Nothing but a pack of cards (and a little book box): By Zuzu

I got one of the little Book box sets from "The Artistic Stamper" Shop... its a pack of two, one slightly smaller than the other so they fit inside each other. I used the slightly bigger one for this project. I used a mini pack of cards (out of a christmas cracker) to expand on the tumbling cards theme of the stamp.

Firstly I used gesso in the whole book. then i sanded it lightly to just add a hint of a distressed age look.

I stained the edges with inks  and then stamped on the Alice stamp in black ink.  I coloured in the image. This close up shows the slight distressing in the gesso.

On the back I simply distressed a couple of playing card images from my stash and glued them in place with some metal charms (carrying on the Alice theme).

The inside: I used a text stamp straight to the inside front cover. I sort of sat on the fence a bit before deciding as I knew it would be tricky and wouldnt stamp cleanly, but as almost everything i make has a distressed shabby look, i decided it would be appropriate. on the main inside section though, I coloured some paper with distress inks and then stamped the same text stamp out.. I cut it out and glued it into place.

Then I started to build up some Alice themed interest inside. I painted a wooden 'A' red, and stamped the text over it.  I drew a toadstool, coloured it in and cut it out and also some grass. I put glossy accents on the spots of the toadstool. I left flaps on them when cutting out so i could glue them into place in a 3D manner. As Mr caterpillar has transformed,  I stamped out the butterfly and glued him in.

On the front cover side, I glued in some metal branches and flowers... then painted them red (as in the story). I had a bit of a notion that maybe the queen of hearts had a bit of a thing for the white rabbit ... (my mind isnt always rational)... So I painted a wooden heart red, then stamped the white rabbit on to it. I coloured him in with paints. I also painted in some random blanket stiches around the edge of the heart in black.

Lastly, I glued on the miniature playing cards around the edges and neatened it on the inside with some blue bias-binding. (I think thats what it is called)... and there you have it.. a "curious keepsake".



Supplies Used from The Artistic Stamper:

Alice stamp and white rabbit stamp HERE (scroll down a wee bitty)
Butterfly stamp HERE
Distress inks (I used broken china and fired brick) HERE
Little book boxes HERE