Sunday 25 November 2012

Anything But A Card Challenge #7: From The Seaside OR Picture Inspiration

A new challenge goes live today at Anything But A Card. The theme for this fortnight is the seaside or you can take inspiration from this picture:



For my DT piece, I chose to use the seaside theme but it was a close call because I think the picture is wonderful and it conjures up all kinds of inspiration.

We'd love to see your creative pieces over at Anything But A Card. Why not pop over and see what the other designers have come up with? I can promise you an amazing mix of styles and makes on offer and they are bound to spark those creative ideas.

I'm also going to enter my box at Artful Times. It's a lovely, friendly blog and they have some wonderful themes. Their theme this fortnight is anything goes - a real favourite with me! Von and Neet always leave such wonderfully encouraging comments and many of the other entrants will visit you too. Do go on over and have a look - you won't be disappointed!

So, onto what I made this time. In the summer, I picked up a rather sorry looking wooden cigar box of the cheap and cheerful variety and decided to give it a makeover:
As usual, I forgot to take a 'before' picture and only remembered when I'd moved to the inside with my gesso!
The inside of the lid was covered rapidly!

The completed box with stamped images and two step crackle finish. I tried to clean the catch up but couldn't do so without scratching off the gilt - I'll have to think about that for a little longer!
The images on the lid were stamped onto card coloured with water soluble wax crayons and embossed with aged teal enamel. Once cut out, a coat of glossy accents was applied before gluing the pieces into position. 
The inside was finished with two card panels. Each panel was coloured with water soluble crayons, stamped and embossed and two step crackle applied.
The narrow rim around the lid and base was coloured with gold paste and buffed to a shine.
Acrylic paint was rubbed over all the crackled areas and the excess removed with a baby wipe.
In this close up you can see the gorgeous tones in the teal enamel. Teal powder with gold and silver chunky crystals make this a real favourite of mine.
The stamping on the sides was applied straight to the box and the same embossing enamel was used. The stamp was a freebie from CS which I used to represent waves - hopefully you get the idea I aimed for!
Final photo so well done for getting to this point! This shows the wonderful crackle which I think looks like crazed porcelain. This crackle method really needs the final addition of the acrylic paint to make it work.

Thanks so much for looking at my box. Please leave a comment if you like it or you have any constructive criticism - all comments are gratefully received!

Why not pop over  now to Anything But A Card, have a look at the rest of the DT's pieces and start planning your entry. Remember: you can make anything, as long as it's NOT a card!

29 comments:

  1. That two -tep crackle finish is divine! You are right, it looks just like aged porcelain. Love your teal embellishments too. They provide a perfect contrast. You really are on a roll with these superb projects! Hugs, Buttons x

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  2. Beautiful box and great techniques you have used on it.

    Love Chrissie xx

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  3. Wauwwwwwwwwwwww Julia this is really a very beautiful box.
    Love the technique you used and also the enbellisements are great.
    Hugs Janny

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  4. Adore your box Julia and the crackle WOW !you have cracked it, pardon the pun lol
    Thank you for sharing with us at Artful Times
    Von ♥

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  5. What a fabulous box! The crackle finish is a great way to change the look of it. I love what you have done with the acrylic paint and enamelling. Beautiful. Cheers, Di.

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  6. Ohh this is gorgeous! It does look like porcelain. Such a great crackle finish too! And that enamel is amazing. Love this project- what a treasure you created!

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  7. Oh Wow Julia! This is a masterpiece. I absolutely adore seahorses so this is right up my street, the stamping on the lid is fabulous, love the colours you have used, the crackling is amazing and really does look like porcelain. I just love, love, love it! Hugs, Anne x

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  8. The crackle effect and the wonderful techniques you have used look great, I am always inspired by your fabulous projects.

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  9. WOW Julia what a gorgeous box you created. Love the crackle and images, beautiful together. Happy Sunday, Shirleyx

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  10. Stunning!!that crackle is drool worthy!!! I love it !! Not much more to say but I have crackle envy!!! Trace x

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  11. An incredible transformation Julia and I positively love your crackle, it has such texture and density to the actual cracks, not always the case with crackle medium.
    Quite stunning.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  12. Beautiful as always Julia, ooks stunning, Has given me some ideas for when I tackle one of my boxes. The images work really well with the colours you have chosen, Love it

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  13. an absolut stunning box. Altered art in its best way :-)
    The crackle and the images are very well together. And I love also the color you have choosen.

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  14. Absolutely stunning transformation, Julia! The crackle effect is extraordinary - with a glaze just like ancient porcelain. Beautiful seahorses too...
    Alison xx

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  15. Your box is absolutely FABULOUS, WOOWWW... Even if I have not too much time these days, Can't see it without leaving a message ! Have a fab week. Coco x

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  16. Wow is it #7 already? Great make, absolutely fantastic crackle.

    Sam xxx

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  17. You altered that simple sigarbox into a classy box Julia! What a gorgeous effect, the paint with the crackles. The nice simple stamps so gorgeous with the powder and the glossy accents...
    Lovely!

    hugsss, Alie :-)

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  18. Your box now Julia is truly a wondrous treasure.The look you achieved with the crackle and the embossing all adds up to textures that are beautiful. A wonderful keepsake piece.

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  19. A wonderful altered box, perfect for some treasures.

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  20. Gorgeous box, what a transformation! I love seahorses so it is extra gorgeous to me. BJ

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  21. A fabulous box Julia - great crackle.
    xxx Hazel.

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  22. Thank you for the advert Julia, and the kind words re our blog challenges.
    Your box. Well, what can one say? It is beyond fabulous. Love it, inside and out it is a joy to behold. I do love the images on the top of the box. Would a Krylon pen be any good to go over the catch?
    WOW!
    Hugs and thanks for a super submission for Artful Times, Neet xx

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  23. Julia, this is amazing! Your crackle glaze is just super and the seahorse images just divine. A stunning piece of work.

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  24. You're a real artist, Julia. This box (don't even recognize it from its former self!) looks like aged ivory! Wow! And, ahem, here's another item that needs to go into that proverbial shop where your things should be sold. :)

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  25. The enamel on this is so professional looking, just amazing! What a fabulous keepsake box! WOW!

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  26. Hi Julia, Wow this is stunningly gorgeous I just love how you have altered this box.
    Hugs Sandra XXX

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  27. What a fabulous creation Julia. I love it. Hugs Rita xx

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  28. Words fail me for this one, Julia ... it's just too .... too ... everything superlative.
    Hugs, Suzanne xxx

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Juliax