Gift box with Wee Stamps Maya

Hello everybody!!!

First to all of you still following me.... thank you SO much for your patience! My last post with a project was way back in August of 2013 and I was convinced that the number of followers to my blog would have been gone to about zero by now but there are still so many of you left! Since the last project that I showed here I haven't crafted at all. Without going in to much detail, somebody very close to my heart was diagnosed with cancer last year and that brought about a negative spiral for me. Crafting had been such a big part of my life and all of a sudden it didn't make sense to spend so much time on making a box or a card. I couldn't find the relaxation or the comfort I normally would feel in working on a project, it just felt pointless. I got some health issues of my own as well. On my birthday last year, November 15th, I visited my doctor and was shocked to see I was at my heaviest ever (except for pregnancies). I decided that things would have to change. I started working out and running and today I'm proud to say I lost 16 kg's and much of my health issues have improved but much more important, I'm delighted to say that the person who was diagnosed with cancer got the news a few weeks back that the cancer is gone! I finally had the desire to craft again. I have received a lot of very sweet messages during the time that I wasn't crafting, I did read them all but didn't reply to all of them and if I haven't replied to your message I want to thank you for sending it. It did mean a lot to read that people missed my work or were worried about me but I didn't always have the energy or words to reply.

Anyway... I'm back with my first project. I'm not going to be active in design teams for the time being (and don't know if I will again) but I do want to spend time crafting again because making this project was a pleasure to do after such a long time. I decided to work with the last gorgeous image created by my incredible friend Sylvia Zet of Wee Stamps. Sylvia has been incredible through my not crafting period. We have had long talks about things that didn't have anything to do with crafting. She didn't once ask me when I was going to create again but kept sending me her gorgeous digi's when they were finished. In fact when I told her I was crafting again she asked me if I was sure I wanted to do that because she rather had me healthy and happy then crafting. Just to Sylvia, thank you so much for being my friend!! This project was made with all the love I had for doing it before and I hope it doesn't disappoint!

Don't you just adore little Maya? She's available as a digital image right now in Sylvia's digi store HERE and she's available as a rubber stamp at Whimsy Stamps HERE. I didn't purchase anything crafty during my period "away" until I found the new solid paper pads from Lili of the Valley in my e-mail a few weeks back. The paper used on this box is from both the solid and the "normal" Always and Forever Paper Pads.

A close up of gorgeous Maya, colored with my Copics markers that didn't fail me after such a long period of no use!

A close up of the gorgeous embellishments that I used. I received these gorgeous materials from both Wild Orchid Crafts and The Ribbon Girl when I was still crafting, I let both companies down with just stopping like I did but finally got to use them (again). I want to thank both companies for their amazing understanding in my period of not crafting! You'll find a list with the gorgeous products with links below.

And another close up, don't you love the gorgeous frantage? I used Shabby Pink embossing Enamel and golden glitter from one of the kits.

A side view of the box, I decorated the edges of the box with the gorgeous Margaret Guipure Lace that I received from The Ribbon Girl. I've attached it with very thin strips of Scor-Tape.

The inside of the box also decorated with the gorgeous paper from the both the solid and the "normal" paper pads of Lili of the Valley's Always and Forever.

And a picture of the little pieces. The face has already been attached to the hair layer in this picture.

Materials used:
Image: Maya by Wee Stamps, available as digital images and rubber stamp
Paper: Lili of the Valley Always and Forever solid and "normal"
Embellishments:
Trellis Roses 35mm from Wild Orchid Crafts, white Open Roses in sizes 25mm, 20mm and 10mm from Wild Orchid Crafts, white Cherry Blossoms from Wild Orchid Crafts, white Cosmos Daisies from Wild Orchid Crafts and white Sweetheart Blossom Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.
Beaded Twirl White from The Ribbon Girl, Diamante 13mm Round Spacers from The Ribbon Girl, 8mm white Flatback Pearls (glued in the spacers) from The Ribbon Girl, white Flower Guipure Lace from The Ribbon Girl, 3mm white adhesive Flatback Pearls from The Ribbon Girl and 5mm Ivory adhesive Flatback Pearl from the Ribbon Girl.

I'm sorry to say I haven't taken down the Copic numbers I've used. I was just so glad they all still worked perfectly after such a long time of not having been used and was just so enjoying coloring again.

And that's IT! I hope you like my project and I want to thank you all again for your patience!

Have a great day!!!
Hugs,