Altered "Memory" Box

This project is totally inspired from Hussena...guest DT of color conceptions! She has altered this amazing heart shaped box and I knew immediately what my next project was!


I had this old(8yrs) hexagon box...totally unassuming, faded and tattered in places holding some pebbles, shells and cobble stones which I use in my vintage projects! I decided to give this museum piece a makeover.
Look how it was....



and what I made of it!!!!



There are sooooo many elements, as usual in this project of mine, so sit back and be ready for a loooot of viewing and detailing!!!!

I firstly started by giving 2 coats of gesso to the box and by the time it dried I had decided that I am going to use maximum amount of scraps in this project...inspired by Lulupu's current challenge! I took out all scrap PP's, die cut negatives and scrap chipboard from cartons.



The outer 6 panels has different colors of PP from the scraps and I gave texture to all of them using modeling paste and when dry, lightly inked them. Then took out the die cut negatives( olive branch, cheery Lynn) and used it as a stencil and sponged archival black ink. I loved how the panels turned out!

Going to the inside of the box, I lined the base with red CS and for the panels, I dry embossed each strip using Itsy Bitsy Damask folder( my new buy, which I won in a challenge)! These panels I have used them as slots for tags...so they are stuck only on 3 sides...I hope you can see the tags peeping out!



There is a small twist to tags!!! There are all made with die cut negatives, which I store them carefully! I gave a PP behind the negative and then stuck it to this lovely beige color CS and voila! some different looking tags(but nice, I hope) were ready!

I have stamped Memory quotes at the back for a few and in some , I have stamped message box. Each tag has a co ordinated twine attached to it again my new buy from Itsy Bitsy!

I have stuck a doily at the base of the box with a sentiment too. I can't leave anything blank!



Now, coming to the favourite part of the box....The Lid!
 I have worked soooo much on it.
Firstly, adhered a doily to it and then I cut the alphabets from scrap chipboard from cereal carton. Before that, I adhered PP's to both sides of the chipboard and after cutting, inked them all with walnut stain.

I decided to keep the alphabets vertical and so stuck them to acetate sheet(from packaging) and mounted it on the lid! The flowers are made using Cheery Lynn and Tim Holtz dies and I have stuck flat back pebbles as flower centers...my new buy again!!!

Once the floral arrangement was done, I perched 2 little birds on the alphabets(my new die) and they looked so awfully cute as if they are talking to each other!!! I just loved how the whole thing turned out to be...


The rim of the lid had some inked lace and bling and when you open the lid, there is a doily there again! I have heat embossed a scalloped circle frame in black and given a slot for changing photograph.

I think this kind of sums up my creation!!! Hope I din't bug you with a lot of detailing...but please do leave your comments, they are so valuable.

Am linking this to...
http://colorconceptionschallenges.blogspot.in/2014/01/new-year-new-challenge.html
http://lulupu.blogspot.in/2014/01/lulupu-challenge24-scrap-your-scraps.html
(If my box does not qualify for the challenge, have done the tags too with scrap PP's, CS and die cut negatives)
http://itsybitsyindia.blogspot.in/2014/01/the-itsybitsy-picture-bingo-challenge.html
(have done top 2 rows and a lot of products from Itsy Bitsy too)
http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.in/2014/01/add-texture.html
(have done texture with stencil and dry embossing)
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.in/2014/01/in-with-new.html
(the embossing folder, birds die, flat back pebbles,  are my new yr purchase!)
Until then,
Happy Crafting and Re cycling.
Hugs.