Hello Everyone, Today I am super excited to be sharing this post along with Our Creative Corner in Top Talent Spotlight and hope you all enjoy looking at my box. I love when I have something that I can Upcycle and this box was perfect to do so. It started off life as a Balsawood box that soaps had been gifted in and I thought would be perfect to alter. My inspiration came from thinking I would love my box to look like an old vintage box you would see in an Antiques shop that already held a history from its previous owner.
I started off by giving it a coat of Gesso to seal it. Then onto my layers of paint. I used several coats of Paperartsy and Distress paints continually sanding back every few coats. This was to give the look of age to my box and as if you were seeing through the years from all the layers. Eventually after many layers I was finally happy with the appearance.
My Cherub is a La Blanche stamp, this and several other stamps were stamped onto paper hankies with different colours of Archival ink. I then separated the layers of tissue back so I only had the top layer. I tore around the tissue of my stamped images rather than cutting the tissue with scissors – doing it in this way stops you seeing the edges. I gradually added a layer of multi medium onto my box to place my tissue images onto top and sealing over the top of the tissue again with multi medium.
Once this stage was completed I stamped my flourish design and added Gilding Flakes and added several coats of multi medium to seal it. My lace was dipped into distress paint and a little Frantage and Distress Ink was added to the edges. My Tim Holtz metal embellishments had a little paint rubbed over them. I lined my box with some felt to finish it off.
My box now sits on my fireplace hearth and I hope you love it as much as I do. Thanks so much to Laura and the team over at Our Creative Corner for this opportunity.
Julie xx
I would like to enter this In to the following challenges :
Rhedds Creative Spirit - Anything goes altered art
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Challenge #73-3D
Craft Hoarders Anonymous - Challenge 8 show us some metal/glass
Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
Your box is breathtakingly beautiful, Julie!
ReplyDeleteLOVE that you managed to give it that old and precious feel! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful piece of art with us at Our Creative Corner as our Top Talent today!
Claudia xx
I do love your mixed media work and this is a prime example of how you take so much care to create something so special down to the smallest details. Thank you so much for taking your place in the spotlight over at Our Creative Corner. Jenny x
ReplyDeleteAs I said on the OCC blog already, this box is incredible, love it to bits!! Glad I guessed the origine of the stamp right, love the techniques you have used too. Great to have found your blog, will have a good nosey around :o)
ReplyDeleteWaving hi from Edinburgh....
Hi Julie,
ReplyDeleteYou are very creative .... first all a beautiful tag of your previous post ... with the beautiful materials from Tim Holtz! And now this gorgeous box and what you have given a nostalgic atmosphere!!!! Everything is back to beautiful ... beautiful voice skins all ink layers .... really cool!!!
Have a very nice day!! Gerie xx
I am running out of superlatives to describe your wonderful work Julie, the time and effort you put into this gorgeous piece really shows. Your treatment of the box with all the layers of paint has created a truly vintage looking piece. Love this. Anne xx
ReplyDeleteJust came upon your blog from OCC to see your Keepsake Box. It's a gorgeous piece of Art. Of coarse I had to browse too and now I'm a follower.
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful! I love how the layers of paint make it look like a very old beautiful box!
ReplyDeleteDivine!
ReplyDeleteI adore it when something is beautiful as well as practical and your cherub box is certainly both.
Wishes
Lynne
Congratulations on your well-deserved OCC spotlight! This box is so beautiful, it looks as if it might be one of Marie Antoinette's treasures! It is possibly one of the most stunning creations I have ever seen! Julie Ann xxx
ReplyDeleteWow! This looks as though it is destined for a table in a stately home! Beautiful! Your creations always impress! Chrisx
ReplyDeleteI ♥ this! So very well done. . .vintage loveliness! Love the gold flourishes and the metal accents! Thanks for sharing your talent at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!
ReplyDeleteOh, how shabbylicious is this wonderful box!!!! You made such great design choices with your stamps, papers and embellishments. The metal feet are scrumptious, too! What a keepsake! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with us at Craft Hoarders Anon :)
so great altered box!!!!
ReplyDeleteFab piece of work, love the aged feel to it, so much to look at.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us at Rhedd's Creative Challenge.
Moira DT. xx
Lovely box!! Thanks for playing along with the Craft Hoarders!
ReplyDeleteJulie, your box is absolutely wonderful and I love it. Thank you for putting all the details of how you made it, I really enjoyed reading about all the layers of paint and stamping onto tissue. Thanks for joining us at Stamping Sensations this month. Maddy x
ReplyDeleteThis is so pretty!! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Craft Hoarders!!
ReplyDeleteWow how beautiful! Gorgeous stamping and such a beautiful effect with all those layers of paint Thanks so much for joining us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges this time
ReplyDeleteClaire xx
What a work of art! Your large cherub stamp is a keeper and the heart key, the perfect accompaniment. And the colors on the side of of your box are breathtaking. If the box were in my house, I would need to set it on it's side and rotate it from time to time, to appreciate all your fabulous work. This creation should be a family heirloom!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work..love this! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!
ReplyDeleteLove your altered box! Love how you painted the legs gold. Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!
ReplyDeleteSuch a stunning makeover - gorgeous stamping and lots of details, love the main image, it really does give it an antique look.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with us at FSC
Avril x
Stunning box, love all the wonderful and shabby chic details...glad you are sharing with us on the Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous! Thanks for stopping by with such a lovely comment today. Judy x
ReplyDeleteThat is just so pretty! I love the stamps you used and of course those metal feet are so fab! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!
ReplyDeleteA stunning project. thank you for sharing it with us at FSC this time.
ReplyDeleteYvonne/Meggymay
This is a great take on the Metal or Glass Challenge at Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog. Thanks so much for playing along! Hugs from Ginny at Polly's Paper Studio!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being chosen as a favorite in Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge #8! Your project is just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteJoanna