Mermaid Treasure

I made this treasure box for a friend's birthday. Since she's received it, I can finally share it with you.

I started with a paper mache box that I layered in crackle paint, paint daubers, doodles, and pearl paint. I adhered a seafoam-y piece of patterned paper to the box lid. I gave my au natural mermaid a sparkly top and then added more sparkle to her luxurious tail.

Here's a closer look at some of the treasures that surround her: fluffy flowers, sparkly beads and gems, and of course, sea pearls.

The real treasure is waiting inside. I wanted it to look like the inside of a pearl oyster, so I painted it in pale pink, silver, and pearl paints.

Here's a look at some of the treasures: handmade flowers, vintage trims and findings, a few crafty supplies, and a whole lot of fun!



Spring Is in the Air

I did a little Spring Art Swap with a couple of friends. Since they both received their packages, I can share the projects I made.

I decorated a little trinket box using spring colored papers, trims, flowers, and findings. I inserted a pretty vintage image in the box lid's window, and also decorated the inside of the box. This is Diana's box.

I made a ribbon bookmark for each and a custom jewelry piece. For Diana, I made a pair of sterling and glass bead earrings that are just right for spring.



I decorated Julie's box in a similar way.

I tucked a pretty soldered pendant inside (since her ears aren't pierced).

And, it's reversible. I added an antique glass button to the top. Now I want one! I'll have to get busy and make some more.



My Second Date with Tim Holtz

Last year, I got to meet Tim Holtz and take a class with him at Ten Seconds Studio. Well, he was back for more at Stamp Asylum this past weekend. I took the all day Artful Curio class yesterday. It was a lot of fun, and a lot of work.

We received a bare wood glass-fronted shadow box. The first thing we did was color the inside with Distress Ink and paint dabbers. Then we started layering on our background papers. I found a new favorite product - Tim's Tissue Tape. This stuff is a must have for any collager. It is a printed, (a little thicker than) tissue paper roll with adhesive on the back. I could have covered my entire box with it! But, I used it to fit those areas that would have been a nightmare to cover in paper. I will be off to Hobby Lobby this week to look for it.

Now I wish I had taken more pictures to show you the work in progress and more of Tim's demos. Here he is unveiling all the findings and "stuff" we'll be using to assemble our curio "stories."

There were three long tables FULL of supplies - old printer's blocks, kids' wooden blocks, metal charms, metal cars, buttons, lightbulbs, watch parts, game pieces, tape measures... and ALL of Tim's Ideaology metal pieces. And another table with vintage pearl beads, mica flakes, rusty jingle bells, and Frozen Charlotte heads. We were like kids in a candy store!

Here is my work in progress. I still have a few things I need to complete from home - finishing touches, adding the box's feet and knob, etc.

I did take a picture with Tim, but I waited until the end of day - after seven hours of crafting. No hair, no makeup, and I look exhausted. I'll spare us both that one.

The Bees Knees

It seems like every other project that I see in a Somerset magazine uses beeswax. Since I'm always wanting to learn new techniques, I thought I'd dive in and give it a try. I bought a chunk of white beeswax at Michael's (in the candle/soap making aisle). I didn't want to buy a wax melter just to try this technique - it was bad enough that I had to buy a chunk of wax big enough to cover every project I've ever done. I still have a couple of those wax tart burners (with the lightbulb in the bottom and the little pot to melt the wax on top), so I thought I'd try that to melt the beeswax.

The hardest part was getting the old hardened wax tart out of it, but then I cleaned it thoroughly and broke off a chunk of the beeswax. It took about 30 minutes or so to get it melted.

I took a little box and covered it with vintage paper, lace, flowers, a jewelry piece. Then I dipped a paintbrush into the melted wax and started covering the box. I made a little tag to embellish the box and covered this, too.

I think with a little more practice, I'll get the hang of what materials the wax looks best on. Now I want to work on some little trinkets to put inside the box.