Young at Heart!

This project is inspired by the current challenge at Cheery Lynn, City Crafter Challenge and Lessology. My take on this challenge is also inspired by "first crush in school" and "childhood sweetheart" !!! Am sure most of us have gone through this phase in life...so young, naïve, innocent and sweet!
Somehow with this inspiration, I was not keen on using roses and red color in my project, which I feel is more for significant for the mature love!


So here it is..."for the young at heart!"



The lantern is handmade using an acetate sheet and a couple of empty foam tape rings.

 I covered the acetate sheet with a pastel ping silk paper on which I had created the heart window! the silk paper is dry embossed with hearts on it. The base and the top of the lid of the lantern is again waste CD's on which I have adhered a doily, cheery Lynn English Party(DL 101).


Hope you can see the silver embossing at the flower tips...

I have used PP from K & Company. The flowers at the base are Cheery Lynn, small heart cutie fringe (B391). I have heat embossed the hearts alone in silver for the flower!
The heart window is decorated with pastel pink flat back pearls and when you take a peek into the window, you can see the tea light candle all wrapped in a pink and white heart washi tape!
The lid has the maximum work on it. The alphabets are inked in picked raspberry and made to stand vertical on a acetate stand and has 2 little love birds in conversation( io die). Am loving the vertical arrangement on the lid as it gives more dimension to the project.
The heart die cut on the lid has some cute little lovie dovie quotes as inserts...

The flowers on the lid are a combination of Cherry Lynn Shasta Daisy(B310) and Sun flower(DL 121) and olive branches.
The cute little key hanging from the alphabet is my favorite in the entire makeover along with the birds who it seems are totally oblivious to their surroundings and very much in "LOVE"...what say???

I loved every bit of this pink romance...which takes you back to your childhood days! It did for me...
Do let me know your views on this.
Thanks for stopping by.
Until then,
Happy Crafting and Recycling.
Hugs.
Am linking this to...
http://cheerylynndesigns.blogspot.in/2014/01/cheery-lynn-designs-116-sweethearts.html
http://citycrafter.blogspot.in/2014/01/city-crafter-challenge-blog-week-195.html
http://lessology.blogspot.in/2014/01/lessology-challenge-32-you-hold-key-to.html
http://itsybitsyindia.blogspot.in/2014/01/the-itsybitsy-picture-bingo-challenge.html
(have used the left row and middle row)


The glow at night.....

Altered "Memory" Box

This project is totally inspired from Hussena...guest DT of color conceptions! She has altered this amazing heart shaped box and I knew immediately what my next project was!


I had this old(8yrs) hexagon box...totally unassuming, faded and tattered in places holding some pebbles, shells and cobble stones which I use in my vintage projects! I decided to give this museum piece a makeover.
Look how it was....



and what I made of it!!!!



There are sooooo many elements, as usual in this project of mine, so sit back and be ready for a loooot of viewing and detailing!!!!

I firstly started by giving 2 coats of gesso to the box and by the time it dried I had decided that I am going to use maximum amount of scraps in this project...inspired by Lulupu's current challenge! I took out all scrap PP's, die cut negatives and scrap chipboard from cartons.



The outer 6 panels has different colors of PP from the scraps and I gave texture to all of them using modeling paste and when dry, lightly inked them. Then took out the die cut negatives( olive branch, cheery Lynn) and used it as a stencil and sponged archival black ink. I loved how the panels turned out!

Going to the inside of the box, I lined the base with red CS and for the panels, I dry embossed each strip using Itsy Bitsy Damask folder( my new buy, which I won in a challenge)! These panels I have used them as slots for tags...so they are stuck only on 3 sides...I hope you can see the tags peeping out!



There is a small twist to tags!!! There are all made with die cut negatives, which I store them carefully! I gave a PP behind the negative and then stuck it to this lovely beige color CS and voila! some different looking tags(but nice, I hope) were ready!

I have stamped Memory quotes at the back for a few and in some , I have stamped message box. Each tag has a co ordinated twine attached to it again my new buy from Itsy Bitsy!

I have stuck a doily at the base of the box with a sentiment too. I can't leave anything blank!



Now, coming to the favourite part of the box....The Lid!
 I have worked soooo much on it.
Firstly, adhered a doily to it and then I cut the alphabets from scrap chipboard from cereal carton. Before that, I adhered PP's to both sides of the chipboard and after cutting, inked them all with walnut stain.

I decided to keep the alphabets vertical and so stuck them to acetate sheet(from packaging) and mounted it on the lid! The flowers are made using Cheery Lynn and Tim Holtz dies and I have stuck flat back pebbles as flower centers...my new buy again!!!

Once the floral arrangement was done, I perched 2 little birds on the alphabets(my new die) and they looked so awfully cute as if they are talking to each other!!! I just loved how the whole thing turned out to be...


The rim of the lid had some inked lace and bling and when you open the lid, there is a doily there again! I have heat embossed a scalloped circle frame in black and given a slot for changing photograph.

I think this kind of sums up my creation!!! Hope I din't bug you with a lot of detailing...but please do leave your comments, they are so valuable.

Am linking this to...
http://colorconceptionschallenges.blogspot.in/2014/01/new-year-new-challenge.html
http://lulupu.blogspot.in/2014/01/lulupu-challenge24-scrap-your-scraps.html
(If my box does not qualify for the challenge, have done the tags too with scrap PP's, CS and die cut negatives)
http://itsybitsyindia.blogspot.in/2014/01/the-itsybitsy-picture-bingo-challenge.html
(have done top 2 rows and a lot of products from Itsy Bitsy too)
http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.in/2014/01/add-texture.html
(have done texture with stencil and dry embossing)
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.in/2014/01/in-with-new.html
(the embossing folder, birds die, flat back pebbles,  are my new yr purchase!)
Until then,
Happy Crafting and Re cycling.
Hugs.

Stacked books...calender

Hello Crafting ladies...


I have been making calenders in a row and each dedicated to a particular group of people...
This calendar is for all you book lovers and reading enthusiasts !!
It is an altered stack of books and the calendar sits on the top most book! This is a mini version of stacked books and can you guess how I made the stack of books???


Have a look...

yes, I have used empty soap cartons to make the mini books. These are sand witched between cardboard sheets and I have used some floral PP's for the book cover and covered the soap carton with scripted PP.


The mini book has been bound together using canvas sheet which I have dry embossed with tiny hearts! Once the books were ready, I inked the edges and glued them one on top of the other with space for embellishing!




I stuck the calendar to an acetate stand and mounted it on the first shelf! I have done cascading embellishment in this project using doilies, laces, sunflowers, tulips and mini roses, all handmade.

One of the steps has a cute heart charm hanging and the last step has a label sentiment too!

I had this lovely red bauble with green flowers on it, which I tucked under the sunflower and you can see it dangling in the side!

I have not ignore the back as usual...so when you turn around, there are some foliage and flowers tucked inside the books. I hope to make a regular size soon ...

This looks really pretty sitting on my craft table, bright and cheerful. Hope you all liked it, do let me know.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Am linking this to...
http://alteredeclectics.blogspot.in/2013/11/november-until-february-2014-anything.html
http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.in/2014/01/finding-inspiration-and-balance-in-new.html




http://lulupu.blogspot.in/2014/01/lulupu-challenge-23-create-calendar.html
http://mimchallegeblog.blogspot.in/2014/01/embossing.html
Until then,
Happy crafting and re cycling.
Hugs.

Baggit...bag full of wishes!

Hello Crafters,
This time I made a paper handbag, a coordinating tag with a little surprise inside for my friend's daughter's birthday which is round the corner.

Keeping her age in mind,(12yrs) I thought it should be bright and cheerful and so I chose green and orange as the color for this bag.
This bag is made from a single sheet of 12X12 Cardstock.Later, I stuck PP's from the Recollections paper pack. Inside the bag, I have embossed the middle panel with cupcakes and candles from Itsy Bitsy and have stamped birthday quotes. There are provisions to stick photos and slots for journaling too!

This bag is unbelievably sturdy...and can hold a cute little basket with some goodies too!

The handle is made with co ordinated beads and I made a small label for the front panel with a flower as embellishment.

On the handle there are some lovely charms dangling...a key, hugs and kisses tag, the alphabet "D" (the girls name starts with that) and a heart shaped resin pendant!

Some pastel green pearls add to girlie charm. Like I have said before, I cannot ignore the back of the bag! So a Tim Holtz flower with a sentiment adorns the back.

A closer look at the tag! I have used damask PP from the recollections stack and then added a layer of orange handmade paper with damask dry embossing. On that is the lovely sunflower from Cheery Lynn with a label sentiment which says it all!

This bag has surprised me in many ways and I am quite eager to give it to the young lady and can't wait to see her response to this!
How do you like it.... please let me know.
Am linking this to....
http://colorconceptionschallenges.blogspot.in/2014/01/new-year-new-challenge.html
http://lessology.blogspot.in/2014/01/lessology-challenge-32-you-hold-key-to.html
http://www.blogquickquotes.com/2014/01/friday-challenge-35.html
http://blog.kraftzone.in/2014/01/challenge-1-bag-with-tag-hello-friends.html
The resin pendant has colored shimmer inside and the silver key is using mirror paper, pearls and colored jingles on the heart pendant too!


Thanks for stopping by.
Until then,
Happy Crafting and Recycling,
Hugs.

Quilted Calender!

This month, my good friend Shilpa of Lulupu has challenged us to make calenders . Just last week I had created a masculine calendar and I was not upto it really.
I had decided that it was going to be "feminine" this time and definitely NOT vintage cos I had exhausted my creative zeal for making vintage now!
I wanted to gift a very special friend of mine, who is a passionate Quilter and who generously taught me the craft too. She has made some lovely quilts for me and getting inspiration form those "Quilts", decided to make a calendar with a quilted background!







 The top panel of the calendar, has the haberdashery embossed card as the focal point, perfect for a quilter with all required ingredients on it. I was so exited to use this new folder!
Than I took out all the scrap PP's that I had and started making a paper quilt!


I hope you can see the details in the embossing, the scissors, buttons, pins and not to miss the cute little thimble!



Voila...the panel was ready with some lovely prints and pleasing colors and so I decided to give it the Shabby, country look with my favourite, corrugated cardboard, ripped in places and gessoed!


This white Bg actually highlighted the panel and then I decided to make the lower panel with the same theme. I thought a calendar is incomplete without some sticky notes by its side, so added the post it also there.



It was now time for my favourite part of crafting...embellishments! I had made a few floral sprays with beads and also altered a whole bunch of keys in my free time, a couple of months back. I thought it was just about time to use them and Lessology had this challenge of using keys in their project, perfect.



I added a measuring tape which I lightly gessoed, a few buttons and some fabric lace to the panels. I connected the panels with colorful eyelets and joined the panels using a pink and white checkered fabric from my stash. Since I had frayed the edges of the cardboard, I decided to keep the fabric too that way. I made a beaded loop to hang the panels and also some lovely sentiments which adds a personal touch to the calendar!


Well, the calendar was ready, but something was missing! It was looking incomplete without a box, and so I took out this empty sweet box and altered it!

The whole box was gessoed in white and I made another paper quilt which I adhered on the top and embellished it with a shabby bow, this time a pastel green and white checkered fabric.



To the other end is the bloom and the cute little doily, all adding to feminity of the project. Once again I made some sentiment tags which speaks for itself!





I would like to dedicate this project to all you ladies who Quilt, Sew  and all of you like me who just love the Craft!
Wishing you all a very crafty, colorful, creative year ahead.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Until then,
Happy crafting and recycling.
Hugs.
Am linking this to..
http://lulupu.blogspot.in/2014/01/lulupu-challenge-23-create-calendar.html
http://lessology.blogspot.in/2014/01/lessology-challenge-32-you-hold-key-to.html
http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.in/2014/01/challenge-188-make-it-new-alter.html
http://lejdesignschallengeblog.blogspot.in/2014/01/lej-designs-challenge-no-85-anything.html
http://mimchallegeblog.blogspot.in/2014/01/embossing.html


The gift inside the box...

Vintage Memoires...

Hello people...
Wishing you all a very happy New year. I am glad to share my first creation for this year...which is a project I was bowled over when I saw its tutorial! I HAD to do it...it's a beautiful "Keepsake Box" made with envelopes and cardboard(my fav).

I LOVED making this one bcos it has a lot of my fav elements....I enjoy vintage theme projects and if it involves recycling items, that's a bonus!
This is a picture heavy post as I need to show you all around this box.
To start with I took a dozen envelopes, crushed them and  inked them with wild honey, vintage photo, walnut stain and edged them with black soot.
I had this photo of mine with this"old time" telephone which I thought was perfect as a focus for this box. That was when I was 3!!!This entire project had different shades of browns, creams,black and a hint of gold and shimmer!

The blooms are all hand made and am now into using altered keys as embellishments in my projects. I found these "shells" which are a part my childhood games...am sure many of you have played with it! I have used a lot of them here ...even the "feet" for the box is made with them! It had naturally aged and went well with the theme.

The box when opened holds a TREASURE! Yes, I have decided to keep my Black and white childhood photographs in this box....It kind of takes you back in time.
I think I will let the pictures speak for themselves...enjoy the tour around the box!
Do let me know your feedback on this project...would love to hear them.
Until then,
Happy Crafting and Recycling.
Hugs.
Am linking this to....
http://colorconceptionschallenges.blogspot.in/2014/01/new-year-new-challenge.html
http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.in/2013/12/week-199-color-challenge.html
http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.in/2014/01/favourite-single-colour-and-why.html

 

 

The vintage altered key intentionally kept at an angle also that the antique bells hang over the edge of the cover. This way every time you open a box, there is a small jingle....


The layers in the box..vintage shells and hanging foliage add to the feel. If you look closely, you can catch the slight gold shimmer in the edges.

 I love the "old telephone"...I guess I loved talking even then! Hope you can see the subtle gold embossing around the frame, the edges are torn and distressed in some placed to give the aged look.One of the blooms also has the edges gold embossed!

The blooms from an angle...

The box when open...A small quote and have stamped the blooms using my new Inkadinkado stamp! The lace on the top is with Kraft paper.

A closer look at the open lid..

The treasure inside..."lovely childhood memories"...




The base of the box with "the shell feet"!!! Isn't that lovely...