Altered Cigar Boxes

I love to use old cigar boxes as repurposed God boxes.  Luckily I have a friend who has a
cigar store.  He gives me all his boxes both wood and cardboard.  I let them air out and then
paint them and do my magic.  Here are a 2 boxes I created a month ago.

I found a base pattern paper that I loved.  The box was wood and painted a pink

pearl.  I then created the flowers using speciality paper using dies.  A few metal

pieces for the corners painted cream.  I then painted a metal dragonfly with alcohol ink.

I had some pearl trim from a local fabric store.  

I used gel medium to cover the box with paper cut to fit.

I also painted white lace paper doilies and added them

to the top of the box.  I stamped the words and did

some doodling with my fine tip sharpie  I use hair

spray to keep the paper and ink from smearing.

The insde has a piece of pink felt.  The inside top is covered with

a pretty pink marble paper.  I die cut cards to use to write affirmatons or

notes to God.  

The second box has paper, trim, a key and stamped

serenity prayer.

I had a cardboard butterfly sticker and some paper leaves.

Again I added some felt inside and die cut cards.

Great treasury box, jewelry box or God box.

Thanksgiving Turkey Place Cards

I love to create a fun table for Thanksgiving. We have 4 grandchildren

and I love making holiday meals special.  I created the turkey place cards 

using Create a Critter and my Expression 2 machine.

The tent card has a kraft paper base and I added an embossed

french vanilla paper along with a tag for writing each guests name.

I get orders for up to 50 turkey place cards - so I'm making turkeys 

in my sleep.  My first order went to Beverly Hills, Ca.

Kraft paper for 3 1/2 x 3 card tent base

french vanilla paper embossed with swirls

brown,kraft,yellow and terra cotta paper are used to create

the turkey.  

Black pearl pen create wonderful eyes

I punched the label out with a punch using white paper.

Nothing like breaking in a brand new set of dies!  These are from Impression Obsession.

Taylored Expressions Holly embossing folder

Impression Obsession snowflake dies

silver paper

ribbon - Joann Fabrics

Stamp - Ink a Doo

I really enjoy making shaker cards.  Here's a Christmas one I filled with chunky white glitter.

Lawn Fawn stitched rectangle dies

Frantic stamper small pine die cut

Ranger distress inks

acetate

chunky white glitter

taylored expressions snowfall embossing folder

white gel pen

stamp - unknown

I got a new shaker card set from Jilly Beans I've been wanting to play with for weeks.

Distress inks - salty ocean,peeled paint and peacock feathers

white embossing powder 

Jilly Beans Hampton Arts stamp set, dies and shaker set

Here is another one of the Christmas cards I created from my Critters on Ice stamp set.  The hills are covered in glitter and the ice skating pond has diamond glaze which gives it the look of ice.

The trees were die cut and I added distress inks.  I just think the little deer is so cute!

One of the big reasons I love being a card maker is Christmas!  I love making cards this time of year, each one unique using stamps old and new.  One of my favorite sets is Taylored Expressions Critters on Ice.  They have adorable animals and I also purchased an accompanying die set that includes a small pond and trees.  I will share some of the cards I created with the stamps and dies.

I stamped and colored these adorable penguins with alcohol markers.  I used rangers enamel paint in white for their stocking caps.  I die cut holes in the front of the card and the Christmas paper.
I layered acetate, the penguins and the background snowflake paper.  I then die cut scallop frames
for each circular window.  A few tiny rhinestones to add some sparkle.

.  An old cigar box lid I had was perfect for my newest mixed media piece.

I love repurposing and creating altered art.  I used scrapbook paper, gesso,gel medium

inks and paints to create  my Happy Joyous Free wall decor.  I created

the flowers using the cricut Flower Shoppe cartridge.  Small gold

micro beads were added to the center.

I love dimension on my mixed media work, so I used

modelling paste for texture with a stencil.  The bird was painted with distress inks and 

distress paint.  I then used some background stamps for interest.