"Mr. Skeleton in his Parlor" Halloween Shadowbox

Hello crafty friends! About two weeks ago, I walked into my local craft store to purchase some ribbon ( like I don't have enough, already) and witnessed the employees stocking the shelves with, with.. .(wait for it)....Halloween merchandise!!! Yes, you read that right! I literally let out a little shriek when I saw this beautiful sight. In case, you haven't guessed it yet, I really, really LOVE Halloween!
Halloween is  such a fun time of year for me and brings me  back to my childhood. Growing up, I was that shy little kid who wasn't afraid of creepy crawlies and made up games about monsters and ghouls . I loved a good scare( although nothing ever scared me) and I favored dark colored clothes over bright and cheery colors. I would often wear my hair in braids like my idol Wednesday Addams.Sure, people made fun of me but I loved that I was different. Fast forward 30 years later and my love for Halloween hasn't wavered one bit. My taste in clothes and color schemes sure has, and you couldn't pay me to pick up a spider or worm. But every Halloween season, that little girl gets to come back and live on in the spooky crafts and decor that now, bring a smile to my little girl's face. So for my first Halloween project of the 2015 season, I bring you "Mr. Skeleton in his Parlor"...

*WARNING, lots of pictures*

This is a GDT for Sacrafter's shop. I used her House Shadowbox #2 as well as her wood street light pieces to create this spooktacular shadowbox scene.

 I wanted a "shingled" roof so I cut small pieces of pattern paper, inked the edges with Black Soot and adhered them to both sides of the roof.

 I used Tim Holtz's Brick embossing folder on black card stock for the sides of the house. After embossing the paper I rubbed a metallic gunmetal paint on top to pick up the details of the bricks.

I made a little window out of pattern paper and the Movers and Shapers Openings dies.

I added little "rose bushes" on each side of the house. Love the way that gunmetal paint looks on the brick embossed papers.

For the floor, I used the  TH  Wood Grain embossing folder and created "planks" with my MS scoring board. Can you see Mr. Skeleton's scaredy cat by his side?

I love this cute little wreath! It's one of Tim's and I colored it with LSG in Passionate Plum, then sprayed it with adhesive before sprinkling with purple glitter. Then, I added the little orange stickers and the skull and crossbones Idea-ology piece.

The moon is made out of chipboard and colored with orange and yellow acrylic paint. I, then die cut the bats with the Movers and Shapers die and black, flocked paper.They're popped up on foam squares for dimension.

This is the back of the house and you can really see the details in the brick embossed paper.

Here's a closer look at the inside of the shadowbox. You can see Mr. Skeleton reading his newspaper in the comfort of his parlor. The frame in the background was fussy cut from the patterned paper then I stamped and embossed the skull image in the center. I found the little wooden chair, book and lamp in the miniature section of my local craft store. The small side table is actually a wooden spool, painted black and distressed with sandpaper.

Love how Mr. Skeleton is crossing his legs!

Phew, that was a lot of pictures but there were so many cute details I just didn't want you to miss. This piece was so fun to create and it's both creepy and fun. My daughter got a kick out of it and can't wait for me to create more Halloween pieces. Neither can I, bwahahaha!

Hope you liked my little project and thank you so much for stopping by.

I'll be seeing you...(insert maniacal laugh here).

"Rustic Harmony" Altered Cupboard

Hey crafty friends! Man, it's been a busy summer!!! I'm sure you all can relate, right? With the kids being home from school and trying to find ways to entertain them,(so they don't kill each other,lol), it's hard to find time to craft.Plus I still have to clean house, run errands and you know, do everything else.Geez the  never ending workload of a stay at home mom!!!  But... I did manage to make some time to create 2 more projects for Sacrafters shop, this month. I will share one today and the other on the next post. Today's project is a storage unit for my craft table. I needed something to store some of my smaller laces and trims, and Sacrafter's Cupboard w/ shadowbox was just perfect for the task.

Like all of Sacrafter's products, this was so easy to put together. I painted all the surfaces that were not going to be covered with paper, with a light gray acrylic paint I mixed myself.Then I adhered all my papers, buffed the edges and inked them with Tim Holtz's Pumice Stone Distress Ink. The papers I used are from Kaisercraft's Rustic Harmony collection and are just dreamy!

I didn't want to over embellish the top of the cupboard so I just added a wooden frame, a few of the coordinating die cuts, flowers and bits of lace. I threw in a few pearls here and there for good measure.

I spattered paint on the entire piece just to give it a more rustic feel. I really love the wood grain paper I used on the sides. Really looks great!

Here you can see the spools I used to hold the wooden frame up, on top. I painted them with the same light gray paint mixture and wrapped coordinating ribbon and lace around them.

The shadowbox area is perfect to store these simple lace cards. It fits quite a bit of them in there.

 The door pulls are Kaisercraft's wood flourishes with a G45 metal brad in the middle. I took the prongs off the brads, painted them with gunmetal paint and then dabbed light gray acrylic paint t the tops. Perfect little door pulls!

Behind the doors is storage space for more lace cards or spools. 

Here's the back of the unit covered with the pretty papers and splattered with bits of paint.

What a great piece! It was so much fun to alter and it looks so pretty sitting on my table. When I need to reach for some of my favorite smaller, laces all I have to do is reach across the table and there they are.

I sure hope you head on over to Sacrafters and check out her shop. If you love to create unique, off the page projects, this is your one stop shop! Don't forget you can use discount code "LIZFANS" to save 10% off your purchase of $30 or more. 

Thank you so much for stopping by today. Hope you'll come back and visit real soon!

Have a great day.

Tilda Altered Tray Embellishment Center w/ 3D Tea Cups

Happy Sunday everyone! Today, I'm coming at you with my first GDT project for Sacrafters shop, for the month of July.  Sa sent me so many awesome goodies to alter and I always get so excited when I'm asked to guest design for her shop.One of the first things I noticed, in my DT package, was a cute little serving tray. Having recently picked up Tim Holtz Tea Time die, I thought of a great way to incorporate the two into a cute embellishment center. Check it out!

This is the largest of the serving trays available in Sa's shop and was so easy to put together. I painted all the exposed parts with Bleached Sand acrylic paint by Americana and then I covered it with papers from Tilda's Tiny Treasures paper pad. I just adore this paper pad for all it's sweet images and gorgeous papers! 

All the edges were distressed with a sanding block to give it an aged look. Then I adhered a pretty floral trim all around the tray and flat back pearl trim on top of that.

I created small flower clusters on each handle side with die cuts from the paper pad and flowers from my stash.

I'm so in love with the gorgeous prints of this paper collection.

So shabby chic!

The sweet tea cups were created with Tim Holtz Tea Time die. I die cut the tea cups and saucers from the paper collection and made them 3D. If you're interested to see how I did that, go check out my mini tutorial, here.

I added a flower die cut piece to the front of each tea cup. Then I made the cute little tags and glued them to the inside of the tea cup. I filled each tea cup with shredded tissue and tiny fabric flowers. And now I have a really cute embellishment center for my craft table! I can switch out the embellishments to suit the project I'm working on and the tray serves as a pretty decor piece.

I hope you like my project and I encourage you all to check out Sacrafters shop. Her off the page products are so unique and so much fun to alter. You can use my discount code "LIZFANS" for 10% off your purchase of  $30 or more.

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Hope to see you all real soon!

Have a great day.

"Adorable" Gorjuss Girl Altered Photo Display

Happy Sunday everyone! I'm here again, to share another Guest Design Team project for Sacrafters shop. Today's project is a fun 3D scene I created with one of Sacrafters Photo Display units and an adorable Gorjuss Girl stamp. She carries several different styles of these fun, wood Photo Displays in her shop, as well as other awesome off the page products. You can check out Sacrafters store here and if you make a purchase of $30 or more, you can save an additional 10% off your purchase with my discount code "LIZFANS".

So here it is! Isn't it adorable? 

