Cardboard Box to Custom Storage

As a very frugal (cheap-o) individual with an ever-growing craft stash, I'm always looking for creative and inexpensive storage solutions.  Everything in this tutorial came from the dollar store and the cardboard box was just a leftover from an Amazon order.  I can't be the only one who has a few of these laying around!

1. Supplies - cardboard box, packing tape, glue gun, glue sticks, grosgrain ribbon in black, and Contact Quick Cover Shelf & Drawer liner.

2. Decide on Size - Since this box was pretty small, I decided to fold the flaps up and secure them with packing tape.  It's  now twice the depth.  If you have a large box, you can cut off the flaps to make it smaller.

3.  Size your Contact Paper - Roll out the paper and measure to decide where to cut to cover your box on all sides, plus enough to fold over to cover the inside.  For my box I was able to cut two pieces which slightly overlapped.  Think of it as similar to wrapping a gift box.

4. Make the Cuts - in order for your contact paper to fold over nicely to cover the inside and outside, make the appropriate slits.

5. Fold - Pull the backing off of the contact paper, place the box back on top and start folding and wrapping.  The Contact paper has some give and forgiveness, so keep pulling and stretching until all the bubbles are gone.

6. Finishing Touches - To create a custom finished look, draw a line around the top edge with your glue gun. Adhere a long strip of grosgrain ribbon to the top edge.  If you're feeling fancy, you can add gems, hardware or I chose a simple bow.

7. Enjoy your new (almost free) storage!

Unstampabelles Challenge - Halfway Point

Ok scrappers!  We're at the halfway point over at the Unstampabelles Challenge which means that you still have 2 weeks to show us your paper flower creations.  Yay!  Remember, the only rule is that you can't use stamps (even digitals for sentiments) so dig in to that stash and find those fun rub-ons, stickers and embellishments that have been waiting for their time to shine :-)

In honor of the halfway point, I've done a quick card with 3 tiny paper flowers.

The trees are rub-ons from Heidi Grace, the sentiment is a sticker from The Girls' Paperie and the flowers are Recollections Floral Embellishments.

So, pop on over to the Unstampabelles Challenge for some more design team inspiration and to share your own paper flower (stamp-free) creation.  Good luck!

Go Fish Challenge - Summer Photos

It's a lovely summer day here in Las Vegas, and what a great way to celebrate....with a summer photo challenge from Go Fish!  Now, my photo is actually from a few summers ago when we lived in England.  This is a picture I took of the Jurassic Coast in the south of England.  I think it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

Since I'm more of a card gal than a layout gal, I decided to print a tiny polariod (from Picassa's Picnik function) and then added in the text - a quote that I adore from Ralph Waldo Emerson.

So, head on over to Go Fish! and show us your great summer pics and also check out our sponsor, Cards TV with Mary...she has some great stamps.  I can't wait to see what you create!

What to Do with Watercolors

Today, the ladies of Practical Scrappers are showing us 10 things to do with watercolors or watercolor pencils.  For my take on the challenge, I created my own custom paper using watercolor pencils and a black sharpie.  First, I free hand drew a design all over a sheet of card stock.  Next, I went wild with my watercolor pencils, coloring in anywhere that seemed blank.  Then I soaked a brush with regular tap water and smeared everything together.

It was a fun project and made an interesting custom piece of paper to die cut the little bird from.  Doesn't he look ready to party?  :-)

Back to School Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Back to School Blog Hop, brought to you by the fabulous design teams of Made Especially For You and the GoFish Challenge Blog!

These two design teams have joined together to bring you some fun and crafty inspiration to help you get started on those back to school projects! If you've just come across the hop and would like to start at the beginning, please visit Made Especially For You.

  

If you've made it this far, you've just visited Cyndy's blog and now you're here with me!

For my part of the hop, I decided that nothing says back to school quite like primary colors and a big shiny red apple :-)  This would be a fun accompaniment to a teach appreciation gift...Show those teachers some love!

The supplies here are white, red and yellow cardstock, papers from Cosmo Cricket's Helllo Sunshine, clear cardstock from Reflections (you can see it in the window behind the apple), green and white polka dot papers from Reflections, Celebrate It Basic Ribbons in red and an apple stickers from the Michaels dollar bin from a few years ago (about time I used him!) 

Your next stop on the hop is Robin at The Cricut Scrapper!

We have some wonderful sponsors giving away prizes to those who comment on EVERY stop of the hop! Let's see what they have to offer...

Paper Piecings by Nikki

$15 Gift Certificate

Scraptastical Kreations

$20 Gift Certificate

The Stamping Boutique

3 images of the winner's choice

You must comment on every stop of the hop to be eligible to win a prize. Hoppers have through Sunday August 12th to comment. Winners will be randomly chosen and announced on Made Especially For You on Tuesday August 14th. 

Your next stop is Robin's blog. Click on her name to keep hopping!

Here's the entire lineup in case you get lost along the way:

Ashley - http://especiallymade.blogspot.com

C - http://www.tradefishdesigns.com

Laura - http://scrappinaroundtheclock.blogspot.ca/

Kate - http://scrapperscreativecorner.blogspot.com

Jessica - http://craftinandstampin.blogspot.com/

Amy - http://amyscraftingspace.blogspot.com/

Kristy - http://www.scraptasticalkreations.blogspot.com/

Kathy - http://letsgetscrappytogether.blogspot.com/

Pam - http://scrappinfabpam.blogspot.com/

Nancy - http://thetrinketcollector.blogspot.com/

Cyndy - http://arcyscraps.blogspot.com/

Sarah - http://www.mypaperpie.blogspot.com/

Robin - http://www.thecricutscrapper.blogspot.com/

Eileen - http://www.scrappingactuary.blogspot.com/

Karen - http://simplyfrenzied-karen.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for hopping along with us!

Fringe Scissors

Today over at Practical Scrappers the ladies are showing us 10 things to do with fringe scissors!  They have some really creative ideas, so please go and check them out :-)

I used my fringe scissors to distress some chipboard elements.  After scratching and distressing my little heart out, I edged each element with a black marker to help it pop against the background. I also went with a free form background.  The first time I've tried it, but I like the effect.

UnstampaBelles Challenge: Paper Flowers

Today is my first official challenge as a part of the fabulous UnstampaBelles Design Team!  I am so thrilled to be a part of this really fun group of crafters.  Yay!  :-)

This month's challenge is sponsored by Blue Edge Crafts. Check out all the goodies up for grabs!!!!  

The challenge is to create a design using paper flowers.  I love this challenge since I have a tendency to load up most of my crafts with some sort of paper flower creation.  For this card I went pretty simple and layered flower stickers I found in the back of a forgotten folder (score!!) and the Hello Friend sun is from a set of chipboard sentiments that I picked up at Michaels.  For a big sheet, they were only $1 with 40% off (double score!!) So my crafty and thrifty sides were satisfied :-)  

Hop on over to the UnstampaBelles Challenge and check out what the other fabulous designers have created.  Don't forget to make a paper flower project of your own and get in on the fun!!

Vacation!

I will be away from my blog for a few days since Hubby and I will be in Disneyland!!  I'm so excited :-)  I have a few posts here in the queue, but I won't be here to post replies.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend and I'll say hi to Mickey for you!!

Go Fish Challenge - Shapes

Today over at Go Fish! the challenge is shapes!  Specifically circles and triangles and using them to inspire a crafty item.  I used layers and layers of circles with bright primary colors for a bit of pop.  

I can't wait to see what you come up with!  Please head on over and join in the fun with your own circle and triangle inspired creation :-)