Hearts Desire

So last week I came up with this idea to make a surprise keepsake box with a matching necklace... I posted it to my Etsy. Its 4 gifts in one really, a keepsake box, a fancy greeting card, a necklace and most importantly to me it is helping a child in need. I've decided to donate 20% proceeds from this box to St. Jude Children's Hospital. We are low income and I always wanted to help somehow but hated never having the money (its been hard enough getting by as it is) but this is very important to me and I really REALLY wanted to do something to help. I grew up with a lot of health problems not with cancer or any of that but I had a genetic disorder that wreaked havoc on my entire body so my heart is specially touched by kids who are ill, handicapped or suffering.. I will be making many more of these boxes and each one I will donate a portion to children's causes. Its very important for me to be able to do. 

So this gift someone can give to someone also has that beautiful gift attached knowing that you're helping a child and family in their fight for their child's health. Now about the gift itself the box is hand painted wood and I put a satin covered liner in the bottom as well as creating a "false bottom" covered in the same black satin.. The faceted red glass heart is all you see when you open the box but you have the person pull the chain and the false bottom pops free and the cards come up. The cards are done in watercolor painted then mounted on cardboard for strength. Both sides have the paper painted with a red and purple with black fleck background and the words "You stole my <3 (heart is right side up)" and I hand torn the edges for an interesting texture. They are hanging from a silver plated chain that's threaded through the cardboard center and glued down to prevent sliding. The bottom of the chain has a red swarovski crystal dangle and silver tone heart charm then under all of this is a beautiful .925 silver plated chain necklace with more red swarovski crystals, bright pink crackle glass bead, and another faceted heart pendant but this one is an AB finish crystal.  I have more ideas and I'm going to be making more of these soon and donating as I go.

I came up with this idea as I was falling asleep and usually I lose the idea when I wake up but I had to sit up and write down this one immediately before I went to sleep. I need to keep a idea journal close to my bed for certain!

Progress being made but ANNOYED!

So I got a ton of embossing/stamping stuff for xmas and I have really been looking forward to playing with it. I made a ton of stamps and everything wanted to make some valentines day cards and cute things but of course I cant find my heat gun to try out my embossing pads and powder. I went through ALLLLLL of my boxes the last few days that are in the house.. Bless my sweet hubby he went out to the shed and looked for me but said those boxes are all fabric (he doesnt have the best eye for the stuff "ew crafty stuff" so I better "do it my own damn self" lol). I had it just before we moved to make cool textures on some clay projects with tacky glue. I did get a lot organized better but now I am going to have to hit up the shed after lunch and tear through the bins upon bins of fabric. I collect fabrics but I havent gotten down to using much of it as of late. I hoard craft items with projects in mind at the time but get distracted and forget about the items until I run across them again. I've put myself on a no buy fabric mode no matter what! I wont allow myself near fabric sections to sway my wicked temptation of the clearance fabric bins and remnants. I dont wanna be like a craft version of hoarders buried alive LOL not that I have room but lordy I could use a break on this heat gun. It taunts me to no end!