A Shared Passion-My First Shared Post

Well hello everyone!!!

It has been almost two weeks since my last post...I find that I am still fighting off the affects of whatever bug that I had at the beginning of January!!  It's just the fatigue end of it...after I  take care of work and home chores I just don't have the energy to craft!  The ideas are there but the body just does not want to co-operate...LOL!!!

So that has brought me to today's post!  I have had this idea swirling in my head for awhile and thought...this is the perfect time to begin!!!

I think that any of you who visit me on my blog have probably figured out that I have a PASSION for "Explosion Boxes"!!!  Well today I am going to show you my very first one that I have never posted but as it was already done it was the perfect time to do so!!  I made this almost a year ago!!

And the result of my first attempt at an "Explosion Box" was the planting of the same passion in my oldest Granddaughter's crafty mind!!

So I'll begin with mine and a warning that this is a VERY HEAVY picture post...

please click on the first image for a slide show...

 the front view with oval cut out window...

 

 the lid using an acrylic flower as knob...surrounded by fabric flowers, paper leaves, fern branches and a couple of feathers...

 

 the two sides are made the same with a small flower arrangement in the bottom back corners...

 the back has lace threaded with ribbon matching up with the lid...

 inside the centre I made a tree out of the Memory Box Arboscello Tree (cut out about six times) put through the Zyron and formed together...I added a bit of Glamour Dust...

tree trunk was made using a Tim Holtz wood grain embossing folder then cut into shape...

the grass/ground area was made using green tulle/bead clusters and burlap ribbon formed

into clumps then I added some punched butterflies, flower wire tendrils and pearls...

the stamp is Seeding Tilda from the Sweet Rainbow 2011 Collection..

Happy Spring Tilda from the Butterfly Dreams 2011 Collection...
OH and while I told myself not to change anything after a year...
I looked at it and thought that the images looked naked...so my Frantage loving voice won out and I just HAD to add some...

Tilda with Butterfly Dress from the Butterfly Dreams 2011 Collection...

 

and this picture just WOULD NOT co-operate and turn for me...

this is Hello Little Butterfly (not sure what collection)...

 and full view of the "exploded" box...

 

So after showing this to my Granddaughters, our illustrious Calla (she would have been only five at the time)...



 got down to work while at her Nanny and Granddad's (my Granddaughters' other Grandparents) cottage and came up with this BEAUTIFUL "Explosion Box" all by herself...

their Mother Sarah told me that she went off by herself and came back with this MASTERPIECE and told them she had wanted to make an explosion box "Just like Grandma's"...

needless to say when my Son sent me this picture I was bursting with PRIDE...

I asked Calla if she would like to be on a blog post with me and she emphatically said "YES!!"...

below is Calla's box exploded with water and a LOVELY handmade swan swimming...

she even made a front window!!!...
SORRY Calla...Grandma's computer was acting up and I couldn't get your explosion box picture to go any bigger...

when I asked Mia (also five at the time of this picture) if she wanted to be on my blog doing a craft she said "No" so I asked if she wanted to be the dog whisperer and she said "YES!!"...

our Mia says she wants to be a vet when she grows up!!!...

 

Well that ends my "First Shared Post" featuring a shared passion with my BEAUTIFUL and GORGEOUS twin Granddaughters!!!  The pictures of the girls were taken almost a year ago at about the time that Calla made her WONDERFUL creation!!!!

 

Materials Used: (please forgive me if I forget to mention a few...it was almost a year ago)

DP-LOTV (I forget which collection)

Stamps-named above are from Magnolia-licious

Fratage-Shabby White Live and Love Crafts

Dies-Spellbinders Classic Ovals, Scalloped Ovals and Labels Ten

         Memory Box Arboscello Tree, Tiny Tendrils and Macarena Corner

         Poppy Stamp Die is Ivy Tendrils

Ribbon, lace, pearls, flowers, acetate, tulle/pearl clusters and burlap are all from my stash

 

Challenges I will enter:

Fashionista Challenge-Challenge #5 Anything Goes

Magnolia Down Under-#227 Summer Delights

Tilda's Town-Challenge #88 Anything Goes

 

Until next time...thank you so much for dropping by...your visits and comments are very much appreciated!!!!

 

 

Christmas 2013 Completed!!!

Good Saturday Morning!!!

I have FINALLY completed all my Christmas "cards" for special friends!  And I have learned a very valuable lesson...START EARLY...LOL!!!!!!

You know when you think "That's okay I can finish it tomorrow or the next day"... well after all the obstacles that crossed my path before Christmas...and after...I have decided that I am going to start soon on my Christmas 2014 projects!!!

I had left completing "cards" for my two best friends till the end because...hey they're my best friends and they'll understand...plus I wanted to make theirs' special!

Today I'd like to show you the final one and I have to warn you that my post is picture heavy...

 

this is an Explosion Box of a different sort then what I usually do...

I saw this on the Buffalo Stamps and Stuff Feedblitz that I receive and thought...

WOW I'd really like to try this...

this is the front of the box with slit cut diagonally from near the top to near bottom...

please click on the first picture for a slideshow...





                                                               



 a closer look of a darling House of Mouse stamp...Light Fun Amanda...

I cut it into a 3" circle and mounted it onto a sewing machine spool...

then I made sort of a hook using ribbon...

when you unloop the ribbon from the flower the whole circle spirals to the bottom of the slit ...like a snow ball rolling down a hill...

 the two sides are decorated on just one corner each with a flower cluster... 

 this is the back using Light Hanging Muzzy...

 and a closer look...

the lid using a metal flower and brad as a knob and decorated with silver and pink ribbon...

 the box opened up with a tray to place my BFF's gift...

on the back of the sewing machine spool I fastened another circle and then used

Magnolia's View Master die cut and wrote Merry Christmas in the cut out spaces...

 and the final image is Wishful Thinking Monica...

 and a closer look...

PHEW!!!!  DONE!!!  Oh and I dusted off my Prismas and used them!  I have to tell you that I need lots of practice still with these!!!

 

Materials Used:

Stamps-House of Mouse Light Fun Amanda #HMKR1021, Light Hanging Muzzy #HMUR1046 and Wishful Thinking Monica #HMJR1030

DP-Heidi Grace

Die Cuts-Magnolia View Master, Go Kreate Frilly Sq. #8 #120028

Punch-Marvy 3" circle

Flowers-Wild Orchid Crafts

Frantage-Shabby Pink and Shabby White are from Stampendous

Ribbon, sewing machine spool, brads and metal flower are from my stash

 

Challenge I will enter:

House of Mouse Challenge HMFMC#160-use silver (ribbon, metal flower and silver paper) and/or gold (throughout the DP and in the Frantage)

So that is that for today!!

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by...your visits and comments are very much appreciated!!

 

 

 

 



Fussy and Fancy Challenge #105-Monochromatic

Good Friday Morning!!

Hope everyone is fairing okay with all of this tumultuous weather that we are experiencing!! In Southern Ontario we have had quite a bit of snow, frigid weather, high winds and hey guess what...on the weekend above normal temps and...yes RAIN!!  But with all that said we are much more fortunate than many who are experiencing the flooding, excessive snow and severe freezing temps!!

But enough about weather...I'm here to tell you that today starts the first Fussy and Fancy Challenge of 2014!!!   Challenge #105 is...Monochromatic!  Our sponsor for this challenge is Crafty Sentiments!

So I chose to use a Crafty Sentiments digi called "Harriet and Ragga"...she's a little cutie!!

Here is what I came up with...

I created a "window" by cutting out the center using Spellbinders Grand Calibur Ovals and  framing it with Spellbinders Grand Calibur Decorative Ovals One...

please click on the first picture for a slideshow... 

 

and this is little Miss Harriet (I added eyelashes with a black Zig pen) with her pal Ragga...I added a touch of Frantage on the oval matt and to the chain connecting the two sentiments...

 

and some more Frantage to a metal butterfly...

 

and yes...to a magnifying glass and small flowers...

And that is that for my contribution to this Fussy and Fancy Challenge ...you're in for a real treat when you check out my teammate's works of art !!  Hop on over to our Challenge Blog and join in the fun...we would LOVE to see what you create!!!

Materials Used:
Stamp-Crafty Sentiments "Harriet and Ragga"
Sentiment stamps-LOTV Set #58 Pretty Grungy-Good Times
DP-Maja Designs Vintage Spring Basics 6X6 pads-Live and Love Crafts
Flowers-Wild Orchid Crafts 
Frantage Shabby white and Shabby Taupe-Live and Love Crafts
Metal butterfly-Ribbon Girl
Metal chain and Magnifying glass-Tim Holtz
Ribbon and pearls from my stash

Thank you for taking time to stop by...your visits and comments are very much appreciated!!

