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Thursday 17 January 2013

Boxing Day

Okay, I know it's not really Boxing Day (only 341 sleeps to go, people!)... but it's even better than that.  

It's the start of another brand new, exciting Challenge strand at eclectic Paperie.  It was great to see so many of you taking part in the Altered Challenge, using canvas, and I hope you'll be tempted by this one too.  Each month, as well as the Altered Challenge, there'll be a challenge set by a member of the Design Team, and when I tell you that this inaugural challenge is being hosted by the extraordinary Marjie Kemper of She Who Stamps and Scraps... well, how can you resist?!

The challenge Marjie has set us is to create an Altered Box.  Have a look at the details of what she's after here - and this is one challenge where you can obviously choose to think inside as well as outside the box!!

I wanted to play along, and since my last altered container was a very painty, stampy tin (thank you all so much for your wonderful comments about it, by the way), my first thought here was to go in the opposite direction and work with papers to alter my box.  I'd also been thinking about the Lace challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show, and lo and behold, an idea was born.





I started with a small wooden box (about 5.5 x 3.5 inches) - I think probably a cigarillo box - which has been lying around the house for literally years.  It had the paper advertising wrappers still on it, but I forgot to take a photo before I'd already given it the first coat of gesso.  So here's a quick not-quite-before and after:






Using some of the Fair Skies papers by the Farmhouse Paper Company (available at eclectic Paperie - links at the foot of the post), I cut strip after strip with my Tim Holtz Vintage Lace Decorative Strip Die.


I then spent quite some time laying them out in sequence to get a balance of colours, varying laces and a pleasing overall look.












Regulars will spot that these aren't my usual colours, and you won't be surprised to learn that by this point my brain was already busy planning a neutral, lacy version (see the sneak peek at the end).





I also did some mixing and matching of strips to cover the sides.

All the sticking down was done with Studio Multi Medium in Matte, and I put a couple of coats over the top to give some protection to the lacy edges.












And when I mentioned "thinking inside the box", I wasn't being entirely silly...










... because obviously I had to do something with the inside of the box!











So a couple of the papers get to make more than just lacy appearances, and I picked the dark red so that it would set off the patterns.

I also blended a touch of Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink onto all the edges.









I do like how the different shapes and patterns and colours collide from different angles.

So there's my little trinket box for you... a fairly simple affair - but sometimes it's okay to let the papers speak for themselves, I think.




And of course there's an altogether bigger project (somebody's been smoking some huge cigars!) on its way to you in the next day or so (as soon as I get round to writing the post)... here's the promised sneak peek... so I do hope you'll pop back to check it out (Update: it's done now).

But for now, head over to the eclectic Paperie blog for all the challenge details and lots more inspiration from the DT, not least the fabulous Marjie herself.  

There's another great prize on offer, generously sponsored by Kim of eclectic Paperie, so we'd love you to play along.

We could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, while others bright, some have weird names, but they all have learned to live together in the same box.
Robert Fulghum



Click on the links to go straight there:


33 comments:

Carol Q said...

gorgeous Alison. very effective use of the paper with die cutting.

chrissie said...

What brilliant ideas Alison and I have never seen a box like it before. You are such an inspiration.

Have a lovely day

Best wishes Chrissie xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Wow, you must have been busy with your die cutting machine, and to great effect. Super idea!

brenda said...

I can't begin to imagine how along this lovely altered piece took you Alison, but it's lovely and worth every moment.

B x

Cestina said...

And I love the quote as well!

Inkypinkycraft said...

clever use of the papers, you have been busy die cutting! trace x

craftytrog said...

Great idea Alison...it looks fab! xx

May said...

Fabulous box Alison, Brilliant use of yummy papers & punches.. the colours are perfect together!! Hugs May x x x

Colleen said...

Allison,
This is awesome I love all the colorful die cuts arranged so perfectly. I also saw your peek and the neutrals look very vintage I can't wait to see it finished. I too love your quote at the end.

Paper Profusion said...

This looks utterly gorgeous Alison. Fabulous box and great punches/dies! Nicola x

Nan G said...

Nifty box, Alison! Loving that TH die.

Redanne said...

Hi Alison, it was worth spending the time laying the papers out in sequence to produce such a wonderful result. I would never have thought to cover a box like this - you are such an inspiration. The inside is as beautiful as the outside and your sneak peek makes me want to do this all the more......Hugs, Anne x

Kim said...

Seriously fun, Alison!! That is a whole lotta die cutting girlfiend...Love the affect!

Terry said...

Great altered box, Alison! Love the pattern created with the different paper layers! So much time, but oh so pretty!

Bonnie Irvine said...

This is so different from your usual style, and yet I love it, too. It shows how muli-talented and versatile you are. Both the inside and the outside are a treat to view. Amazing layers and colour mixes.

Sandy said...

You sure do have a keen eye Alison - a born artist. I love the background you used to photograph your trinket box. Fabulous work as usual with great texture and colors.
Sandy

Bärbel said...

So eine Fleißarbeit, Alison, ich muss Sie für die Ausdauer bewundern, so viele Bordüren zu stanzen!

ria gall said...

Wow you put a lot of thought and time into this project and it show. This is beautiful and the colours and texture works so well together.
Ria

Jenny Marples said...

Now of course I've gone backwards on these! What a difference these papers make! So bright and dare I say not turquoise?! Great to see how papers can make such a change to the whole look. Hugs, Jenny x

sam21ski said...

Wow, wow and more wow!!!

Sam xxx

Erin Smetak said...

Oh wow! Love all that die-cutting!!! Awesome selection of papers, too! Fab box!

Marjie Kemper said...

How cool is this?!?!? Love all your layered dies... oh it's a blast seeing all the altered boxes lining up!

Brenda Brown said...

A fabulous mix of colours and such a great idea to use the lace die. I love boxes and this is super.
Hugs Brenda xox

Anonymous said...

Such clever use of the die cutting Alison to add wonderful texture to this box.
Fabulous.
Wishes
Lynne

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Cool, that's another fabulous box.

Donna-Marie said...

So Lacey, it reminds me of fabric...beautiful :-)

Alexandra said...

Lovely, pretty box, so beautifully textured with all those paper layers and inside is gorgeous too. The neutral one looks great too from what you let us see.

Micki said...

Wonderful altered box. I was going for something like that and kept messing up. This is gorgeous, love all the texture from the die cut edgings.

Margaret said...

The layers and layers of beautiful lacy paper are such a wonderful covering for this fabulous altered box! I love that you made the inside as lovely as the outside!

Tracy said...

Gorrrgeous altered box Allison....I am loving the papers you used!!!
hugs
xoxoxoxo

Unknown said...

Hi Alison :) It's really strange because I could have sworn I had left a comment on this post. It really caught my eye when I first saw it - love what you have done with the rows of punched paper strips, what a neat idea this is and it really takes your project to that next level. Amazing creativity.

Tenia Nelson said...

Very very cool!!

Kathy/NorthCarolina said...

what a transformation! I love the way you layered all those paper borders.