Gina's Designs DT Project: The Couture Shop

I can't believe that Christmas is only seven days away! I guess I should start my shopping!! Today I have a Gina's Design's design team project for you. I have a configuration style design made from the Bagatelle Boxes: Starter Kit. These boxes are great! You get 12 in the kit (two of six different sizes) and once you have the boxes assembled, you can attach them in any arrangement you like.

I had so much fun with this project! I used the new "Couture" papers from Graphic 45 to line the inside and the outside of the boxes. That's right ladies! I used my new paper right away! Well, okay. I haven't cut into the 12x12 yet! I also used the paper on the wooden dress forms that will be available in the store in 2014!

 I used several items from the Doily Box: SEW collection. The needle was embossed with silver embossing powder.

Here you can see the doily and sewing machine from the Doily Box: SEW collection. The sewing machine, hinge (Hinge Shape Set) and filigree frame (Filigree Frames Shape Set) are all make from chipboard. These pieces were all embossed with embossing powders. Just a tip when embossing, if you are using a light color or want the true color of the embossing powder, gesso first. I cut the filigree frame in half and attached one of the images from the paper line to it before attaching it to the side of the box. 

Here are two more of the chipboard pieces from the Doily Box: SEW collection. The "sew" was given a serious workout. I had some embossing issues, but after four times under the heat gun, I got it right. The chipboard did not fall apart or warp on me. I then attached it the the blue embossed chipboard frame. You can also see a mirror in the corner. This came from the Parisian Shape Set. It comes in two pieces so it was easy to emboss the "glass". The base of the mirror was inked and then coated with glossy accents to give it that high polished look.

I love how this chipboard scissor turned out! The handle is black and the blades are silver embossed. I added a brad to the center.  They tuned out darling!

Here you can see the chipboard zipper, dress form and button (the dress form is sitting on it). The zipper and the dress form were all embossed. The button has a piece of the paper attached to it. The dress form is on a stand, but I cut it off and attached her to the button. I love that I can alter the pieces to fit my designing needs!


Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Items Used From Gina's Designs
Bagatelle Boxes Starter Kit

Doily Box SEW

Filigree Frames Shape Set

Hinges Shape Set

Parisian Shape Set

Wooden Dress Forms (Available January 2014!)

Other Items Used

Graphic 45 - Couture - 8x8 and 6x6

Glossy Accents

Metal Key, Shoe and Filigree - ButterBeeScraps on Zibbet

Bling - Martha Stewart

Embossing Powders: Lindy's Stamp Gang, Tim Holtz, Stampin' Up!

Wooden Ruler - Prima

Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts, Craft Supplies 1,

Thimbles - Metal and Wooden

Fabric and Laces

Bobbin

Pins

Exciting News!!!

I have some exciting news to share!!! I have been asked to design for Gina's Designs! I am so excited to be joining her team and designing with her great products! She has wood and chipboard pieces to design with. Christmas for me has come yearly!

The Ultimate Storage Tower

I love this tower! When I first saw it on Gina's site, I immediately fell in love with it. The unit fits perfectly on the corner of my craft table and is mounted on a lazy-susan! (Yes, there are times I sit at my desk and turn it just because I can!)

This is the ink storage unit. As you can see, I have had no problem filling it up. It holds 36 ink pads in total - 24 slots hold the Tim Holtz Distress Inks perfectly and 12 slots that hold the larger ink pads.

There is the 18 drawer unit. I did not put in the top eight drawers. I used this area instead as a place to hold my glitter glues. The drawers are made from extremely thick chipboard. I primed and painted the entire box before I papered the fronts of them. The really nice thing with these drawers, is that Gina gives you an option. I left them with the finger pull facing forward. On the opposite side, Gina has drilled a small hole for you to attach a drawer pull. I love the versatility she designed in this!

 This is one of shelf units. It contains two roomy shelves. This is a great place to keep bottles of glue, paint or whatever else might be in your stash!

 This is the last of the units. It is a three-shelf unit. The shelves are deep enough to hold the stampin'-up inks. To the sides of both of these shelf units is a strip of cork board and a strip of magnet. You adhere them yourself so if you wanted to have both cork boards on the same side, you could certainly do that.

