ALTERED TIN CAN AND HAPPY MAIL!!!

Happy Tuesday, family-friends!!!  I hope everyone is well and happily crafting!

Seems I just can't quite get back on track to a normal schedule these days; between my sister-cousin being home from the hospital and my aunt -- all the errands and running around is keeping me pretty busy.  Fortunately, I'm still getting in some crafting... YEA... it's just getting a project posted in a timely manner once it's complete!  Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.  So with that said...

Today, I want to share an altered tin can project and some happy mail from a dear, sweet blogging friend.

Let's start with my altered project first though.  I found this old tin candy can and decided to alter it as opposed to throwing it away.  I painted the can then added lace and flowers, bling trim, and painted wooden balls for the feet.  The clock on the front of the box is a bottle cap which I inserted a clock face into then enclosed with resin and the word "Time" on the top are stick-on letters.  I love how it turned out and I hope you do too!  Here it is:

Front view

 

Top and side view

 

Open for inside view 

 

Most of you probably have at least one of these candy tins around, so why not make it pretty.  Here's another one I found which I'll be doing soon:

 

 

 

Now, for my happy mail -- and what a wonderful gift and surprise!  This came from a sweetheart, Barbara, over at Beebeebabs:

The adorable personalized canvas bag I used the very same day I received it... lol; the badge-button (also personalized) at the bottom of the picture came in the velvet bag and has a mirror on the reverse side instead of a pin or button (isn't this clever?!), and the card is a keeper!!!  Thank you so very much, Barbara, I love it all!!!

Well, I'm off again but, of course, I'll be back as soon as I can.

Love you all, and I'll be seeing you...

A FUN LITTLE ALTERED MINI LINT BRUSH!

Hello, everyone!  Hoping this has been an eventful, happy, and crafty weekend for you all!!! 
Unfortunately it wasn't a "crafty" weekend for me with chores, errands, and spending time at the hospital with my sister-cousin; however, outside of not being crafty, I did manage to enjoy most of the weekend.

Last night I was tired but wanted to do some much need crafting and to do something fun, and relaxing.  Soooo, off I went into my craft room searching for an idea for a quick and easy project.  Digging through my supplies, I ran across a few mini lint rollers that I use to clean up glitter and such off my craft table.  Well, if you know me, as soon as I picked them up and looked at them, the thought "alter" came to mind... lol!!!  So off I went... and this was fun-fun-fun!!!  Here's what I came up with (just click to enlarge):

For this project I made a cover for the lint roller; used a glitter nail polish (playing around) for the handle and on the paper cover to embellish it.  I used the nail polish only because it was sitting there... heeee-heeee; but I like how it looks, gives it a nice shiny finish.  To complete the roller I popped on ribbon, beads, a flower, leaves, and a charm on the handle to embellish it.  Here's the lint brush beneath the cover:

Once I get my craft table cleaned off, I think this is going to look great and be fun to grab when I need to use it.  Of course it will also make a great gift item for all us ladies to keep on our work desks and even in the glove compartments of our cars --  purses too -- we always have a need for a lint brush, of course!!!  BUT, best of all, once I use all the sheets I can use the handle/roller and empty tube to make a pull-out mini!!!  Just cut some paper to the correct length and width, glue it to the roller tube and add some small photos or embellishments!  Wouldn't want to toss my fun project just because I used up all the lint sheets... lol!!!   See, the whole thing just pops apart like this:

Don't you think this is just tooooo fun?!!!  My local dollar store sells a 2-pack of these rollers for $1.

I certainly hope you like this fun and easy project, and I hope I've inspired another little project and/or gift item you can add to your list!!!

Love and hugs to you all, and as always...

I'll be seeing you!

POCKET NOTEPAD REFRIGERATOR MAGNETS

Hello, everyone!  I certainly hope you all had a happy, healthy, crafty weekend, and a beautiful start to your week yesterday.

I know I haven't yet gotten around to visiting each and every one of you but I'm trying -- doing the best I can -- and I should be down to just a few left to go!!!  It's loads of fun for me although it's slow going and I don't want you to think I'm not going to try to reach out to all of you I can.

I didn't get an opportunity to craft and/or blog as much as I wanted the last several days because my "sister-cousin" had to be re-admitted to the hospital and, of course, I've been back and forth there for her while trying to keep my 92 year-old aunt calm.  Fortunately, Amelia is  doing better, and hopefully will be home -- again -- soon.

