A LEAFY BOX

      I have been attempting to decorate a little wooden box, I say attempting as I have not tried this sort of project before. It might have been better if I had planned what I was going to do but as with most of my projects it just evolved. I have used all Clarity stamps and stencils as I am going to enter it into this month's challenge which is ANYTHING GOES. Good to try something different.
       
        My little box is not an expensive one, I bought it from The Works. They have quite a few different wooden shapes, ideal for practicing on.  I started by painting all over with my base colour in Acrylic paint. I actually mixed two colours, Buff Titanium and a little bit of gold  acrylic. This gave me a slightly beige shade, neutral for adding design. It did not change the colour an awful lot but gave a good base to work on.

Plain box

        Using the sprig leaf stencil I sponged the design over the sides and top with black ink. I found a sponge gave a better outline on this project than a brush. 

After adding base shade.

Leafy sprigs sponged in place

     I wanted to add some flowers around the sides so I used Grunge paste for this. Just gives a bit of interest by raising the design. I also tinted the paste with a little gold paint so that when I painted final colour on there would be less chance of white bits showing. As I only wanted a little bit of the stencil design I masked off unwanted areas. However careful you think you will be some paste will always get where you don't want it otherwise. Trust me I know!

    

      

         Small flowers on edges and one large one on top.  Using Black Archival ink I stamped a leafy design around the edge on the top and some small butterflies. 

      I painted all the flowers and rubbed some gold gilding wax over them and around the edges of the box. Also added a little detail to the petals with a black pen.

     Some little black gems in the middle of flowers completed my design. 

Items used ;-    Double sprig stencil
                           Flower power stencil
                           Butterfly tree
                           Treehouse stamp and vines
          All available from Claritystamps.


     A slightly different project for me this month , hope you like it. It has been a learning process as well but fun to do.  Thankyou for visiting.  xx
                       
                       
                            

POPPIES

      I was at a workshop last weekend with many other lovely ladies. A wonderful time as usual. We had been decorating shadow boxes ( see previous post) but in the afternoon we had a little free time to craft. One of my lovely friends set us all a challenge of completing a design she had stamped onto some card. She had used up her paint from the morning to make the background. So thankyou Fi for the challenge. I also really felt the need  to order the stamp she used which is  called Poppies in Bloom made by Claritystamps. 

      

        Above is my finished effort. I do love this stamp, the poppies do not have to be red could try several different colours and backgrounds. A brilliant day, I look forward to our next get together. xx

SHADOW BOX HOUSE

      It was time for the Nottingham Clarity workshop this weekend. We had a slightly different project to work on this time.  We all completed a shadow box, these are small display boxes, painted and decorated in a theme. 
      I chose to make one in a vintage style, partly because I wanted to incorporate a couple of items from my mum and dad. I thought it was a good way to display these as they were in a cupboard not being seen. 
     Firstly I painted the box all over. I used Fresco chalk paints and mixed two colours Stone and Bora Bora. I did not be too precise as I wanted a slightly distressed look. Then it was a question of cutting papers to fit the back of each compartment in the box. A bit fiddly especially the top triangle but worth taking time to get them right. After that I just needed to add all the items I had collected. Some of the bits are pieces I bought quite cheaply from the Works and then painted them to look old. No need to spend loads and of course my two special pieces. 
     

              Above is the completed project and below I have shown some close ups of each compartment.

        Mum's thimble, she used to collect them but I could not keep all off them, so chose this one.

        Small plate which my mum and dad bought back from Jersey many years ago.  At least it is on show now. 

     

       The tape measure was made by using a stamp and then cutting to size and ageing the paper with Distress ink.

          Small bottles are from The Works and I filled them with beads.

       I made the small cushion in the picture above, it was a bit fiddly but worth the effort. All the flowers used are from Sweet Lilac.  Perfect for the look I wanted. The bunting was made by me. Hope you like this little house, it is going in my Dining room colours are just right. 

17th BIRTHDAY

          We have a Birthday to celebrate this week. My granddaughter will be 17yrs old. I have made her Birthday cake as well as a card of course. She actually chose her own design for her card. She saw the one she wanted on the  House of Zandra stand when we were at the NEC in March. So of course I bought the necessary papers while we were there. Nothing like choosing your own card. 
         I kept the theme going with her cake. It is appropriate for her as she is hoping to do an horology degree next year when A levels are finished.  So I will just share a few pictures with you. 
      

        I used one of my Clarity stencils to trace off  elements for cake. I had to trace them because I had used inks on the stencil so could not put it near the cake. 

      
         Luckily I had some ribbon that was just right for the border.

     Above is the completed card. Not my design of course as it was featured on the House of Zandra stand. Check out their website they have some beautiful papers.  House Of Zandra

       Now I just have to hope the cake tastes ok.  Also I need to be good and only have a very small piece so as not to spoil my diet.