Tuesday 10 June 2008

All Boxed Up :O))

Hello!

A few weeks ago my lovely Grim took me to Norfolk for a day on the Broads, messing about on the River is so very relaxing but never being one for missing an opportunity, on the way home we passed a store in Potter Heigham that sells just about everything under the sun....including stash and the most fab little wooden boxes that were just begging for altering!

I admit that I did go a little bit bonkers and I bought quite a few of these little wooden boxes - they had loads of shapes too, so I have a lovely variation to play with!



This is the first project that I have done using one of the smaller boxes, which is exactly the right size to store ATC's.

It is a good friend's birthday later this week and I have altered this box and have made two Stampbord ATC's to go in it.




I started by lightly sanding the box just to get rid of any rough patches and then painted Pebble Acrylic Dabber all over it. Once this had dried, which is pretty quickly, I then used a stipple brush and dragged small amounts of Espresso Dabber over all the sides. Finally, once this layer had dried, I used the stipple brush again and dragged a heavier layer of Gold Dabber over all the sides.




Next, using a fat paint brush, I painted the insides of the box using Gold Dabber again. The reason I chose this colour is because I wanted the box to reflect a little light from the inside and the gold, being metallic, is perfect for this.


Finally, I got stamping! Using Sepia VersaFine ink, I stamped the Tim Holtz flower head stamp randomly over each side. I used the Gold paint again and coloured some Grungeboard Mini shapes, using Swirls, crown, heart and Alpha's and used Pearl Dabber to paint the wings.




When all the painted surfaces were dry, I attached the Grungeboard to the box using Glossy Accents. I have found that this is the best glue to use as it dries clear and seems to like all kinds of surfaces too.

The little heart with wings embellishment was added to the front part of the box so when the lid is open the wings fly up into the air :O))

I won't mention the "oopsie daisy" I did with the 7Gypsies wax seal - cos I really didn't melt the wax onto the box and then stamp the seal into it upside down LOL



The ATC's were really easy to make - this is the beauty of using Stampbord - it is a very forgiving material to use and just seems to love all kinds of different inks being applied to it. First of all, I chose to use Chalk Inks by ColorBox. I started with Mustard and using a Tim Holtz Blending Tool, smudged the colour all over the ATC. Next I used Chocolate Brown to smudge patches of colour over the top of the Mustard and then edged the whole ATC with Dark Brown ink. I used Black StaZon ink to stamp the Cat in the Hat (Lost Coast Designs) and masked him off. I then used a heavenly background crackly stamp (Collage Stuff) over the top of the mask and inked this up with the Dark Brown Chalk Ink. I then waited, not so patiently, for the inks to be completely dry before inking over the whole ATC with clear embossing ink. I used the bestest ever clear Ultra Thick Embossing Powder and did three layers over the top of the ATC. The knack I have found with doing UTEE on Stampbord is to let each layer cool completely before re-inking and re-powdering. The Stampbord is very thick and keeps it's heat for a while, so this is not a quick 2 minute technique but I just love the effect I got! The Ultra Thick Embossing Powders are available from The Stamp Connection and are even more special because they have a special sprinkle top to the pot - like a Parmesan pot, so you can regulate the amount of powder you use - that means less mess :P))

The second ATC is made in exactly the same way, except this time I just used the one stamp which is also by Lost Coast Designs. I forgot to mention....I also used a metal file to scruff up the edges of the ATCs and once the UTEE was completely cold, I edged them with good old Gold Krylon pen.



Thanks for looking and watch this space - I have some more things that will be altered very soon....with all those boxes, I will be altering for a few months to come yet :O))

Hels x

18 comments:

Andrea said...

the box and its contents has turned out fabby Hels and having seen them naked ( the box I mean not me naked ) its a wonderful gift xx

Hels Sheridan said...

LOL Andrea - I did actually just think I wondered why you were naked and looking at the boxes :O)) Thanks hun, glad you like xx

Anonymous said...

This is gorgeous Hels, and thanks for sharing the process too - great to see how things are made!
love Alison xx

Minxy said...

Oh this is just so CUTE, i love it, another piece of fabby work from you xx PS there is something on my blog for you xxxxx

Lesley said...

It all looks fab Helen. I know Potter Heigham very well! xxx

Joy said...

It's just gorgeous hels xx

Angie C said...

What a gorgeous gift you have made Hels. The box looks excellent and I love your ATC's too

Unknown said...

WOW .... goes off to check the calendar .... comes back with head dropped .... birthday not until March!!!!
I love this more than I love munchie choc ices .... and I mean two in a row!!!

Jo said...

Brilliant!!

Hels Sheridan said...

:O)) Thanks everyone!! Muchly appreciating your comments xx

Ellen said...

good to see you back in "working order"
these are beautiful , but come with a warning..higly addictive once you start tarting them
I specially love the second image you have used for the atc. great for a friends present
I do agree stampboard is very forgiving just rub it out if something goes wrong.

Shazza said...

I think the box is fab Helsen, love the colours you have used on it. As for the ATCS, brilliant
Shazza
x

Craftyideas said...

Gorgeous Hels its sooooo beautiful xxxxx

Angelnorth said...

What a great gift, I'm sure it will be very well received! The box looks amazing and surely there is no right way up for a wax seal on a lid that's going to be flipped anyway? ;o) Love the ATCs, too - that cat in the hat stamp is too cool!

Kazza said...

Beautiful box Hels - what a gorgeous gift. I have a couple of blank boxes hiding amongst my stash somewhere - seeing your gorgeous box has made me want to dig them out and get stamping :-)
xx Karen

Ann said...

Gorgeous - I love both the box & atcs Hels!! xx

TinaB said...

All stunning!!! I love them to bits! Well done hun xx

Claire said...

The box is FAB hun, such stunning work!!!
xxx

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