 This is a view of the top. In the center, there is a hole which is great to store your longer rulers in. As you can see, I have also used the top for extra storage. Another great feature of this unit, they are stackable! I can get another unit and place in on the top of this one. Or if my crafting storage needs change, I can take this apart and have four separate units. 

Gina has a lot of other great original pieces on her site (Gina's Designs). Go check her out! You won't be sorry.

Time Flies

Dang! It's already the end of November? I have to apologize to all of you. I have been a bad blogger, a really bad one. I knew that this semester was going to be tough but I didn't realize how time consuming it was going to be. Then out of the blue, my father past away on September 12. OMG!  Anyone who has lost a parent knows how the wind gets sucked out of you. It's been tough - some days a lot more than others. Thankfully I have some wonderful friends that I have been able to lean on and have met even more in the last several weeks. I finally actually have some energy and motivation and inspiration to craft again! Now it is a matter of getting the blog updated and keeping it updated!

As I was going through my camera, I discovered a bunch of pictures of things I made but never posted. I will be sharing some of these over the next several weeks. 

This was a simple 8x8 layout. I punched out 5 oval per pumpkin. I distressed each oval before putting them together. One of the pumpkins had the paper ran through the Fiskars paper crimper before I punched out the ovals The stem and leaves are just free cut. I did a triple mat for photos to go on. A ribbon and a piece of patterned paper complete the items used. And the great thing, all made with scraps!

Have a great night and thanks for hanging in there! xx

My Marker Holder

Altered Candle

OOPS! I think it was been way too long since my last post! I forget how much time gets sucked up by school work! Two more courses and I am done.

I did manage to squeeze in a little craft time today. My first altered candle. I wrapped a piece of lace around the candle to give the flowers a rough surface to adhere to. Added flowers and pearls and there you go! The candle is one that burns down the center so no fear of fire (I hope!)

My First Award!

Isn't it beautiful! :) It's the Liebster Award. Okay it's not an Oscar or a Golden Globe but it is pretty awesome that a new blogger pal, Jade (Muffin Tea House) nominated me! What the award is about  new bloggers (those with under 200 followers) getting to know each other and motivating each other.

 Here are the rules:
1. You must post 11 things about yourself.
2. Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.
3. Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.
4. Choose 11 new blogs & link them in your post
5. Please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster award so I can learn more about YOU!


MY 11 things!

1.  I have given up soda and gluten at the beginning of this year
2.  I haven't killed anyone because of it!
3.  I have MS (Multiple Sclerosis)
4.  I love my job - okay I've only been there 7 months!
5.  I have a nephew on the Autism spectrum
6.  Fall is my favorite season.
7.  I cut my own hair ( it grows so freaking fast!)
8.  I'm a total gamer!
9.  I hate things on my feet.
10.  I only have local stations for tv viewing  - that's right a digital converter box and rabbit ears!
11.  I can't stand my hands to be sticky.

Here are the ??? Jade asked me! How is your day so far?  Today has been great! I got a lot done in my craft room and might actually get to start crafting this week!

Why do you blog? I love writing. Blogging for me is a way to journal with pictures or videos. Plus I get the chance to me some pretty cool people along the way!

Ever drunk text someone?  If so, share!  No but Jade is there something you want to share? :)

What is your passion? This year my passion is going to be me. Taking care of me and getting myself into a healthier state physically, mentally and spiritually.

Read any good books lately? Besides my accounting text books? No - another reason I will be glad when school is over so I can start reading real books again!

What is the most daring thing you’ve ever done?  Skinny dipped - or my case chunky dunked!

Know any good jokes?  Please share. No but I like listening to good jokes!

If you could live in another city, where would you live?  NYC!

What skill or ability do you wish you had?  I wish I could orb like in "Charmed". For a get back to reality answer I would say I wish I could knit!
  Who would play you in a movie? Marisa Tomei

  What did you eat today? Greek yogurt, homemade soup, GF crackers, vegies



My 11 questions to ask my nominates!

1. What is your dream vacation?
2.  Have you outgrown your childhood fears?
3. What is your least favorite food?
4. What do you see yourself doing 5 years from now?
5.  Why did you start blogging?
6.  What is your favorite 3 movies?
7.  Name 1 major change you would like to do in your life.
8.  What would you do with one million dollars?
9.  If you could own any animal, what would it be and why
10. What is your favorite tv program?
11. Who inspires you the most?

