Inspiration Emporium's Red, White and Blue Challenge-DONE!

Hello Everybody!

The Inspiration Team was challenged to "Celebrate America" with Red, White and Blue!  This is actually our July challenge, but since the 4th is right around the corner, I wanted to share my project with you all now.  Hopefully this will bring some inspiration for the upcoming holiday!

I am always looking for a fast and easy way to make a project to hold photos....well... really, to hold anything ! Hence, my love of boxes!  Today, I have designed a book box to hold my photos.  Not really a book but it has the same shape.  OK, you know I can't do this without a little story, so here goes...

I thought I would make this project easy on myself by altering a paper mache box from Hobby Lobby!  Cool huh?  They had the perfect box.  However, it was fitted inside as a jewelry box with a mirror and places to stash your rings.  Around $3.99.  You may have seen them.  Cool huh?  I was so excited to save some time and get one of my projects out of the way!  Cool huh?  When I started working on it, I quickly and easily pulled out the ring holders and the dividers.  Cool, this was going to be an EASY ride!  I loved the mirror and wanted to save it  as it was perfect to use on another project.  That's when the fun really began!  I simply needed to take the mirror out of the box.  Cool huh? Peeps, that stinkin' mirror wouldn't give to save my life.  Not budging!  LOL!  No way Jose!  So as any Gentleman would do, I went for the tools!  Scissors, craft pick (which I bent to smitherines!) even my old faithful awl! Not even a fraction of a crack! LOL!  I was not going to let this thing conquer me!  So,  I pulled out my little crow bar.  It was the one that came with the beekeeping kit.  Yes, Beekeeping...that was the phase when I had decided I would become a famous Texas Beekeeper!  :)  Another long story for a whole different post! This is such a handy dandy tool!  I used it to pull molding up all over my house!  If this baby could work on the wood moulding, it would surely work on paper!!  Folks it did!  It busted that mirror into a million shards which flew all across the room, under tables, in containers, you name it!  Tonight, I was still finding pieces of it!  Oh no, that's not the end of it.  I riped a whole clean through the lid of the box!  This is PAPER people!  How much glue do you need!  For the love of Mary!

Alrighty then, it wasn't so fast and not so cool huh?   So, I did what I do and made the dad blasted box!  Should have saved myself the time and grief and just done this in the first place!  Bahahaha!

Here my friends is the Inspiration Emporium's Inspiration Team Challenge....

 

Vintage 4th of July Photo Box!

 

 

 

 

Supplies Used From Inspiration Emporium:

Tim Holtz - Idea-ology Paper Stash-Seasonal

Tim Holtz - Stampers Anonymous- Americana Silhouettes

Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Faucet Knobs

Tim Holtz -Alerations - Sizzix Bigz Die - Old Glory

Tim Holtz - Alterations - Sizzix Bigz Die - Tiny Tabs & Tags

Tim Holtz - Alterations - Sizzix On the Edge Die - Scallops

Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Stream

Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Sunshine Yellow

Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Red Pepper

Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Vintage Photo

Tim Holtz - Idea-ology - Sanding Grip

Graphic 45 Metal Button Brad - (Scrapadabadoo.com)

Red, Blue and Ecru Cardstock -(Michaels)

Martha Stewart  Star Corner Punch (Scrapadabadoo.com)

Red, White and Blue Crepe Paper Streamer (Hobby Lobby)

Medium Weight Chipboard (Scrapadabadoo.com)

 

Hope you like it and can find some inspiration!  Thanks For Coming By!

Jim

The Gentleman Crafter

 

Comments

[Carol Mitchell]

Awesome! I love love love it! What great colors.

[Disco Queen]

Stunning Photo Box. Shame about the mirror.

[Nancy Schultz]

Love your photo box! I agree to bad about the mirror but I love the cigar style box you made and the 4th of July papers and things are perfect. Just got my Rotatrim yesterday and can't wait to get started on one of your tutorials love your style! Thank you for sharing with all of us your awesome!

[Cassandra]

Ow wow Jim, I just love this! I don't normallly like those colours, but they look fantastic! Love your work!

[Helena]

gorgeous box!

[Patti]

LOL...Jim, I can't decide what I like better...your project or your stories! Thanks for sharing both. Next time, keep the mirror, but put a faux mercury glass technique on it!

[Dee]

For some reason this story seems very familiar to me.. that's pretty much how smooth my project ideas turn out.. lol! But, the end result looks amazing! I love it!

[Barb E]

It's beautiful Jim. You need to find yourself a real fancy cigar store in Texas. Sometimes they give away beautiful cigar boxes. I have a friend who collects them! You could alter your brains out!

[Kay]

How great is this box! Like the Crepe Paper on it...good idea! But love the story most..can just picture you with all your tools around you talking to the mirror!!! Great morning laugh! Thanks for making my day--sounds so much like my "great deals"!!!

[Sharon Y (sharona62)]

Love it! I go crazy for anything with patriotic colors. Nice to see TH Americana stamps and dies in use as these are on my wish list. And thanks for the great story

[heidig]

Incredible! I'm feeling patriotic just looking at it. Great job, Jim!

[Cait]

I absolutely love the box...what a great job. However, I would love to be a little mouse in your studio...just to watch you when you encounter "problems". I'm sure I would be "squeaking" with laughter...LOL

[mary puskar]

Good morning Jim! Love the box but the story was priceless. Have done similar things myself. Never quite turns out the way you expect does it? Keep us laughing and keep those great projects coming. Happy 4th!

Mary

[Sarah]

Love the mirror story. Love your project! All is well that ends well...it's getting there that is the most fun!!

[Orlie]

Jim, Your work here is Super Great.I just love coming here to see what you have done and to get fresh Ideas. i feel like you have a hit on your hands AGAIN !!!!!! thank you for sharing.

[Barbara Albrecht]

See...told ya...your idea of simple just blew up...ROFLMBO!!! I love the box...the way you vintage'd up everything. Super project!!

[Theresa Grdina]

I cannot believe how beautiful this is!! I am not a 4th of July person...but THIS I WOULD MAKE!!! I LOVE IT.

[Maggie(MaggieLove)]

Lol Jim, you're hilarious! Love your project...Cool huh? lol

[Mo (Mori49)]

I love seeing how the TH patriotic dies and stamps look in use. You made them look irresistible. Beautiful box!It tickles me to see the faucet as the center of the bow.
The story - too,too funny!

[Bobbie]

amazing

[Vic]

Thank you for sharing that story! If you have troubles with paper craft, there is hope for me. It tried to make one of the suitcases on Paper Phenomenon and after I assembled the bottom and before I covered it with paper, the entire thing popped apart. The glue tape I used let ago and all that work was wasted!

[Zandra]

I would have punch my hand with that awl...lol I love using crepe paper, looks fabulous on your project. Love the added star corners.

[kathy/NorthCarolina]

Omigosh! Not funny, I know...but you make is *sound* so funny. Glad you didn't get cut.

But you *made* the box? You *made* the box? Honestly...is there anything you can't do?

Oh, and by the way...about 32 years ago, I build beehive inserts for a local beekeeper to earn money as a stay at home mom. I built the frames that went inside, wired them, and then melted the wax onto the wires. Piece work. I was desperate. But the house smelled great. I'd much rather play with paper.

[Janet (Boo52)]

You have such a way with telling a story. You can add stand up comedy to your U-Tube videos and start a whole new direction for scrapbooking.....Love the project by the way and the colors are fantastic.

[Lynn Wild]

Another great project! The saying must be true - more haste, less speed! In the UK it's considered very unlucky to break a mirror - it's supposed to result in 7 years bad luck - Sorry to tell you that!

Lynn

[Lorraine Padden]

What a great story. I've had many crafting mishaps in my life, ask me about mod podging my box shut with all the goodies inside. Just love your style Jim, another fantastic project.

[Linda Cain]

PERFECT! Simply perfect. Can't wait to hear about the bees....hmmmmm.

~Linda

[Linda Cain]

P.S. Great job on the watermark!!!

[Nan Robkin]

That is a wonderful box, Jim! What wonderful things you filled it with, too!

[TheresaMP]

Had me laughing til it hurt! Your stories are just as good as your projects. Love the box and book. Will make a great gift for the hostess of the family picnic I am going to this weekend. Thanks as always for sharing.

[DeeDee]

This is gorgeous! I want one of these too! LOL! :))