Tuesday 17 November 2015

Little Boxes All Made Out of Ticky Tacky!

Well here I am again, so Good Evening to You All, I hope you are well and getting ready for Barney....Barney I ask you, wonder who thought up that we now give our storms/gales a name?
Anyway I think we might miss it up here.

I have to report good behaviour last night at the rehearsal, that could be because Gordon concentrated on the Sanctus and there was no time to rehearse the other piece, just have to wing it.

I met a former colleague today and learnt that one of my former clients whom I was very fond of has died. She was only in very early 30s, but had such a crap child hood with sexual abuse that it manifested itself with her self harming, really badly that she had septicaemia. However, it's not known if it's the infection or cutting that has caused her death.  We as a team know she wouldn't make old bones, but I have to say I was shocked to my foundations when told.  She was a lovely young woman, had a degree in Law, but was too damaged to function at top level. She would come to my craft group, and she was amazing at cross stitch. I just feel so sad that she had no life to speak of, poor lass.


I had a day to myself whilst hubby took to the hills, he was beginning to have cabin fever, so I was having a play at boxes again;

I saw this tall box design on Christine Griffith's blog the other day and and thought it was just so lovely, at least hers was. She used a SW striplet die, and so I thought I would use the only one I had which is a floral one, a very pretty one, but could I get it to cut....could I ding, and believe me I tried every which way.  So, thinking that this crafting lark is about fun, I thought I'd make a cuppa and have a think about it. With a coffee and a digestive biscuit slathered in butter and Teallach beside me having some of his Dreamies, I pondered on this dilemma about me and these dies that will not cut for me.  Then, it was like a light bulb moment, I suddenly knew what to do....BIN THE BUGGER!!, no more stress, so I ended up using an Xcut die and it cut through the card like butter.
Added Hunkydorry snowy acetate and decorated with MB snowflake border and Di'Sire Bell die which I coloured with WOS.  Wrapped up some tea lights and put them in the box.

Little box is made with an Xcut box die which was half price at one of my local craft shops, and very easy to put together, I decorated with a Sara Davis Snowflake die. Not sure what I'll put in it, maybe chocolates.

Thank you all for your lovely comments on yesterday's card, I always look forward to reading them.

Well that's the footy on, have to find something on iPlayer to watch, have a lovely evening whatever your doing and see you soon,
PS.... I didn't really bin it, I'll give it to a good home.



 

21 comments:

Carol said...

Two gorgeous boxes Kate, so pretty. Have you tried using bubble wrap as a shim...a tip I either read or someone gave me! So sad about your former client too. Carol x

Sue said...

Fabulous boxes Kate they are so pretty..so sad to hear about your former client. I disappeared into my craft room when I saw footy on the tv and did some colouring I'm so behind with my Christmas cards...lots of huggles Sue xx

Patricia said...

Oh! Kate, sorry I just had to laugh ... I did the very same thing.
Christina made it look so easy. Like you mine went in the bin!!
The Template for the box is brilliant, cutting out the panels ... NO WAY!!
I mentioned it on Christina's Blog, she told me to check out her Die Cutting Tips.
Good but no use for me, my machine just refuses to cut in the middle.
I really love what you have done with your pretty boxes.
Never mind:-
Stay Calm and Keep on Crafting
Hugs
Patricia xxx

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Beautiful gift boxes Kate, such a shame that the first one ended up in the bin but it is very frustrating when things don't go to plan. Still, it all ended well.
Sorry to hear your sad news, she is at peace now.
Lorraine

pam said...

Hi Kate, well reading your post, you made me sad & then you had me laughing!! Glad you ended up with these amazing box`s, they look beautiful.
Hugs Pam x

rachel said...

I love your boxes Kate - I was very saddened to hear of your former client though - how awful - hugs rachel x

aussie aNNie said...

Fabulous Kate, these 'little boxes on the hillside, little boxes made out of ticky tacky" now you have this in my head all day.xxx [I will be singing it while having my mamogramme today]
 { aNNie}

Marie-Louise said...

Kate so sorry to hear of that girl's sad passing - such a pity. I love your boxes and I did laugh at your answer to the problem. I use an ebosser - one of the old ones and had problems cutting until a friend told me to replace the magnetic sheet with a thick one. Luckily I had some that my son had bought me on Amazon and since then I have not had a problem. It is very frustrating when dies do not cut. Take care.

Unknown said...

Absolutely fab! So gorgeous and Christmassy! Love these!
Lucy x

Marianne's Craftroom said...

Oh Kate you do entertain me with your posts. Try a metal shim and greaseproof paper with your die. I find some of Sue's hard to cut, sold my filigree poinsettias as they took so long to poke out. Anyway well done on persevering with the boxes, I am not great at measuring them either. Yours look grear. Such sad news about that young lady xx

meg said...

Wonderful boxes Kate well done for persevering. Sad news about your old client/friend I can't imagine how she must have coped with her past poor soul I'm sure you will always remember her fondly

Hazel said...

Kate, I just love your boxes, well you know Patricia and I do plus our bags. Now as for Sue's die take it back to where you bought it, it's faulty? Remember I had two that wouldn't cut do matter what. Sorry about the young girls, but it's just one of those things that no one can help. (((((( hugs)))))). Xxx

Peanut said...

So sad to read about your friend. A good life lost too soon. What demons she must have had to live with. Hopefully she's in a better place now and is at peace. Your boxes are lovely... I'm glad you persevered.
hugs Asha

Erika said...

Shame about your die Kate, did you try a shim with it? That usually works in this house oh and rotating it and re cutting?
I love both your boxes, they're both very festive and perfect for popping wee Christmas gifts in.
Sorry to hear of the death of your former client, such a shame when she had such a rough childhood for it to continue into adulthood when so very clever too. I was thinking of Jonah Lomu today too 40! No age at all and so fit.

Big hugs Erika. x

cotnob said...

Gorgeous boxes Kate, such lovely winter colours.
Such a sad story about your client - so tragic.
Pauline
x

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Kate
Once again, you've had me howling with laughter but also thinking "spooky" as I love buttered digestives (particularly McVities) sandwiched together.......yum!
I digress. Your boxes are super. You're certainly going to be all set for Christmas.
Ang x

Barb said...

Your boxes are lovely Kate. The Xcut worked a treat. I did actually bin one of those freebie dies once! A cuppa and a biscuit will often do the job for me too!

I was so sorry to hear about your young client's death. The poor girl must have been living with so much torment. I'm sure she enjoyed many happy times in your craft club. Barbxx

Jenny L said...

Hi Kate,
2 wonderfully created boxes.
Love their fab designs, and colours too.
So glad all went well with your rehearsal.
Great that your area escaped the horrid weather.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

Anne said...

Haha, sometimes the bin is the only place for them Kate you end up wasting so much time you may as well start again (but I'm glad you rescued it in the end!) I love both your boxes.

Such a terrible story about the young lady at work, what a shock for you. After such a bad start in life some people just never manage to get their lives on track, really sad :(

Anne x

Sue said...

Perfect little boxes for giving small gifts during the holidays. Lovely job on them too.

Hugs
Sue

Anet's Crafting said...

Kate, your box is just beautiful. Somebody is going to be very lucky to get it as a present. Big hugs Anet x