Sunday, August 19, 2012

Re-vamped Rolodex

Hello everyone! 

One day I was checking out a blog post regarding paint chips and she was asking how different people had used them in projects.  I was really inspired by this project:



This was done by Diane at In My Own Style.  I wasn't as excited about the paint chips as I was about the rolodex itself.  I loved the thought of getting rid of the "office" look and getting more of a crafty look.  Then I saw this one from maryrindal.com.



I don't think those links go directly to those blog posts.  I think they just go to their blogs.  Which are fabulous by the way.  Anyway, this one is a birthday calendar, a great idea, but again, I was just looking at the design of the rolodex.

So, I decided to re-vamp mine too.  I wanted to use Moxxie paper of course but I couldn't decide which line.  It was a hard decision but I am happy with my choice.  I used the Bake Shoppe line because I love the colors.  I needed some alphabet stickers so I used the sticker sheet from the Paws and Claws line.

What do you think?




I used Diane's idea to modge podge the base then I added the sticker border all the way around.  Then I used Mary's idea for the scalloped circles for the divider letters.  I think the mix of the two designs was just perfect for me.  And it looks great in my craft room!  I hope you like it too.

Until next time,
Michelle

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Music to my Eyeballs!

Okay..this is the first, and only time I will admit this but when I first saw the sneak peek to Moxxie's Musically Inclined scrapbook paper line I was not as impressed as I thought I would be.  The colors seemed weird.  They looked gold and red to me in the pictures.  I said to myself, "Self, you are not going to like this line".  But, then I got the actual papers and elements in my hand and I was suurrprised, suurrprised, suyrrprised.  (That was my typed imitation of Gomer Pyle.  Could you hear it?)  Anyway, the line was beautiful and I could not wait to use it.  I even knew that I already had the perfect pictures.  I was excited as all get out.

So, here is the page I came up with.  I hope you like it.



It was extremely fun to make.  I cut pieces of patterned paper and used some of the die cuts for the pieces across the top.  Then added more dies and stickers to the page.  I also used a lot of foam mounting tape to add some dimension.  I am now convinced that you really need to see these lines in person.  They will absolutely WOW you just as they did me.  

Until next time,
Michelle


Friday, August 3, 2012

Happy UnBirthday!


  • Welcome to the first Moxxie Blog Hop!  

  • Join the Moxxie Muses the first Friday of every month to be 
  • inspired and your chance to win a complete collection of the line we are featuring!

Starting off our series of Blog Hops is the Super Duper Fun

Very Merry Unbirthday!


All you have to do to be entered to win this awesome prize is 

become a follower of each of the Moxxie Muse's blogs, leave 

a comment saying so or that you already are a follower.  

That's it...super easy!

Earn an extra entry by liking the Moxxie Facebook Page!

Just leave a comment there too and double your chances of 

winning!





A Very Merry Unbirthday to you!  Thanks for participating.  My Unbirthday project is a fun card.  This line has so many possibilities with all of its colors.  I just love working with it.  My card includes several layers which include some of the fun patterned papers and few of die cuts.  I added some stickles to make it sparkle.  I hope you like it!

Remember the cut off for commenting is Monday, August 6th at Midnight CST to be eligible for the prize drawing.  The winner will be announced Tuesday on the Moxxie Blog.  You can check back there to see if you are the big winner.  Good luck and happy hopping!  

 Your next stop is Rebecca's blog so click on her name in the list above.  Have a great time!



Until next time,
Michelle 



Monday, July 30, 2012

Fabric Covered Storage Boxes!



I need to give credit where credit is due.  This is NOT my idea.  I saw this on Sew Many Ways blog.  I love her blog.  She has great ideas.  So, definitely go check it out when you get done here. 

I am going to give you a step-by-step tutorial of how I made them.    I hope you enjoy it.

Supplies needed:


Box
Fabric
Spray Adhesive
Ruler
Scissors
Pen
3 in 1 Glue by Beacon
Pipe straps, screws and nuts (hardware store)
Crop a Dile (or something to make holes in the box)
A little time

Start with the box.  If you purchased the box assemble the bottom part but cut the tops off so you are left with the sides and the bottom.  Shown in the picture above.

Measure your fabric and cut out the pieces you need.  You need two extra inches around, two extra inches on the top and 4 extra inches on the bottom.  If your box is really wide you may need more than 4 inches on the bottom.  Make sure it will meet and overlap a little on the bottom.  Or you could cut another piece of fabric to cover the open space if needed.  I used my ruler and pen and drew lines onto the fabric to cut.

Then comes the fun part.  You may want to move outsides for this part because the spray adhesive is sometimes gets out of control.  I forgot to move my scissors out of the line of fire and they were a little sticky.  Yuck!


Leave about an inch or so hanging over the side edge when you start, then spray one side and lay the fabric down nice and flat.  You can lift it and place it back down if you get some puckers or folds.  Continue the next three sides.


Then you can move back inside for the rest.

I started out trying to tuck the edge under and glue it down, but gave that up because it was thick and I have no patience.  So I ended up just cutting the fabric even and gluing down the side edge.  This became the back of my box so it wouldn't show.


Next comes the bottom of the box.  First you need to cut away any extra fabric be sure to angle the cut  slightly into corner so it doesn't get bulky on the edge.  Can you see the angle in the picture below?



Lay opposite ends down, then cut away the extra fabric on the other two sides taking care to angle your cut again. The picture is horrible but you can see the angle of the cut.


 After you have the bottom of the box done, you can focus on the top part.


My edges were not even...not sure how that happened.  LOL.  Anyway, it is an easy fix.  Just trim them even all the way around.  You will need to cut into the corners so the fabric will lay flat.  Be sure to angle toward the corner again like you did on the bottom to avoid bulky fabric in the corners.  I noticed on Sew Many Ways that her fabric is trimmed or finished right at the top of the box instead of rounding the top and turning it into the inside.  You can do whatever you like best.  Adhere the edges down.

 
Be sure you are working on the front edge of the box.  Hold the pipe strap up to the box and mark where you want to punch the holes.  I used the Big Bite Crop a dile for this job.  It worked great.  It will punch right through the cardboard and the fabric.







Place the screws through the holes of the pipe strap and add the nut on the back.







I loved the idea of the metal rim tag held on with a metal ring for the label so that is what I used too.

There you have it.  Such a great way to get the color and size of boxes you want for your space.  Here are some of the others I made for my room.








If you would like the entire tour of my craft room, you can find it and tons of other fun ideas on the Moxxie Blog.  Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time,
Michelle