Treasure Chests

Welcome to a special post today! As you may know I was previously featured at the stunning blog Our Creative Corner for twice winning their Top Talent Challenge. For that spotlight I crafted 'A Christmas Tree'. I was lucky enough to win again there recently for my 'Vintage Santa' card and was kindly invited to feature once more and make a project to showcase. So I took the term 'showcase' literally!

I very much appreciate Our Creative Corner hosting this spotlight piece. Their design team are a platinum talented group of ladies whose crafting will ALWAYS inspire. Please do pop over Our Creative Corner for more details of my showcase today and a q and a session. My first spotlight interview from last November is here.

I have altered a pair of miniature papier-mâché suitcases to turn them into little vintage Treasure Chests. Apologies for photographs that were tricky earlier this week given Dublin's dark skies.

Firstly I gave each case a coat of Gesso. Next I applied a coat of Paper Artsy's Fresco Finish paint in Nougat. Then painted a thin coat of Fresco Finish Crackle Glaze. Once dry I followed with a coat of Fresco Finish Vintage Lace for one case, Ice Blue for the other. Also painted the corners and leather strap elements with Fresco Finish 'Old Gold'. The resulting crackle effect was super (thanks Alison). I then (for the first time) stencilled using Crafter's Workshop mini damask stencil together with Dreamweaver embossing paste in white. It wasn't possible to tape the stencil down flat given the raised 'leather straps' either side so the stencils aren't as clean as could be if they had been entirely flat. I sponged Distress Inks liberally over both cases.

Next stamped a mix of script and scroll stamps using Archival Rose Madder and gold inks. I then painted a coat of Fresco Finish Metallic Glaze - resulting in a gorgeous pearlescent sheen. However given that I had used pale colours at the crackling stage I lost some of the detail of the crackle and paler stamping as I applied the glaze. Paper Artsy's site does explain that the metallic glaze can be mixed with Satin Glaze to lessen the pearlescent sheen and I will follow their advice next time. I re-sponged a mix of Distress Inks for layering effect.

I 'recrackled' the leather handles and straps to 'age' and nubble further. Using my finger I applied a gilding wax (LeFranc & Bourgeois Pale Gold) over the damask stencilling and left to dry overnight. The next day I did a second stencil layer with the embossing paste to heighten. Again it wasn't possible to lay stencil flat but the second layer gave the pattern a better definition. I then did my gilding wax trick again. (Whole project done over several days).

Given the wonderful results achieved by Joanna and others and tip from Anne I just had to try out some Stampendous Frantage. For the pink chest I used Stampendous Shabby Pink embossing enamel speckled with Melissa Frances pink glass glitter. On the blue chest I scattered Aged Ivory embossing enamel flecked with gold glass glitter. I ended up covering some stamping again but I loved the jewel encrusted texture so much that I didn't mind! I also embossed edges of cases with Ranger Queen's Gold EP. Added the little pearls to the case corners and handles with Viva Decor pearl pen.

I die cut the tags with a mix of Cheery Lynn and Spellbinders dies and some Brenda Walton tag and Nunn Design embellishments and charms from stash. I gave them the same paint, glaze and frantage treatment and attached with gold cord.

I 'aged and gilded' the crown charm and Melissa Frances resin bird and fixed to the pink chest. Similarly decorated the blue chest with bird charm and butterfly by Brenda Walton.

During the early stage of the project I also made 'linings' for the cases using silk fibre tissue with petals. I stamped the tissue and then fixed inside with modge podge. Inside the pink case is a sentiment by Paper Bag Studios (PBS-038-C Beauty) and Justrite Stamps (Damask Background) - stamped with Worn Lipstick DI. The blue case has Flourishes Stamp (Antique Map) and the very lovely Crafty Individuals Stamp (CI-101). Stamped with Chipped Sapphire and Broken China DIs. Also stamped mini flowers, fleur de lis and butterflies and dabbed with DIs.

Very many thanks once again to all at Our Creative Corner for giving me the opportunity to shine. Being invited to produce a special project inspired me to push my boundaries. This is my first 'altered item' - I have learnt a lot in the process and had fun along the way!

Thank-you so much for spending time at my blog. Your visits and comments mean a great deal!

Nicola x

I wish to enter my Treasure Chests to the following challenges;
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Surprise Us
Vintage Stamping Challenges - Vintage
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Embrace The Old
Crafty-emblies - Toy Box or Toy or Box
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - #202 New (with flourishes stamp)
Live & Love Crafts - Something Old
Craft Your Passion - Vintage / Shabby Chic
Kaboodle Doodles - Vintage
Crafty Creations Challenges - Something New - new stencil
Little Red Wagon - Bring On The Bling

Swan Story

Hello! Its a bank holiday here in Ireland this weekend so everyone's in good form with the extra free day.

For my post today, in order to enter certain challenges, I've made something invented by the fabulous Hels Sheridan who labelled it The T'Pouch.. The challenge over at Frilly and Funkie is anything but a card to include a hidden compartment. Also the challenge at The Stamp Man is Butterflies, Birds and Bees.

Here's what I've made;

The T'Pouch is folded in such a way that it can contain 2 tags that can slide in and out of T'Pouch independently of each other. My first picture above shows the side of the T'Pouch stamped with Stampington and Company's lovely image (Heavenly P2216) embossed with Judikins EP (Black Diamond). This is 'The Black Swan'. The quote of advice from Aesop (from my printer) is on the top of a 'tag' within the T'Pouch. (Sorry its not a proper tag shape but by the time I realised I didn't want to go cutting proper tag corners in case I went awry and wrecked the whole thing! Bit tight for time today!)

The reverse of the T'Pouch is;

The same lovely image, but this time embossed with Stampendous EP (Winter Wonderland). Obviously this is 'The White Swan'. I've stamped some relevant text on the top of the 2nd tag inside the T'Pouch using stamp from Paper Bags Studios (Beauty PBS-038-C). (The tag, that curled from embossing, is now under a heavy book to flatten as I was rushing to get post published first).

Continuing with 'The White Swan' I've pulled out the tag to reveal it in full;

Clearly she is a happy swan as she is surrounded by butterflies, dragonflies and a glittery rose pink heart. Going back to 'The Black Swan' however the revealed tag tells a different story;

Yes, you've guessed it, this poor creature has a sting in her tail!

Thank-you to Anita who sparked my brain with her Design Team inspiration piece where she had different birds on front and reverse.

Supplies; Stardream and Bazzill CS, Cromatica Paper, Punched shapes with SEI Velvet paper using Punch Bunch, EK Success, Woodware and Fiskars punches. Melissa Frances pearls, Karen Foster metal charm, Lace from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. Bows and ribbon from stash.

Wishing you all a really lovely weekend. Nicola x

I wish to enter T'Pouch to the following challenges;
Frilly and Funkie - Anything BUT a Card but with a twist
The Stamp Man - Butterflies, Birds and Bees
PaperPlay Challenges - Butterflies and Bees
Do You Stack Up - Embossing