Friday 24 May 2013

A place for keepsakes...

Hello everyone, Alison (butterfly) here again to share an altered box with you today.  I had a lovely time with this one, then hit a complete stall and then, with one risky piece of bold stamping, leapt over the block to end up with something which I really love!
It certainly started out somewhere completely different... as a cheapy gift box from Kik (sort of the Czech equivalent of Woolworths crossed with a pound store).  They were less than 50p each, and in a number of shapes and sizes, so I picked up quite a few.
I started with layers of paint, using a Claudine Hellmuth acrylic (Blank Canvas, so basically white!) for the first time - what great coverage!  I stuck ripped up pieces of Tim Holtz tissue wrap quite randomly onto the still wet paint and left the whole thing to dry.
Out with the Grunge Paste next... another first time for me, and I LOVE it!  I smeared on lots of lovely Harlequin diamonds - very happy with the ease of application (and the smell!).
Then some inking to start adding colour to the piece... layering up Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire, Frayed Burlap and Walnut Stain.
I used Cobalt Archival to stamp the delicious tiny polka dots as well as the butterfly from Katy Fox's Encyclopaedia Botanica set.
The little beetle is from the same set, and he's stamped in Coffee Archival, as is the tiny handwritten script from Katy's Carte Postale plate.
I used Distress Paints to alter some metal Idea-ology embellishments: one of the Bookplates, and some Foliage flowers and leaves.
The Chipped Sapphire paint has a slightly more purple-y hue than the ink, so I added some paint to the box edges too, so that the embellishments would tone in better with the whole piece.
The lovely Idea-ology word band added a much-needed horizontal element to the arrangement, but somehow I still wasn't happy with the whole thing.
It was all very pretty, but it was missing something.  I wish I had a photo of that stage to show you - as I think one could easily have stopped there... but I just couldn't quite leave it.  I tried adding some ribbon (various ribbons in fact)... no good.  And then, finally, taking a deep breath, I took the large, beautiful flower stamp from the Encyclopedia Botanica plate and stamped it right on the very top of the box.
Thankfully, it works beautifully (I think!)... a really bold statement against the delicate layers of the background.
Some old, discoloured tracing paper was the perfect colour to sit within the bookplate, and I used my Hero Arts letters to stamp the word k-e-e-p-s-a-k-e-s on it - making my altered box into somewhere precious to keep precious things.
Thank you so much for stopping by today.  I'd love to hear what you think... and don't forget there's still time to play along with our Words challenge here at The Artistic Stamper.  See you there!

Happy Crafting!
Alison x

Ingredients used:
Stamps: Artistic Stamper - Encyclopaedia BotanicaCarte PostaleDots
Distress Inks - Chipped Sapphire, Faded Jeans, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
Distress Paints - Picket Fence, Chipped Sapphire
Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints - Blank Canvas
PaperArtsy Grunge Paste
Crafter's Workshop stencil - Harlequin 6x6
Idea-ology Findings - Ornate Plates, Foliage, Word Bands
Idea-ology Fastenings - Long Fasteners
Ranger Archival Ink - Coffee, Cobalt
Idea-ology Tissue Wrap - Terminology

41 comments:

Jacqueline said...

That is lovely ! Would make a nice gift too. Must have a go at that. Thanks for sharing.

Jackie x

Salla said...

Beautiful box! Thanks for showing all the different stages, too.

maria's knutselplezier said...

What a great project, love the mixed media way of doing it, love the structure and the colours!!!What a beautiful gift!!!

Greetings
Maria

...the yorkshire fox... said...

...fabulous work Alison, love this box...Melxx :)

Helen said...

I think it looks beautiful - I love the colour, and the overall whole look of it. Just gorgeous.

Deborah said...

Unrecognisable from the 50p discount shop box you bought - fabulous!

Lucy Edmondson said...

Gorgeous, I love the blues and browns, the texture, and the botanical feel. I love how it started off, to how it is now! Beautiful!

Lucy x

Gio said...

