ALTERED CIGAR BOXES - BEACH THEMED

HEY Y'ALL! I HOPE EVERYONE IS STAYING SAFE AND WARM. WE'VE HAD SOME WINTER STORMS HERE IN THE SOUTHEAST... SOMETHING OF WHICH WE ARE NOT USED TO AND NOT PREPARED FOR. SO, AFTER PLAYING OUT IN THE COLD, WHITE, WET STUFF WITH THE KIDS FOR AWHILE... I AM SO OVER THAT STUFF AND READY FOR OUR GOOD OLD SOUTHERN WINTER AGAIN! 

ANYWAYS, I HAVE A PROJECT THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU. IT'S A COUPLE OF ALTERED CIGAR BOXES THAT MY NIECES' MOM COMMISSIONED ME TO MAKE FOR HER DAUGHTERS FOR CHRISTMAS. YES, I SAID CHRISTMAS. I'M A LITTLE LATE ON POSTING THEM, BUT IT'S ALL GOOD.  :)

SHE (LET'S CALL HER MY CLIENT) WANTED TO PUT COPIES OF OLD PHOTOS FOR EACH DAUGHTER INSIDE OF THE BOX. SINCE MY "CLIENT" AND HER DAUGHTERS LOVE THE BEACH; SHE DECIDED THAT BOTH BOXES SHOULD BE A BEACH THEME, HAVE A FRAME ON THE FRONT SO SHE CAN INSERT A PHOTO, AND SHOULD BE AS CLOSE TO THE SAME AS POSSIBLE. SO, WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS IN MIND... I GOT TO WORK ON SOME GREAT CIGAR BOXES. 

USING SOME PETALOO FLOWERS FOR INSPIRATION, I STARTED BY SELECTING THE PATTERNED PAPER THAT COORDINATED WITH THE COLORS OF CHOICE. AFTER MEASURING, CUTTING, & INKING THE EDGES OF THE PATTERNED PAPER AND SOLID CARDSTOCK MAT, I CONTINUED BY COVERING THE BOXES WITH THE PAPER AND THEN MOD-PODGE FOR A PROTECTIVE LAYER. 

I USED A SMALL FRAME ON THE FRONT THAT I PURCHASED FROM MICHAEL'S IN THE DOLLAR BIN.  IN ORDER TO "DISTRESS" THE FRAMES A LITTLE, I USED SOME OF WENDY VECCHI'S "ORANGE BLOSSOM" ARCHIVAL INK ON THE TIP OF MY FINGER AND SMEARED IT LIGHTLY OVER THE HIGH EDGES. ONCE THE INK WAS DRY, I GLUED SOME FLAT BACK PEARLS AND SHELLS TO THE FRAME.

WHILE THE MOD-PODGE WAS DRYING, I GATHERED SOME SHELLS, PEBBLES, WHITE SAND, AND OTHER MATERIALS TO DECORATE THE BOX. AS ALWAYS, I USED FABRI-TAC TO ADHERE THE FRAME, ALL OF THE EMBELLISHMENTS, AND THE RIBBONS.

ON THE INSIDE, I DECIDED TO ADD A POCKET SO THAT MY CLIENT COULD WRITE A LETTER TO EACH OF HER DAUGHTERS AND TUCK IT INSIDE. 

THE SENTIMENT THAT I CHOSE TO ADD SAYS, "EACH ONE OF US IS GOD'S SPECIAL WORK OF ART". I THOUGHT IT RELAYED THE MOM'S FEELINGS FOR HER BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS; AND SHE WAS VERY PLEASED!

I ADDED THE SAME MATTED, INKED PATTERNED PAPER ON THE SIDES WITH A STRIP OF "VINTAGE" LOOKING LACE, A SHELL, AND A FLAT BACK PEARL. THIS WAS ADDED ON ALL SIDES, EXCEPT THE BACK WHERE THE HINGES ARE. I ALSO COVERED THE SIDES WITH A COAT OF MOD-PODGE FOR PROTECTION.

