Time to Strike Back by Nicky Cresswell

Hello Artistic Stampers.. I'm finally back after my little sabbatical, and boy is it good to be back.
What do you mean you didn't notice i had gone.. Charming.
So anyways, today i have a fun little project for you.
A matchbox on legs {and now the dodgy pun in the title makes sense!}

And i didn't stop there, as inside is a surprise little book.

You'll first need an empty matchbox and 2 small pieces of mountboard which will be your book covers {both the same size & that fit into the draw}. You should give the whole draw and only the edges and one side of the board as shown a coat of silver, i used a marker pen but you can use the medium you prefer. Once these are dry your going to take the covers and triple emboss and stamp the blank side. I used clear utee & then added some other colours a pinch at a time {Jennie has done a great triple embossing vid that you can see HERE}

.................

I used the clock front and back from the Time & Keys plate and used plum archival ink

The next thing your going to need to do is cut a strip of paper to make your folding book page.

I used some of Tim's lush seasonal stack, pretty on one side and light enough on the other for your stamping.

Roughly 7" x 1¾" scored and folded 5 times to make 6 pages, but you can make it bigger/smaller as you wish.

Now you just have fun and go mad with the stamping

I used the Time & Keys plate and also the Ephemera 1 plate.

To break up the phrase i just inked each word one at a time by placing a post it note either side like shown.

And when stamping something like the swirls i masked areas again using post it notes.
When your happy with your stamping your going to attach the covers.

Remember before you glue down the back side your going to need to add a bit of ribbon that will tie your book shut once finished as shown.

Right now back to the matchbox.

Get another piece of patterned paper, i use the same piece as was used for the book, which i also stamped and then wrapped around the box.

I stamped the smallest clock i had onto cardboard and cut it out, adding a couple of game spinners for effect. A good idea is to placed a strip of masking tape to the inside of the box where the long fastener comes through to stop the draw catching on it when opening.

Add a little handle to the draw, i used a hitch fastener, and then glue on 4 legs {I used some old metal beads taken from a broken belt}.
And there you have it. I hope i have explained myself clearly enough, any questions feel free to ask away.
I hope you've enjoyed my little project, don't forget if you give this a try to come and let me know so i can visit your blog and see the results.
♥ HUGZ ♥