Altered boxes and Christmas Card

Altered art various boxes

Before

After

Charlotte Bronte

Used a Matchbox from Graphic 45 to create this.

How many UFO's do you have?

Yes, I have a confession to make... I am a slow crafter and I have many Un - Finished Objects lying around. My mind is filled with idea's and I can't find enough time to finish my projects quickly.... I always have something on the go. But sometimes... I have more than one on the go... well here they are;

Which one I finish first depends on my mood.... here's my Work In Progress...

1. Recycled wooden display trays - altered, painted and covered with Bo Bunny Etcetera papers...
2. Altoid Tin, painted with gesso and off white acrylic...
3. Papier Mache Oval Box - covered with Kaiserkraft Sweet Nothings Papers and Modpodge...
4. Recycled Music Box, added a layer of gesso...
5. Wooden Picture Frame - painted, crackled and embellished with metal corners...
6. Papier Mache Rectangle Box, covered with black gesso...

Wishing you all a crafty weekend!

Graphic 45 On The Boardwalk Altered Box

Boxes... boxes...  yes, I'm officially a box addict :) My friend Christine gifted me several of the 'Michaels' balsawood boxes and I have so much fun altering them. This time I used the Graphic 45 On The Boardwalk Collection (definitely one of my favourites!). I thought that by lack of sunshine outsite I will get in the 'Summer Mood' inside using these papers.... and you know what... it worked!

Inside the box is a little mini album... there is not much room for photos but I suspect that I won't have that many beach pictures this year anyway :) I love working with Graphic 45, it is so inspirational.

I am entering this box in the "Try It On Tuesday Challenge" - Boxed Up

Materials I used are
For the box
- Wooden box (Michaels)
- White Gesso
- Eco-Friendly Acrylic Paint - Ocean
- Graphic 45 - On The Bordwalk collection
- Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Tim Holtz Alterations - Mini Paper Rosettes (657177)
- Wild Orchid Crafts - Deep Ivory Cherry Blossom Mulberry Flowers
- Martha Stewart Craft Punch - Branch
- Woodware Craft Punch - Postage Stamp 1 1/2"
- Vintage trim

For the mini album
- Bazzill - Kraft Cardstock
- Wild Orchid Crafts - Vintage Seam Ribbon Bay Leaf
- Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Movers & Shapers - Mini Ticket Set
- Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations On The Edge - Plaque & Postage
- Tim Holtz Ranger ColorCore Cardstock - Adirondeck Collection

You can find some of the materials here:
- Flowers, Seam binding ribbon from Wild Orchid Crafts
- Woodware Punch, Tim Holtz products from The Stampman

Message In A Bottle

With some carboot finds from last  saturday - a wooden house and a little bottle - I made this shadow box using Graphic 45 "On The Boardwalk" paper collection. Don't you just love the lady in her bathing suit, I would not mind wearing one of those - it hides a mulitude of bumps :).

I'm happy how it turned out.

Materials I used are
- White Gesso
- Eco-Friendly Acrylic Paint - Ocean
- Graphic 45 - On The Bordwalk collection
- Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Tim Holtz Alterations - Mini Paper Rosettes (657177)
- Pearl cluster
- Hand picked shells by me
- Vintage Crochet lace
- Wooden House & Little Bottle (carboot find)

You can find some of the materials here:
- Tim Holtz products from The Stampman

Shadow Box

It must be about 3 years ago that I stitched the swan pattern. Those who know me are aware of my love for birds and I wanted to create this shadow box ever since I stitched this pattern. The shadow box idea was part of the pattern, in fact,  included was some background script pattern and the quote.

The swan is such a graceful bird and I often watch them on a nearby canal when I feed the birds. I found the complete quote that was used for the text on the edges of this box.

The Swan

Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?
Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air -
An armful of white blossoms,
A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned
into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,
Biting the air with its black beak?
Did you hear it, fluting and whistling
A shrill dark music - like the rain pelting the trees - like a waterfall
Knifing down the black ledges?
And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds -
A white cross Streaming across the sky, its feet
Like black leaves, its wings Like the stretching light of the river?
And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?
And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?
And have you changed your life?

Mary Oliver

Materials I used are

The Goode Huswife cross stitch pattern - Wintergreen Swan

DMC Threads

32 count linen - Bayleaf

Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Walnut Stain

Tim Holtz Tissue Tape - Sketchbook (Butterfly)

Tattered Angel Glimmer Mist - Chocolate Covered Cherries

Metal Crown

Real Eggs &  Moss

You can find some of the materials here:

- Tim Holtz products from The Stampman

Wedding Mini

This is my very first mini album... my wedding album. We don't have many pictures because it was a simple and quiet wedding. We went to the registrar office in Edinburgh, 'dragged' 2 people of the street to be our witnesses and got married. This was July, 8 years ago.

I made the pages of the mini with the ATC die and used my favourite colour paint (turquoise) to colour the chest. After it was dry I used the Lyndy's Stamp Gang Moon Shadow mist to create a more vintage look. The chest is still a work in progress.. it needs some embellishments on the outside.

Materials I used are

Sizzix Bigz die - Artist Trading Card (656332)

Tim Holtz Paper Pad - Shabby Vintage

Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip - Tim Holtz Mini Paper Rosettes &  Upon A Time Alphabet

Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations - Caged Bird (656634)
Paper Mache Treasure Chest
Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Pool
Lindy's Stamp Gang Moon Shadow Mist - Tawny Turquoise
Prima E-line flowers

Martha Stewart Craft Punch - Classic Butterfly

You can find some of the materials here:

Martha Stewart Punch, Papier Mache Treasure Chest at Samuel Taylor

Lyndy's Stamp Gang & Tim Holtz products from The Stampman

Altered Boxes

A wile ago I made some altered boxes ( see youtube video ) using compartment boxes from http://www.craftyindividuals.co.uk/ (under 'must haves'). Just a fun item to work with and they have so many possibilities but most important of all they are not expensive to buy :)

The first one I made was a plaque, using 1 box;

Then I made 2 more, by using 2 boxes you can made a little altered book box;


Us crafters always collect little pieces that we might use one day, these boxes are a fun way to display your little treasures.

Handmade boxes

Mabu flower :)