AND... THAT'S ABOUT IT! MY "CLIENT" WAS VERY PLEASED, AS WELL AS HER DAUGHTERS WHO RECEIVED THEM. I HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH THESE BOXES AND I THINK THEY TURNED OUT BEAUTIFULLY!! ALTERING CIGAR BOXES ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE CRAFTS. IT IS VERY FUN AND REWARDING TO SEE HOW THEY TURN OUT.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR VISITING WITH ME TODAY! I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS PROJECT AS MUCH AS I ENJOYED WORKING ON IT. BEFORE YOU GO, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT A NEW ADVENTURE THAT WE WILL BE EMBARKING ON...

We are so VERY EXCITED about this new chapter in our lives! My family and I; along with Trina Hall Floyd, DeAnna Catron Goen, Kristine Woodruff Whittaker, & all of the other vendors are looking forward to seeing all of our friends and family at the Grand Reopening of Chinaberry Dreams Soapworks and Gifts as Chinaberry Dreams Artisan Marketplace on Feb. 15th!!!

Our booth is looking MARVELOUS and I can't wait to have it complete and ready for shoppers. There is a little something for everyone in our booth, so please do come out and show us a little LUV. Our booth sits right in the front, on the right as you come in the door. Also make sure you stay in touch with the shops' facebook page as well as ours for some amazing classes and crafty times coming up in the CREATION STATION!

Check us out at the "LIFE INSPIRED ART" booth at Chinaberry Dreams Artisan Marketplace in Leesville, SC (Main Street)!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME, HAPPY SCRAPPIN'!

LWD Tool Review Tuesday: ArtBin Bottle Storage Tray

ARTBIN BOTTLE STORAGE TRAY TOOL REVIEW

HEY Y'ALL! WELCOME TO TOOL REVIEW TUESDAY. I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT WEEKEND. I HAD A GREAT ONE, BUSY, BUT GREAT! WE HAD AN ALL DAY CROP WITH THE SCRAP CAFE' ON SATURDAY AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!! I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WE CAN MEET UP AGAIN FOR ANOTHER CROP. 

TODAY I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE ARTBIN BOTTLE STORAGE TRAY.  THOSE WHO KNOW ME WELL, KNOW HOW MUCH OF A NEAT FREAK I AM. SO, ANY WELL BUILT, AFFORDABLE STORAGE SOLUTION IS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY.

I PURCHASED THESE TRAYS IN ORDER TO STORE MY STICKLES IN A MORE COMPACT FASHION. I WAS DRAWN TO THEM FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

 1 - THEY WILL STACK, 2 - THEY HAVE A FOOT SO THAT YOU CAN TILT THEM UP AND SEE EVERY COLOR OR LAY THEM FLAT TO STORE, & 3 - THEY WILL FIT INSIDE OF AN ARTBIN SUPER SATCHEL STORAGE CASE. 

I DO NOT HAVE MINE IN A STORAGE CASE. MINE ARE STORED ON A SHELF, STACKED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THIS PRODUCT. I EVEN STORE SOME OF MY "OFF BRAND" GLITTER GLUES. THEY DON'T FIT QUITE AS WELL AS THE STICKLES, BUT NONETHELESS, THEY FIT.   

THESE TRAYS ARE A VERY GOOD SIZE; HOLDING 32 BOTTLES OF STICKLES PER TRAY!  THAT'S A LOTTA GLITTER GLUE! THEY ARE WELL MADE AND VERY STURDY.

ONE OTHER THING THAT IMPRESSED ME WITH THE ARTBIN BOTTLE STORAGE TRAY WAS THE UN-BEATABLE PRICE.  ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ORDER FROM LONE WOLF DESIGNS AT A 25% OFF RETAIL... ALWAYS!  

ARTBIN NOT ONLY HAS THESE BOTTLE STORAGE TRAYS, BUT SOME OTHER REALLY COOL STORAGE SOLUTIONS. SO, CHECK OUT THE LONE WOLF DESIGNS' FACEBOOK PAGE ON HOW TO ORDER THESE AWESOME PRODUCTS. I'M GLAD I DID; I KNOW YOU WILL TOO!

AS ALWAYS, THANKS SO MUCH FOR VISITING WITH US TODAY. WE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE GAINED SOME INSPIRATION TO ORGANIZE YOUR CRAFTING SUPPLIES FOR LESS.

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

HAPPY SCRAPPIN',

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You can find these and many more products for 

your crafting projects at 25% off MSRP at

 Lone Wolf Designs, LLC. 

All you have to do is join the 

Lone Wolf Designs Discount Craft Supplies 

Facebook group. If you haven’t joined us yet, you’re paying 

TOO MUCH for your craft supplies!

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LWD DESIGN TEAM SHOWCASE - TIM HOLTZ DISTRESS GLITTER, PETALOO, & STAMPERS ANONYMOUS

"LOVED" ALTERED CANVAS

HEY Y'ALL! I HAVE ANOTHER AWESOME LONE WOLF DESIGNS, DESIGN TEAM PROJECT FOR YOU THIS WEEK. I DECIDED TO DO AN ALTERED CANVAS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY. AS I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT SENTIMENT TO PUT ON THE CANVAS, MY HEART KEPT GOING BACK TO THE ULTIMATE ACT OF LOVE EVER... GOD GIVING HIS SON JESUS FOR US BECAUSE HE LOVES US SO MUCH. 

I FOUND A GREAT OVAL STRETCH CANVAS AND SOME REALLY COOL ANIMAL PRINT TULLE AT HOBBY LOBBY AND COULDN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED ON IT. THE CANVAS CAME PRIMED, SO I DIDN'T NEED TO DO ANY PREP TO IT. I STARTED OUT BY FOLDING AND GLUING SOME LEOPARD PRINT TULLE ALONG THE EDGE. I USED FABRI-TAC FOR THIS.

WHILE THE TULLE WAS DRYING I PULLED OUT MY TIM HOLTZ STENCILS, DISTRESS INKS, STAMPERS ANONYMOUS CLING STAMPS AND PETALOO BOTANICAL FLOWERS. I ALSO USED SOME OF MY HOMEMADE SHIMMER MISTS. I STARTED BY USING THE TIM HOLTZ DOT FADE LAYERING STENCIL AND ANTIQUE LINEN DISTRESS INK TO CREATE SOME DEPTH AND TEXTURE TO THE BACKGROUND.

NEXT, I USED THE REMAINING INK ON THE RANGER BLENDING TOOL TO DISTRESS THE CANVAS A BIT MORE. AT THIS POINT I STARTED TO ADD SOME STAMPING. I STARTED OUT WITH THE DIAMOND BORDER FROM STAMPERS ANONYMOUS/TIM HOLTZ "MINI MUSE" CLING MOUNTED STAMP SET AND BLACK SOOT DISTRESS INK TO STAMP A STRIP DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CANVAS.

  I MUST TELL YOU THAT IN STAMPING ON A STRETCH CANVAS, IT IS MUCH BETTER TO NOT USE A STAMPING BLOCK. THE CANVAS GIVES, SO IT IS A LOT EASIER TO GET DESIRED RESULTS IF YOU JUST USE THE STAMPS ALONE.

NEXT, I STAMP A COUPLE OF WINGS FROM STAMPERS ANONYMOUS/TIM HOLTZ'S CLING MOUNT STAMP SET - "MINI ORNATES". I USED THE LEFT WING FOR THE LEFT SIDE, WIPED THE STAMP CLEAN; THEN USED THE RIGHT WING TO STAMP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CANVAS. I USED VINTAGE PHOTO DISTRESS INK FOR THE WINGS.

