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:

- Alphabet Challenge Blog - P is for Pretty Petals

- Sugar Creek Hollow - Challenge #95 - Word Play
- That Craft Place Challenge Blog - Sentimental
- Creatalicious Challenges - #67 - Flower Power

- Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge - #193 - Favourite Colour Combo
(I just love anything pink combined with any neutral, but pink and beige/brown are definitely my favs)

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.