Last night I relaxed myself by going into my craft room and making these little pockets that hold a note pad. After I made them I thought how cute (and different) they'd be as refrigerator magnets so I popped a magnet on the backs of the pockets.   I think they came out soooo adorable, and doing them really did the trick of helping me to unwind and allowed me to feel better after all my errands, and before retiring -- God, was I tired!!!  Here they are, and please feel free to click to enlarge them... lol!:

Here's a picture of one of the notepads outside the pocket:

Here's the back of the pockets where the magnets are applied:

Now all I have to do is coordinate a pencil or pen to pop inside the pockets!!! 

I found the notepads at Tuesday Morning and found coordinating paper in a K&Company paper stack I have; it's just says "Designer Paper" so I don't know if this is the name or not.  To make certain the pad and paper looked like a set, I used the K&Company paper to make toppers for the pads and finished the projects by embellishing them.  Doesn't the pads and paper just complement each other perfectly?!!! 

I hope you like my little project share!  They've got me thinking "... great Christmas gifts.

Well, I'm off again but I'll be back as soon as I can, so...

Hugs, and I'll be seeing you!!!

P.S.  Hey, wow, I'm getting close to 500 followers so you know what that means... lol!!!  Close to a RAK time!!!!  LOL!

ALTERED COMPOSITION BOOK

Hello, family!!!    I hope all's well in blogland!  Bet no one expected to see me back so soon with a project, huh?  Two projects in 2 days!!!  Well, I told you I was on a mission... lol!!!

As I said yesterday I was finishing up a project and so I did, and it's my project share for today.  I've been wanting to alter a composition book I've had for a while as a gift for someone special but I've just recently gotten the time.  Now that it's done my problem is that I'm so excited about it I'm not sure I'll be able to hold it until Christmas -- sometimes I think I get more excited about giving a special gift than the person who's to receive it and I want to give it immediately, lol!  Anyway, here it is:

(Click on pictures for a closer look)

At the last minute I decided to do a little something to the inside page and decided a pocket would be nice:

 

I didn't realize how dried my ink pad was until I stamped the "Remember the Moments" but that's okay because to me it gives it a kind of weathered, antique look.

I followed through with the lace on the back of the book to give it too a finished look (at least, that's my opinion... lol!):

You probably can't see all the detail but, along with the painting and crackling, I put a lot of love into this book and I'm happy with how it came out.


My last few months have been so hectic that "wow", surprisingly nothing time-robbing has come up yet which means I have more available time so...  YEP!  I'm off to craft and visit!!!  Heeee-heeee, can you tell I'm in my element right now?!!!

I'll be seeing you...

Hugs

I'M ADDICTED! IT'S TERRYO'S FAULT!!!

Hello, everyone!  What a pleasure it is to be back with a project share!  I won't say again how much I've missed being here, I'll just get right to it!

Being that  I've spent so much time over the last several months with family, I didn't think we'd miss each other's company so much I couldn't sneak away and spend time with as many of you as I could get around to yesterday -- hope you all enjoyed your Labor Day holiday!  Of course, I couldn't get around to everyone -- I'm so blessed to have so many family-friends -- but I'll definitely be trying to reach out to touch you all.

Although things are better with each passing day, things are still a bit "shaky" so I can't promise I'm back on a normal basis but I'll be here as long as time permits (hopefully a while) and I'll be getting in as much crafting and blogging as I possibly can;  I'm on a mission... lol!!!

So, not to waste a precious minute of time, my project share are these toilet paper roll gift boxes:

 

Of course I had to gussy up the backs of the boxes too:

 

 

 



I'd never seen these tp roll boxes before until I was a happy mail package several weeks ago from my sweet family-friend Terry.  She'd made and included one for me in the package, and it was filled with chocolates (that I ate immediately).  After I saw the box I immediately googled it and saw they're quite popular -- guess I'm really out of the loop, huh?!!!  LOL!  Here's the happy mail I received from Terry:

 

 

And, I absolutely love the bag Terry packaged this all in so I'll definitely be keeping it:

 

 

 

Thank you, Terry, you certainly accomplished making me feel special.  You'll be seeing projects using some of these hopefully soon.  BTW everyone, Terry is a wonderful artist and if you haven't visited her yet, I suggest you really-really want to. Her name highlighted in one of the paragraphs above in blue is a direct link to her blog.

Well, I hope you like my boxes.  I'm off to do more crafting and visiting; like I said, I don't know how much time I've got so I'm off to make certain I enjoy the time I have for as long as I can.  I'm almost done with another project and I think you'll really like it, so stay tuned!

Hugs, and I'll be seeing you!

HAVE A HAPPY ONE!

Hello, everyone!  Hope you're all enjoying a fabulous day!

It's been a while but things are looking up and I plan to be here very shortly sharing with you -- all my beautiful family friends -- so be on the look out!!!  Lol!

I've missed you all terribly and look forward to spending some time with you!

As always...

I'll be seeing you!

HELLO! MISSING YOU SO!!!

Hello everyone!  I so hope I'm finding you all healthy and happy!

I apologize for being so long in coming by but although I did have good intentions of dropping in sooner things didn't go as well as I'd planned.  Fortunately with the Blogloven daily email updates I've been able to check in occasionally to see some of what you've been up to and I've enjoyed those moments tremendously.  I haven't had time to do any crafting lately, so I have nothing to share with you today but I hope to get back to blogging soon now.

I won't dwell on what I've been through the last several weeks as I don't have much that's pleasant to discuss but although I've had some "rough" days I will say overall I'm doing well and really-really looking forward to getting back to the neighborhood and all that I love.

To those of you that have kept me in your thoughts and prayers, messaged me and/or emailed me, thank you so very much; you've all been in my heart as well and because I've read a few of you have also had life interferences, I sent up many knee-mails that you're comforted and/or on the road to recovery.

I will be around to visit as soon as I possibly can; I've missed you all, always keep you on my mind, and hope to be with you soon... you're my family and I love you all.

I'll be seeing you!

THERE COMES A TIME...

Hello, family-friends and a very happy NCD to you!

Sorry I've been delinquent, however, things are so that I haven't had time for the things I most enjoy and love.  Being that I'm otherwise occupied right now with family and finding less time than ever, a time has come where I have had to make the difficult decision of,  at least for a while, having to forsake my blog and blog-family with an "I'll have to see you all later" -- but not good-bye.  

My intent is this will only be a temporary leave until things get back on track and back to some normalcy; therefore, I will not be closing down my blog.  However, in the meantime, crafting and blogging is just not convenient for me with all else needing to be done.  Although I hope and look forward to returning soon, at least for now, I have to deal with the hand I've been dealt as best I can and it doesn't look like it's going to change too soon from where I'm standing.

I will check in when I can but as things are progressing right now I can't promise or say how soon that will be.  Of course, I love you all and will miss you, and I pray you'll continue to be happy and well.  I'm treating my situation as having to ask some family members (you) to please excuse me while I step aside to care for those that needs tending to.  It is painful for me to have to do this.

I didn't think it right to keep you "on hold" and/or wondering about me, so I made certain I took this opportunity of a free moment to provide you an explanation.  Please know until I can return you'll be in my thoughts -- right at the forefront of my mind.  Again, I will check in when I can but I pray you understand.

Hugs to you, I certainly love you and, and look forward to returning soon.

Thank you for being who you are, thank you for stopping by, and

I WILL be seeing you!

Hello, everyone!  Hope all's well!

Today, in lieu of not having the time to prepare a tutorial to present over at Sheila's for my DT project, I'll be sharing a quick birthday card I recently made for my cousin.  Before I do, however, I'd like to say if you don't already know, Sheila lost her father and I know sending some love and extending our prayers to her and her family will be appreciated during their time of loss.

I'd also like to acknowledge several new followers!  Thank you so much, welcome, and I look forward to getting better acquainted with you; as well, I hope to be around for a visit with you as soon as time allows.

I made this card in Silhouette studio by welding together 3 doilies to 3 welded card panels:

The reason the images show "sisters"  and "cousins" is because my cousin and I are very close and friends/family call us sister-cousins, and we refer to each other as "sister-cuz".  The images on the card (which I found on the internet) are a print and cut.  These images just caught my attention immediately for this card. I didn't think to take a picture of the card closed until just now but if I had the closed card appears as though we're holding hands.

I know this is an unusually short post for me and as I have some new materials to play with (maybe even new to you) I hope to have time to play and create a craft project/tutorial for you soon.  I also look forward to visiting and being able to get back to catching up seeing your projects I've missed.  However, although I am well, family matters are unfortunately consuming my time again right now.  Of course I have faith things will get better sooner than later.

In the meantime, I'm sorry I have to run but I do hope you like my card.

As always, thank you for stopping by!   You're all the best extended family-friends I could wish for!

Hugs

CARD WITH INTEGRATED STAND TUTORIAL

Hello, my sweet family-friends!  Today I'm the designer over at Pam's and I'm so happy to be back there -- and here -- with a monthly project tutorial.

Today my card project is a card-scraplift I found searching Google and I thought it was pretty cool -- it has it's own stand integrated at the bottom of the card!  Although I'll go step-by-step, you'll see this card is so simple and easy, and the basic card can be cut in just a matter of a few seconds!  Cathy Saxton is noted on Google as the creator of this design and the information I got she created it on a Silhouette.  When I saw her sample it looked simple enough not to need the use of a cutting machine, so anyone can do this with just a few scissor cuts.  It's probably one the easiest cards I've found and I'm going to share with you what I did to recreate Cathy Saxton's idea so you can do your own.

Here's my card:

FRONT VIEW

 

SIDE VIEW 

 

FLAT FOR MAILING 

To construct the card begin with a 4.25" x 11" sheet of cardstock; with the 11" side (lengthwise) across the top of the scoreboard, draw a pencil line at the 1" score mark and then score at 5.75"(I've drawn in lines only to give you a better visual so read carefully as they do not indicate fold, score, and/or cut lines);

Turn paper to have the 5.75" side (widthwise) across the scoreboard; score at 1.50" and 2.75" but only up to the 1" pencil line (this will be the stand at the bottom of the card):

Turn the paper again lengthwise (11" side) and draw a pencil line at 1/2" but only up to the first" score line and then repeat on the other end.  It should look like this:

Next, starting on the 1" line you drew, from each end, cut into the card about 3/8" then cut down to meet the 1/2 line; cut across the 1/2  line but only cut up to the 1.50" (or the 2.75" score line depending on which end you start at); repeat the same on the other end cutting up to the corresponding score line only; now bone-fold the tabs along the score lines to the inside.  Your bottom folds should look like the picture following the note before -- please read it:

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Do not fold the drawn 1" line, or the 1/2" drawn line, or fold down the top tabs at the end of the longer tabs which indicate where the cut for the 3/8" along the 1" line -- these are not fold lines, these lines were drawn for demonstration only for measurement and you'll erase them when you complete the base of your card.

Lastly, fold the score line at the 5.75 score line" (the middle of the card).  Now when you place the top of the card on the bottom stand it will look like this from the front and side:

All done!!!  Don't forget to erase those pencils lines and now you're ready to decorate your card however you please!  Wasn't that easy?!!!  And isn't it cool?!!!

Here's a picture of what my template looks like -- you can use it as a guideline if necessary:

Should you have a question, just leave me a comment and I'll get back to you.  It's been a pleasure sharing with you, and thank you so much for stopping by!

Hugs and I'll be seeing you!

SILHOUETTE CAMEO ENGRAVED TAGS

UPDATE:  Here's a direct link where you can order the engraving tool, if your interested:  www.http://amychomas.blogspot.com

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Hello, family-friends!  Happy Tuesday!  I wanted to get here yesterday but errands and chores kept me longer than planned; hope you all had a wonderful, happy and healthy weekend -- and Monday!

Before my share today, I'd like to address the tragic bombing at the Marathon in Boston.  My prayers and condolences to the family and friends of the victims and injured.  It just isn't justifiable!  I know we all have to feel the same way about this horrific incidence.

The weekend here was so beautiful!  Saturday I had some errands but Sunday the temps reached almost 75 degrees and it was a bright sunshiny day.  I just couldn't let the day get away from me without getting out to soak up some much desired great weather!  Len joined me and we spent a wonderful day together.  Yesterday, however, I HAD to get out and the temps had dropped into the 40's; it was windy, cold, and rainy -- a miserable day!  Wished I could have stayed in all day but, I had to do what I had to do -- so I dealt with it... lol!!!

