Unplug and Go Outside

Happy New Year to you - wishing you a 2014 filled with good health and happiness. Many thanks for stopping by.

I'm especially pleased to post today as I've made this project as Guest Designer for one of the most talented and educational blogs around - Frilly and Funkie Challenge. The fabulous F&F team have as their challenge theme this fortnight 'New Year's Resolutions'. My top resolution is to spend less time on pc and smartphone and more time outside.

I wanted to created something light and fresh after all the darker coloured Christmas makes. As it is very stormy and wet in these parts recently I also needed something bright and pretty to entice me outdoors. The gorgeous Graphic 45 'Secret Garden' papers seem to meet these requirements imho. (Picture laden post follows!).

I've decorated a Tim Holtz Idea-ology configurations box with a selection of 'Secret Garden' papers. Similar to when I made box using Graphic 45 'A Ladies' Diary' papers I turned the Idea-ology box into a hinged type box with dummy outer and inner lids. In order to keep piece looking light I first painted the box and Idea-ology feet with a coat of Gesso, then two coats of PaperArtsy 'Vintage Lace' paint followed by a top coat of PaperArtsy 'Metallic Glaze' - this adds a lovely pearlescent shimmer.

The top lid has been embellished with lots of diecuts, charms and flowers - most of which I've drenched with 'Clear Rock Candy' distress glitter so that they all look sugary sweet. The two soft blue felt roses are from a prize I was lucky enough to win from the lovely Ivana at Paper Girl Crafts. (Ivana's blog and beautiful creations are well worth checking out). I've also wrapped the lid with pretty venise lace - you can see it here at Linda's Funkie Junkie Boutique. As usual I've managed to also include a bow.

I added a light dusting of Frantage to the papers and then set about doing a whole lot of cutting and pasting.

I can't remember who sent me a freebie of a diecut picket fence ages ago - it came in very handy here to give dimension to the inner lid. Painted fence with a few coats of PaperArtsy 'Snowflake' to give a clean white. Again decorated the little inner scene with glittered flowers, charms, ribbon and a Prima resin birdhouse.

The last time I altered an Idea-ology box I pasted paper to both the inside and outside of the drawers but the added layers made for a very tight fit. This time I painted the outer sides with pearly pale pink as above and just papered the drawer insides.

One of my favourite features of the box is the front 'lock'. First of all I diecut two layers of chipboard using Sizzix Bigz 'Hardware Findings' die. Then also diecut some thin grungepaper. I embossed the grungepaper layer with Sizzix Regal Flourishes folder so that it would have impressions similar to the Idea-ology box feet. Somehow though by the time I had glued the three diecut layers together and painted as above, alas it had mostly lost the embossed impressions - maybe the base coat of gesso was too thick. Added in two little gold brads as faux nails.

Around top and bottom sides I stencilled some Butterflies and Dragonflies using a Crafters Workshop stencil and white texture paste. Whilst wet I sprinkled on more distress glitter in 'Clear Rock Candy' - a girl has gotta add sparkle every chance she gets!

Very many thanks to the always inspirational Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog for allowing me feature as their Guest Designer today.

Huge thanks in advance for your visits and comments that are all truly appreciated.

Nicola x

I wish to enter box to the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday - Something New (New Year Resolution)
Crafts 4 Eternity - Something New (New Year Resolution)
Crafty Creations Challenges - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon - New Beginnings
Card and Scrap - Bruk blomster / Use Flowers
Natalie & Amy's Challenge - One for the Girlies

For A Lady

Greetings from Dublin. Firstly, heartfelt thanks to everyone who left such lovely comments on my last post - you ladies are warm rays of sunshine and your kindness means a great deal to me. Secondly, I've missed my magical mystery tours around your blogs and I'm hoping to venture back as much as possible.

Last Sunday I was lucky enough to attend a class hosted by the lovely Eve who taught us to alter a Tim Holtz configurations box using the delectable Graphic 45 'A Ladies' Diary' papers, together with a matching mini album. Thank-you Eve for hosting such a friendly, fun filled day - looking forward to more. It was great to finally meet the wonderful Shirley and other crafty ladies too.

Eve's box had a clear top lid so that the lovely lined drawers could be seen below with the album hidden beneath them. She showed us how to 'hinge' the top and bottom parts in order to double the box height. I've arranged my box a little differently though and made it with a paper covered lid. Here is my version;



Back at home I covered all sides of box and drawers (inner and outer) with the beautiful A Ladies' Diary papers. Also painted the drawers with Paper Artsy's fresco finish in Nougat. The lid is simply made from a square of Ladies' Diary paper on top of a square of cardstock. I sealed the papers with Claudine Hellmuth multi medium matte and found this product super as it forms an invisible seal with no visible brushstrokes. I then edged the lid with lace and decorated with lots of Ladies' Diary images, roses by Prima and Jeans (available here), silk ribbon (tied using Boweasy), pearls and charms. (A little inking is also in the mixture using Distress Inks). Also added Tim Holtz game spinners to clocks on two sides.



For the inside of the box I've used the space in the top lid to create a little stamped scene showing a seamstress busy creating all those fashions modelled on the outside. The stamped square is backed by a square of cardstock for reinforcement. I've used stamps from the gorgeous set 'Sew Much To Do' by Chapel Road Artstamps. You can see I've also used some 'A Ladies' Diary' cutouts to form the scene as well as lace, stitched buttons, sewn ribbon, wound spools, pearl string, roses, seam binding, ribbon measuring tape and I stamped the Magnolia die cut tag for the shop sign.



I recently bought the Tim Holtz dressform die and cut some spools from chipboard and used one as the box 'closure'. I decorated it with seam binding and a really fabulous scissors charm that I bought from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. Eve's kit also included the Tim Holtz Foundations 'feet' that really finish off the box wonderfully.

I'll be giving this box to my Darling Mum next Sunday for Mother's Day.

I wish you all a lovely week and thank everyone most sincerely for visiting. It's great to have you along!

Nicola x


I wish to enter box to the following challenges;
Sugar Creek Hollow - #51 Lovely Lace
Simon Says Stamp and Show - By The Numbers (clocks, dates,tape)
Country View Crafts - Pick and Mix
Stampin For The Weekend - Lace
Vintage Udfordring - #55 Decorate with Flowers
Joanna Sheen - Layer It Up
Moving Along With The Times - Lovely Ladies
Glitter n Sparkle Challenge Blog - Mother's Day
Sunday Stamper - Oh You Pretty Things
Allsorts Challenge - For A Lady
Inspiration Emporium - Add A Little P.O.P.