Boxes for Senia Soap (Cutii pentru Senia Soap)

Happy New Year everyone!
I hope you had a wonderful time with your loved ones these holidays and have your "batteries" fully charged for 2013.

I was lucky to get acquainted with a very special person right before Christmas. She runs Senia Soap, a handmade soap business, making soap and body butters from natural ingredients. I was both honored and a little nervous when she asked me to make some gift boxes to wrap her product for a Christmas fair. I know I have made thousands of boxes before, but the time was short and everything about her image looked so perfect, I had to measure up. And I did. Look how beautiful they looked at Senia Soap booth and the feedback confirmed it as they sold out.

La multi ani! Va doresc tuturor un an nou plin de bucurii si impliniri. Pe pragul dintre ani ne-a prins cu o viroza urata care abia acum se lasa induplecata. Asadar va pezint acum ceva ce trebuia sa ajunga online candva dupa Craciun.

Chiar inainte de sarbatori am avut placerea sa o cunosc pe proprietara Senia Soap. Ea dorea sa-i fac niste cutii pentru seturile-cadou de la targul de Craciun. Am facut mii de cutii pana acum si totusi am simtit-o ca pe o provocare. Imaginea Senia Soap mi se pare una foarte bine pusa la punct, asa ca vroiam sa ma ridic la nivelul asteptarilor, ceea ce se pare ca am reusit, avand in vedere ca toate cutiile s-au vandut. Va las sa admirati standul, foarte profi, pe care sunt mandra sa-mi vad cutiile maro cu camee si fundite de dentela.

This is a new kind of box I actually intend to replace my old invitation boxes with. They are sturdier, easier to assemble and although they use double the material they are well worth it.

Aceste cutii sunt un concept nou, mai solide si mai usor de asamblat. Cu toate ca necesita cantitate dubla de material, eu spun ca merita si intentionez sa le folosesc pe viitor si pentru invitatii.

As I was making the boxes I suddenly struck me Senia Soaps would be the perfect Chirstmas gifts for my girlfriends and even for myself. Not to mention it is always great to be able to exchange products instead of money with fellow crafters. Here they are on my table just before Christmas.

In timp ce lucram la cutii mi-a venit ideea: ce-ar fi ca anul acesta sa pun sub brad sapunuri handmade? Intotdeauna mi-a placut sa fac schimb de produse cu artizani pe care ii admir. Iata-le la mine pe masa in ajun de Craciun.

After many years, I finally get to put some handmade gifts under the tree. I never have time to make gifts myself so I end up last-minute shopping in the malls.

The soap came individually packed in these paper bags. I don't have any crafting materials at home and there was no time to go and wrap them at the studio, so I decided to use my drawing, paper from my son's sketchbook, twine and scissors from the kitchen. It felt like back home at Christmas again when I was making decorations and wrapping gifts with my brother.

Dupa cativa ani am reusit in sfarsit sa ofer din nou cadouri handmade. In general nu am timp sa le fac chiar eu si ajung sa cumpar la repezeala ceva de prin mall-uri, ca sa nu mai vorbim de placerea de a le impacheta. Parca eram din nou la mama acasa, facand stelute de hartie si impachetand cadouri impreuna cu fratele meu.

Fiecare sapun a venit impachetat separat intr-o punga de hartie. Numai bine! Cum acasa nu am unelte sau alte materiale pentru ambalat cadouri am folosit aceste pungi si ce am mai gasit in jur: caietul de schite al lui Iona, sfoara de legat borcane si foarfeca din bucatarie.  Cu un marker cu varf subtire am desenat cateva etichete, am legat pungile cu o sfoara de canepa si gata!

Lovely, right? And doesn't cost a fortune. These would also make great wedding favors. I for one would prefer receiving them to the classical candy in a box. I am not a candy lover.

Dragute, nu? Si nici nu au costat o avere. Le-as prefera oricand ca marturii de nunta in locul traditionalelor bombonele sau altor obiecte din categoria celor care umplu inutil spatiile de locuit. Sa nu mi-o ia nimeni in nume de rau, eu sunt un spirit practic si imi place sa am in casa doar strictul necesar. Cand eram mica mi-am promis ca nu voi sterge praful de pe bibelouri si nu voi avea covoare de batut.

Snowmen in Love Box (Cutie "Oameni de zapada indragostiti")

I have to admit I would have never made this box from my own initiative.
I am not so much into snowmen, Santas and other Christmas characters.

However, my best friend insisted I made it to host a Christmas gift for her husband and now it's here and I actually love it. I love being challenged this way. I am currently working on my first landscape painting that stretches over 3 canvases so I guess I'll go back to painting now.

Fall Mini Album and Ribbon Spool Box (Mini album de toamna si cutie din rola de panglica)

I have been playing with some challenges lately, but something just keeps telling me I need to create my style, so that is what I have spent the weekend doing.

