I purchased Tim Holtz's cargo cases, the large & small one, a few months back.  I decided I needed to decorate them.  This is one side of the larger case.  The "metal" sign was made from a video posted on YouTube by RachO113.  I very much admire her work.  You can find her tutorial for this on YouTube by putting RachO113 in the search box.  After putting this on I decided to do the entire side with different metals.  I also stamped different designs with Tim Holtz's stamps for background.

The other side, as you can see, I went with transportation as these cases are easily transported to the different crafting classes I attend.  My husband pointed out to me straight away that the airplane was upside down!  I had no clue!  I did not even try to do it over!  It works for me & I have yet to have any of the ladies I craft with notice it.  Perhaps they're just too kind to mention it.

The one short side I went with a steampunk look.  I love all things steampunk as you can see by the curio book I have posted.  I enjoyed decorating this side.  The other short side I went with a vintage somewhat "sewing" theme.  I used lots of buttons & sewing items.

I wanted the larger case to showcase different "themes" as I try to use different styles, designs, & techniques in my crafting.  I'm trying to learn & try new things everyday.

My smaller cargo case resembles a jewelry box so I decorated it accordingly.  All sides are similar & have the same plaid paper.  I used lots of bling for this.

I receive compliments on my cases each time I take them to a new class.  Others are decorating theirs too!  It is fun to see all of the different styles & individual expressions on these cases.  But of course the best thing is their functionality.  The larger case holds lots of different items, such as ink pads, paints, mists, Stickles, embossing powders, glue, scissors, etc.  The smaller one I use for my embellishments mostly metal ones.  It has small pull out sections just as a real jewelry case.  Check them out.  I use them all of the time, even when I'm in my craft room.

I created this tag for Tim Holtz' blog.  He is doing 12 Tags of 2012.  This tag is for the month of June.  You can view his tags beginning with January 2012 on his blog.  This month he took a vintage black & white photograph and tinted it using Ranger's new nib pen holder & Distress Inks.  It was a fun technique and I enjoyed making this tag.  If you submit a tag to his blog, you have a chance to win some great products!  He always provided great tutorials for his tags.  Hop on over there to see for yourself.

Olde Curiosity Shoppe - a curio book.  This is a very involved project.  This book opens out to reveal a small curio box behind the cover, a "waterfall" card in the middle, and lastly a chipboard mini album.  This project took several days to complete.  I took a class and we were given printed instructions.  We were given free rein as to how we wanted to design and decorate it.  I chose to go with the steampunk look.  The papers are from Graphic 45.  I used more embellishments on this project than any other I have done.  But it was worth all of the work. I will try to post the inside of this as well.

As you can see I have added additional pictures of the inside of the Olde Curiosity Shoppe Curio Book.      I really used my imagination on this project.  I designed and made all of the pockets & pages for the inside "booklet"as well as the chipboard mini album at the very end of the book.  I particularly liked how the shattered stains technique of Tim Holtz worked on the page with the heart and bird.  Very cool look!  Also the last page of the mini album with the dress stand and spool of thread.  I made the wings from grungeboard and covered them with Glossy Accents.  I stamped image onto Tim Holtz die cut dress form and then added black netting for skirt look.  Added "pearls" and small metal crown from Tim Holtz embellishment collection.  All in all I was very satisfied with this project.  I have it displayed in my living room.

Bicycle Shop Sign made with Tim Holtz' Big Dies.  This die cuts both the sign and the post it hangs from.  I used Grungeboard for both items.  I painted the post with pitch black paint dabber & after it dried lightly sanded it for a vintage look.  I painted the sign with cloudy blue paint dabber & after drying lightly sanded it also.  I stamped the bicycle with clear embossing ink & then heat embossed it with bright red embossing powder.  Added SHOP and hung sign using Tim Holtz' jump rings.

Embossed background inked with 3 different colored inks and highlighted with Rub "N Buff and Liquid Pearls.  You can choose any 3 colors you prefer.  Just begin with darkest color first and end with lightest color.  I also made a red embossed background that I will try to post.  You should use an embossing folder that is a well defined design such as damask or harlequin as this will give the best results.

Mini Curio Cabinet made with Tim Holtz' Configurations and some of his embellishments.  I used many of his techniques found in his Compendium of Curiosities Book I and II.  Tim has many great ideas and instructions in these books.  I have learned a lot from them.  They are well worth the cost.

Purse Mini-Album

Here is a mini-album shaped like a purse I made some time ago.  A really fun project!

Additional pictures from the Wizard of OZ mini album.  All papers from Graphic 45 OZ collection.

A recent tag I made

May's Tag from Tim Holtz' Tags of 2012

Get ready to craft!

This is my very first blog!  I know much more about paper crafts than blogs, but I wanted a place where I could share ideas with other crafters -- so here it goes.  Please stay tuned for upcoming projects.  Also, please check out the blog links listed below for some awesome ideas.

Now, I'm off to craft and create.  When I'm done, I'll see if I can figure out how to blog about it!  Wish me luck1