Nostalgia upcycled

Here are the basic instructions for an explosion box. Using a 12 x 12 cardstock, score in from each side 4 inches and score each corner section as shown. Fold to create the box.               The lid is made in the same manner but the lid base would need to be 2 mms bigger (this is to allow for the lid to fit with a little wiggle room rather than snug) and the sides are reduced by half or less if desired. So cut a 8.2 Inch square.  e.g. 2 inch side + 4.2 inch base + 2 inch side. Score from each side 2 inches.  Cut out the corners leaving tabs to secure. The gift box below is made using this base instruction but the corner sections have been completely removed.  I hope this is easy to follow.  Good luck.

Here is a little something I whipped up.  The box is my basic design I use for pretty much every box I make. (I'll add the instructions this evening)  I made a centre box from transperancy for the chocolates and used ribbon to join the sides together.  I also made the envelope for the card from Transperancy.   

My friends, Michelle and Sarah have convinced me to join them in a project called ' Project Life '.   It is a project 365 days long (or 52 weeks depending on your preference) "Project Life is a back-to-basics approach to memory-keeping.  No one's life is perfect but everyone has a story and every family has a collection of memories. Putting pictures + stories together in Project Life makes us more aware of our blessings and encourages us to cultivate a good life." So anyway I have started as I got the album pages last week.  (the album should arrive in a couple of weeks)  Here is the first page.  You can select the setup for the page layout whether it is 6 sections (like this one) or 9 or 12.   My pages will depend on the events of the week.  I should have a couple more pages in a couple of days.  A great little idea that should keep me busy.  

This does happen very often but we managed to get a photo of us all together.  (I am usually the one behind the camera) I decoupaged the flower section which is a little hard to see.  The pages is a new range from kaiser.  

Here is a shadow box that I was given sometime back, but recently recycled.   

Happy New year to everyone.  I have felt the need to craft now for several weeks but there was so much more to do over this period.  Christmas break started on the 22nd and from that point it was full on and unfortunately no spare time to relax and scrapbook.  Today was a pleasant break from the events of Christmas.  Michelle, Sarah and I got together for the first time in a month and it was great.  Here are the results of today, beside Michelle convincing me to purchase 52 week life project.  (should arrive in the post over the next week)     This is a photo taken at the Te hiwi Piahana Whanau reunion held over the new year.   My little men are just so wonderful, (the big one is not so bad either).  The reunion was wonderful and a little bit emotional for me as I have not really had much to do with this side of my family for many years.  I was the only member of my immediate family there but I hope that in 5 years time my bro...