Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Try It On Tuesday - New DT Member!!

Hello Everyone!

I have a special announcement to make today. I have been invited to be a member of the design team over at the fabulous challenge blog TRY IT ON TUESDAY!  I was so honoured to be asked and thrilled about the idea of crafting along side such a talented group of artists!

The announcement was made yesterday, and if you would like to learn more about me, you can find my introduction HERE.  I have also added a "My Design Teams" page, where you can find all of my wonderful new teamies and links to their blogs. I sure hope you will go visit them and see what wonderful creations they have made!

And now, my very first challenge as a member of the Try it on Tuesday family: RECYCLE IT.

Here is my make! I call it my Die Box.


I had been looking for something to use as my Die Box for a few weeks. I finally decided to refurbish an old wooden one I had that was just collecting dust in the closet. I have never done anything wood before, so this was a fun experiment for me. I have lots more pictures, but let me show you the before shots, so you know what I was working with.


There is a funny story as to WHY is made a Die Box, but first, let me tell you how I made it.

- I sanded it down, wiped it with a damp cloth, let it dry and painted it with DecoArt Crafter's Acrylic Tan Paint - 2 coats. Then I used some Titanium White paint and a crackle paint technique to give it an old vintage feel.

- I had intended on stamping some flowers on it, but in a moment of severe 'foggy-brain disorder', I applied my first coat of Mod Podge Matte...then it was too late to stamp!! Grrrrr! Anyway, two coats of that and it was ready to decorate.


- the paper flowers were made using Joy Crafts Flower 4 and coloured with Tim Holtz distress inks Spun Sugar and Victorian Velvet. The fabric flowers were just hand cut and then dyed with Victorian Velvet.

- I added some pretty lace trim and pearls around the edge, both from my stash.




- they key hole was made with polymer clay and a silicone mold. I painted it with home-made bronze paint (a mixture of gold, black and green paints), then antiqued it with a black wash and added a couple of bronze brads.


WHY DO I CALL IT MY DIE BOX???

A few weeks ago, I accidentally scooped one of my dies into the garbage when I was cleaning up. No biggie, I noticed it was missing, went through the trash in my craft room and retrieved it. Scolded myself, but did I learn my lesson...NOPE!

Not a week later, I was spending the day cutting flower petals and leaves out of scrap paper, so I had about 10 dies out on the desk. When I was done, there were bits of scrap paper everywhere, I just took my arm and scooped everything into the garbage.

I wasn't so lucky this time...the bag made it all the way out the door and to the dumpster! Two hours with my rubber gloves on, but I was able to get them back! I've never been so disgusted in my whole life...LESSON LEARNED!

So now this box will sit on the corner of my desk. Every time I use a die, it goes straight from the Cuttlebug machine into the box, until after all clean up is finished. I will NEVER go dumpster diving again!!


- I cut the frame from Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight and painted it bronze. I lined the box with some stiff felt sheets, cut to size. The mini roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

- The sentiment was done by hand with an alphabet stamp set from Studio G and it's a gentle reminder to myself that disorganization has unwanted consequences. ha!


I am entering my Die Box into the following wonderful challenges:



That's it for today. Thank you for stopping in and for all the amazing comments. I read and appreciate every single one! If you have any questions, please let me know.


94 comments:

  1. Beauty! Beauty! with a purpose. Congrats Pamellia on your new post. Looking forward to some fab creations from there. Hugs.

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  2. This is very beautiful and the flowers are amazing. A great idea to keep your dies in a box that is so beautiful you can have it on show--mine are in a tattered cardboard box.

    Lovely to have you join our TIOT family

    Chrissie xx

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    1. Thanks Chrissie! Sounds like you need to fancy up your cardboard box...PROJECT!! lol hugs :)

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  3. Many congratulations on your new DT place, Pamellia! Incredibly well deserved! I adore boxes and this is just stunning! Forget using it for dies I think it would look perfect on an antique dressing table filled with expensive jewellery!!! xx

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    1. Aahhh, thanks Jane! I have another box, I was thinking of doing just that...a jewelry box! hugs :)

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  4. Beautiful box! Love your crackle finish and the saying on the box, I have dropped a die in my recycle bin too! Great idea! Thanks so much for joining us at Sugar Creek Hollow!

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  5. Totally lovely! I'd like to have it, so elegant and beautiful, Pamelia.
    Hugs,
    Sirkka

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  6. Firstly,congrats on your DT place Pamellia....as far as I am concerned you should be on EVERY design team as you are so wonderful. Secondly,oh how I love this,it's so soft and beautiful,reminds me of a slice of wedding cake and what a great use for it....no more dumpster diving now huh??

    Extra big hugs
    Donna xxx

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    1. Aahhh, thank you Donna! Now I have to train myself to use the box! haha. big hugs :)

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  7. This is a fantasia project Pamelia, looks like a real treasure chest now! Lovely to have you with us on the DT now, welcome, and have fun! Hugs from Rhineland, Valerie

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    1. Thank you so much Valerie, for the lovely compliment and the warm welcome! hugs :)

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  8. A lovely piece of altered artwork, so soft and delicate as well.

    B x

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  9. Beautiful project and so elegant. Welcome to TioT design family!!! Mar

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  10. WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! First of all: BIG CONGRATS on yet another designer spot!! I am not surprised at all since your work is so amazing, everybody wants you on their team! :) I am so happy for your and I wish you many more DT spots! Now the box: OMG! This box looks like angels would keep their candy in it! It is sooo heavenly beautiful! You make a stunning creation out of anything! Every single little detail is in a perfect spot, and now all your dies have a perfect hideaway spot so they don't end up where they don't want to be :) Love it, love it, love it!!! Till your next stunning creation, big hugs from Las Vegas :)

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    1. Holy cow Samra!! You just put some bounce in my step with that wonderful comment! I think I will read it whenever I'm feeling down!

      BTW, you are my 1000th comment, I will contact you about the surprise I have made! Congratulations and thanks for being such an amazing crafty friend!! big hugs :)

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  11. I knew from the dashboard snap that this was going to be out of this world!! What a beautiful place to put the dies you are using and a fabulous idea too, which I hasten to add, I am going to adopt!! xx

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    1. Thank you so much Sarah!! I have been using mine for about a week now and I am so happy to have it sitting there. It makes clean up easier and sets my mind at ease too!! hugs :)

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  12. Hi Pamellia, congratulations on another Design Team spot. What a beautiful box, and your handmade flowers look so realistic. It makes my battered plastic Lock 'n' Lock look very drab, going to have to remedy that. Hope you are having a good day. Sally D.x.

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    1. Hi Sally! Thanks so much for the kind comment! I think a refurbish of your plastic box is a great idea!! I would love to see that! Having a great day, thanks. Hope you are too! big hugs :)

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  13. Wow... First off... CONGRATS on the DT member... that is super good... I love that for you .... Now going to what Donna said... no more dumpster diving... LOL.... oh my goodness Pamellia...that is too funny... Now for this 'little' box with a BIG BIG heart... I love it... it is elegantly created in every way... right down to the little roses inside the lid... love it all... took a LONG TIME looking and studying all three of these wonderful pieces and I think you need to put them into some kind of museum or something ... they are truly outstandingly created... love them all Pamellia... wow... Love, Light and Peace... Bonnie

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    1. Thank you so much Bonnie, for the congratulations and for the wonderful comment! You warm my heart! big hugs :)

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  14. Congrats for yet another DT post.Well deserved ,I must say.The box turned out gorgeous.So dreamy.Love the handmade flowers and the pearl string.You have such a knack for arranging flowers.The Die story was really funny.:-)

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    1. Thanks Pallavi! I hope all is well with you! Missed you, hugs :)

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  15. Wow, beautiful work, absolutely stunning!!
    Hugs Jacee
    Simply Paper Card Design

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  16. Hi Pamellia, it's lovely to have you on the Team and with such a lovely first piece. Love the finish on the box - and those words - just brilliant!
    Avril xx

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    1. Thank you so much Avril, for the wonderful comment and for the invitation to be a part of your family! big hugs :)

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  17. Huge congratulations Pamellia, I am so pleased they snapped you up, you really do create the most fantastic pieces of art and I bet they are thrilled to have you on board. Your box is gorgeous, beautifully re-cycled - elegant and practical too. I have done a bit of 'dumpster diving' myself and agree, it is horrible! Anne xx

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    1. Thanks so much Anne, for the lovely compliment and the heartfelt congrats! You too, oh no! I hope you were lucky enough to find your lost items! big hugs :)

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  18. congrats on your new Design Team post no wonder they snapped you up-love your beautiful decorated box,great crackle effect ,beautiful flowers and love the sentiment
    Carol x

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    1. Thank you so much Carol, for this and all of your wonderful comments! big hugs :)

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  19. Congratulations on your new team - well deserved, I'd say. Love the transformation of the wooden box. The colour palette is so pretty. I have a similar wooden box sitting in a closet so you have inspired me to do something with it in the near future.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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    1. Thank you so much Cec and I really look forward to seeing what you come up with! I know it will be outstanding! big hugs :)

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  20. Gorgeous altering. Beautiful details and so feminine. We are thrilled to have you join us at TioT's.
    Yvonne

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    1. Thank you so much Yvonne! I am thrilled to be there! hugs :)

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  21. Hi Pamellia
    Blimey O'Reilly as they say on this side of the Atlantic! Stunning, stunning and did I say, stunning?
    I keep my dies on magnetic sheets in a photo album so I just take the sheet out of the plastic pages and keep popping them on and off the magnetic sheets. How dull is that compared to having a die box? Every craft desk should have one!
    Time for bed here but enjoy your evening.
    Ang x

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    1. Thanks so much Ang! I actually keep my dies the same way, on magnetic sheets in binders, but apparently I need additional organizing props to keep them from going in the garbage can! hugs :)

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  22. Stunning Pamellia. Great Idea for your dies. I've lost things before and I'm sure they went out in the rubbish. Not only craft goods but the other week a coffee mug disappeared. ??? xx

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    1. haha, a coffee mug, hilarious! I've lost silverware, but never a whole mug, too funny! Thanks for the giggles Sherryn and thanks for the wonderful compliment too! hugs :)

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  23. Your altered box is beautiful, and congratulations!!!!

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  24. CONGRATS! Well deserved! LOVE your box! The crackle paint, the flowers, and the colors make one stunning creation!

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  25. Wow!!! Gorgeous and useful. I want one like that!

    Thanks for joining us at Crafts 4 Eternity.

    Mari

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  26. Oh what a beautiful and useful box Pamellia { such a good idea too thanks for the tip ,i am now going box hunting }
    I have not lost any dies yet ,come close to it but found them again.However my biggest loss has been my Phone i think it must have fell out of my top jacket pocket as i leaned over the dustbin doh .

    Take Care
    Elaine H X

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    1. Oh no, not your phone!! That is even worse! Thanks Elaine and big hugs :)

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  27. Congrats!! You would be an asset to any team!! Loving this box ... so very beautiful and I don't miss any stamping ... it's perfect as it is ... And yep, me too ... dropped so much stuff in the trash and had to go looking for it ... Have a beautiful day!

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  28. Oh I love this box Pamellia and what a fabulous idea! I've almost tossed a few dies myself! Gorgeous colors, flowers and I love the crackle effect... perfect sentiment too!!
    Hugs, Tammy

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  29. I forgot to say... A big congratulations on your new DT too! :)
    hugs, Tammy

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  30. When I'm redecorating my apartment I'll consult you, because you seem to have a bottomless bag of ideas. This box is really beautiful - I love the shabby chic look. :) I had to laugh at your reason for making it. If it makes you feel any better, you're not the only one who tossed dies in the trash. It happened to me too before. But I haven't thought about making a die box. *doh* Thank you for the inspiration! xx

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    1. haha, no problem Maja, as long as you want your apartment covered with pink flowers!! lol, hugs :)

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    2. Oh, I wouldn't mind that. But don't tell my bf. lol

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    3. Ah, men don't know about decorating! If I let my hubby take over, my house would be filled with orange leather bean bag chairs and gumball machines!! hahaha

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    4. lol :D :D :D It's good he has you then. ;) My bf would do everything black and white. And while I do like black and white colour combination (mostly black though), I think there has to be a splash of *real* colour too (and waaaay more white than black).

