartfelt, joyous friendships. A few of them are friendships that are of the creative kind...scrap booking...lol

I have toyed with scrap booking a bit for the last few years, but I met one individual that sparked in me the desire to apply myself more and learn and trust myself .   I can create!!... Such friendships are rare.   To have so much in common, to feel so comfortable with each other and to laugh and not fear you are being laughed at....(sensitive spot...OH yeah).  I am so enjoying myself!!!

So, into 2011 we go.  Challenges will happen, changes will happen, opportunities will come and go.  Each one will present itself in different ways and it will come down to how you approach each, handle each and resolve each.   I will reflect at the end of this year and see what I learned and how much I grew as I worked myself through each one.

Happy New year to everyone!!.. May it be a grand one for you all.

Valentine Love

I know, it is barely past Christmas, but when I saw this paper line I had to have it.    I envisioned a big Valentine Card...um..box?

This originally was a wooden "cigar box" that I purchased from Michael's Craft. Then I found the paper and thought this would be a wonderful Valentine Card "box".   I purchased all the products from BlueMoon Scrapbooking.  All that is missing are the pictures.

Products used:

Bo Bunny "Crush" paper line

Bo Bunny, wraps, stamps, jewels and brads from the Crush line

Tim Holtz Black Soot Dressed ink, Idea-ology word sticks

Tattered Angels Trinkets Paper Tags and Candy apple Glimmer Mist

Teresa Collins Giving Thanks Transparencies, Amber jewels and Jessie Jewels

Glossy Accents

Stickles Black Diamond glitter glue

Misc corner pieces and buckle

Wooden Cigar Box from Michael's

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will leave comments