Random Act of Kindness

As promised, I am posting more!  Have you noticed that the world seems to lack a little gentility these days? In our rush to get through our lists, care for the important others in our life, etc., it seems as though we have very little time to do a random act of kindness for strangers.  Stepping outside our established relationships and helping others becomes something of a miracle due to the many constraints placed on our time. This week, I was on the receiving end of one such miracle!  I wanted to share with you the lovely mail art envelope that I received from Susan at Paper Art Team. Not only did she take the time to decorate the envelope but she also .... (insert drum roll here) filled it with envelopes!! 

I have been watching tutorials on envelope pockets, envelope mini-albums, altered envelopes ... You get the idea!  Unfortunately, I did not have any envelopes and have spent a fortune on craft and art supplies lately so it was a purchase I just continued to put off.  Susan was the cure to my desperate need of a solution.  I have already started using these envelopes to help build the pages for the Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe gate-fold album I am using.

So first, I would like to send Susan a giant heartfelt THANK YOU!  Second, I would like to encourage you to visit her blog.  Last, but certainly not least, I would like to share my treasure with you. Remember, art is in your heART. :)

Mistakes are Proof That You're Trying ... isn't that the truth?!

WANTED: A few good blogs

I am currently working on a gate-fold album using Graphic 45's Olde Curiosity Shoppe paper.  The album is well under way but i am afraid I made too many pages and am struggling to find unique ways to format each page  Since I am constantly looking for good ways to improve the organization of all my supplies, I thought I would share a photo of my desk in the throes of creativity.

I'd like to say it's not always this bad... but that would just be dishonest!

Are you the owner of a blog with amazing tutorials?  Do you have creativity bursting out of your seams?  If so, let me know! I am always looking for new techniques and have, for some reason, a difficult time locating great blogs!  I am going to start a list to share with everyone who may be blog hopping across the universe. (If you host weekly or monthly challenges I would love to hear from you as well! ) Please leave a comment with a link to your blog.

And so, without any further ado:
FAB-YOU-LOUS BLOGS:
Please visit Susan Mc at AuntieSisters. (Note: Susan, I would love to see some tutorials on how you alter all that fabulous furniture!

TUTORIALS:
Laura has the neatest tutorials on her sit for altered bottles. See her genius at: Artfully Musing
Andrea Walford does a very nice art journaling tutorial here: Art Journaling Video Tutorial
Roni hosts Ink Stains with Roni. Take a look at her site for genius tutorials using what else - ink!

CHALLENGES:
Visit Lee Anne for monthly challenges using free images on her blog at:

Fripperies and Butterflies

Upcycling Cardboard Box

I promised I would post more of the projects I am working on (or at least more often!).  For over a year now I have had a perfect box that I have used to store my Glimmer Mists in.  Sick of looking at it in its original form (it was the box our GPS came in), I decided it was time to do something with it.  I just thought I would share how the box progressed!  I think it turned out quite nicely and while I would change the adhesive I used originally, I am quite pleased with it! 

Original box, cut-down (top flaps removed)

Interior of box painted with pink acrylic (notice that the Modge Podge used to seal interior is still wet!)

Front of box

Box finished and returned to storing treasures! 

By the way, Pattie, my partner in the Tip-In Envelope exchange at Paper Traders loved the envelope that she received in the post below so that is good news!  I have to say I should have made one for myself as well.  Isn't that always the way it goes?

Glitter and Roses,
Misti

Tip-In Envelope Challenge

Wow! So I have not posted to my blog since August of last year. Does this mean I have not been creating anything? Absolutely not!  Perhaps this is why I only have one blog follower who is a friend. ;)  One of many things I need to put on my to-do list - BLOG MORE OFTEN.

I love participating in challenges. Why? It forces me to create on a deadline (for some reason I perform better under pressure).  I often participate in challenges set-up by PaperTraders; if you are not familiar with this group I would encourage you to check them out. 

In the meantime, some photos of a tip-in envelope challenge that I have completed:

Envelope filled with ephemera and treats for my trading partner.

Envelope with flap open.

The back of the envelope