Fun Recycled Gift Box

Admit it, you sometimes buy product because you want to use the box for a project!I love great big bagel boxes and here's how to make one into a lovely gift box! Grab your spray paint, felt and glitter and get ready to make some giftable magic!
Watch my From Bagel Box to Gift Box YouTube video tutorial!

Materials:
Aleene's Original Tacky Glue Aleene's No Sew Fabric Glue
Bagel box Spray paint - I used silver
Felt - I used white
Old credit or gift card to use to spread glue
Decorative plastic or fabric - my decorative plastic had been wrapped around a bouquet of flowers Glitter glue - I used silver and gold
Wired ribbon - I used 2" wide gold ribbon

1. Spray the box with paint, inside and out. Allow to dry and spray on a second coat. Allow to dry.

2. Trace the sides of the box to make pattern for the felt that will be glued to the inside of the box up to the fold. Spread Tacky Glue on one inside side at a time and lay the felt into the glue. Press and smooth for firm attachment. Repeat for all sides. Optional: Cut decorative felt pieces that will be glued above the fold on the flaps. Use No Sew Glue around the edges

3. Cut plastic or fabric hearts to cover the perforated parts on the outside of the flaps. Glue in place. Allow to dry.

4. Add decorative details with glitter glue. Allow to dry.

5. Cut a 3' piece of wired ribbon to tie the handles together and make a pretty bow.

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31 Days of Halloween - Day 18 - Creepy Cardboard Pendant

Hey! It's day 18 of Smeared and Smudged Forum's 31 Days of Halloween Blog Hop! Yea!  This has been so much fun, hopping and commenting AND I thank everyone for the awesome comments you've give me!

I've done cardboard pendants before, but this one is just so much cooler! I took it up a notch and added more layering. Plus the flip side of this was made from a Halloween Doughnut box! Sweet!

Materials:
Cardboard - a couple of petty pieces and several filler pieces
Aleene's Tacky Glue
Circle punch - 1 3/4" - you could use any size or shape, but it's good to start simply Small hole punch - 1/8" - The Cropadile is the easiest to use through several layers
Dimensional sealer - glossy

1. Punch out cardboard circles - 2 beauties for the back and front, 3 or 4 filler pieces.

2. Glue the filler pieces together, then carefully add the front and back pieces. Try to keep glue off the front and back. Allow to dry - you may want to clamp it while it dries to keep it flat.

3. Punch small holes in the top and bottom of the stack.

4. Add dimensional sealer to one side at a time, allowing each side to dry completely.

If you check the Halloween Doughnut Earrings post, you'll see how to make a dangle for this pendant and I'll show an easy wire bail for the top of your pendant in a couple of days.

My New Role

I am about to take on the roll of Creative Play Muse for Cool2Craft!!! Tomorrow at noon, Eastern Standard Time, I will fill you in on all the details! Check out the Cool2Craft Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=342077966832&ref=ts#!/Cool2Craft?ref=ts and scroll down to the Cool2Craft Live button on the left to tune in!

I'll be presenting a monthly Creative Play theme for you to run with. You'll send in your entries which will be posted on the Cool2Craft web site at
http://cool2craft.com/
AND on the Hive at
http://creatingthehive.com/group/cool2craftcreativeplay
 Play on!

Frida Kahlo Inspired Self Portrait

Last week The Crafty Chica, Kathy Cano Murillo, challenged her blog readers to paint a Frida Kahlo inspired self portrait to honor the artist on her birthday.  I don't really paint, but I loved the idea.  So, I started with a box of chocolates, which I happily ate.  Then I sketched the portrait to go on the top of the box.  I cut it out, put it on, added colors, inks to age the box and attached some dangly earrings.

Note the uni brow and hint of moustache! Very Fridaesque.  I decided the piece would be about my inner artist, so the inside of the box would have to reflect the joy of creating art!  I love sculpting food!  Especially chocolate and coffee!  I used polymer clay to make the skeleton bits and chocolates.  Of course I had to add jewels and wire work.  Those things bring me joy, as well.

Then there's the Sacred Heart that my ribs can hardly contain.  That's all about my spiritual life.  You can't see it here, but I lined the inside of the box with a sparkly ribbon.  I do love to have sparkle and brilliant colors around me.  They feed my inner artist.

If you're not familiar with Frida's work, click here to see her work and read about her amazing life.

Candace's Green Sleeve

If you know me, you know I love coffee and Starbucks is a frequent haunt. Last week I was there with my husband. I was mulling over my options for the Green C4 Challenge and playing with the sleeve when I slipped my hand through it and thought it made make a cool bracelet.

So it began.

I've done a few things with coffee logos (yes, I collect coffee logos and photos) and really wanted to punch this up, so I got out my glittery gel pens and Glossy Accents.

I loved the the outcome!

You'll notice I flattened it for the Glossy Accents application. It will stay where you put it if it's applied to a flat surface. The coffee sleeves are made with 60% post consumer recyled material, so I was already pretty green. Then I got out the pieces of broken costume jewelry that my grandmother saved (along with the buttons off of everything she ever wore...sweet!) and made some decisions.

I gathered the green, pink and pearl beads, a hole punch, a lovely corner punch. stretchy beading string (I wanted it to be able to stretch and not tear when I put it on) and scissors. I punched a pattern of holes and started beading. I overlapped the back and corner-punched the top outer corner.

I cut wavy edges and added a few more sparkly spots.

I really should have slipped it on before I atached the ends together, because it's too big for a bracelet, but it's an awesome coffee sleeve!