In ultimul timp m-am jucat cu diverse provocari, dar ceva ma chema mereu sa creez in stilul meu, lucru pe care l-am si facut in acest sfarsit de saptamana.

Now this mini album and box set is truly me and my style:
Acest mini album si cutie sunt intr-adevar stilul meu:

-my fall colors this year including lots of black (culorile mele pentru toamna acesta inclusiv mult negru)
-recycling (reciclarea)
-elegant (eleganta)
-unique (unicitatea)
-useful (utilitatea)


I can't help seeing a creative opportunity in everything that surrounds me, so I just can't throw away empty ribbon spools, sturdy paper roll tubes, chipboard packaging and other junk.

Nu pot sa nu vad o posibilitate creativa in tot ce ma inconjoara. Pur si simplu nu pot arunca la gunoi role de panglica, tuburi de carton, ambalaje din carton si alte gunoaie.

Ribbon spool box (Cutie din rola de panglica)

This little box was just that: an empty ribbon spool that I have been keeping in my junk box.
The flower on top is made in one of those "how could I use this scraps?" session I often have.

Cutiuta acesta este realizata dintr-o rola de panglica pe care o pastram in cutia mea cu "gunoaie". Floarea cu care am decorat-o este realizata in una din sesiunile mele de "cum as putea folosi aceste resturi de hartie?".



And the black lace.... ooohh, this was one of my favorite things from my ribbon drawer and I am out. Unfortunately I have promised myself not to buy any supplies until I use up a good amount of what I already have.

Fall mini album (Mini album de toamna)

I made this album to use up some yellow parchment I had leftover from a larger wedding album.
This parchment was just too expensive to throw away the tiniest bit.

Am facut acest mini album pentru a folosi pergamentul ramas de la un album de nunta mai mare. A costat prea mult sa arunc pana si cea mai mica bucatica.

It can hold 34 photos of 6x7cm. The parchment separators will protect them from being damaged from rubbing against each other.
Albumul are loc pentru 34 de fotografii de 6x7 cm. Separatoarele din pergament protejeaza pozele.

Vintage Box and Mirror Set (Set cutie si oglinda vintage)

Please bare with me for this last vintage rose decoupage set.
It's a mirror and a little trinket box I decorated for Florentina. I really hope she likes it and hopefully I haven't used too much pink.

Va rog sa mai aveti rabdare cu mine pentru acest ultim set cu trandafiri roz aplicati prin tehnica decupajului. Setul e format dintr-o oglinda si o cutiuta si sunt pentru Florentina. Sper ca nu e prea mult roz.

Self portrait (Autoportret)

That's me in the mirror playing with focus settings. I am trying to learn how to use my camera othar than on auto mode :)
In oglinda e reflectia mea in timp ce ma jucam cu setarile de focalizare in incercarea de a folosi apatul altfel decat pe modul auto.

Another Pink Box With Roses (Inca o cutie roz cu trandafiri)

Can you tell I like vintage roses?
I have just one more project and then I am out of this gorgeous napkin design.

Of course I could buy some more if I really wanted (in fact I saw a few on E-bay) but my main project this autumn is to use up as much as I can of my stash to make room for the baby. I think my husband would have a good laugh if he read this as I am constantly piling up more things. Today he called my stuff "furniture" :). I don't think he even realized that huge box he was looking at was full of my "seasonal" materials.

Vintage Pink Decoupage Box ( Cutie roz-vintage)

Another one of the pink projects currently on my work table. A decoupage box in white and pink with vintage roses and handmade flower made from a recycled invitation.

I love these daisy type flowers with beads centres and I have been trying different color combinations that you will see incorporated in future projects.

Baby Girl Box and Frame Gift

Another of my custom designed gift sets. I really need to get a new tube of orange acrylic after this one.

It's such a gloomy weather and raining. I don't feel like saying more words.
Enjoy the bright colors.










It's such a gloomy weather and raining. I don't feel like saying more words.
Enjoy the bright colors.

Queen of my Heart Box (Cutie regina inimii mele)

Be Inspired Challenge on the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog is all about Doilies and Lace.

I designed this box for someone who wanted to fill it with love notes for his loved one.
I was so impressed by his request that I put in 2 days work to make it perfect. I hope it was appreciated.


I made the box from scratch and used the Textile Hearts combo from Cuttlebug, flowers, lace, pearls and organza trimming to decorate it. The frame with the custom message is a digital stamp By Mlamarre Designs. Thanks, Maggie, it's one of my favorite stamps ever.

As always, the winner of the cuttlebug challenge receives a cuttlebug folder from Provo Craft, our main sponsor.

More black butetrflies... on a box (Alti fluturi negri... pe o cutie)

Keeping with my black Valentine mood.
See you tomorrow for a new project.

