Pinspired/Crafter's Companion Joint Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Pinspired - Crafter's Companion Joint Blog Hop!

Just in case you are new to either Pinspired or Crafter's Companion, let me tell you a little bit about them both:

Crafter's Companion
Crafter’s Companion is a U.K.-based company with offices in Anaheim, CA and Northern England. Well known for our innovative paper crafting tools and accessories, our products are distributed and sold worldwide. Our most popular products include Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers, the Ultimate Crafter’s Companion Tool, the Ultimate Pen Storage, embossing folders, and EZMagnetic Storage panels for metal embossing and cutting dies. Our staff prides itself on top-notch service with a 100% customer satisfaction philosophy. If we have exceeded your expectations, then we’ve done our job!

Pinspired Challenge Blog
Pinspired Challenges was created by a group of girls that LOVE Pinterest and crafting.... We came up with the idea of the challenge in the latter part of 2012 and the challenges launched in January of 2013. Our DT, or as we like to call them, "Pin Heads" have scoured Pinterest to bring you some amazing inspirational pins. We will post a brand new challenge on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. You will have until Thursday of the following week to link your entry onto the challenge post. That's 9 whole days to play along!!!! Inspirational photos are for you to interpret anyway you want. You can take from the colors, the style or the technique - whatever floats your boat! You can also feel free to make any kind of craft you want as well, whether its a card, layout or altered item.

From May 3 - 5, we are showcasing Crafter's Companion stamps from Sheena's A Little Bit Floral collection. You have TWO chances to win! You can hop around and comment on all of the blogs for one chance to win a gift certificate from Crafter's Companion (May 3 - 5, 2013).

For a second chance to win, you can play along!

Using the image above to create a project and post it using InLinkz on the Pinspired Blog. You have until May 9, 2013 to participate for a chance to win a gift certificate from Crafter's Companion. If you create and comment on the Blog Hop, that is two chances to win!

And onto my project for you...
I wanted to do something special for my mom for Mother's Day. My mom's been in the hospital since March 2, so she's been in for a long time and has undergone a LOT. It really makes you stop and realize a lot of things in your life.  So, I have my mom's gift on order, which is a beautiful necklace/locket from Origami Owl. I'm waiting anxiously for it to arrive.

This is the box I had made for this special gift as well as custom stamped tissue and a matching tag!

I had a plain kraft box I picked up at my local craft store. I love to have these on hand in various sizes for any gift giving occasion because as you will see, it's easily transformed!! Which reminds me, this was my very last box, so I need to restock.

I had take the box and stamped all over it with various lily images from the Sheena's A Little Bit Floral-Lily set. I then colored in all the images using my Spectrum Noirs. I can't get too detailed with shading because of the nature of the box material with bleeding, but I was able to add some highlight of yellow in the center of the flowers as well as the shaded leaves. 

I decided that this called for some custom tissue paper! I took a sheet of plain white tissue and stamped all over it with a gray ink. I used the Lily wording from the set as well so it really looked like "fancy" tissue I used. This was super quick and I think a wonderful look to add another level of detail to this ensemble.

After I completed that, I used the Crafter's Companion Spray & Sparkle Glitter Varnish all over the exterior of the box to give it a touch of elegance! I LOVE this stuff. Just be warned, it's S-T-R-O-N-G and should be done outdoors/well ventilated area. You'll love it. I finished it off with small rhinestones in the center of the one smaller lily.

I then made a coordinating tag for it using the large Lily stamp from Sheena's Lily set and colored it in with my Spectrum Noir markers. The sentiment, which was PERFECT, came from the Crisalis Classics-Gentle Moments set. It just applied various inks with a sponge until it achieved the worn look I was going for. I used a tag that I had in my stash, and added several rhinestones around it. I used some twine I had as well to tie that tag around the box. 

Close-up of the Spray & Sparkle Glitter Varnish.

I hope you're inspired to join along with this amazing blog hop. Please be sure to visit all the amazing design team member's blogs for their take on the Pinspired image :) 

Here is the full Hop List:
Annette
Audrey

Chrissie

Christiana

Denise

Erica

Jean

Jennifer

Kendra

Khristen

Lalo

Laurel

Mary Dawn

Roxanne <----- YOU ARE HERE!

Stacy

Stephanie L.

Stephanie S.

Trena