I have a new web address! Please click on the image above to take you to my new home. This blog will still be available in the next few months but will no longer be updated. All the contents of this blog have been replicated in my new blog. Thanks for following this blog and I hope that you will continue your support by following my new blog. See you!

Winners

Hi everyone!

Thank you to all who dropped by my new blog, became followers, left messages and comments. Really appreciate the time you took. Now, on to the prizes. Please note that to be fair to everyone who followed all the instructions, I only included those who completed the 3 steps in the draw. As stated in my instructions, you need to be a follower, leave a message in the cbox and leave a comment stating what prize you want to win. And all of these should be done by 11:59pm on Sept. 18th.
Camera Strap:

Only Liza completed the 3 steps. Because of that, Liza wins the beautiful strap by Valerie Salmon. Congrats Liza!

Studio Calico Back 40 Kit:

For this, the following names were entered - Liza (1), Nina (2), Ruth (3), Susie (4), Kline (5), Gracie (6)


Congratulations Susie for winning the Back 40 Kit!

Songbird Clear Stamps:

Here are the names entered: Jhoanna (1), Susie (2), Kline (3), Gracie (4)



The winner is Gracie! Congratulations Gracie for winning the Songbird Stamp set.

Wings Clear Stamps:

The names entered are: Nina (1), Ruth (2), Jhoanna (3)


Congratulations Nina for winning the Wings Stamp set!

Now, I have a little surprise. There were a couple of you who expressed interest to win some of the prizes but were not able to complete the requirements. So, because I had fun on my birthday, and I want to share some joy, I am giving another chance to win a prize among those who left comments on my Welcome post and indicated a prize. Here are the names:

Liza (1), Nina (2), Ruth (3), Jhoanna (4), Chiqui (5), Geng (6), Susie (7), Kline (8), Gracie (9) and LG (10).


What's with number 4 today? Anyway, congratulations Jhoanna for winning the surprise giveaway! 
Here's what you've won.






That's the Joyland Kit from Studio Calico.

Winners, please give me your complete name and mailing address (Philippines only) by leaving a comment to this post. Don't worry, your comments won't be published so you don't have to worry about security. Will send you your prizes next week.

Susie, I haven't received my September Kit yet so I will send it to you as soon as I get it. Based on past deliveries, I should get it by next week so I should be able to mail it to you by then.

Thanks everyone for your support!

An Announcement and A Birthday Giveaway!




It's my birthday and I thought it's the best time to unveil my new blog. My new blog will go LIVE on SEPTEMBER 18, 12:00 MIDNIGHT.


To celebrate turning a year older and the unveiling of my blog, I thought I'll giveaway a couple of prizes. This giveaway is open to anyone with a Philippine mailing address. I apologize to my readers outside the Philippines. I can only afford local shipping fees.

Anyway, here are the giveaways.

One MIA SLR Strap Cover by the talented Valerie Salmon (encircled below). The strap fits most SLR strap covers. This one fits Canon 40D's strap. I'm sure it will also fit Nikons.
lifted from Valerie Salmon's website

One BACK 40 Kit from Studio Calico.


One Prima WINGS Clear Stamps and Gems.



One Prima SONGBIRD Clear Stamps and Gems.



Those are the prizes and here are the mechanics:
  1. Go to my new blog and be a follower by clicking on the "Follow" button on the sidebar.
  2. Leave a love note on the cbox.
  3. Leave a comment on the welcome post stating which TWO prizes you want to win out of the four posted above. Each one will have a chance to win two prizes!!!
You have 24 hours to complete the steps above. This giveaway closes at 11:59pm, Sept. 18.

Thanks for following this blog and I hope you will also follow my new blog. See you there!

Inspiration Monday 3

The Savvy Window Tutorial by Christine Middlecamp is almost over. If you haven't seen it yet, it's time to check out her blog. I am just blown away by her artistry. What I love about her is that she is not heavy on techniques. No, you won't find heavy distressing, or extraordinary stmaping techniques. She's no Jennifer McGuire or Tim Holtz. But what makes her work truly unique is the way she uses supplies. AMAZING! And chunky! LOL! She really made me see my supplies in a fresh light. Can't wait to try out her Window project. LOVE LOVE it!

Ali Edwards moved to a new home. If you are following her, you would know that a new home means just that. A new home! A new physical house ( a bigger space for her growing family). And also a new blog or web address. Her new blog doesn't feel much different from her old one. The layout is still very simple. Very Ali. Can you tell I am a fan?

I love this masking technique at the Hero Arts Blog. You know how I love stamping, right? One of the reasons I love it is that there are so many creative ways to do it. I never get bored with stamping.  And I love the Hero Arts blog. I learn something new about stamping every single week. The work of the HA designers are simply gorgeous. Very inspiring.

Speaking of stamping, one thing I am really into in the past couple of months is coloring with Copics. Here is a tutorial on "Feather Blending" by Marianne Walker. In this blog post, she also provided a link on understanding how shadows differ between objects that are near and those that are far away. Another Feather Blending post here.

