My Super cool
Jacob's Ladder Box!!!!

This is the front, don't mind the mess back there please!  I couldn't wait to post these, I've been working on it almost all afternoon and evening.  I used some handmade papers I had - lesson learned, next box I'll make with different paper, this was so flexible it wanted to stretch and it was a little hard to line up.  But I love the look, worth the extra trouble. I learned this from "All Things Paper: 20 Unique Projects from Leading Paper Crafters, Artists, and Designers" by Ann Martin.  

 This is the back, I had a spool under here from photographing the inside, so that's why it looks crooked.  The pics don't quite do the papers justice, they have the same metallic copper veining, and this blue is actually a deep green blue turquoise.  My fav colors!!

Inside, with two smaller compartments.  One of the most difficult parts was lining these small areas.  

And if you flip open the lid the other way, wha-la! A larger compartment!!  This was fun fun fun!!! I am so sticky from glue, I'm surprised I'm not stuck to the keyboard.....

Close up of the top, bottom right corner.  Used Golden Glass Bead Gel over Distress Inks, stamping, and a little Distress Paint.  Used the glass bead gel with my FAVORITE Tim Holtz stencil and various "guy bling". You can see the original inlaid label in the middle of the box top.

Had fun last weekend altering a nice wooden cigar box.  We visited Ybor City, Florida recently. John bought a few handmade cuban style cigars, and I picked up some quality, really interesting cigar boxes.  

  I didn't take before pictures but you can see some of the original wood around the gold text on the top and front of the box.  The original catch is on the front.

I used mainly Tim Holtz/Ranger products - I think a few of the embellishments are Paper Studio. Distress Ink, Stickles, paper tape, Ranger Perfect Pearls, Golden Glass Bead Gel, Close To My Heart embellishments, and some handmade paper that I've had for years (it reminded me of cigar paper). 

I love it, but more important John loves it!  His usual response when I show him something I made....  "It's darling" he says.  So when I get a "Wow!!! That's cool!!! Thank you!!!", then I know it's perfect. :-)    

So please enjoy my pics!

Right side of the box.  Used the label (on left)  from the cigar John smoked at the cigar bar in Ybor City.  That was a most wonderful day.  Tim Holtz die over the handmade paper, with some Distress Stickles.

It was hard to get a good pic of the front, Either way too dark, or had a nasty glare from the light. The is a mix of Perfect Pearls dimensional paint ands tickles as a frame around the edge.  Stain under the random stickles spead thin.

Front of the box, the latch on top was on the box. 

Left side of the box.  Motorcycle stamped on acetate over an old book page. Tim Holtz paper tape, handmade paper, the triangular studs and the frame around the motorcycle are Close To My Heart.  I tried to leave at least some of the tongue and groove construction visible on each side.

I left the inside of the box alone, the cigars need the wood, I didn't want to cover or seal it at all. I did add a Tim Holtz word band inside the lid, closeup below.  John retired last year, and he has earned this time, so this was perfect!

Close up of the front left of the box.  It's a mish-mash of old book paper, paper tape, metal, perfect pearls dimensional paint (around/under the edge of the clockface), stain, and the tongue and groove design of the box. 

This was SO  much fun to play with!

"Tag Therapy" and other miscellaneous creative endeavors!

This is the grand results of my last few weekends of  

"tag therapy" 

I love the results!

This is from a past weekend - playing with stamps and tissue and canvas....

Some random stamps in progress....  practicing from my Copic certification class!!

 Love my fairy stamp!!

Butterflies, this one is really rather textural, but it doesn't come across in the photo - used a rough white embossing powder, and a shiny metallic on the blue

 

Dragonfly, with a stenciled and inked glass bead gel on the grid....

Another favorite stamp!!

To honor my love of reading and books of all sorts...

Mini tags!

 

 This one was modeled after a pinterest "sepia" copic post...

I love seeing the world differently, don't you?

It's been awhile!

I have been thinking this is a good way to share all the fun I'm having, so am going to try to keep up with this blog!  I went through the Copic Standard Certification today, and had so much fun - the time went so fast.  Now I'm home and ready to play!  

I will take some pics of what I create tonight with what we worked on, and then tomorrow I'm off to the Intermediate Certification!
So stayed tuned for some creative play!

Welcome!

I'm currently having an absolute blast in Tim Holtz Creative Chemistry 102 on line class.  I have been playing with inks and stains and paints and papers and metal and just about anything else I can get my hands on.  This is my heaven, my nirvana.  No matter what else is going on, if I can get my fingers inky I can escape, even if only for a few minutes

I'm also totally addicted to Starbucks - Venti Iced Raspberry Mocha, nonfat, no whipped, and on a long day we'll make it a quad. I think my barrista's like me, as if I send my daughter to pick up my coffee, this is what I get!  Love it!.