Contiuu cu dispozitia Black Valentine.
Ne vedem maine pentru un nou proiect.

Vintage Style Butterfly Box (Cutie in stil antic cu fluturi)

This is one of those boxes that you might have seen in a Victorian dress room.... Little black ebony table with curved legs.....

Aceasta este una din cuttile pe care ai fi putut-o vedea intr-o camera din epoca victoriana.... pe o masuta neagra din lem de abanos cu picioarele curbate...




Well, it's not that old.... I just made it yesterday at my best friend's request.
Ei, nu e chiar asa de veche! Am facut-o abia ieri :) la cererea celei mai bune prietene.

I love her! She comes to me whenever she needs a gift and she asks for a coordinated box or other gift and card (card coming soon). She already knows where all the craft shops are and she buys the plain boxes on her way to my place. Love the shape of this one!

Tare imi place de ea! De cate ori are nevoie de un cadou vine la mine sa-i fac o cutie sau alt cadou si felictare asortata (in curand si feliciatrea).
Cum stie deja unde sunt magazinele cu articole de craft, cand vine la mine se opreste si cumpara si cutiile in drum. Imi place forma acestei ultime cutii.

The pattern paper on the bottom is from the Earth Love Kit by Cosmo Cricket. While I don't like their cartoonish designs I do love this kit that is a little bit more towards elegant.
Hartia cu model este din setul Earth Love de Cosmo Cricket care imi place mai mult decat altele pentru ca inclina spre elegant.




Since Cuttlebug Be Inspired #70 challenge is using fabric I decided to show this to you. I love doing decoupage with pretty floral fabrics.

Avand in vedere ca tema concursului Cuttlebug Be Inspired #70 este folosirea textilelor, am decis sa va arat si voua cutia. Imi place sa fac decupaj cu materiale elegante cu motive florale.




The butterflies are cut and embossed with my cuttlebug. I wanted to use black butterflies but everyone in the room (we had homemade pizza day yesterday)said it looked like a mortuary box.
Looks like I have to make one for myself just the way I like it. I really like black lately. I think it's extreme elegance.

Fluturasii sunt taiati si embosati cu cuttlebug. Eu am vrut sa-i fac negri dar toata lumea din casa spunea ca pare pentru morti (ieri a fost zi de pizza facuta in casa). Se pare ca va tebi sa-mi fac eu o cutie complet neagra pentru mine. In ultimul timp imi place foarte mult negrul. Il consider de o eleganta extrema.


Check out what the other Cuttlebug Design team Members have made using fabric.
Look how cool is this napkin ring by Odette! Matches my box, right?

Vreti sa vedeti ce au creat ceilalti membrii ai echipei de designeri cuttlebug folosind textile?
Ce ziceti de acest inel pentru servetel creat de Odette? Se asorteaza cu cutia mea, nu?

My Favorite Trinket Box for Sale (Cutia mea preferata de vanzare)

On the nineth day of Christmas I am presenting you my favorite trinket box from this season. I made it while preparing for my first fair and have sold or given away everything else but this one which I kept for myself. However I have to make room in my work room for more creations and I like keeping my own earrings in a plain wooden box, hence I decided to sell this one.

Price is 10 USD (free shipping in Romania). You have my e-mail address in the sidebar.
Size: 9x9x7cm (3 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 2 3/4 inch)


In a 9-a zi de Craciun, va prezint cutia mea preferata din iarna acesta. Am facut-o pentru targul la care am participat la inceputul lunii. Restul lucrurilor le-am vandut, dar pe aceasta am pastrat-o pentru mine. Acum insa trebuie sa fac loc pentru noi lucruri, deci trebuie sa plece si cutia albastra cu steluta impletita si reni albi. In plus, eu imi tin cerceii intr-o cutiuta simpla din lemn, la fel ca si croitorul cu pantalonii rupti :P

Pret: 30 lei, in Romania livrarea este gratuita prin PostaRomana.
Dimensiuni: 9x9x7cm
Adresa mea de contact se gaseste pe coloana din dreapta.

White Butterflies on Blue Box (Fluturi albi pe cutia albastra)

On the fifth day of Christmas I made a blue box. And white butterfly came and set on it. Then a decoupage blue flower bloomed on the lid, then more butterflies and happy bugs came to embellish the inside.
In a cincea zi de Craciun am facut o cutie albastra si au venit fluturasi albi sa se aseze pe ea. Apoi pe capac a inflorit o floare albastra si alti fluturi si gaze vesele au venit sa inveseleasca interiorul.



I made this box last year for a co-worker.
Cutia am facut-o anul trecut pe vremea aceasta pentru o colega de servici.




On the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog, on the fifth day of Christmas they have some beautiful napkin rings.
In a cincnea zi de Craciun, la Cuttlebug Challenge Blog gasiti idei de inele pentru servetele.