Fond Memories!

I am hosting the current challenge at A Vintage Journey and chose the theme of "Fond Memories." This challenge turned out to be just that for me as I found myself with many fond memories and an overwhelming sense of joy and sadness as I looked through photos. This challenge goes live in the UK May 2nd and that so happens to be my Mom's birthday, which she would be 81. Happy Birthday to the woman who started it all and the one who made me who I am and of course my Dad helped!

My Mom and I had birthdays very close together and then Mother's Day within the same week. We would even go birthday shopping together for each other. So silly we were. Once time we were driving around and I saw a sign for "puppies." We stopped and I picked up my Hugo! My Mom thought she wanted one, but then thought not. The next day we were back and she brought home Shiloh!

That was a very fond memory. Well onto my altered cigar box! Country View Crafts is our sponsor and you could be a prize winner, so stop on over and join in and be sure to check out all the lovely art my DT Sisters are sharing for your inspiration.

In the beginning this started out as a warped old wooden cigar box and yes a warp remains, but what can a gal do? I removed the old hardware, which was pretty cheap, did a light sanding a covered with gesso. The boxed was painted in a neutral color and then stamped in Sepia Archival using one of Tim's new Distressed Damask stamps in a pattern to be reminiscent of old wallpaper. This was finally shaded with Vintage Photo and Black Soot and highlighted with Treasure Gold, White Fire.

The picture wheel with my Mom standing so proudly with me was cut from grunge board covered in foil using double sided tape and then colored with alcohol inks, Pitch Black, Latte, Gold Fixative with Blending solution. Only Latte was used for the PW inserts and then added the label letters "Fond Memories." The center was cut using the circles movers and shapers. A little highlighting on the edges with Treasure Gold.

Pretty much the same steps for the photo wheel with the exception of using black card stock with foil attached. I copied and resized some old photos of my parents and me. Oh how I miss them. Come on don't you like the "T" and by the way my Mom was also a Terry!

Flowers were a mix of grunge, tissue paper, painted in vintage photo, crackled and inked with Black Soot(large flower) and Walnut Stain (small flower), shaded with Black Soot and again a little Treasure Gold. Finished off with one of Tim's pulls.

The Hearts were cut from grunge and painted, crackled and shaded and obviously a couple of chit chat stickers adhered.

The XO was done in the same fashion as the Hearts.

To finish the sides, I added another size filmstrip which was cut from Tim's paper and I clear embossed that and amazingly enough the size was a perfect fit!!!

Added a few more chit chats and of course the "May" tissue tape calendar. My Mom also was quite the sewer, so I loved using the measuring stick tissue tape!

The leg  insets were colored with a Sharpie Brown Marker and a little Treasure gold on the raised areas.

The inside of the box I really did want to keep simple and not have anything that could tear photos. This will be actually used to store those old photos of my parents with me. I finally purchased and got to use that incredible WALLFLOWER paper that some of my DT Sisters have been teasing with me :-) Added a stamped ticket and trimmed it with some tissue tape, some of Mario's Hash Tags sentiments. And another "T" for "Thoughts" that I had plenty of.

Added a stamped ticket and a little stenciling then trimmed it with some tissue tape, some of Mario's Hash Tags sentiments. And another "T" for "Thoughts" that I had plenty of.

I will probably make a couple of nice envelopes to hold the photos and place inside. That I will figure out in time.

Well I do thank you for taking this sentiment journey with me and enduring what is a very photo heavy post. Please take time to enjoy the people in your life and never take anyone for granted and always keep those "Fond Memories" close to heart!

Dies: Picture Wheel, Tattered Flowers, Movers & Shapers Hearts, Ticket, Mini Filmstrip, Filmstrip Frames

Misc: Grunge Letters, Tissue tape, Chit Chat, Labels, Idea-ology misc.

Stamps: Distress Damask, Mercantile, Hashtags

Inks: Archival Sepia, Distress, Black Soot, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo

Paints & Stains: Vintage Photo

Alcohol Inks: Pitch Black, Latte, Gold Mixative, Blending Solution

Other Mediums: Treasure Gold, Multi Matte Gel, Glossy Accents, Crackle, Tissue Paper