The unit was so easy to put together. First,I used a warm white acrylic paint to paint the parts that weren't going to be covered with paper. Then I used Prima's Princess 6x6 paper pad to cover the rest of the unit. All the edges were buffed with a sanding block then inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

The Gorjuss stamp is called "Hang me up to dry". I colored the sweet image with my Copic markers and paper pieced the dress and cute little socks. I used foam tape to adhere the stamped image onto the hanging piece and then added those cute little cloud die cuts. Both the cloud die and the grass and flowers die are from the Magnolia Doohickey Club Volume 4.

Here, you can see the green ribbon I used to wrap around the unit. I love how it looks like vines. I then added those tiny, pink roses from my stash.

I used two Martha Stewart butterfly stamps to stamp onto scraps of paper using archival ink. Then I fussy cut them out, added pearls to the centers and adhered them randomly to the unit.

I knew it would be very difficult to cover the title with the pattern paper so I used paint instead. First I painted the letters with a warm white acrylic paint.Then I took a a script stamp inked with brown archival ink and randomly stamped onto the letters.Next,  I used a sponge dauber and dabbed pink, peach and white acrylic paint on top. Lastly I inked the letters with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I really love the way the title turned out because it matches the papers so well.

The back of the unit is also covered with paper and here, you can see that cute picket fence I adhered to the posts. 

I really do love the way this project turned out. It was so fun and easy and just looks adorable in my daughter's room.

If you like this project, head on over to Sacrafters shop and check out the rest of her amazing off- the-page products. They are all constructed of high quality materials and so fun to alter. 

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day.

See you all real soon!

"Little Miss" Altered Shadowbox Stand

Hello crafty friends! Welcome to another project share for Sacrafter's shop. Like I've mentioned in my previous post, I'll be guest designing for her shop for the entire month of May. If you are not familiar with Sa's store, I highly recommend you check it out, here. You will find wonderful wood pieces to alter as well as amazing,one of a kind, wood and chipboard die cuts for all your crafty projects. I also have a a special discount code you can use to save 10% off your purchase of $30 or more.Simply type "LIZFANS" in the coupon box and, instant savings!
So today's project share is an altered shadowbox I created for my oldest daughter.It's just a little reminder for her to remember to always "shine"!

This is Sacrafter's Square Shadowbox Stand. It is made out of MDF wood and is so easy to put together. I covered the wood pieces with Bo Bunny's Little Miss collection. I only had a few pieces left of this collection and I put every scrap to good use.

I adorned the shadowbox with different fussy cut elements from the paper collection. Then I draped some pearls for an elegant look. Lastly I added flowers in coordinating colors and a beautiful Magnolia Doohickey butterfly to the corner of the box.

There's a picture of my lovely daughter inside this cute, resin frame. I just look at her picture and can't believe how much she's grown! She's turning into such a beautiful young lady, inside and out.The background paper had a really great quote that I thought fit perfectly with the project. It reads "Don't be so hard on yourself, choose to shine." She's had problems with low self esteem in the past and I've always told her it's a matter of choice. It's our choice to "shine" and be happy or to choose to be down in the dumps.Embrace who you are and be the best at being you! I think she's actually listened,lol!

This is the base of the shadowbox stand. I created a little cluster of  flowers, pearls and a fussy cut birdcage at the bottom.

 Side views of Shadowbox Stand.

 Back view of Shadowbox Stand.

My daughter loved the final outcome and called it her "little shrine". I'm just happy to have put a smile on her pretty little face.

If you would like to get your hands on this shadowbox or other similar products, head on over to Sacrafter's for a huge selection of off-the-page products. Don't forget to use my discount code for even more savings.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope you like my project and I'd really love to know what you think.

Have a wonderful day and I'll see you all real soon!

Tilda "Happiness is Homemade" Altered Dresser

Good morning crafty peeps! Today I want to share another project I created for Sacrafter's shop. I'll be guest designing for her store the entire month of May and you can use discount code "LIZFANS" to save 10% off your purchase of $30.If you are not familiar with her store, you definitely want to head on over and check it out. She carries the most amazing and unique wood pieces to alter.All her products are so easy to put together and are made of quality materials.But don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself, here.
So today's project is another storage piece for my craft space. I altered her Wood Chest Dresser to store all my needle craft embellishments.

