G45 Matchbox

It's no secret that I am a HUGE fan of Graphic 45 products.  I have just about every line of paper they have made, as well as their staples products.  Most of the paper I won't cut because it's just too beautiful lol.  But, what good is the gorgeous paper if you don't use it?

For the project, I used the Graphis 45 By the Sea collection and their Small Matchbox.  I inked the edges of the box with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Wild Honey.  I then chose the paper I wanted to use for the top and sides.  I cut the paper about 1/8" smaller than the actual size of placement area.  For the top, I mitered the edges so that it would have a nice clean look.  I ran the strips through my Xyron X and applied to box top and sides.

To finish off the top, I used the seahorse from Tim Holtz's Sand and Sea die.  I used several colors of distress ink on the seahorse.  I then covered the whole seahorse with Tim Holtz Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint.  When dried, this left small crackles throughout the seahorse.  I then cut some coral and seaweed with my Cricut Explore. I sanded the edges of the coral and seaweed to give it a distressed look.  The finishing piece to the top was a piece of old fishing net applied to the underside of the square hole in the top of the box.

For the inside, I cut paper the size of the bottom and glued it in.  I then used the lighthouse card contained in the paper pack and placed it in the bottom center.

I hope you like my version of the Graphic 45 Small Matchbox.  I found that it's really not too difficult to cut into your favorite papers!!!

Have a crafty day ~ Deb

Summer Journal Page featuring Julie Nutting Doll Stamp

I finally purchased my first Dylusions Journal!  I was soo excited to get it I just had to do a page right away.

My favorite season is Summer and the Beach, so going with that theme, I started my page.  For the background, I used Tim Holtz's Distress Oxide Ink in Faded Jeans and Broken China.  I made a wave stencil and cut it out with my Silhouette Cameo.  I got out my Faber Castell Whipped Spackle and some blue acrylic paint.  I blended the two together to use with the stencil.  I placed the stencil over the page and applied the colored Whipped Spackle.

I knew I needed sand, so I went across the street to the beach and picked up a small jar of sand.  I mixed the sand with some Mod Podge just until all the sand was covered.  Using a spackle knife, I applied the sand to my journal page and pressed hard to make sure it stuck.  Then it was time to wait for the blue background and sand to dry.

While that was drying, I stamped my Julie Nutting doll on a piece of Julie's A4 Buff paper.  That is a great paper pad because it gives you several different skin tones.  For the clothes, I paper pieced them and glued them on.  The hair and hair band were colored using my Spectrum Noir markers.

Once everything was dry, I glued my girl so that her knees were in the sand.  I then added a couple of brass shell embellishments on the sand, and a sailboat in the distance.  The sentiment says it all!  "Simple Times".....they are the times I cherish while at the beach where you can forget everything and totally relax while listening to the sea.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a crafty day ~  Deb