Another Stationary Box Set

I love making the stationary sets! When the set is completed it gives one a great feeling of accomplishment. I have now made 10 stationary sets - seems amazing to me that I have made that many. I will share photos of some of the other sets at later dates.

My very favorite set was one I made in all black and white - the box and the contents - and it was difficult to part with it! I want to make another set just like it to keep for myself. When I can find the time! :<} Right now I am working on a special-project-late-anniversary-present for my brother and sister(-in-law). Oops! :<} Thank you for checking in! Barbara Diane http://www.picturetrail.com/whimcees
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=12146

A Set For a Friend

Hello again,

I made this card and matchbox set for a friend who loves butterflies and all the shades of purple. I love the butterfly from SU God's Beauty stamp set (on the matchbox) and will miss this set as it will no longer be available after tomorrow, as it has been discontinued. I don't think I will ever stop using this stamp. The other little butterfly (on the card) is from SU's Flight of the Butterfly stamp set and is still available. I use this set all the time and love it's versatility.

The listing of supplies used is to make this set is on my Splitcoaststampers gallery at
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=12146

I love sparkly and so of course had to use the Dazzling Diamonds to give the card and matchbox some bling! :<} If you have any questions, write to me and I will be happy to help.

Barbara Diane

Information for the Fan and the Birdhouse Patterns

Hello!

For those who wrote to ask for the fan and the birdhouse patterns, here are the sites where I found them. Enjoy!

The bird house pattern is called the Bird Box and you can find this pattern at Capture the Moment http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/

The fan is called the Fan Card Pattern and you can find this pattern at Victorine Originals http://www.victorineoriginals.com/

You will love visiting these sites! Thank you for your kind words and for writing! You make my day! :<}

Barbara Diane

Birdhouses & Fans

Today my oldest son Jim came over to work on projects. Jim lives in a group home and goes to a center two days a week where he teaches a small class on papercraft on one of the days and a class using the polymer clays on the other day. I help him decide on a project and set up the supplies that each person will need. Today we made fans and birdhouses for the papercraft class and Jim sculpted a Sculpey dragon sample to take to the clay class, but we were so rushed at the end of the afternoon that I forgot to take a photo of the dragon after it came out of the oven.

I made my birdhouse as a gift for a friend who is going through a difficult time and my fan to go with my little shoe and purse set. Jim took two birdhouses home with him - one for a woman worker at his home and one for himself and he also had two completed fans that he was giving one away and keeping one. I forgot to take photos before I took him back home because we were working right up to the time we had to leave, so have only photos of mine for show 'n tell today.

Thank you for looking at my blog and taking the time to write to me! I appreciate your e-mails and kind comments of my work! I am starting some large projects and hope to be able to complete them this week but it is going to be a busy one! Take care.

Barbara Diane

A Purse and A Shoe

I love the little shoes and I wanted to make a purse to go with a pair of shoes.

I chose the brown cardstock as I wanted a more realistic look before I tried a fantasy set. I did not use two-sided designer paper so I had to line the shoe, which made more work, but I like how it turned out. I used the same paper to do this as I had used on the front of the purse and to make the flowers. I used small pink pearls for the centers of the flowers and on the shoe strap.

I want to make this set again using the faux leather technique and will post photos of that set. But first I have to make the other shoe for this set! :<}

You take care! Thank you for visiting my blog!

Barbara Diane

Pop Up Matchbox

A day to just make a fun project. This little monkey is a cutey. The pop-up is glued to a section of clear acetate. He's coming your way "to say . . . Hi!"

Wishing you a great evening! It continues to be very hot weather here in Wisconsin! There is a chance of thunderstorms tomorrow - hopefully it will bring cooler air our way!

Thank you for viewing my blog! Barbara Diane

Another Watercolor Pencil Rose

Where to find the Cake In A Box Tutorial

Hello!

I have had many requests for the Magic Box directions. I originally found a tutorial on my friend Patti's blog "Creations by Patti" and fell in love with the whole concept of a surprise in a box. Patti is one of the most creative and talented people I know! If you have not discovered her site yet, please do check it out and you will be happy you did! You can see all of her wonderful creations here: http://www.creationsbypatti.blogspot.com/

You can find her posting for the cake in a box at http://creationsbypatti.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-06-03T02%3A00%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=10 If you should have a problem, it is her May 29, 2009 posting.

The little house in the center of Ali's Magic Box is the pop-up cake die as a base and my own design for the roof, which I will have to refine. So at this time I have no pattern to pass on, but when I do I will post it for you.

Thank you so much to all of you who contacted me with your kind words and good thoughts for Ali! She continues to be very ill and needs all that you can send!

I will be posting a new card later today! Wishing you a good one! It is hot, hot, hot weather here in WI.

Barbara Diane

Ali's Magic Box

Get well soon Ali!!!! You are one brave little girl!!!!

Sneak Peak to Ali's Magic Box

I have a little friend who's name is Ali. She is smart and cute, has red-hair, is 10 years old and is a liver transplant survivor. She is also a very brave little girl.

Recently she became very ill and was hospitalized. She had to have surgery which was much more intensive than expected, causing difficulty in pain management and an extended recovery time. But she got through it all and was able to go home, with the hope of being able to spend the last few days of the school year with her friends. This was not to be and Ali is now back in the hospital and once again she is very ill. There is now also the danger of her liver transplant being rejected.

I wanted to make something special for Ali and so I decided to make her a Magic Box. I went to look for a special stamp set that might appeal to a little girl. I found this wonderful set of 4 little oriental dolls and thought how cute they were. Then I learned that her favorite colors were pink and purple and put together different card stock and papers that I felt complimented each other. I knew that I wanted to use the pop-up cake as a starting point for the center of the box but that was about the only plan I had at that point.

I started to make the box and immediately decided to make this into a oriental scene for the 4 little dolls, but to achieve this I had to make a pattern for what would be my design in the middle of the box. It took me hours to make the pattern and each time I failed it made me even more determined to create this idea that I had in my mind. It was for Ali and I couldn't just give up. I was finally able to make the pattern, but I can now safely say that I am much more skilled in pattern making for the next idea I have than I was for this one! :<} I would ask that you please send prayers and good thoughts for Ali, that the doctors can find answers to what will help Ali to regain her health and be able to come home again. She has had to endure so many painful treatments and procedures in the last few weeks and still she remains brave and does all that is asked of her. Her mother Lori sends us updates and in the last one she had a comment from Ali to relate and it almost broke my heart. Lori said that Ali told her the night before that "Jesus must be really busy, ‘cause he hasn't made me better yet." Lori told her that she was sure he'll get to her soon.

So here is a sneak peak of Ali's Magic Box. I will have photos to post tomorrow.

Thank you for checking out my blog!

Time To Close The Card!

Today is the day of the wedding and the Wedding Trio has been picked up to be given to the bride. The closing of the card was traumatic - and separation anxiety was high.

I included two photos (after the card was folded and before it was put into the envelope) to show you that it would pop back up when opened and be just fine! I needed to see that!

This was a fun project but now I am on to another! :<}

The Wedding Trio - The Third Item - The Shoe

The Wedding Trio Second Item - The Magic Box