Category: Challenges

Mystery Box Makes, Jan ’25

Hello, hello! I am excited continue to share this series into 2025. I did this series back in 2020 and revived it in 2023. I have a mystery box of crafting supplies from Simon Says Stamps. As I dive in I never know what I’ll be using to create! New for 2025, join me LIVE on my YouTube channel each time I make.
So, what is Mystery Box Monday? It is just a silly game and creativity stretcher! I have a “grab-bag” style box of supplies that I purchased online as part of a store clearance sale back in Nov ’24. Since the box is a grab-bag, that means all the supplies in the box are a mystery. The box comes at a steep price reduction because the supplies are unknown. Who doesn’t like a good deal and a fun mystery?
I’m going to reach into this box and pull out three items. Much like that cooking show with the mystery basket ingredients, I have to put those items to use on one crafty project. Will these ingredients work together? Or will it be a recipe for disaster? Let’s find out…

This month was only the second time I’ve gone live EVER! I thought I was feeling pretty calm, but my nerves did get to me just a bit as I forgot to add some of the pieces I made to the final project. But, let’s start at the beginning…

Stencil Alphabet
Alcohol Marker
Gift Bag

Here are the items that were pulled from the box… A set of chipboard alphabet “stencils”, a tri-blend alcohol marker and a snowman zipper top bag. With the final item as a little gift bag, the project sort of decided itself. I would just need to jazz up this little bag with the other items. I started with the idea of giving this snowman a scarf colored with the marker and add some special touches with twine and some bling. As I searched for twine I came across some ribbon that would fill in for the scarf beautifully. I also stenciled some little “tags” with M and C for Merry Christmas. The final touch was to stencil the number 25 on the plastic itself.

During the video I forgot to add the M and C tags to the scarf. Here you can see the final intended look.

If you want to see the process, go ahead and check out the video.

So that is it this time around. I hope you join me for future Mystery Box Makes goodness. Until next time, I hope you have an artful day.

Iron Crafter Hop, February ’24

I play along with a couple of online scrappy challenges each month, including the Iron Crafter Challenge hosted over at the Peace Craft Love Facebook group. It is a fun & free group if you want to check them out.
Each month we are given a mystery ingredient to use in our crafting recipes. If you know me, this is right up my crafty fun-loving ally. Let’s check out what we’ve got going on this month…

This time our mystery ingredient is… pocket cards.

Usually I have a pretty easy time with the challenges as I am an bit of an eclectic scrapper. However, pocket cards–and pocket scrapbooking–are not something I do much. I had to really dig in my supplies to find a small stash of these cards. I really appreciated being challenged to come up with a fun way to use these supplies. I like what I did. I hope you do too!

I used those pocket cards in three ways. First, the larger card creates a grounding mat for my first two photos. Next, smaller cards layer to form a space for my journaling. Finally–an the idea that is the star of the show–I used the cards to create borders at the top & bottom of my layout.

Normally I’d just smack down a single card as the sole embellishment or a bit of a base to an embellishment cluster. This idea of cutting/tearing them to create a border is an idea I would like to return to. Perhaps this challenge will get me using those pattern papers with all the cut out pocket cards!

Of course if you want to see more, the video has more details.

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my latest project. I hope you will come back next time as well. Until then, have an artful day!