Step Friendship Box

Hello Friends! How is your day going? Good I hope!

I have a special project to share with you today! It is a Step Friendship Box! The "step" part is on the inside! Little mini drawers to fill with goodies and/or personal notes.

This was a rather lengthy project but one I love doing. I have made several of these and they are always a much appreciated gift.

I started with a piece of pink card stock which I stamped with a flourish image to make the background. I then cut cardboard panels to size and glued them to the backside of the stock. This step is much like covering a book or album. I chose a coordinating DP and covered the inside of the box. I made sure to leave space between the panels so the box would fold easily. I made the four drawers and attached them in "step" fashion to the inside. I used sticky strip for this to be sure I got a good hold.I also made a box for the top of the project. I then used my Cuttlebug dies to make the embellishments. The inside sentiment was computer generated. I added velcro closures to the overlapping panel to assure the box stayed squared and closed. The finishing touch was organdy ribbon tied around the box and into a pretty bow.

A tutorial for one version of this type box can be found at Life As Lou, She calls it a Magic Box. The version I like best came from a German website which is no longer available. If any of you would like a copy of those directions, I will be happy to mail it to you. The directions are in German but the dimensions and paper cuts are in English. You can figure out what they are doing from the pictures. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can!! I used the basic instructions and created my own size of the box.

Thank you so very much for your visit today! You are always welcome here! Have a wonderful weekend and happy crafting!

Blessings to you,
Vicki

Christmas Nail Ornament

Hello Friends! Happy Monday!

Today I would like to share with you an ornament that I have made the past few years for friends and family. It is a printed poem and nail. The poem I print in multiple copies on white card stock. It prints with its own border so I just have to cut out. The nails used are masonry nails which you can get at Home Depot. There are several sizes and I chose to go with the large ones this year. I cut two slits in the stock and slipped the nail in. I then punched two holes in the top corners and added eyelets. This size nail is fairly heavy so I wanted to be sure the paper would not tear. I used craft wire to form the hanger and added two tiny red bows. You can also just use ribbon for a hanger if you chose. I can't provide a link to the poem page I print but if you would like a copy, email me and I will try to send the poem to you and you can use your print works of choice to make multiple copies in the size you want. Be sure to enlarge the pic so you can read the whole poem. It is a beautiful reminder of what the Christmas season is really about.

Hope everyone has a fantastic week! A busy one for me as the holiday festivities are beginning and there is lots of cooking to do! Combine that with the cards still to make and you have a bit of a frenzy! And I love every minute of it! Hope you will come by often and leave a comment or suggestion. It always makes my day to hear from friends!

Blessings to you,
Vicki

Junk Mail Journal

Hello everyone! Hope your weekend is starting well! Today I have a reblessed item I received in the mail. It was an advertising booklet. As soon as I saw it, I knew I was going to make it into something else! I didn't even look to see who was advertised! The small photo shows the before version. This started out as a 12 page booklet. I glued some of the pages together to strengthen them. Then I proceeded to pick out the paper and cover the outside and inside with coordinating patterns. Now, what was once junk mail, has become my new idea journal! I will keep it handy to jot down notes on craft ideas or layouts or product use. I just can't seem to rely on my memory for those things anymore! Hmm....I find the cheerful paper inspiring already! LOL! Hope you enjoy it too! I am off to the craft room while the notion is still hot! Bless you for stopping by and hurry back! Hope you have a safe and blessed holiday weekend! To the craft room...AWAY and OH HAPPY DAY!!

Blessings to you,
Vicki

Sweet Dreamers Challenge #5: Eyelets Galore

Hi Everyone! Today's card was made for our blog challenge. We were to make a card and use eyelets as accents. I decided to stay simple and use up some scraps. The sentiment is stamped with chalk ink and clear embossed on a scrapbook tag. The eyelets came on the tag so I was sure to use it. The string bows are actually the thread from a dog food bag! I know! I'm hopeless! I save everything! And, of course, have no room for anything!! This will probably be a birthday card or a thank you. Be sure to check out the other blog sisters projects! They are listed on the sidebar. Thanks for coming by and please visit often. Who knows what I will "rebless" next?!?!? Have a blessed day!

Run With the Wind!

Good Morning! Hope everyone's week has started well! Today's post is a picture I made for a horse loving friend. I had made this picture for my daughter and my friend loved it! The stamp is very large (4x6) and the image stands alone very well in a larger space. I stamped the image with SU craft ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder. The matboard frame is covered with wood grain wallpaper. I love this powerful image! It expresses freedom and beauty to me. What do you think? Thanks for stopping by and sharing your comments. I look forward to each one. Have a blessed day!

Silver Anniversary

Hello and welcome! Today's card was much easier to make than it was to photograph and post! No matter how I tried the lighting just didn't work and Blogger was having issues!However, I think you can still get the gist of this card made for the Sweet Dreamers Challenge #2 Reuse/Recycle. We were to make a card and use "reblessed" items. The flowers on this one are made with the Cuttlebug from the inner seal of a coffee canister. The ribbon is from a corsage I made. The edges are done with a border punch. The sentiment is embossed with silver powder. This is a large card ( 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 ) which probably explains the difficulty to photograph. I have some more seals to emboss but I will use a smaller card next time. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a blessed day!

Mosaic Thinking of You

Hello everyone! I needed a masculine card for a dear friend from church who has been recovering from surgery. Just wanted to let him know we miss him. I was excited when I saw this mosaic technique used by Dawn at Dawn's Stamping Thoughts. You can view her video here. It seemed perfect for what I had in mind. The mosaic pieces are reblessed cuttings of some picture printing "goofs" I had. They added a wonderful sheen to the card. I also used silver embossing powder on the mosaic as well as the sentiment. Hope you like it and you'll try this technique. Great fun! Thanks for visiting and come back soon! Blessings to you!

A Box For Your Thoughts!

Today I would like to share a book box that I altered. It's a paper mache box I purchased online. It opens like a book to reveal a niche inside for notes or other small items. Sadly, we have had several ladies in our community widowed in the past months. I made these boxes with inspirational poems inside and out as well as note paper for their thoughts and prayers. The box was colored with, of all things, shoe polish! It gave the paper a rich worn look. I then decoupaged the images on the front and the back. I added a twisted paper ribbon as an accent. Hope this offers a little inspiration for you, too! Blessings to you!

CD Gift Bag

Hello and welcome! This is a gift bag for a CD or any flat type gift. It could hold tickets, a gift card or even cash! It is made from a lunch bag. You cut just enough off the top of the bag so it fits under bottom flap in the shape of a square. Add panels of patterned paper and some embellishment and that's it! Super simple but such a nice way to present the gift. It can also be reused as nothing is torn open! Hope you like it! Have a blessed day!

The Lion and the Lamb

Hello all! This is a prayer journal I made for our "KeenAgers" senior group at church. The journal was first posted to a new blog known as Going Green Greetings which you can find here. The image is matted to recycled cardboard and the edges sanded. The back is covered in solid paper. I used the Bind-It-All to connect the inner pages and the cover. I thought about adding ribbon; but, to me, it took away from the impact of the image. So, although simple, it still makes a bold statement! What do you think? Thanks for stopping by and blessings to you!

Paper Bag Scrap Album

Greetings! Today I would like to share an album made from paper bags. I used six bags with the bottoms cut off on this one. Each of the twelve pages is matted with patterned paper and stamped with a Bible verse. I also made cardstock inserts for each "pocket" and added colored tabs.It is bound using my Big Bite and ribbons. I really like the way this turned out and plan to make several more for a craft show in the fall. Hope you like it, too! Have a blessed day!

Envelope Album

I want to share an envelope album today. I used white cardstock for the cover and three business size envelopes for the inner pockets. The pocket covers and the belly band are from printed paper. I also used a Fiskars border punch on the cover flap. The inner pockets have inserts for added photos or journaling. It is a bit time consuming but a relatively easy album to make. Great way to use up those business reply envelopes we are always getting in the mail. If you have questions or comments, please let me know.
Hope you will visit again soon! Blessings to you!

Father's Day Goodie

No, you are not seeing things! That really is a fishing bobber sitting on a bottle. This was a Father's Day goodie I handed out to the men at my church. Silly, yes! But they all loved it! I printed the "fishers of men" verse on the computer, cut it out and adhered it to the bottle. I also printed Happy Father's Day and used my word window punch to cut those out. I used a paper punch to prick a small hole and attached the label to the bobber wire on top. I used glue dots to adhere the bobber to the bottle. Each bottle was filled with chocolate kisses. I guess even the silliest of ideas have a place somewhere!! Have a blessed day!

Floral Gum Slider

Hello! Today I have a gum slider(18 pcs) I made as part of a gift basket. The floral paper is actually wallpaper. I added some pearl ribbon and a scallop circle for accent. I love making these as you can use scrap paper for this small package. If you would like the dimensions, just email me or leave a comment with your email address. Happy Friday and have a blessed day!

Wedding Cake Slices

This is a wedding cake made of favor boxes. The pic was made "under glass" so the detail is not as bold as I would like but I think the idea still comes through. These boxes were a little different from other "cakes" I have made as these are crafted with wallpaper. The paper is deeply embossed and has a shine to it that just says "bride". It makes a beautiful centerpiece for a shower or even reception tables. If you have any questions, just send an email or leave a comment and I'll try to answer quickly. Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Click on imge to enlarge-

"Green" Desk Sets

These are desk sets made from recycled cardboard. I used printed paper to cover and for pen insert. Each set has mini clipboard, matching pen, calendar and post it pad. I used the Bind-It-All on the calendar/post it pad folder. These make great gifts for teachers or coworkers. Each can be made in color or theme of choice. The ones pictured are to be birthday gifts for church staff. We would love to design one especially for you or your gift giving. Please email me if you have questions or to place an order. Thanks for looking and blessings to you!

Happy Father's Day

I wanted to make a card for all the motorcycle fans in our family and among our friends.This card is based with black cardstock and matted with brown. Instead of kraft paper, the embossed image and sentiment are stamped with SU black craft ink on cardboard that was once a tube wrapped in bath tissue. You got it! A toilet paper roll! It takes the ink beautifully and embosses better than cardstock! The front panel of the card and the other papers all have torn edges to enhance the masculine theme. Antique brads are added to the four corners. Burlap thread is used to make the ribbon accent. This is a simple card but one I think will be accepted nicely by the dads who receive them. Hope you all have a blessed day and you never run out of cardboard tubes!! Click on image to enlarge.