With Love

I didn't think I would manage to make anything this last week but on Sunday I finally managed a quick project. Well it wasn't exactly quick but I was up early on Sunday morning so I pottered around with some paper and Waltzing Mouse stamps.

This project was real simple though. It consists of a 2" x 2" little box that is 1" deep and is attached to the back of the largest nestability heart. Cut your card stock 4" x 4" for the base, score 1" on all four sides and assemble. The lid is just a fraction bigger but the same process.

In this shot you can see the box underneath. I cut several squares that were 1" in size, inked the edges, stuck them to some thin card and used my trusty pattern tracing wheel before cutting out the heart shape. I have always loved anything with a patchwork feel.

This close up shot below shows the 'homespun hugs' set of stamps that I used to create the flowers and leaves as well as the sentiment.

I know I could've used a 'valentine' sentiment but I didn't want this particular project to be just for valentines. I thought it was sweet enough that it could be used just about any time you wanted to send some love to someone.

I decided since I had the relief left over from cutting out the heart that I could use it as a background on a card and it looked just as sweet. It may be almost impossible to see in this shot but I used the tracing wheel to add a quilted effect to the blue heart to tie it all in together.

I haven't had any of my stamps out since before Christmas and sometimes I wonder why I don't play with them more. I have new PTI and Verve stamps still sitting waiting to be used for the first time. Come to think of it mom still has some new stamps to send to me as well just as soon as I decided whether or not I'm ordering more to send with them.

Maybe I'll get some of my stamps out one afternoon when I'm recovering from surgery and have a play. That would be a good idea me thinks.

Tired Yet?

Are ya tired of the cupcake boxes yet? No - don't answer that.

I made 14 boxes this last week and for the time being I am a bit weary of them but give me a couple of days and I'll be fine. They are by far one of the most fun projects I've made for 2010 and I have soooo many other fun ideas rambling around up there. All in all the year is looking promising.

I know this is not the best shot but I took them in to work this morning and couldn't resist taking a quick snapshot. This is what greeted Keighley when she got in to work this morning. She had been asking me to make some for sale and to bring them in so I caved and agreed - and now I'm reminded why I don't do this too often. Just for fun I displayed them on one of my many cake stands and they looked super pretty when you got to lookin at them.

Because Keighley wanted several for girls and one for her son I made them with her requests in mind even though every one was different. It would've been way too boring making them all exactly the same. I thought I'd share a few of my favourite ones.

I love this 'Imaginesce' princess paper that Jess got me last year and I love the green and pink colour combo too.

This one uses 'Doodlebug' papers and pretty little punched flowers to embellish it. I kept them all pretty simple otherwise it would've taken much longer.

This pretty pink one was all cupcakes and sweet things which of course was the perfect theme for this box. Keighley had all three of these first ones - I knew she would!

This 'Cosmo Cricket' one is actually much nicer up close and for real and is actually my favourite of them all - gee I wonder if the spotty dots and red colouring has anything to do with that - hhmmmmm?

Finally this was the only 'boy' box I made and it uses CC papers as well in a really cute robot design. After all boys like cake too don't they? I need to do some more male themed boxes but I couldn't be bothered to trawl through my papers. I guess I didn't realise just how much 'girly' I buy.

By the time I had made matching cards, liners and handmade envelopes too I was beginning to get a bit tired of these boxes but like I said - probably not for long. I am teaching a class on these at YTOC and hopefully on base. It's our first time of offering a class on base so we're hoping it'll be well received but we'll just have to see. Right now Amanda is stateside at CHA (lucky so and so) so it'll be awhile before I talk to her.

I am toying with the idea of offering some of my past class projects as kits here on the blog but there are a few things to work out if I do - like payment & postage - that kinda stuff. Like I said I'm toying with the idea for the time being. I just think it's a shame when someone misses a class but would still like to do the project plus I never get to teach the same thing twice.

Will keep you updated if I do.

Blog Candy!

Check out this blog candy up for grabs from Dawn over at 'all pink girl'. You can find details here at her blog - http://allpinkgirl.blogspot.com/2010/01/mega-blog-candy-on-offer.html

You have until 27th January to get on board so you better hurry - isn't it exciting! Ok so I've never actually won anything but the taking part is real fun.

Be sure to check out her cute creations while you're there too.