It's Masquerade Time

 Once a month I get a wonderful opportunity to spend girl time with some close friends, and I always love to surprise them with a little something. This month I decided it was the perfect opportunity to use my new stamp collection from Oxford Impressions "Masquerade" for these wooden boxes. 

Purchased at Michaels for $1.00, I used Terracotta walnut stain to give the boxes that orange glow.
Then using assorted images from the collection, I embossed the images on the boxes. 

I then created tags using other images and added a personal note and tied a festive bow for finishing touch. 

Finally, filling the boxes with treats which included, autumn fragrance hand lotion, candles, pumpkin latte mix & Chapstick for the windy days. The girls really enjoyed the little gift boxes and I hope this has inspired you to create this holiday season. xoxo

Dr's Coffin Apothecary

Well Suzanne at Oxford Impressions has out did herself once again with a brand new stamp collection called Dr Coffin's Apothecary.  Believe me when I say, it's right on time for the Halloween holiday right around the corner.

For my design team contributions on this collection I created a coffin with a mini album inside to house those scary trick or treat pictures that I have. The coffin is paper mache  and I painted then rusted it, the tombstone & name plate were textured using the crackled technique  Added old moss and "I Am Roses" rose buds and leaves.  

Now on to the inside. Each page is cut as a coffin shape and the majority of the paper I used was from G45's "Old Curiosity Shoppe collection The skeleton page was stamped on acetate so you can flip it sideways to insert your picture underneath.

 What would a coffin mini album be without a few prescription drugs. 

 Next page I used gauze and the new Mirror sheets from Ranger Can I tell you how cool these sheets are. You can emboss on them, you can die cut them, ink, paint, stamp, and once you remove the plastic coating it really is like reflective mirror. Very cool indeed. 

Upclose of Mirror sheets

 The next few pages were created using die cuts & images from Tim Holtz Halloween Kraft Resist paper. Last but not least is Mr. Skeleton himself (the inside of the coffin case. 

This was such a fun project, and it felt good to get my fingers all inky again. To finish off the project, several different ribbons were added to the ring which holds the mini album together. . 

Several of the products used can be purchased in my Etsy shop (Studio Garage Band)  Listed below are the items.

Frayed Ribbon with Glitter (Black & Orange)

Trick or Treat Ribbon Assort.

Mirrored Sheets

Halloween Muse Token

I Am Roses Rose Buds

G45 Old Curiosity Shoppe paper collection

This piece has been entered into the following challenges: Jump over to their blogs for wonderful inspiration from so many great crafters !

I Am Roses / September challenge Halloween

City Crafter's / An Early Boo

Three Muses / Bird

Hakuna Matata Baby Tin

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Hi there and yet another baby shower to go to. This one is for baby Derrick and his room is adorned with "The Lion King" theme, so I thought it fitting to create a journal tin with all the colorful characters from this Disney movie.

For every month there is a decorated chipboard card for a picture of Derrick for that month and a separate card to journal special moments and milestones he has experienced. The outside of the tin was Modge Podged as a collage of animal print papers. I copied a picture from the internet and fussy cut the picture of the lion cubs to the front.

I took small pieces of wood and stamped his name on each piece, then used walnut stain and drilled holes to run jute through it for a personal touch. Added ribbons, tulle and beads for embellishment. The inside was decorated using wooden lion & palm tree that I purchased at Michaels and I added buttons for coconuts and glittered it up a bit with Stickles. Used Dusty Attic chipboard crown and gold embossed it for the king of the jungle.

To view the individual pages more in detail, double click on the pictures below.

Now it will be "Hakuna Matata" (no worries) for mom and dad to document and post pictures of baby Derrick for his first year. Thank you for stopping by and hope you were inspired. xoxo

Babies 1st Christmas

I don't know about you but I just love Pinterest. That is where I got my inspiration for a gift I made for a baby shower I will be going to this weekend.

I used a Luminarte Glass Bauble Ornament (which can be purchased in my Etsy store here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/78199186/luminarte-brilliant-baulbles-heart-1 ). I shredded the baby shower invitation and curled it, then stuffed it inside the ornament. I added German glass glitter and mica flakes for a vintage snow effect. I then added the vintage tinsel which can also be purchased at my Etsy store https://www.etsy.com/listing/95984909/silver-tinsel-garland-3-yards. I tied a bow and attached a handmade clay tag for a personal touch. I don't know about you but there's something special about a homemade gift and I really hope that daddy and mommy 2 b will love this gift. Congrats Victoria & Daniel on your special gift from heaven. xoxo