Gorgegous transformation, Alison!! And such wonderful and delicate shades you got!

Unknown said...

Love it! I feel some boxes coming on....

Sue said...

It's a beautiful box, and what a bargain! xx

Alex said...

What a lovely box, Alison! There are so many details on it, just beautiful!

Astrid Maclean said...

Beautiful box Alison, love those blue shades with that brown flower to lift it all, - great transformation!

Amanda said...

Hi Alison great box what a fab makeover, love the colours that you have chosen, works do well
Love
Amanda x

Redanne said...

What an amazing transformation Alison, your box is stunning. Anne x

barbarayaya62 said...

Love love love this box! Amazing work!!!!! barbarayaya

Jennie Atkinson said...

Wow what a makeover! Love this Alison - gorgeous work and fabulous colours x

toni said...

A fabulous piece of altering Alison . Good call on using the large flower stamp. Perfect ! X

Clare Lloyd said...

wow! what a stunning project. x

Artyjen said...

Ooh! What a gorgeous box it is now...waiting to be filled with those keepsakes ;)
xoxo Sioux

Terry said...

Oh it is an altered box and a gorgeous one at that! Love it and thank you for sharing all the steps! Wonderful!

Carol Q said...

your colouring is sublime Alison. The book plate looks gorgeous covered in distress too.

Cinderella Moments said...

The transformation is stunning! I love that so much! Thanks for sharing Alison.
hugs♥,
Caroline

Dorthe said...

Fantastic altering Alison- what a beautiful piece you have created - those lavender/blue tones are so lovely, and the stamps in brown- looks so wonderful with them!
Gorgeous with the flowers and the texture you created- Love your box!
xo,Dorthe

Dagmar said...

wow - wow - wow - it´s so fantastic!!!!

Zuzu's Blog said...

beautiful project Alison (as always)... will email you as soon as i get my internet back... Z x

Hettie said...

Oh Alison this is exquisite. I love it all so much I could just eat it!
wonderful!
Hugs
xx

Paper Profusion said...

Stunning transformation Alison - so glad you were inspired to use the large flower stamp at the end - it definitely belongs! I love your hues and all the lovely elements. Nicola x

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous box Alison, beautiful delicate colours and lots of texture and detail. A box to treasure in more ways than one. Sue C x

sally said...

What a fabulous box - its quite stunning what can be achieved with paints, inks &paste :-) one day I hope to achieve crafting paradise but in the mean time I'll just keep striving for a good & happy balance in my crafting life :-)

Sally

cathylynn said...

Gorgeous transformation and thanks for sharing how you did it! I definitely have to give this a try. Beautiful just beautiful!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

May said...

O my word... All from a 50p box... This is amazing work Alison... Love all the textures & stamping...WOW to the large flower stamp...Thank you so much for the tutorial... Have a great weekend.. Hugs May x x x

craftytrog said...

Stunning!!! xxx

Nan G said...

Lovely box, Alison! The flower so works and ties in quite nicely.

Kezzy said...

Wow gorgeous amazing box, I love the texture the paste brings and the colours are absolutely beautiful. Happy Crafting :-) Kezzy xxx

Elly said...

What a beautiful paint - treatment and i'm smiling. Mostly i read about shopping at Michaels and now...i know someone, who's writing about Kik, i have around, too. That's cool (:o)

Unknown said...

Absolutely stunning! i love the colour and everything about it!

Crafty Hugs
Heather xx

Netty said...

loving your wonderful altered box Alison. Annette x

Dianne said...

It looks gorgeous,love the colors and all the layering the book plate is awesome, love all the stamping, so professionally done, awsome job Alison, thanks for sharing..

Unknown said...

Gorgeous box, love the Brown and Blue color combination.

Marlies

Jenny Marples said...

So much yummy texture and colouring here Alison. Love the fact that you would never guess how this box started off the transformation has been so complete. Hugs, Jenny x

Sandy said...

Love this box Alison - I have several boxes that I want to do something with so maybe - just maybe.
Sandy