Graphic 45 'French Country' Chalkboard and Shadow Box Set

Here is the project I created as a Guest Designer for Craft Warehouse. It was so much fun to play with all the Graphic 45 goodies they sent me and also a challenge to come up with something original and easy to do for the average crafty person.
The paper line along with the matching chipboard, stickers, banners and tags are to die for. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did creating it.

Check out the Craft Warehouse Blog at  http://shopcraftwarehouse.blogspot.com/ for a list of supplies and instructions as well as step by step photos. Be sure to leave a comment on the Craft Warehouse Blog and this blog if you like it.

Happy Crafting ;-)

**** All of the products used to create this project are
        available at Craft Warehouse.

**    A note of thanks to Paula Kay (aka Bing) for putting up
       with my creative process and to my sister
       Jeanette and niece Hannah for patiently waiting
       for me to finish this project during my visit.
       Love you all.

Craft Warehouse Goodies

I have been beyond excited to get the chance to create and inspire other artists for my favorite store, and when I say 'favorite' I mean kid in a candy store with her nose stuck to the glass case kind of favorite.

My time has finally come to be the Guest Designer this month for Craft Warehouse. When I received my box of goodies in the mail I opened it with all the excitement and anticipation of a 5 year old on Christmas morning. I pulled back the top of the box to reveal scrunched up paper that could be covering anything....

My mind was racing with 'what if' and 'I wonder'. Just about anything could be under that paper...

I slowly removed the paper, not sure of what I would find. The waiting is killing me... It's a bag!

Slowly I open the bag and let out a little gasp... G45 French Country paper line with all the bells and whistles, Color Me Crazy flowers by Petaloo, Embossing Folder by Darice, 1 large wooden tray and 4 small trays YES!!!! There is a crafting angel up there watching over me (thanks Mom, wink-wink).

I'm not sure what I will make with all these wonderful goodies but the possibilities are endless. One thing is certain, I'll be posting pictures of my finished project as soon as I'm done. 

A 'BIG" thank you to Jen Evans at Craft Warehouse for helping to feed my G45 addiction.

Sneak Peek....

Here's a sneak peek of what I'm working on this weekend. Can't wait to finish so I can show you all. 

Simple, Easy, BEAUTIFUL !!!

Here's a picture of the magnetic 'Beauty Board' I made to keep all of my favorite makeup organized and handy.

I started with a wood frame from a local craft store (I paid $7.99 for my frame). Painted it a soft aqua color to match my bathroom decor. Sanded it to give it a shabby chic look and lightly aged it with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut Stain. I finished the frame off with a coat of matt Mod Podge to seal it. Next I measured the frame opening and headed to my local home improvement store to purchase a piece of thin sheet metal. I found a piece that only cost me about $6.00 and I only had to cut it down a little. The metal was thin enough to cut with my Tim Holtz scissors so that was helpful. I decided I didn't really like the look of the galvanized metal, so before I attached the metal to my frame I bought a very small piece of brown fabric (just big enough to cover the metal sheet) and I again got out my Mod Podge and spread a thin layer over the surface of the metal and then laid my fabric down, making sure to smooth it out so I didn't have any bubbles. Once the fabric was dry I put one more coat of Mod Podge over the fabric. When that was dry I attached the metal piece to the back of the frame using some E-6000.

Now for the fun part.... going through my makeup and deciding what I used on a regular basic that I would like to be able to find when I have 2 minutes to put it on. Once I had my favorites picked out I used E-6000 and glued an magnet to each one. For my eyeliners and makeup brush I cut strips of magnet and attached those. I was wondering if I would be able to get the magnets off when it was time to replace something so I let one dry on my mascara and was able to pull the magnet off once the glue had dried so I know I'll be able to recycle the magnets when I need/want to add something else to my board.

I really love how organized everything stays now and the added bonus of eliminating clutter in my bathroom. The same idea could me used in a craft room, kitchen, kids bathroom....the possibilities are really endless.

I hope you are inspired to create a board for yourself that will make everyday life just a little bit easier and it won't hurt to make it pretty too.  ;-)

A 'little' bit of Winter in the midst of Spring

I have always been fascinated with miniatures and love creating small worlds. A little glimpse at a possible life you could have if only you were 1/2 inch tall.

I tend to get carried away with the details but only because I want to be comfortable in my small world.

This cozy little cottage makes me want to climb inside. I can picture myself walking up the front path, through the door and coming to rest in an overstuffed chair by the fire sipping a hot cup of cocoa and of course my little dog Gizzy is just as cozy sitting on my lap. ;-)

I hope my small world inspires you to create a small world of your own. HAPPY CRAFTING!!!!!!