Wonderful Shadowbox

Xmas always makes me nostalgic, and as the old year fades I feels like looking backward and remembering our family traditions, and Xmases past. Shadowboxes are a wonderful way to spotlight your treasures for yourself, or to collect together important bits of this and that for others.

Keys, pen nibs, notes to Santa, a jingle bell, a vintage watch, Xmas snow. All ingredients for Xmas memories. Don’t be afraid to stuff the cubbies of your shadow box. The backs of these cubbies have all been covered with papers, then layered with more bits of paper or stickers before the actual trinkets were put in.

Trees, a snow drift and icicles complete the look of a wonderful Xmas.

 

The Santa was cut from a larger piece of scrapbook paper and adhered to the outer edge of the cubby for extra dimension.

 

 

Happy Holidays Gypsies! Take some time to create a Xmas keepsake to have for next year. Because it will be here before you know it! 

~ Materials ~

Shadowbox by 7Gypsies

Bits of this and that by Tim Holtz

Papers by Authentique Paper

Trees from Michael's

'Grace'ful Daisy

In November, we lost our beloved Saint Bernard, Daisy, to stomach cancer. Many of you may recognize Daisy - she has been featured in some projects here for Authentique Paper.

And she frequently tried to art direct me while making them.

When it came time to set her free, the staff at the hospital made a cast of her paw. I've wanted to do something with it, to create some way to remember my special girl. I finally was ready this month, and I chose Authentique's new "Grace" line.

Daisy was not graceful by any means. But her personality was sunny and warm and lovely. 

I love the color combinations in this collection. Lots of pinks and greens and an awesome carmel - or Saint Bernard - brown. Look closely and you'll see the edges of the papers are all torn and inked to enhance the distressed look of the paper - the paper has a great weight to it that stands up to all kinds of tearing, sanding and inking.

Look even closer, and you'll see the letter "D" is covered with a piece of "Grace". Creating your own coordinating chipboard letters is an easy trick! - See my step-by-step below.

Our girl's pawprint sits nicely along with my favorite photo of her. Paper grass edging reminds me of her love of a good roll on the lawn. The tattered rose reminds me of how she would always insist on laying under "her" rose bush, regardless of thorns. The daisies remind me of her sunny, spunky personality, and her weird habit of smelling flowers in the garden!

In January we adopted Loki, a two year old Saint Bernard. He's fitting in quite nicely and is already trying to "help" me in my crafting corner. I'm sure he'll be featured on something very soon. 

In the meantime, I thought I'd share how to make your own coordinating chipboard letters so you can enjoy customizing your projects and layouts, and find a great way to use up those odds and ends!

~

Custom Letters in 4 Easy Steps!

I have tons of chipboard letters for paper collections that have been completely used up. So I started turning them into matchable letters to go along with whatever papers I'm using.

It's so easy, are you ready?

Step 1 - Assemble your papers, letters, Glue N Seal, and Xacto knife.

Step 2 - Apply a thin coat of Glue N Seal to the front of each letter and set onto your paper. Remember that the letter's "front" needs to go face-down so you get the paper you want on the front of the letter.

Step 3 - Cut out the letters. I use scissors to do most of the cutting, then use the Xacto knife for the intricate cutting. Don't worry if it's not perfect, because...

Step 4 - Sand the edges of the letters. I use a sanding block, and also an emory board for the tighter spots. 

And there you go! 'Grace'ful letters to go along with the whole collection.

~ Materials Used ~

"Grace" collection from Authentique Paper

"Spun Sugar" and "Victorian Velvet" Distress Inks - Ranger

Glue N Seal - Inkssentials

Going to the dogs...

Today is my turn to join the fabulous Authentique-Canvas Corp. Blog Hop. I'm so excited to share this project with you today, which literally.....went to the dog!

Daisy is my special Saint. She's got the best expressions, and she's such an original. Which means she's perfect for Authentique's "Original Collection".

To create the shadowbox effect, I used the backside of the "Stretched Canvas" and "Stretched Burlap" mini-canvases, and covered the edges with paper and more burlap. 

For the roses, I cut a circle of burlap, and used the pre-made "Canvas Minis" circles. I cut a spiral in each and twirled away. The leaves are cut from more burlap, free-hand.

To create the burlap ruffle, I took 1" wide strips cut from a 12x12 "Burlap Fabricpage" and crunched and glued them around the edge of the canvas back.

~ Products Used ~

"Original" - Authentique Paper

12x12 Burlap Fabricpage

6x6 and 2x2 Stretched Canvas

4x4 Stretched Burlap

Burlap Minis rectangles

Canvas Minis circles

1 Authentic Saint Bernard

Pinspired Haunted Treehouse

Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday. Ghosties, goblins, bat and cats, boney feet and witches hats. Who can resist?? Not me!

Authentique has started a "Pinspired Monday" series, where each designer finds inspiration on Pinterest, and uses it to create a project. So off I went to Pinterest and this is what I found - a haunted house!

Which led me to create...

a haunted treehouse!

The treehouse itself is built with a Configuration cabinet, lined with papers from our Enchanted line. Once the sections are covered in paper and the edges covered with paper tape the real fun begins - creating each scene!

The Apothecary's Shoppe is my favorite. I loved mixing potions and poisons for these tiny bottles.

All of the potion bottles have labels made with stickers from the Enchanted collection.  

I used a combination of different things to fill each one. 

~ Allow 24 hours for the bottles that use Glossy Accent in them to set properly. ~

~ Sand and distress the stickers before adhering them to the bottles for extra creepiness ~ 

~ Rub ink on the corks to make those look older too ~

~ Potion Recipes ~

"Poison"

"Slate" alcohol ink

Glossy Accent

cat litter

~ pour a small amount of Glossy Accent in the bottle and add cat litter. 

~ twist and turn the bottle to mix and coat the inside of the glass

~ add a few drops of alcohol ink

~ twist and turn the bottle to mix

~ set bottle on its side to set, occasionally turning the bottle to remix and smear the sides

"Witch's Brew" 

"Red Pepper" alcohol ink

Glossy Accent

~ pour a small amount of Glossy Accent in the bottle

~ add a few drops of alcohol ink

~ twist and turn the bottle to mix

~ set bottle on its side to set, occasionally turning the bottle to remix and smear the sides

"Eye of Spider"

Black Sparkly Fluff

~ tip a small amount of Sparkly Fluff into the bottle 

"Beware" vapor

"Meadow" alcohol ink

cotton ball

~ add a few drops of alcohol ink

~ twist and turn the bottle to coat the sides of the bottle

~ put a small amount of glue on the inside lip of the bottle

~ attach a small amount of cotton from the cotton ball

~ hold in place and lightly pull to make wisps

~ Products Used ~

Paper - Enchanted - Authentique

Configuration Cabinet - Tim Holtz

Wooden Tree - Kaisercraft

Black acrylic paint

Black embossing powder

Assorted tiny bottles with corks

Bird Cage - Idea-ology

Crows

Skeleton

by the sea

welcome gypsies and happy friday!

today's project features something old, something new, and a little something blue! as the first post for authentique's "earth friendly friday" i am thrilled to have created something coll and new from old stuff!

poor sad cigar box. this was a left-over from my local scrapbook store. they didn't want it anymore and i knew i would be able to do something with it. three years later and i finally am! i used authentique's glory collection for this project because is just screams summer!

i wanted to celebrate summer early, so i created a shadowbox. after cutting a window in the box's cover, i lined the inside and covered the outside.

then i fancy-cut my waves, pennants, lighthouse and friendly shark fin, as well as a beautiful mermaid and pieced them together. some distress ink around the edges adds a little accent and sets the paper layers off nicely

finishing touches are made from lots of sea shells in different sizes, twine and crepe ribbon, and some die-cut spirals cut from an old cardboard box.

finally the feet. i wanted something really unique and beachy, so i went with smooth rocks 

- not from the beach but don't tell.

so an old cigar box, rocks, shells, and some shipping cardboard combine with one of our newest collections into a brand new fabulous something. i hope you are inspired to upcycle something today!