Christmas "Card" Undelivered!!

Well Happy New Year All!!  I hope that everyone was able to enjoy quality time with family and friends!

Our Christmas was a little wacky this year and I was unable to finish and deliver my "cards" for my two best friends!!

Today I want to show you my friend Dianne's who has been my BFF forever...literally as she has known me since I was born!  Di has a pink Christmas tree (not the tree...the ornaments) so I decided to make an ornament using white/pink/a touch of red...

 



I used a large glass ball that I found in Homesense...I added White Texture Effect and glamour dust to create the snow on top...
please click on first picture for a slideshow...

 

I made a Christmas tree by forming a cone with white card stock and covering it with white feathers...

 

I topped it with two snowflake charms back to back and added pink pearls and some tiny red rhinestones...

 

then I made gifts out of cardstock for Tildas to sit on...

 

this is Tilda with Little Rudolph (this is one of my most favourite Magnolia stamps) from the Christmas Story 2012 collection...

 

here is Jolly Elf Tilda...I believe she's from the Merry Christmas 2010 collection...



 

and this is Tilda with Little Gift...sorry not sure what collection... 

 

 

And that completes Dianne's "card" which I will give to her today...so now I just have one left to do...then I guess it's time to start 2014 cards...LOL!!!

 

Materials Used:

Glass ball-Homesense

Stamps-all listed above were purchased from Magnolia-licious

Snowflake charms-Ribbon Girl

Feathers, pearls, rhinestones, ribbon, glamour dust, fake snow-from my stash
White Texture Effect-Martha Stewart

Challenges I will enter:
Magnolia Mania-Challenge # 82 Gifts
Simply Magnolia-Favourite (Tilda with Little Rudolph) or Newest Magnolia
Time for Magnolia-Christmas Challenge #42 Winter Wonderland
Midweek Magnolia-Challenge #79 White Christmas
Tildas Town-Challenge #85 Anything Goes

Well until next time...thank you so very much for taking the time to stop by!!  I really do appreciate your visits and comments!!!
 

 

 



Belated Christmas Post!! Featuring a Christmas Snow Ball Fight!

Well it is Boxing Day...

I missed posting Holiday Wishes to you all so I am sending out belated Christmas Wishes to everyone and hopes that your New Year is Healthy and Happy!!!

A huge ice storm hit us here in Ontario and thousands of people were...and some still are...without power!!!  Our house was without power for three days but we were lucky enough to get ours back in the evening on Christmas Eve!!  As I said before Christmas comes whether we are prepared or not!!!  A HUGE THANK YOU to all the service personal at our hydro companies who had to give up their Christmas vacations just to get everything up and going!!!!!!

It sure makes a person appreciate all that we have!!!  It got so cold in here that I was wrapping (during daylight hours) with four layers on, hood up and half gloves!!  My golden retriever wasn't fazed by it all but my poor little hound couldn't get any further under the blankets let me tell ya!!!

When all was said and done my family enjoyed a WONDERFUL Christmas Day together!!!!  We really do have so much to be thankful for!!

Okay so after listening to me babble I will get on with the post that was to go out on Christmas Eve day...

 

Christmas "card" for my friend Christine...

please click on first image for a slide show...

In the Snow Scarf Tilda and In the Snow Ski Tilda (Winter Wonderland 2013 collection) having a friendly Christmas snow ball fight...

the trees are Magnolia Winter Forest stamp stamped on green cardstock, cut out and decorated with Shabby White Frantage...

I added Liquid Applique and Glamour Dust to the snowballs and hat pom-poms...

ferns are the Magnolia Doo Hickey Sprawling Ferns...

 

and the back with fake snow gathering around the trees...

sentiment with a white bow and silver flowers ....

 

Thankfully I was able to get this to Christine a few days before Christmas...before the nasty weather set in!!

Materials Used:
Glass Bowl and fake snow-Michael's
Stamps-Magnolia Winter Wonderland 2013 and sorry not sure which collection the Winter Forest is from-Magnolia-licious
White Texture Effect-Martha Stewart
Silver Flowers-Wild Orchid Crafts
Frantage-Live and Love Crafts
Ribbon and Glamour Dust-from my stash

Challenge that I will enter:
Fashionista Challenge-Winter Snowflakes
Magnolias Down Under-Challenge #226 Anything Goes
Marvelous Magnolias-Challenge #58 Anything Goes
Time for Magnolias-Challenge #41 Anything Goes
Tildas Town-Challenge #84 Anything Goes 
Totally Tilda-Challenge #87 Anything Goes


Well that is it for my belated Christmas post...I hope that everyone enjoyed their time with family and friends!!!  And thank you to all who sent me Christmas wishes...they are much appreciated!!!!

Once again thank you for taking the time to stop by...your visits and comments are very much appreciated!!!

Christmas Love!!

Hello all!!

Are you ready yet??!!  I myself am still way behind...but then I think every year I say the same thing!  The big day arrives no matter what and magically everything falls into place...I HOPE!!!

Today I would like to share a "card" made for one of my very dear friends!!

I think that this should be called "Tilda's Cozy Living Room"!

I started off by lining the bottom of the bowl with a doilie...it sort of got covered with snow...

 

Puppy Love Tilda and Puppy Love Wiola in front of the Peaceful Christmas Tree...all from the Winter Wonderland 2013 collection...

please click on the first image for a slideshow...



 from the outside looking in...

 and another...

 a closer look...I made a little table using Maja paper...it sits on a rug (complete with fringes) made from Maja as well ...

 I finished off the base with another doilie, ribbon and berry clusters...

 

 

Well another "card" done and safely delivered!!!  On to the next!

 

Materials Used:

DP-Maja Design Christmas Time-Live and Love Crafts

Stamps-named above-Magnolia-licious

Die Cuts-Magnolia Doohickeys Sprawling Ferns and Poppy Stamps Small Madison Window

Berry Clusters and doilies-Wild Orchid Crafts

Ribbon, pearls and acetate-from my stash

Glass bowl/stand-Homesense

 

Challenges I would like to enter:

Magnolia-licious Challenge-Doilies

Midweek Magnolia-I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas (use snow or snow image)

Time for Magnolia-Christmas Challenge #40 Anything but a Square

Marvelous Magnolias-Challenge #58 Anything Goes

Totally Tilda-Challenge #87 Anything Goes

 

Well that is it for now!!  Thank you for taking the time to stop by...your visits and comments are very much appreciated!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 



Fussy and Fancy Chocolate Challenge!!

Good Friday Morning!!

Today starts the "Chocolate" Challenge at Fussy and Fancy...now who doesn't LOVE chocolate??!!   You can use the colour chocolate or create something for/with chocolate!!

As we have only one challenge in December our lovely leader Sheryl invited both teams to play along for this challenge so we have a few extra projects to share this time...hop on over to Fussy and Fancy for a peek at what my talented teammates have come up with!!!

This challenge is sponsored by Fresh Brewed Designs so I thought that I would try my hand at one of their cute little digis..."Cookies for Santa"!!

Here he is...



thought I'd have him "looking" out the window waiting for Santa...

the front is decorated with a Memory Box die Holiday Goodie Border...

mini heart, ginger bread and star buttons and cookie cutters...

 

the inside window decorated with Christmas lights, chocolate bows, heart and stars...

chocolate matts are frosted with Shabby White Frantage...

 

the image is dusted with Shabby Taupe Frantage...

our little guy is drinking chocolate milk of course...

 

 

So...the "Cookies for Santa" are set out a little early this year...LOL!!!

 

Materials Used:

DP-Imaginisce Polar Expressions Comfy Cozy (front...it has hot chocolate on it) and Pine and Peppermint (inside)

Digi-Fresh Brewed Designs "Cookies for Santa"

Dies-Memory Box Holiday Goodie Border, Poppy Stamps Grand Madison Window, Spellbinders  Gold Circles One S4-390 and Ribbon Banner LG S5-122

Stamps-Quick Kutz "Merry Christmas" and "wishing you joy" Kollette Hall

Buttons, lights, ribbon, embroidery floss are from my stash

Frantage,crystal stick pin and end-Live and Love Crafts

Snowflake charm-Ribbon Girl

Berry clusters-Wild Orchid Crafts

 

Thank you so much for stopping by...your visits and comments are very much appreciated!!