My share today are several tags I made using the engraving tool I ordered to go with my Silhouette Cameo.  It came Saturday and I couldn't wait to use it last night. 

For my first time using the engraving tool, it was so easy and worked great although I heard it would only work on anodized aluminum.  The engraving did come out better on the anodized aluminum tag but it still did a pretty good job -- to me -- on the brass ones; too bad the brass will tarnish though. I'm considering all the jewelry I can do with this!!!  This tool also works in the Cricut machines, so Cricut users don't despair!!!  I had such a difficult time trying to get a decent picture of them because they're so shiny and that made it hard to get the engraving to look clear, but this one didn't turn out too bad although the picture doesn't do them justice:

 

The top 2 tags are birthday gifts and the one for "MrMan" is for my neighbor's dog who is extraordinary big but so sweet and friendly; you just wouldn't know by looking at him... lol!   My hubby thinks he has a cool name and wants to adopt it as a nickname for himself... silly!

I'll be pretty busy this week off and on with family matters and a few other appointments; also I have a DT project tutorial to prepare for Friday over at Pam's, so I'll probably be slow in getting around to visiting with you but I'll be there as soon as I can.  I really hate not being able to visit whenever I can because I just get so far behind -- and I hate missing anything!!!  Oh well, I suppose that's life!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed seeing my tags!  I have a few minutes so I'll go do a tag for my sweet Buster before I have to run out!

Thanks so much for stopping by, love you all, hugs, and...

I'll be seeing you!

MY CAMEO TRIPLE-TIER EASEL CARD PREVIEW...

Hello family-friends!!!  Happy Wednesday, and I hope you're all well and having fun!

Wow, I'm just consumed by my Silhouette Cameo so, if I'm tardy getting here and/or around the neighborhood, please excuse me -- I'm just like any other kid with a brand new toy! LOL!!!

For awhile I've wanted to do one of these triple-tier easel cards but every instruction I saw was in metric, so I told myself to forget it.  However, having my Cameo and taking as close a look as I could at ones on the internet, I ventured to do one on my own.  After wasting many sheets of paper and numerous cuts, I finally think I got it figured out -- how easy it ended up too!!!  I did them by welding doilies together in Silhouette Studio that I found on the internet.  I haven't finished this one yet, so I haven't added a sentiment or much embellishment; just a few bows, roses, and paper panels I embossed on colorbloc paper and sanded -- love how the white peaks through the embossing!!!  Once I decide the occasion and who it'll go to, I'll finish dressing it.  Well, tell me how I did -- here's your preview of the front of my card (click of enlarge, of course):

 

Here's what it looks like from the side:

 

And here's what it looks like folded and ready to be placed in a box or envie:

 

It may not be perfect like some of the others I've seen but I'm no pro; however, I love how it turned out!!!

 

Here a peek at another one I just finished cutting and putting together:

 

Well, I'm off again!!!  Hope you like my cards!

 

Hugs, love-love you all, have a happy day and...

 

I'll be seeing you!!!

A CARD SHARE AND NEW TOY INTRO

Hello, family-friends!

To those of you who visited me yesterday (either here or at She's a Sassy Lady) for my decoupage tutorial, thank you so much for stopping by.

As I've been detained again this week again (you'll know why in a sec), I'd like to wish everyone I haven't already, a very belated Easter and hope you enjoyed yourselves.  I can't even begin to tell you the surprise and excitement I had... not only was March 31 Easter Sunday, it was also Len's and my 42nd anniversary!!!  Our families and friends had a wonderful Easter dinner and a fun time celebrating both events.  AND..., and for my anniversary present from Leonard...  Well..., let's just first have a look at my card share:

 

The only embellishment on my cards is the Anna Griffin decorative tape on the side; I just didn't want to take all the attention away from the design, and I wanted to keep it simple.  I put the design low on the card just in case I wanted to add a sentiment and/or embellie for some special occasion. 

Okay, now I'll tell you that my anniversary present, and what I made these personalized notecards on, was...

