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!!!!!!

My G45 Happy Haunting Album Pics

I LOVE HALlOWEEN so when I got a good look at the Graphic 45 Happy Haunting paper line I knew we were going to be spending some time together. I made this album using a cereal box, a lot of black cardstock and the G45 Happy Haunting paper. I did a bit of fussy cutting for several of the images and made many of the embellishments myself.

The 'Man on the Moon' on the front is magnetic and attaches to the clock face underneath where I have hidden a metal disc to attract the magnet.

 I also made the flowers and the potion bottle. The bottle label was a digital download I purchased on Etsy.

The album front opens to reveal a page layout for photos and journaling.

The top of the box is open and holds 2 cardstock inserts that fold open. Each insert has a photo book in it to hold 6 photos and several tags.

Here are some photos of the first insert.

This is a closeup of the top portion.

This is a closeup of the bottom portion.

Here are photos of the second insert, front, top and bottom portion.

Front.

Top potion of insert.

Bottom portion of insert with photo / tag book.

Hidden poem tag ;-)

Photo book with pull out tags.

Back of box.

TAA-DAA.....

I hope you enjoyed my album. I had so much fun creating it. Please leave me a comment or questions if you have any. 

Next week I'll post photos of my Halloween Clock.

Thanks for visiting... Have Fun Creating!!!!!

My G45 Happy Haunting Album Sneak Peek

FROM THIS...

TO THIS...

I'll post photos of the album inserts and close up details this weekend.

Don't Just Stop and Smell the Roses...

My intention when I started this blog was to do a weekly post, but sometimes life has other plans for us. Recently other things took priority and I was really stressed out about not keeping to my self imposed schedule but here's what I realized... it's a 'blog'. It's not life or death. It's suppose to be fun not stressful. We all go about our days, making plans with family and friends, running errands that seem to never end, planning projects, dealing with the day to day chores and dramas that eat up all the hours in our days and taking care of the little and big things that come with being an adult. I think we all get a little lost sometimes in the details and forget to really take the time to be in the moment, to breath in and out and realize this is your life that your rushing through, don't be in such a hurry to get to the end. So with that said my new motto is "Don't just stop and smell the roses. Plant them, water them and make a bouquet when they bloom."

Eating Cake & Loving it

I'll come right out and say it.... "I'm addicted to paper". Right now I'm completely hooked on anything Graphic 45, Authentique or My Mind's Eye. I don't know about you but for me there is nothing like flipping through a new paper collection and seeing all the beautiful colors and patterns. My pulse quickens and my mind begins to race with all the projects just begging to be made. I've always loved paper, but I started to realize that I was becoming more of a collector than a user. I was afraid to use the paper I loved so much for fear of not having it anymore. That nagging voice in my head screamed "what if I can never find it again?' and kept all those sheets of paper safe and sound in my studio. Finally, it dawned on me. All those projects that I wanted to make with my beloved paper were still waiting to be made and the ideas were always nagging at me. So, I came to my senses, the light bulb over my head flickered with the idea that if I use my papers on my projects I will still have the paper I love and adore on a project that I will treasure. A few days ago I finished a album using the Graphic 45 Happy Haunting collection (I'll be posting the photos soon). I love all the vintage images and bright colors in the paper line and I can't wait to start a new project using it. I'm taking baby steps, but now I can eat my cake and have it too.

**** This pile of paper is just a smidgen of what is hiding in my room. Sad but true...