On the home front, Filipina talent Cabbie shared how you can use up your stash of rub-ons by making cards. I thought it is a brilliant idea. I have a lot of rub-on sheets and sometimes, I don't get to use everything in the sheet. This idea is perfect for those leftover pieces.

Look at this desk organizer that LG made! Isn't it awesome! I love the shabby chic feel - the distressed look, the soft colors, the layered embellishments. Love it!

That's it for this week's Inspiration Monday! Wishing everyone an inspiring week ahead!

Dressed up jewelry box and some cards

This is one of two "naked" jewelry boxes given to me by a good friend years ago. She knew I am into arts and crafts and would be able to transform the boxes into something beautiful. It took me a very long time to work on the first box and finally transformed it in 2008. You can see it here. Now, two years later, I worked on the second box. Here is the "before" picture.


The first step is to unscrew all the metal hinges and closures using a small screwdriver. Then sand the box and wipe with a damp cloth.

Then apply two coats of gesso all over the box including the inside, letting the layer dry in between aplications.


Apply two coats of brown acrylic paint making sure that the surface is totally covered and the white gesso won't show through.


Cut small pieces of patterned paper (I used Crate Paper Pink Plum Collection - Wildberries) to fit the sides of the box, as well as the inside bottom. Adhere the paper using decoupage glue. Dab a small amount of brown paint on the edges of the paper to cover the white core. Set aside.


Apply embossing ink on the cover of the jewelry box. Sprikle with UTEE and heat. Apply 3-4 layers of UTEE. After the last layer, let dry. Dab red and butterscotch alcohol ink on the dried layer of UTEE. Then dab copper alcohol ink to give it a metallic look. Heat again to bring out the shine. Before the UTEE dries completely, press a rubber stamp to leave a textured impression. Let dry. Embellish with flowers. Here is the top view with the stamped impression clearly visible.


Here's another view. You will note that I've re-attached the hinges and closures.

And inside, I attached a photo of myself and Ariel. Now, this is truly a treasure box!

Now, onto some cards.

Cut 8.5” x 5.5” pieces of paper (I used Crate Paper Pink Plum Collection papers). Fold in half to make the base card.

Using a die cutting tool, cut label shape from scraps of patterned paper or Kraft paper. Apply pink paint around the edges using your forefinger. Adhere die cut on the center of the base card.

Stamp sentiment on the upper right corner of the die cut and heat emboss using copper powder.

Cut Bazzil flower in half. Dip edges on embossing ink and sprinkle with distress embossing powder. Heat set. Adhere flower on the bottom left of the card. Embellish with cut outs from patterned papers (these are from Crate Paper - Paper Doll collection).


For the next set, prepare the same base card using patterned paper (I used Crate Paper – Paper Doll Collection papers) and Kraft Paper.

From scraps of Kraft Paper and patterned paper, die cut label shape. Distress edges of card and die cut shapes using Distress Ink. Adhere on the center of the card.

Stamp on a paper flower (Bazzil) using distress ink that matches colors of your die cut shapes. Adhere flower on the center of the card. Adhere fabric blooms (Basic Grey Sugar Rush) on the center.

This All-Occasion card actually takes only a few minutes to make and is a good way to use up your supplies.


These next two cards are very easy to make. Cut two sheets 4.25” x 5.5” rectangular shapes from Kraft Paper. Cut 2 pieces of the same shape from a patterned paper (these are from Crate Paper Pink Plum Collection). Get an old credit card, ATM card, playing cards or similarly shaped chipboard (I used the backing of Crate Paper Brads). Apply a strip of paint on the edge of the card. Use this to apply paint on the rectangular pieces of Crate Paper. It will not be perfect which is great. Some of the patterns on the paper will still be visible and the thin coat of paint will let the texture of the paper show through. Let dry.

Cut all four pieces of paper (the Kraft paper and painted Crate Paper) into a label shape using a die cutting tool – making sure you cut them one at a time. Now you have four pieces of label-shaped papers.

Score the Kraft papers about ½ inch from the left edge and fold. That will be where the card will open and fold.

Adhere patterned paper on the side of the Kraft Paper making sure that the painted side is facing up. Embellish with chipboards, stickers, trim and cut outs from your paper scraps.

Apply Stickles and Diamond Glazed on some of the elements for added texture, shine and dimension.



In the previous set of cards, I used some label shaped die cuts. That left me with a couple of negatives which I used in this next set. The card on top is made from Kraft Paper base while the one in the bottom is made from Pink Plum base.

I simple adhered the negative die cut which now functioned as a frame. The Kraft frame in the bottom was adhered using foam adhesive so it has a bit of dimension. I then embellished with chipboards and stickers.

Apply Stickles and Diamond Glazed on some of the elements for added texture, shine and dimension.



Crate Paper and Basic Grey products are all available at My Little Attic. Check it out!

Thanks for looking!