Can you believe it!!!  I've got a Silhouette Cameo!!!  I must've really been a good girl!  Okay, now do I really need to tell you why I was detained?!!!  LOL!!!  I've been playing all week with my new toy and got so irritated when I had to pause to do anything else, hee-hee.  For a long time I've been wanting notecards with our family initial with the name in the center; oooh you know, the ones you see in frames done with vinyl!!!  Unfortunately, I could never figure out a way to split the initial to do them.  But now, thanks to my Silhouette Cameo, I finally can.  Of course I have to play with it some more to get it cleaned up but didn't I do a pretty good job not being at all familiar with the software?

So what about this:

The eCraft machine I just got for Christmas?  Well, I "think" I'm done with it... lol!!!  Only got the paper cutting settings adjusted to cut only one type of card stock, and tore up loads of that and various other papers trying to figure out the correct adjustments!!!  I have to laugh because as it was the only machine I had to do svg's and other files with I was determined to beat the learning curve, and started believing I kind of liked it...  That was then, this is now... lol!!!

I'm absolutely already in love with this Cameo machine!  And thank God there're so many great tutorials out there to help me do other fabulous projects like this.  And, I did do one print and cut -- it was perfect the first time!!!  Yeaaa, maybe no more wasted paper!

Although I really am thoroughly consumed right now with my Silhouette I will be around to visit and see what you're up to...  I promise!!!

Hugs, thanks for stopping by, and...

I'll be seeing you.

TUTORIAL: DECOUPAGE A SOAP CONTAINER/BOX

Happy Thursday!  Always so glad to be here with you!  I am so happy to be back with a monthly designer project over at Sheila's today, and I appreciate not only her patience but also for holding my monthly spot while I was away from blogging dealing with my family circumstances.

I'll be sharing a decoupage project with you that makes a wonderful gift!  This is a pretty lengthy post, so grab a cuppa and let's begin with my project:

I've used my box for soap, however, it can also be used to hold jewelry, candy, or whatever you choose to use it for.  What you'll need:

• Plastic travel soap dish (got mine from Walmart)
• Your choice:  tissue, paper, cloth material, etc. (less the size of 1/2 sheet of an 8.50" x 11" sheet of paper torn into pieces)
• Decoupage glue (or 2 parts Elmer's glue to 1 part water mixed well will do too)
• Small foam brush or paint brush
• Old button or ear ring
• Trim of your choice:  lace, beads, ric-rac, etc.
• E6000 or other stong glue (for trim and button)
• Fine glitter

Plastic soap container from Walmarts (some Dollar Stores)

Okay, if you've got all your materials together, cover your work area to protect it from the glue-mess and let's get to decoupaging!!!  I'll be using a metallic tissue (the kind used for gift bags), bling mesh ribbon for my trim, and a  gem instead of a button.  To begin, you'll first paint the top of your box with the glue:

Next, using your wet brush to pick up the tissue, begin carefully layering by painting the tissue onto the top of the box then apply a thin layer of glue over the paper:

Use your fingers to very carefully smooth out any air bubbles or wrinkles as you go (I actually like some wrinkles because it adds a nice texture).  Also, don't worry about any paper tears, just add another layer of the torn paper to cover the tear.  If the air bubbles are persistent, carefully press down on them with a damp cloth to release the excess air and/or glue trapped beneath the paper:

Continue layering and smoothing until the top is completely covered (do not worry about the sides as the trim will cover this).  To make certain you've covered your entire box top, open the box and look for any areas you can see through; cover those areas:

Once covered, your box should now look something like this:

Once the box is smooth and as wrinkle free as you'd like, use the damp cloth again to make sure air bubbles are removed (you will probably need to do this several times as glue dries and don't worry if it looks a bit funny, it'll turn out to be a beauty in the end); allow glue to set for about 30 minutes then brush an extra thin layer of the glue over the top tissued area then sprinkle the wet area with glitter and allow to dry completely:

Once completely dry trim away any lose excess paper from around the edges of the box, apply your trim, and using a strong glue like E6000 attach a button or piece of jewelry to the front of the box to use to open your box and cover up the slit that's the closure:

Any excess glue on the bottom of the box cleans up easily with a mild soap and water wipe down.  All done!!!  Now... isn't it pretty?!!! A bit messy but sooooo easy and so much fun to do..., and a great gift!!!  Here're a couple more I did:

Hope you enjoyed my project and tutorial!  Thanks for stopping by, and...

I'll be seeing you!