Pink Gloves and Altered Boxes

 “Art is a kind of mining," he said. "The artist a variety of prospector searching for the sparkling silver of meaning in the earth.” 

― Jane Urquhart, The Underpainter

Of course I wore pink gloves altering these  boxes to store some  treasures in that I need to send off to some friends.  

Using the  Finnabair technique and my box  of  misfits.. items that never  ended up  back in their home or broken little things or flowers I would never use again .. until today. 

Black gesso everything (13@rts gesso is the best ever) and then dry brush using the new alchemy paints from Prima  which  I used three colors : 

- Steampunk Copper

-Gold Rush 

-Silver Spoon 

On this box I thought why not, lets try a little deco art crackle glaze ...and  ohh it did show through ... was not sure   ( I did paint it on after the black gesso) . I am one that crackle and me  never seem to get along .. but the deco art crackle  has been a sure thing to date .. it has never disappointed! 

My boxes are off to their new homes ... hope you get creating something magical today! 

Trash to Treasure with Flying Unicorn using Craft Consortium Paper Collection and Petaloo

"For where thy treasure is, there also will thy heart be."

-anonymous

This was a fun challenge and I love to turn trash into treasure!  Dawid's challenge on the Flying Unicorn Forums gave me the inspiration and fun I needed.

There is a step by step tutorial by Dawid- just click here  

From these ohh lets just throw out the empty roll to something pretty and this time PINK ! 

I used the new paper collection from Craft Consortium The Gypsy Gypsy Collection - oh my, oh my its gorgeous!!! The top is garden of blossom of the pretty in pink flowers from Petaloo.

A little bit more of this and that from beads to glass bobbles and the  treasure laser cut from 2crafty -and the  butterfly in flight from Petaloo finished this  little project off perfectly .Time to go add some goodies inside and  send it  off as a RAK ! 

Textured Elements

Craft Consotium

Pearl Daisies

Forget Me Nots

Just a pretty little box

"Keep love in your heart. 

A life without it is like 

a sunless garden when the flowers are dead."

Oscar Wilde

I enjoy making boxes and  putting  little  RAK  items in them and  sending them off fro Happy  Mail and this is a great way to  use up  the  stash which makes me  happy too :) 

Most the products used are  from my stash,  but the  flowers are  new and available on our etsy store.  and the Flying Unicorn Adornments.

Adding Cheesecloth softens everything up and little trinkets between the  flower clusters adds dimension and  interest. 

Off to make a matching tag or card !

A box of smiles

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a

listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all

of which have the potential to turn a life around.” 

― Leo Buscaglia

A  box of smiles  for a friend that I  finally got it   mailed off yesterday:) Using old papers and old embellishments is a perfect way to decrease your stash and put a smile on someone's face ! 

A perfect  added  touch - a chipboard piece glues to the  interior of the box and a stick pin to add that extra touch! 

Pretty Packaging and Flying Unicorn November Kit

“Gifts of the heart can't be claimed by anyone except the 

giver.” 

― Nicholas Sparks, The Wedding

Sometimes its not only what is inside the package, but the package itself too that counts!  As mom always said its all about the presentation, and that is a lesson of life I have carried from the  kitchen, to  my home and  in my crafting.. if you are going to do it  .. make it  beautiful!

I used the November Kit of the Month to create this  box along with handmade roses and the leaf die -  maybe my  most  favorite  of all time too... yes I  have  lots of  #1's .. but  don't we all  - its a Cheery Lynn die- Flourish leaf Strip and the bird, a handmade resin piece

Winter Wonderland

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and 

warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk 

beside the fire: it is the time for home.” 
― Edith Sitwell

Its all gone or 99% of it - the  new collection from Studio 75 Winter Morning and  I loved every piece of it!  So easy and pretty to create with . An altered box to hold  some  holiday candy . The  little houses are from my stash and I had them forever  -  but there are some great templates on Pintrest to create your own little box village.  Covered with paper and   micro  glitter gives it a cold and warmth vintage feel.  Not many  flowers,  just  enough and the  Winter Wonderland laser cut is from Creative Embellishments. 

Winter Morning- Studio 75 

Winter Morning-Studio 75 

MicroGlitter

Simple pretty small box with Riddersholm Design

"Life is too short to be anything but happy, Love deeply, 

forgive quickly, take chances, give everything with no 

regrets, Forget the past with exception of what you have 

learned and remember everything happens for a reason."

Bello Pastello by Riddersholm Design has to be one of my most favorite collections of all time .. Its  a collection of  vintage blues with hints of teal greens, pinks, brown  and gold that is so elegant and divine  I love creating with it ... 

I am into creating  little  boxes and decorating them ... since I  do  send out little  RAK's of handmade resin pieces and  flowers I  make  to friends  so  creating and designing them is a  quick little  passion fix. Using a birdcage die cut and laser cuts by Petaloo along with  Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret  flower die a  little  box  Live, Laugh, Love was made. 

Bello Pastello No 69

Live Laugh Love Frame

Anita's Pearl Gems

Yasutomo Niji Pearl Pods 

Spellbinders for Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret