Whatcha doin?

It's a really dreary Tuesday, yes? My heart, thoughts and prayers are going out to all the folks that have been affected by this nasty weather.

Since it is so dreary.....outside....I'm planning on making it shine up in here in my art studio!! Have already been through my shell stash (and I really have got to plan some beach walks and SOON) and my fabric stash. (well....some of my fabric...I have a good bit. HEY, a gal can never, EVER have to much fabric). I plan on making some of my shell necklaces as well as some of my fabric flower pins. (might even combine some shells with the fabric)

Hope you're planning on having a terrific Tuesday. If the sun is shining where you are enjoy and if it's raining.....go out and dance!!!

Until next time...........Hugs,
Regi

I made my own gift box..hehe

I hope that you read about how to make your own box in my last post. I also hope that they were easy to follow directions so that you could make some of your own. I enjoyed making the "How to" post so much for everyone that I made some more boxes...ten to be exact....LOL!!!  These were made for a purpose. Do you remember the flower garden I have been cultivating here of late? You know the one....don't you? The one that took up a weekend plus. Need a reminder? Just Click Here.   I made the boxes to hold these precious flowers plus I made three more flowers to add to the bunch.

I do hope that the little girls that receive them Christmas morning will love them just as much as I loved growing making them. I just love the fact that so many people are coming together to make Christmas a special time for the families that need the extra help. I'm very excited to be one that is able to use my whimsical talents to help out. Paying it forward is a motto that all of us should take to heart. I know that I certainly do. Let's take a walk and see the newest flowers clipped from the garden.

I love using fabric and ribbon. This little beauty of a rose was made from a wired satin ribbon and has cotton fabric leaves. Not only do I love using fabric and ribbon but I really love buttons. The prettier the better!!! On this one I was able to use two buttons. The white one looked like the center of a flower. How perfect...ri iight??  I just couldn't resist using this little butterfly button to go along with it. It's attached to a large clip barrette.

Here is another rose from the same bush. No thorns either...that makes it nice. We don't want any ouchies from our sweet little ladies.....now do we? I used one of my flower buttons for the center of this one and instead of a hair clip...I attached it to an elastic headband. Can't you just see a sweet baby girl wearing this?
Sit and imagine....now let's all say...........Awwwwww!!!

This little beauty is from the whimsical side of the garden. I had these fantastic, colorful fabric scraps that a friend gave to me in a big bag of.......scraps!! HAHA  They were just the perfect size to make these with. So important tip here.....never throw out those scraps you might think are to small to be keeping. I just adore all the colors in this one too. What do you think of when you see the colors? I think of ice cream..... Neapolitan ice cream and a scoop or two of sherbet thrown in with perhaps some peppermint. YUM!! I suddenly am in the mood for ice cream. ^_^   Hmmmmm...wonder why? Instead of raiding my button stash for these...I raided my vintage bead stash. Tiny, pretty pink pearls. The leaves surrounding the flowers are made from a ribbon. This one has a hair clip attached to it.

Now I have ten beautiful flowers in all to give away but I just couldn't hand them over to Ms Sue and say "Here ya go". I wanted them to be extra special so that's why I made the boxes. The box liked we talked about at the beginning of this post....the box that this post is suppose to be about. Sorry...I just had to wonder in the garden BUT at least I took you with me and you got to smell see the pretty flowers. For the boxes, I used white card stock......because I know that the box probably won't survive the opening process. I mean if they were big boxes...then they would be "priceless" but these are small boxes. I hope they do survive though because they are really cute and could actually be another gift in itself. For the top of the box, I found this cute vintage page from a children's book with rabbits....I love rabbits....don't you? Rabbits looking out the window at Santa and his reindeer flying over the snowy sky. I printed it off in black and white and then water colored it in to give it that vintage look for real. I applied a tiny bit of sparkle flakes to the rabbit tail....some red glitter by some of the holly leaves and even a teeny tiny piece of red glitter on the nose of the first reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh. RUDOLPH!!! Well....either Rudolph or the reindeer had one heck of a party the night before....but....that's....another......whole post entirely!!

Until next time.............HUGS, Regi

Making your own gift box!!

I know that there are several of us that like to make our gifts to give to our family and friends at Christmas time. (or for any of the special holiday traditions that are observed this time of year) I know that I do. For those items that are not very large....like say.....jewelry pieces.....small photo frames and small figures, why not make your own gift box. Scrap papers work great.....perhaps you have a special printed paper you have been wanting to use. Scrap fabric can be used to cover your box once made to make a gift all by itself. I mean what gal couldn't use a special made box to place some of her earrings or rings in? Or perhaps a cute Li'l pin cushion box with sewing supplies inside. There are so many ways to use a BOX!!!

Now that I have talked about making a gift box...let me show you how. It can be made to any size that you want. All you have to keep in mind is that you need to start out with a square shape. Now..go look through all those beautiful scrap papers you have, grab a pair of scissors and a pen and let's get started:

Supplies Needed:

Paper (scraps or perhaps a pretty print one)

Scissors

Pen

Take your square and pull one corner up into the other so that you have made a triangle. Gently crease fold.

Now open it up and turn it facing you where it looks like a diamond (or a kite...that's what the Chazman thought it looked like) Fold the bottom corner up to the top one, like you did for the first fold and then gently crease it.

This is how it should look so far. Got it? Good...let's move on. ^_^

Take a corner and fold it up to the center and then gently crease. Do this to each remaining corner.

Now take a corner and fold it up to the top cease across from it. Do this to each remaining corner. Isn't it fun folding paper? 

Up to this point, this is what your paper should look like. A quilt pattern. Now take a corner and fold it up to the closest fold. Do the remaining corners the same way and remember to gently crease your folds.

Hold your paper up so it looks like a diamond. Do you see the four little blocks that make a square in the center? Good...that is the size your box is going to be and the guide to making your cuts. If you look closely you can see where I made my marks to cut.

 You want to cut up the sides to the square in the center...remember don't cut past the corners of your square. Do this on the opposite side as well. Just the two sides across from each other. Do not cut the other two opposite sides...ppplease!!

This is what you should have....oh yes...turn the paper around so that the arrow is pointing to you. That was another observation made by the Chazman..such an observant kiddo...now if we can just work on his selective male hearing....LOL!!!

Now take the paper and fold it up to the square box in the middle. Then take the next fold and fold it over the top of the first fold. The tiny fold at the point will be inside the bottom of your box.

This is what it should look like at this point.

Take the pieces sticking out and fold them to the inside of the square. This is how it should look. Do the opposite side the same way. Then take the short sides and fold them over to the center the same way.

This is what it should look like after the first short side is folded in.

  TaDa......you made a box..
         well the top of one and I'm so soo proud of you.                                                                                  

The folds will hold themselves in but if you want you can take your pin and turn the box on it's side and crease the folds a bit more.

To make the bottom of your box you follow the same steps with this one exception. You need to make it a bit smaller than the top so they will fit together. Take your square and fold one corner into the opposite but instead of meeting them corner to corner you will need to pull it back a few centimeters, then crease fold.

Now take and cut off the overlaying sides of the triangle and follow the steps you did to make the top of your box.

Here is your box...all completely put together.

(Purple and Blue papers.. Reminds me it's getting close to Mardi Gras time)

Now you can embellish your new little box however you want to. I hope this tutorial was simple and easy to follow. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask away. ^_^

Remember in the beginning, I told you that you could use scrap paper for your box because it could be covered in scrap fabric. Well, here is one of my little boxes covered in fabric.

Keep in mind if you do plan on covering yours in fabric to take into consideration that the bottom will have to be a bit smaller than you would normally make it so that it will open and close easily with the extra bulk of the fabric.

Making a box can be used not only for this time of year but for Valentines, Easter, Halloween or just for a special birthday. Now....go make a box....and have FUN!!! I would love to see what you make...if you decide to do one.

Until next time.....HUGS, Regi