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  31. Congratulations on your new DT spot Pamellia.
    Such a beautiful project and so useful as well. I love the paint effect and gorgeous floral embellishments - this will look wonderful on your craft desk.
    Pauline
    x

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  32. Now that's what I call a transformation Pamellia! Huge congratulations on your new appointment - they are very lucky indeed to have you. Jenny x

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    1. Thank you so much Jenny, for the kind words and the congrats! hugs :)

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  33. I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't but it's quite funny :) lol... you poor thing! I would do the same though! You die box is awesome! I love the shabby chic look of it,.. gorgeous! xx

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    1. haha, it's ok to laugh, I sure did...after I quit cursing and swearing that is! lol Thanks Ingrid, big hugs :)

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  34. Wow, another absolutely gorgeous project! Your work is phenomenal! And congrats on this DT gig too! Love the dumpster-diving story! Teeheehee!
    Hugs,
    Leslie
    Love To Scrap!
    Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog

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    1. Thanks Leslie! Yeah, I can laugh about it now. lol hugs :)

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  35. Gorgeous project as usual Pamellia. It's amazing to see the before and after pictures ... you have made an amazing piece of art to have on your desk ... not only beautiful, be a safe place for things you want to keep! I have done the same thing and have lots a few stamps and small tools along the way. I'll need to make myself a safe storage place on my work desk too. Thanks for the great inspiration. And congrats on your new DT spot ... they are so lucky to have you on the team! Loll xx

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    1. Wow, thank you so much Loll! What an amazing compliment! You made my day!! hugs :)

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  36. This is truly breath-taking! Your flower arrangement is perfect and I love how you've woven in those pretty pearls. Thank you so much for the heartfelt comments you leave on my blog, they mean so much to me :) x
    Rebecca.

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    1. Thank you so much Rebecca and it is always a pleasure to visit you! Happy weekend! hugs :)

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  37. Such a shabby chic beauty and your flower arranging has the wow factor.
    Julie x

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  38. This is fabulous! I love the cracked texture and the pretty flowers and of course the lace. Thanks for joining us at Alphabet Challenges.

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  39. Stunning box.

    Thanks for joining us at Alphabet Challenge Blog.

    Mari

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  40. Hi Pam! Your box is so gorgeous! A lot of work but so beautiful result! I 'm sure you won't keep it anymore in your closet! LOL!
    Hugs Helene

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    1. Thanks Helene! I keep it right on my desk! hugs :)

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  41. Hi Pamellia, just noticed that you have entered this fabulous creation into Alphabet challenges, thanks for linking up
    Avril xx

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  42. Welcome to TIOT! and what a fabulous recycled project. So good it looks new. Nikki xxx

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  43. I loved reading this post! Your writing is as delightful as your art work. I could feel the joy you have in creating...and had to laugh at your "die box" saga. I have, sadly, done the same thing. But only once. I use magnetic heating vent covers (very cheap at the hardware store and they work great) and store them in a clear plastic shoe organizer that hangs on the back of my studio door. But enough about me...this box...shabbylicious! The crackle finish is divine, the handmade flowers are stunning, and I love the way you've used the pearls and lace. What a face lift!

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    1. Thanks so much Kathy! Sounds like you have a great system in place, I am still organizing as my collection gets bigger and old storage systems don't accommodate any more. hugs :)

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  44. OH, and congrats on the new DT! They are lucky to have you!

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  45. Oh wow this is stunning, absolutely love this box and your design is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing with us at Sugar Creek Hollow. Congratulations on the new DT !
    Amelia (DT Sugar Creek Hollow)

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