"WITH LOVE" from grandma

Hello Crafty peeps…

Welcome to my page and today I share with you my DT post for Anything But A card where the theme this month is “Anything Goes” and that’s undoubtedly the favorite for many. So get your crafty stuff out and hope to see you all play along.

As always, I have an upcyled, altered project in my favorite vintage theme.

Before I start to show you what it is , I want to know what is that one thing you can’t do without when you are travelling? For me, I need that little trinket/vanity box that can house all my accessories! I love to take a few complimenting sets of neck piece, earrings, bracelet and my watch! I love playing the mix n match game with these!

I decided to make one that is compact and durable to carry these. Here’s a biscotti box that underwent a cosmetic change

to become THIS…

I wanted to replicate one of those antique, old, vintage hand me down treasures from grandma type of a box! This box was originally a glossy grey one which of course, I was going to change but I liked was the inside. It had these cute little compartments which was perfect for this project.

Step 1 – I was clear I wanted the paper from Ideology “lost and found” paper pack and also took complimenting fresco colors from paper Artsy.

After a coat of gesso, I went about sponging the colors in layers till I liked what I saw. I had a lovely, grungy wooden like box and I was already beginning to love the texture the sponge had created. I have used Chutney and Tikka from paper artsy to get this lovely color!

Step 2- Once the colors dried, I took damask stencil from TCW and some Wendy Vecchi embossing paste and covered the top of the lid. I wish I had used gold embossing paste, but never the less, once it dried I placed the stencil again and rubbed Inka Gold. I wanted a subtle highlight of gold and so used old gold here. I like the way it blends with the woody colors. Next I took out some metallic black acrylic colors and created random polka dots all over the box. This gave the feminine look to the box.

Step 3- I have used the 4 X 4 paper from the pack and was happy it just fit the base. Before adhering the pages, I stuck some black lace in random spots and then created tears in the PP…the antique, worn out look you see! Some ore Inka gold in the crevices and then I inked all the edges with Archival black ink and Potting soil to really age the box and the paper.

Step 4- For the embellishments I made a layered TH tattered florals flower with black CS and heat embossed the edges with gold . The Sizzix flousih die cut too is from black CG and has some gold highlights. 

I created the same wood like strip on black CS and heat embossed TH Artistry sentiment in black. I have distressed the edges and ripped it too. The ornate metal pull out too has been aged with old gold highlights.

 A few coconut shell buttons with gold run ons adorns the front the box.

Ready to open my grandma’s treasure???

Here it is…

Step5- I have kept the same colors scheme here too but have stenciled the damask here with archival black. You can see the gold highlights here too.

 I decided to keep some grandmas memoralia here…and so this pic from the photo booth crumpled to get the aged look. Along with that I have pinned some tickets and a small post card stamped with Itsy Bitsy stamp on coffee stained paper. The black border is a memory box die. Family ties it is…as I told you, I wanted this to look like one of grandma’s treasured box!

Step 6- I sponged the same colors on the compartments and rubbed in Inka gold. The little boxes are covered with some marbled wrapping paper . I liked what I saw finally and here it is with all little thinks I cant do without when I am travelling.

This is going to my travel companion in future and I will always treasure this antique piece from Grandma. Lol!

Do let me know your views and thank you stopping by today. I hope this inspires you to play along.

 I would like enter my grandma’s box in the following challenges…

A VintageJourney – Destinations

Make ART challenge blog- use polka dots
Un rulypaper arts- family ties

Stamps and stencils -happy holidays
art by miran Ch blog -Ag
Craft Stamper magazine- Ag use a stamp
Polkadoodles ch blog- add some embossing
Crafting by Designs - re use/Re cycle
STAMPlorations Ch blog- Mixed media but no card

Until my next Creative journey,

Happy Crafting and Re cycling,

Hugs.

Sunshine + rain equals...

Hello Crafty peeps…

Welcome to my page and today I share with you my DT project for Rhedd’s Creative Spirit where the challenge is always “Anything Goes” but mixed media or altered art only, NO cards please.

My project is another holiday inspired project. I told you I had a lot in mind after the holiday and this particular one I saw in one of the widow displays in a shop. I love window shopping and this caught my fancy in the streets of Austria!

Here is what I saw …

And here is what I made of it…..

Yes, an altered mini armoire for you today, all shabby, distressed and vintage…feels so cozy in my comfort zone! I do have a little surprise for you at the end.

I so fell in love with the maroon color and retained it in my project. I had this color CS and ran it thru my mew Darice embossing folder(quilt). I love the quilt patterns in it and then dry brushed some gesso over it to give it a distressed washed look.

 I could see everywhere that “distressed furniture” is the “in” thing right now and I am going about making miniatures at home just to convince my husband so that I could do the same to the big one’s at home too, lol! I have eyed a few pieces of furniture which I would love lay my hands on…very soon it shall be a reality!

I adhered the embossed CS for the doors and the panel on top.

Here is a closer look at the lovely embossed pattern and the white washed look.

The wooden knobs have been coated with gesso and then a layer of Black soot distress crackle paint. You can see the cracks here…

I cut out the stamp size images of the ‘found relatives” from Ideology “lost and found” paper stack and arranged them on the door pattern to give a vintage look.

For the sides I have used the colorful papers from the same stack. I love the brightness of this PP against the washed look of the embossed CS.

 The Sizzix flourishes are cut with black CG and layered to give a black metal look and I have it on the sides and on the top panel to lend an ornate look to the armoire. These have been washed with gesso too.

Coming to the embellishments on the top panel, I have flowers strewn all around in bright summer colors. I have taken the color prompt from the PP actually and made flowers using Joy crafts and TH tattered florals. They have all been inked and colored using DI.

The metal frame is an ugly enameled one that I have had for years now and was screaming for a makeover! I just gave it e coats of gesso and applied some metallic yellow paint and voila, the ugly duckling looked like a princess, lol!

The sentiment is from Inspired by Stamping and I thought it fit the project so well. Let me tell you why..

Distressed + bright PP = sunshine +rain!!!

I was never great with Math, so you can calculate to see if this is right, lol!

The little perfume bottle Is from my stash and I crackled and colored it with alcohol inks. Love the lime green freshness!

The wicker heart is a last minute add and I wanted hanging from the sides with a metal chain.The ideology feet adds the much needed vintage look which also has been dry brushed with gesso.

 That’s the overall all look of the exterior!

Do we proceed inside…what’s waiting???

I have continued with the same sunshine + rain formula inside too. I have a removal plank in case I decide to have the armoire to hang things later!

Right now, all my metallic paints and glitter powders sit cozy in there!

Are you ready for the little surprise? Do you want to know how this armoire started out to be…I actually dint have one and was not ready to buy a pricy one from the stores!

And so I made one with THIS….

Very soon I will get back to you with a LIFE size one that I am eyeing at home! Wish me luck.

I would love to have your valuable comments on this project. It always brings a smile and helps me grow. Now remember the formula always!

Do play along and have a peek at the lovely creations of the other DT’s here.

I would like have this mini armoire enter the following challenges…

CreativeMoments – AG with wet/dry embossing

Beyond Grey Challenges -Dimensional project
Die Cuttin Divas- AG
Crafty Sentiments - Summer
Moo -mania  - swirls
Our Creative Corner - mexico moods
Sistersofcraft - Ag
Frilly and Funkie - Something to say
Sparkles Forum Challenge Blog- Vintage/shabby chic

Until my next Creative journey,

Happy crafting and Re cycling.

Hugs.