TIME FOR THE "LOVE" PART... I USED THE SCRIBBLED HEART FROM STAMPERS ANONYMOUS/TIM HOLTZ CLING MOUNT STAMP SET - "LOVE" AND FIRED BRICK DISTRESS INK.

AT THIS POINT, I AM REALLY PLEASE WITH THE PROGRESS. I LIKE THE WAY THIS CANVAS IS SHAPING UP! NOW I WILL TAKE IT TO SOME NEWS PAPER AND SPRITZ IT WITH HOMEMADE SHIMMER MISTS FOR EVEN MORE TEXTURE AND DEPTH.

NOW, TIME FOR THE REALLY REALLY FUN PART... EMBELLISHING!! I USE FABRI-TAC GLUE FOR ALL OF MY CHUNKY EMBELLISHMENTS. TAKING SOME OF THE LEOPARD PRINT TULLE AND BLACK SHIMMERY RIBBON, I MAKE A LARGE BOW TO ADD TO THE BOTTOM. I CUT THE ENDS OF THE TULLE WITH PINKING SHEARS AS TO ELIMINATE THE HARSH STRAIGHT EDGES. AFTER GLUING DOWN THE TULLE AND BOW, I ADDED 3 FLOWERS BY PETALOO - BOTANICA BLOOMS - RED.

ONCE THIS WAS SET A LITTLE, I USED GLOSSY ACCENTS TO TRACE 2 OF THE RED HEARTS THAT WERE AT THE WINGS... THEN I SPRINKLED TIM HOLTZ  FIRED BRICK DISTRESS GLITTER ONTO THE HEARTS; SHAKING OFF THE EXCESS.

WHILE THESE HEARTS WERE DRYING; I STARTED WORKING ON THE SENTIMENT THAT I CHOSE TO ADD TO THE CANVAS. I WANTED ONE WORD EMPHASIZED, SO I STAMPED IT LARGER THAN THE OTHERS USING FIRED BRICK DISTRESS INK. I CUT EACH LETTER APART, CREATING A "TILE" EFFECT. USING A BLACK FELT TIP PEN, I DOODLED AROUND SOME OF THE EDGES OF THE LETTERS. I STAMPED THE SMALLER WORDS WITH BLACK ARCHIVAL INK.

ONCE THE INK WAS DRY, I DISTRESSED THE EDGES OF THE "TILES" THAT I CREATED AND INKED THEM WITH BLACK SOOT DISTRESS INK AND VINTAGE PHOTO DISTRESS INK. I USED GLOSSY ACCENTS TO GLUE EACH PIECE OF THE SENTIMENT ONTO THE CANVAS. I ALSO USED GLOSSY ACCENTS TO COVER EACH TILE.

JUST TO SET IN ALL OF THE INKS AND SPRAYS, AND FOR A LITTLE ADDED PROTECTION, I USED SOME MOD-PODGE SPRAY AND LIGHTLY SPRAYED OVER THE ENTIRE CANVAS... NOW, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT? ... I HOPE YOU LIKE IT!

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD!!

AS ALWAYS, THANKS SO MUCH FOR VISITING WITH US FOR THE LONE WOLF DESIGNS, DESIGN TEAM PROJECTS. I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE ENJOYED THE PROJECT FOR THIS WEEK. DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT & FOLLOW OUR BLOGS IF YOU WERE INSPIRED!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

HAPPY SCRAPPIN',

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TO ORDER THESE QUALITY NAME-BRAND PRODUCTS AT LOW PRICES, ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS JOIN THE

LONE WOLF DESIGNS DISCOUNT CRAFT SUPPLIES GROUP

ON FACEBOOK. MEMBERS HAVE THE PURCHASING POWER TO BUY HUNDREDS OF PRODUCTS AT 25% OFF MSRP. IF YOU ARE BUYING YOUR PAPER-CRAFTING SUPPLIES ANYWHERE ELSE, YOU ARE PAYING TOO MUCH!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COME JOIN IN THE CREATIVITY ON FACEBOOK: