Altered Box {with Eclectica and Vintage stamps by Karen Conner}

Hello! I am Karen from southern Virginia, USA!  Within the past 1-2 yrs I've started altering things. Boxes, clipboards, frames, all sorts of stuff.  I enjoy recycling and the mixed media trend. 

Combining all types of techniques is fun and sometimes you end up with a happy accident! I'm thrilled to be a guest with PaperArtsy. The stamps are really great with the type of projects I do and I found the Fresco paint was unique to use. I hope you'll be inspired by my project today of an altered box. 

I started with a 4x4 box and added 2 coats of gesso. {Alternatively you could use Snowflake for this stage} To add interest and depth, I pulled out some paper die cut hearts, flower, dragonfly and trim and glued them onto the sides and top of the box then applied two more coats of gesso. Allow to dry completely.

Using a paint brush, I painted on Spanish Mulberry first {watered down a little} tapped off some with a paper towel, painted on some rose and tapped off with a paper towel.  To highlight each die cut piece, I used a liner paint brush and more of Spanish Mulberry (no water) around the edges.

I stamped the vine from EDY01 around the bottom edges with black stazon ink, and part of the words stamp from ID07 on the sides with black stazon ink. 

Since we spend so much of our crafting time waiting for paint to dry, I use that time to make my embellishments and choose what items I want to incorporate on my box. I stamped some of the hearts from EDY01 using paint instead of ink, then I fussy-cut them out.  (Secret to fussy cutting-don't move your scissors-move the paper.(This helps to avoid the stop and start lines) 

I then stamped the sentiment "One Penny for your Thoughts" from ID07 onto white cardstock with versa mark. I heat embossed it with white embossing powder. Using a wet paint brush, I brushed some Spanish Mulberry paint over top, and went around the edges with a little more to darken it up a bit. Using a baby wipe, I wiped over the top of the embossed section to clean it off.

Once everything is dry, I started to add my embellishments. I glued lace and a heart trim around the edge of the box adding a fussy cut heart in the middle of the front (hides where the trim starts and ends) 

I layered big and little hearts. Some were glued straight down and some were popped up with dimensionals. I put the sentiment in the middle. Tucked a few flowers in and I am done! This would make a great valentine's keepsake.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your week!  

Karen.

A huge thank you to Karen from PaperArtsy HQ. The use of themed die cuts in the background is a great idea for adding subtle texture. Being one of our newest paint colours; the Spanish Mulberry is a perfect romantic choice. 

If you would like to join in our weekly challenge with any of this week's guests who have blogged since Sunday night, then join in to link up your creativity HERE. You will go in the draw to win PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by 17:00 (London time) Sunday January 26th 2014.