I've never had a decent way to store the bajillion cards that I make. They have been stuffed in odd size boxes, clam shells and never organized. I decided to make a box, it measures 17.5" x 7.5" x 5.5" high.

Thought I would share a little pictorial of the making of the box. All supplies are from Hollander's. You can see my previous post of box making here.

Box is made of heavy weight Davy board, or book board.


The inside is covered in handmade banana paper, feels like velvet.





Covering the lid in heavily embossed paper.

I've been missing in action lately, spring is here and along with it all of the yard work and gardening. I spend my winters dreaming of working in the dirt! Yes, can you believe that? I daydream of planting and nurturing my flower and vegetable gardens.

I created this Flower Girl in celebration of spring, she too is having visions of her garden.

We are having a Vintage Lottery at the Paper Artists Online group this month. Everyone that creates a piece for the challenge will have an opportunity to win all of the pieces at the end of the month. There is definitely some beautiful work. I submitted my Flower Girl for the challenge.

Have a wonderful week!

This weeks challenge at Studio L3 for Grungy Monday 05 is to use this Tim Holtz technique in a project. The jest of it is to make a niche in your project. I have wanted to try this for awhile, and this is what I came up with.
Okay, so it feels unfinished to me too. But, I am at a loss here, do any of you have any ideas? I would like to finish it for a gift, perhaps an edging treatment?

Anyway, I made the papers using Club Scrap stamps using a variety of Adirondack and Distress inks. You can't really see all the layers of stamping, which I do like. I think I'll use your suggestions and come back next week with a finished project, hopefully.

Hop on over to the Studio L3 and look at all the beautiful entries of the finished projects, you won't be disappointed. My friend Rachelle is a guest designer there this week, and her project is just rockin'.

Until then, there's gardening to do...have a great weekend.

I'm enjoying another Grungy Monday Challenge at StudioL3 this week using Tim Holtz/Ranger Colorwash Sprays. The only specific guideline, was that we use actual Ranger product on our piece. I just happened to have a few of these in my stash. This is my entry for the challenge:
This piece was an accident for me. I was using a resist technique and gesso, forgetting that the Colorwash sprays were water based and the watercolor smeared during the process. I decided I loved the soft muted colors. The stamps are from Club Scrap.

If you would like to see a couple of more vivid pieces using Color Wash and paint, you can check out my Poppies here or an art journal piece here.

Stop on over at the StudioL3 blog and see how others have used these color saturated sprays.

Linda at Studio L3 has started a new series of weekly challenges called Grungy Monday, based on Tim Holtz techniques. This is the first week for the new challenge and we are to use this Tim Holtz technique to inspire our work.
I began with a mask from Club Scrap and sprayed with my home made mist (Shabby Shutters Distress Reinker and Green Patina Perfect Pearls). I rubbed in some Dried Marigold and Broken China Distress ink. The music stamp (Club Scrap) was stamped on the Grunge Paper flowers and on a scrap piece of paper and embossed with Copper embossing powder. Everything was spritzed and rubbed with the home made mist. I tore a few pieces of scrap to give the illusion of a landscape, and created a faux banner. All of the pieces were grunged up with Walnut Distress ink and assembled. I couldn't find the appropriate embellishment, so I stamped the hummingbird and did a little free form stitching.

There are so many wonderful artists participating in the challenge. Stop by Studio L3 to look at all the beautiful interpretations...and thank you for stopping by.

Since she's been finished, 'Dreamona' has just been hanging around my craft area, making my heart happy and telling me wonderful stories about where she's going to her new home in Wyoming.

One of my favorite paper stores, Hollander's, is physically located in Ann Arbor, but they do have an online business also. The store is owned by Tom & Cindy Hollander, IMHO they are the guru's of book binding and all things paper. Last year they published their first book, Constructing and Covering Boxes, a beginner's guide to constructing boxes, which I purchased. I have made boxes before, but their methods are a little different and much more sturdy. For instance, they use book cloth in the spine ensuring that the hinge will last for many years. The book focuses on hinge and clamshell style boxes. This is my first box using their methods, and their yummy paper.