I busted out my Tilda "Happiness is Homemade" paper pad because I thought it was perfect for the  theme I was going for.

I really love this page with the Tilda doll so I used it for the front of the drawers and just added the little knobs. All the edges are inked with Vintage Photo.

I had a hard time cutting into this paper pad because the papers are just so beautiful. That's the reason I didn't embellish the sides and  just showcased the papers.

The top of the dresser looks so cute with all the needle craft themed embellies.I love the die cuts that come in this collection; cute little button cards,thread cards, flowers etc.I added some embroidery floss and a sewing needle to one of the thread cards to give it a realistic look. The little basket was a find from the thrift store and I created the little yarn balls from some leftover yarn.I made the knitting needles out of toothpicks and adhered a pearl to one end.The wooden spools are from my local craft store and I just wound a bit of lace around them.Then I added flowers, buttons and that cute scissors charm from my stash.

I love the way the dresser turned out and the 3 drawers provide enough storage for my embellishments. Plus the piece looks so cute sitting on my cabinet!

Hope you enjoyed today's project share. Please come back and visit me soon.

Have a wonderful day!

Shabby Chic Wood Heart Banner

Hi guys! This month I've been asked to be a guest designer for my sweet friend Sa's shop. Sacrafters carries tons of OOAK wood and chipboard products to alter, as well as embellishments and stencils.And her prices can't be beat! You can use my discount code "LIZFANS" for an additional 10% off your purchase of $30 or more and it's good for the entire month of May.
Let me share with you my first DT project for the month.

I altered her Wood Heart Mini Album and turned it into a banner for my wall. I've been stressing out a lot lately and I just wanted a little reminder to appreciate the little things in life, and not worry about things I can't control. Of course, I had to make it shabby chic to go with my decor and I think it turned out quite sweet.

You get 10  raw wood pieces, 5 solid pieces and 5 cutout pieces to lay over the base. I didn't paint mine but simply covered them with designer paper and inked the edges with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink. I printed out the words onto pattern paper and then adhered each word to the heart base, making sure I centered it with the opening of the heart shape.

The small flowers are all from my stash and I dabbed white acrylic paint to the tops. I created the music sheet flowers with my Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms Die and then sprinkled the flowers with Glamour Dust.

I really like how each piece has a different "window" shape, so I accented each opening with mini flat back pearls. The pearls add such a pretty little detail.

Lastly I threaded a piece of jute through each of the holes and tied pretty pink bows in between each wooden heart piece.

My heart banner looks so pretty on my wall and best of all it reminds me to "Live, Love, Laugh every day". And at the end of the day that is all that really matters!

I hope you like my project. Head on over to Sacrafters shop and check out all her alterable products and don't forget to use my discount code "LIZFANS" to save even more.

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I'll see you all real soon.

Botanical Tea Storage Unit

Welcome back! Today I want to share another Guest Design Team project for Sacrafters. She was kind enough to send me  her 4-drawer storage unit and I thought it would be great to alter it for my craft area. I'm always in need of more storage, and this was the perfect piece to alter with the Graphic 45 Botanical Tea collection. I've been hoarding this paper pad ever since I got it,lol.

I love the way the storage unit turned out and the papers are just gorgeous! With all the roses and birds, it just makes me long for Spring. The Wood Flourishes and metal pulls by Kaisercraft add just enough detail to the drawer fronts.

I found a metal candle holder at my second hand store and I created a little nest inside. The candle holder resembles a little tea cup so it went perfectly with the theme of the papers.I fussy cut some elements from the paper pad, added some flowers and branches to create a botanical scene on top of the unit.

For the sides, I simply added doily die cuts from the Cheery Lynn French Pastry die and layered fussy cut elements. The metal corner pieces are by Momenta and are the perfect antique gold.

 Here's the back of the unit. Simple but pretty!

Hope you like today's project and thank you so much for stopping by.

Head on over to Sacrafters and don't forget to use discount code "lizfans" to get 10% off your purchase of $30.

Have a wonderful day!