Thursday, January 31, 2008

Life is like a box of chocolates...

I was in WalMart the other day looking for Valentine candies to fill little jars and these boxes of chocolates caught my eye. They've been around forever but that day they looked different to me... I pictured them in my mind a little more like this!
A friend of mine called Monday and asked if I could make a mini album for her that she was going to give as a gift. She needs it this coming Sunday. I said sure, I can do that! I put her to work gathering pictures and I took off for Lake Havasu to go shopping, we were in need of a few things from WalMart.
Do you remember the movie Forrest Gump? I saw it with my Mom and Dad in Laughlin Nevada on their 50th wedding anniversary back in 1990something (1996). I kept thinking about what he said in the movie while I was making this - Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get...

That statemet just seemed kind of profound to me today, this is the anniversary of my Mom's death 8 years ago. I've had a good day working on this project and thinking about my Mom and enjoying the memories I have of her.

I was pregnant with my second child when she passed away so she never got to know my second and third child. I think working with baby pictures today made me think more about his statement about never really knowing where life is going to take us. On a happier note though, I do have faith in God to walk through all lifes twists and turns with me.

A little bit about my project now - I used 12 x 12 sheets of kraft cardstock for the accordian fold pages of the mini album. I cut them to fit the box and scored each fold and used double faced scotch tape to put them together.
I cropped the pictures so they would fit into the space I had, matted them and put them on the pages and decorated around them with rubber stamping, eyelets and a few tags I printed out on the computer with the little boys name and all his personal info.
I covered the outside of the candy box with some designer paper from my stash. It's made by Petals & Possibilities and called All Boy. I then used the brayer to color the chipboard monogram initials with Bayou Blue ink by Stampin' Up!, I stuck them to the box with glue dots and added dew drops to each letter and used a strip of Bayou Blue stitched ribbon to finish it off.

11 comments:

Rose Ann said...

Fantastic project, Jan! Hugs!!

Unknown said...

OMG JAN! YOUR ARE SO AWESOME AT MAKING SOMETHNG GORGEOUS,I MEAN HOW DOES A CHOCOLATE BOX EVER GET TO LOOK THAT GOOD,WE ARE USUALLY ONLY INTERESTED AS TO WHAT IS INSIDE...LOL

Diane said...

Oh wow! That album is so neat,wish I could come up with wonderful ideas like that!!!

KellyS said...

Very nice! And I love the altered chocolate box... what a awesome plus to eat the chocolate.. then have the box to play with! TFS!

Pat Smethers said...

Oh Jan- what a lovely idea! And what a story. Touched my heart.

Donelda said...

you are so wonderful!! What a great idea and so kind of you to make for your friend! Thanks for sharing!

Marcia @ Pretty Things said...

Jan, what a great idea. I always throw boxes out (never tins!) and then think afterwards what I could have done with them. Looks awesome.

Anonymous said...

What a fun and sweet idea!!! Your box o' pics is just as sweet as the chocolates!

Deb said...

What a fabulous project Jan, I love this, might have to try this, great excuse to eat the chocs!

Kristine said...

WOW!! :) Soo creative of you!! I still am in my little box--not quick to think "how can I alter that" but hopefully some day I'll get there! :) Precious album you made. She's gonna LOVE it for sure!

Jane said...

Wow, what a unique idea! It's gorgeous. Glad it brought happy thoughts/memories of your Mom. We buried my Mom 10 years ago today. My oldest was 6 months old. She never met the youngest.

Jane
SBS4