A Beautiful Love Story - SDC 153

There was an SDC challenge a couple of weeks ago involving boxes and I was all psyched up to FINALLY alter one of the Altoid tin containers that I've been hoarding.  I got it all painted and then The Muse had other ideas so this blue box has been sitting on my desk mocking me.  Not sure what made me grab it today - maybe I just need it off my desk! - but here's what I did with it for this week's Anniversary, Wedding, Love challenge:

Part way through I thought of taking some process pictures so bear with me. :)

I had hoped to stamp Eric and Linda and add them on here but the heart took up more space than I thought.

Here's the back view.  I used all kinds of scrap pieces on the box - overspray, practice runs with stencils, stamping off, etc.

The lid in this photo shows the blue I started with.

  I wanted to make the heart out of paper clay, but it seems to have gone AWOL.  I had to get creative.  I grabbed some newspaper and masking tape to make a heart.

Next came a little more recycling.  I have a bunch of these colorful paper towels laying around.  I grabbed this one and another one with yellows and oranges to cover the heart.

 After I covered the heart I added a touch of glimmer mist to make it shine and then attached the heart to the box with aqua-colored wire.  I'd never tried punching through thicker metal with my Crop-o-dile before but it worked like a charm.

I used a quote from my Well Said pinterest board again this week. All that time I've spent pinning has really come in handy lately!

This was a feel-good, use up a bunch of stash and re-purpose things project. I've wanted to do an altered tin for so long (I've got a serious stash saved up) - lots of fun.

Thanks so much for swinging by to take a peek at my project.  Wishing you a delightful weekend.

SDC 152 - Sentimental OR Topknot Loses It

Gez over at Stampotique Designers Challenge laid down this week's challenge like this:

"I love sentiments and sayings, they really say it all to me! They make a piece finished! I'd like you to share some of your favourite words with us this week! They can be a main focal point or an embellishment, it's your choice! Say it with words..." 

I have to laugh a little as the sentiment I used on my ATC for this week's challenge is not very sentimental at all!  I turned to my trusty Well Said pinterest board again and when I saw this quote I chuckled merrily and got right to work.

Topknot was still sitting on my desk from last week so I reached for her right away.  I love her look - you just know she doesn't put up with any BS and is quite the spunky girl.  She reminds me of my daughter.  :)

The background technique is the same as the one Tim Holtz used for his June tag this month.  I added a little stenciling over it and some splatters and lines.

That's it for today.  Hope your Monday is going fabulously!

Are You Prepared...?

...for the Minion Apocalypse??

What?!  Minions are those cute little yellow Twinkie-like guys from the Despicable Me movies.  My daughter is obsessed with the little fellas so whenever I notice an ATC swap with a minion theme I join it.  A  swap partner asked me for a hand-drawn zombie minion - not passing up that opportunity!  

The background is one I had laying around for a while.  I just added the drops (blood drops?  Ewww...) and a little washi tape to ground my critter.

This poor little guy is sporting some oozy, nasty sores, a missing hand (so I guess he's not really sporting that at all!) and has cracked his glasses.  He also desperately needs a visit with the dentist.

As luck would have it, this also fits with the Wicked Wednesday challenge this week: Cartoons/Comics.

Hope I haven't grossed you out too much today.  Cheers!

Red, White & Blue ATCs

My bi-monthly mixed media ATC group challenge is to use red, white and blue.  I really wanted to stay away from a patriotic theme; it just seemed too obvious to me.  However, my daughter and I are deep in the midst of World Cup fever, getting psyched up to cheer for the US mens' national team (in spite of all those doubters!) so this was really tricky for me.  The only way I could push myself off course was to go abstract.

The last time I stopped at Lowe's I picked up some drywall tape.  I've had it sitting smack dab in the middle of my desk to remind me to use it. I really had no idea where I was going with these when I started and just grabbed things in my line of sight.

Materials Used:
    • drywall tape
    • acrylic paint
    • dye ink
    • stamp
    • stencil

Thanks for swinging by.  Wishing you a wonderful day!

Standing Up For All Women - SDC 151: Boxes

I think everyone needs something to believe in and something to fight for.  I hope you're all with me in appreciating the hazards we women face when dealing with capes and restrooms.  'nuff said?

I'm not sure this is exactly what Arwen had in mind when throwing out the box challenge, but my quirky sense of humor overrode my sensible side and I created this for SDC 151.

 The message on the sign totally cracked me up.

Originally I was going to alter an Altoids tin for this challenge.  In fact, there is one sitting on my desk all painted and ready to go.  However, I saw a plain, white Dial soap box sitting on the bathroom counter (where one of my little lovelies left it after removing the soap...hmmm) and "Soapbox!" popped into my head.  

I had no idea what Topknot would be pontificating about so am relieved that my 'Well Said' pinterest board helped me out.

The box covering is tissue paper that I painted with acrylics and added some Stickles to.  I cut the Dial logo from a plastic wrapper.  The soap bubbles are from a background stamp that I embossed onto vellum, colored with Copics and added little glittery bits to as well.   Some adhesive foam lifts Topknot off the background so she can really catch your attention to share her message.

Stampotique stamp: Topknot, Bla bla bla

Thanks for stopping by and have a fab weekend!

Celebrate - SDC 150!

Oliver is not in a party mood in spite of the festive "Celebrate" banner dangling over his head.  Maybe it's one of those 'significant' birthdays that he's just not ready for yet.  Sorry, buddy.  Read more about this card HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stampotique-a-licious-ness

A couple of weeks ago Sam threw down a challenge (SDC 149) to use pink, turquoise and polka dots on a project.    I've had a couple of those little unfinished wood birdhouses sitting on my desk, all gesso'd up and ready to go and thought I would whip up a little something-something really quick with one of those.  I painted, stamped, colored, textured...and then painted, stamped, colored and textured some more.  The deadline for the challenge came and went and then the new Celebrate challenge (SDC 150) was tossed out.  Clever me thought I could combine the two, but, um...no.  All that to say I have two projects to share today - both having pink & turquoise, but only one with polka dots and the other celebratory...kinda.  ;)

Initially the 'celebrate' banner was supposed to go across the the front of the house (along with a 'today' banner) but this little house really is itty bitty and the banner just looked too big.  I still thought the banner was kinda cute-ish so plopped it onto a card.  

Oliver cracks me up with his sad little face. I was thinking he was wearing a party hat but maybe it's a dunce cap. And perhaps that's why he can't quite get his celebration on.

Before the whole Celebrate thing came up I was thinking of putting 'Home Sweet Home' on the front of this.  Still might.

Several layers on this baby.  Tissue paper, washi tape, stamped images, acrylics, etc.

 Heart Boy is a little charmer, isn't he?

Wishing you a fab week.  Thanks for taking a peek!