Saturday, October 07, 2017

Butterflies, Boxes and Back on the Horse

Hello everyone.  Things have finally settled down enough in my "real life" for me to get back, at least in a small way, into my crafting.  I have dragged one of my makes out of my Drafts Folder, it's an "exploding box" card I made for my friend Andrena's 50th birthday, I really like them - she loved it, I hope you like it too.
It is made of quite heavy gold card, the patterned paper is Graphic 45.  I've also used a handmade paper as a mat and there's a ton of embossed velour paper involved too, oh and the trim is ribbon.  
The border on the lid was cut with a die cut, I think it's a Magnolia one... frankly I can't be bothered going to my craft room to check!  It works great as a border of the lid... just bends a bit when you stand it up! 
I used a Memory Box butterfly die cut in gold and trimmed with Swarovski diamantes on the top.  Stripy pink and plain green ribbon from my stash.

You all know how these things work; here's a picture with the lid "off"
The inside butterflies were cut from the Graphic 45 paper and jazzed up with some pearl and iridescent paints before being cut out and stuck to acetate strips to make them "float"  Photos never do these cards justice, it was really lovely in real life, with loads of texture.  The flowers are from my stash, the green ribbon on the inside is SO lush, yum yum. Wooden numerals painted with the same paints and a Happy Birthday die cut from gold (Sissix I think) complete the card
I always find it hard to find a place to write on these box cards... in this instance I made a mini card using some gold card and a scrap of the Graphic 45 paper, embellished it with a border and some bling then stuck it inside the lid of the box; worked really well :-)
That's about it for today's offering.  I hope to be back fairly soon... I do have a LOT in my drafts still, and I have made a few cards in the last year, most of which I photographed though not all :-(
I'd like to enter in the following challenges: 





Fave…Ribbons or Flowers, and Why - loads of flowers here, but I actually prefer ribbon because it's so user-friendly, comes in so many patterns and sits flat - which suits "my" style of card
Border Punches or Border Dies (used a die)
Crafty Cardmakers edit: ineligible... my card/box is entered in more than 15 challenges, whoops. sorry ladies!
Fancy Folds
Die Cuts Only (no image, but yes to sentiment) even my sentiment is die-cut, lol
Autumn - I've used Autumn colours... my favourite!
Anything Goes
#283 Anything but a Card - if you count this as a box!
Anything Goes
Freestyle
Snippets -I've used snippets of card AND ribbon
#Anything Goes opt: Fall - used Autumn colours
Anything but a Square - well it IS square, but not a "square card"... I think that's in the spirit of the challenge
Anything Goes
Anything Goes (Always)

Anything Goes (Always)
Crafting With FriendsCrafting with Friends #52 
Anything Goes (Always)
Anything Goes (Always)
Anything Goes (Always)

Use Patterned Paper 
Anything Goes
#123Anything Goes, opt: Leaves
#51 Anything Goes
Anything Goes (Always)


On a personal note: My Dad has gone into permanent care, which is a hard thing for a family to come to as any of you that have done it would know, but we just couldn't keep him safe at home anymore.  It is a lovely place and he is settling as best as we could hope.

I have sold his house (emptying it first!), very stressful in a buyers market when we had a lower limit on what we "needed" to pay the bond for the home; we nearly made it, and have enough to come up with the shortfall.  Not having to pay $1200 a fortnight INTEREST on the bond (which hubby and I have been coming up with) is going to relieve the stress a lot - this is the first fortnight it won't apply, so we'll see :-)
I have managed to keep only six (albeit large-ish) boxes of "stuff" from Mum and Dad to sort and/or store... they bought a Royal Albert Old Country Roses full dinner and tea set each for us, I have emptied one of the display cabinets in my craft room (which is next to our family room) and installed lighting to display it and SOME of the gazillion matching crystal glasses my son eventually wants as his heirloom - it looks really nice, even though it was never my cup of tea, pardon the pun 
Anyway, until next time, Happy Crafting, Donna                         

19 comments:

Sue Crease said...

Oh My Donna, this is just wonderful. No wonder your friend loved it. I feel sure she won't put it away. Thanks for sharing over at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends. sue

Helen said...

Just gorgeous - an amazing design.

Thanks for joining us at My Time to Craft.

Helen x

Margaret said...

What a really elegant exploding box card and beautifully made. love all those butterflies. Thanks for sharing with CHN patterned paper challenge.
Hugs
Margaret M DT
Do hope your Dad continues well in care know just how you must be feeling as my husband had to spend his last 2 years in care, very stressful.

Jackie C said...

Simply perfect in every way! Love this entry, thank you for sharing with Creatalicious, Jackie DT member.

Terri's Cards N More said...

What can I say, but gorgeous inside and out. Thanks for joining the Crafting With An Attitude challenge.

Go Sweden 2019 said...

This is a stunning exploding box. Just perfect. Everything works beautifully.


Thank you so much for entering our ATG challenge at Through The Craft Room Door this week. Looking forward to see you again next challenge.
Regards,
TTCRD DT
Crafty-littleangel {Welcome to visit My Blog}
Through The Craft Room Door
ttcrd.blogspot.com

Lin said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Gorgeous box card. Thank you so much for joining in at Crafty cardmakers and good luck with the challenge, Angela x

Elizabeth Hart said...

This is such an exquisite box - so rich and elegant. Thanks so much for joining us this time at the Crafty Creations Challenge, Elizabeth (DT)

Di said...

This is absolutely beautiful Donna! I think it's the loveliest exploding box I've ever seen in fact - and no wonder your friend loves it.

Great to see you in the Snippets Playground.

Hugs

Di xx

Lena said...

This is awesome!! Love everything about it! Thanks for joining us at TPS this week, Good Luck!! Hug Lena

Kelly Schelske said...

Gorgeous project! Just lovely!


Thank you for playing along with us at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends!

Hugs,
Kelly

Annette said...

A stunning surprise box with the fab butterflies. Hope your dad settles in well in his new home too and you can de-stress knowing he's ok.
Hugs
Annette - Netty's Cards
xx
Proud to design for :
Lili of the Valley,
Dies to Die For,
In The Pink Challenge
Squirrel's not-so-random Challenge
As You Like It Challenge.

Jenscrapstoo said...

Thanks for sharing your talent, Great Project!!
Thanks for joining us at Hiding in my Craft Room
Cheers Jennie DTM
Jenscrapstoo

Mrs A. said...

Just catching up on the makes in the playground and see this exploding box is one of the highlights. It really is beautiful and I love butterflies. They feature on most of my cards. Now following your blog but blogger sticks me in as inconitto which is so annoying. Have also sent you a personal email re your postscript. Hugs Mrs A. (Aka ValeryAnne Designs).

creatingandsharingit.blogspot.com said...

Love your box full of colors. thank you for play with us in Polkadoodles Challenge blog https://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/2017/10/wk-40-anything-goes-craft-challenge-at.html

Darnell said...

Congratulations on the Gold Star Award from Di over at Pixie's, Donna! This looks like an enameled work of art from the jewelry store! Stunning!! Hugs, Darnell

sweetpea said...

Lovely and colourful. Thanks for joining in at Crafting with an Attitude janet DT

Melanie said...

A wonderful project!
Thank you soo much for taking part in our "anything goes with optional make your own background” challenge over at Creatalicious & good luck in the draw.
Hope to see you again in our new challenge as well…

Hugs,
Melanie
(DT-Coordinator Creatalicious Challenges)

(DT Crafty Friends)

(DT The Sketchy Challenges)