 The 11 Blogs I Nominate Are:
The Fat Dormouse
Athanasios AKA Vabakken's Crafty Community
Buttons N Lace24 Creations
111 LaLa Lane
Cave Creek Notebook 
Crafting across Continents
dysfunctionally - functional
Marlynne Creates Daily
My Paper Daisy 
Precious Cottage  
Blue Finch

 


 

It's a Blog Party!!

              First -  thanks Vicki for hostessing this wonderful blog party!

  http://vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com.au       

        Make sure you stop in at her blog! There will be links to a whole bunch of blogs you can check out!                       

Welcome to my blog everyone! My name is Mary and you can read a little bit more about me over there on the left. I'm so glad you took the time to drop on by. This is my crafting blog that I started two years ago.  My first blog (Just me and my cats) is no longer open. That was a different phase in my life and is now more of an on-line journal for myself. Even so I had met some wonderful people because of blogging and still keep in contact with several of them.

Right now I am into paper crafting - but I reserve the right to switch to sewing, or beading or cross stitching or...well I think you get the idea! I love sharing what I made, what others made for me and tips and tricks that might save us a buck or two.  Besides this blog I also have a YouTube channel. 

In two weeks school starts for me again. Including this class, I have three to complete before getting my associates degree in Accounting. I have been blessed to have already found a job six months ago in that field. 

So my current task at hand is to make sure I get my craft room reorganized. It took a hit after the holidays and became a dumping ground for everything. I did take a picture when it was at the height of its disarray, but can't find it! LOL So note to self, organize all pictures on computer, flash drives and external hard drive. 

There you have it! Please be so kind and drop a note in the comments section! Don't forget to click on the "Join this Site" button on the left! Help yourself to a cup of coffee as well. Happy Blogging!

Fall Swap to Corina

 

 For the fall goodie swap we had a trio and I had to send to Corina in the Netherlands! This was one of the fronts of the bag I decorated. 

And in the bag i but this wooden box for her to alter and I stuffed with a bunch of goodies!

This is one of the tags I made. I took some of the ribbon I had received from Larelle and lined the back of the card with it. The Welkom I made out of white letter buttons that I used alcohol inks on.

The pumpkin is made out of 5 oval punches. The fall was made by alcohol inking some white puzzle pieces and  then stamping on them. I attached them with foam squares. I actually did burn the one end with a lighter (PLEASE BE CAREFUL IF YOU DO THIS!)

I am in the process right now of trying to actually organize my craft room. It took a serious beating from the holidays! It became a junk room! I don't mind my craft room being a bit disorganized but... I hope you know what I mean! Thanks for stopping by.

Fall Goodie Swap

We had a Fall Goodie Swap on the Crafty Community Site a few months back (I told you I was way behind!). So for this swap you needed to make 3 tags with a fall theme, one paper bag decorated on the front and back, 2 yard of trim or lace, a card and a treat. My partner was the fabulous Larelle and she spoiled me rotten!!!! (You can check out her fabulous talent on her YouTube channel!) She sent me so much stuff! I was simply blown away! I so wish I had remembered to film it. And she even decorated the inside of the box. And or course you know who has claimed it as her own!

Olivia's New Napping Place!

 I felt like I was grabbing out of Barney's bag - I thought I was never going to get to the bottom. She sent these 4 great smelling candles. I love how they look and yes will have a hard time lighting them :)

 This is the wonderful card she made for me!
 Below are some of the great goodies she also included!

 

So math must not be her strong point since she made 7 tags not 3!! I was blown away by each and every one! They are all gorgeous! Some tags she has put to tags together and then has tags I can pull out and journal on. Why have I never thought of that?!?

This tag has a corset lace on both sides with removable tags! I really need to do a video! These tags are just amazing! And she also included this sweet piece of burlap which I have already used a piece of it on a project.

Happy New Year!!!!!

Oh my gosh can you believe it is 2013 already??  I think the older I get the faster time goes. Well maybe not while I am at work ☺

I hope this post finds you well! I have pictures to post but I see blogger has changed the way you post pics so once I figure that out I will have a "few" pictures to put on here.

May 2013 be filled with many wonderful memories!!!

Mary