2015 #16 Circular Boxes {by Julie Ann Lee}

 2015 Topic 16: Circles

Hi everyone! Julie Ann from Magpieheaven here, joining you this evening with a post about decorating an inexpensive box, using Fresco Finish Paints, Waxed Tissue, Satin Glaze and a little Smoothy Card! Tonight my project has had me going around in circles, but not in a bad way! The circle is such an beautiful shape, even when it comes in the form of ridiculously cheap little boxes from 'The Works'! This project took just a few hours to complete and turns a humble item into something that would happily house a precious gift!

Step One: I began by taking a strip of masking tape and fixing it around the edge of  my box. These boxes are a very snug fit and quite delicate, so I've found it's best not to add too many layers of paint: if you do, the lid will be just too tight! I painted over the whole of the box with Vanilla Fresco so that when I removed the tape only the lower part would be covered. I really like the neutral tone of the box appearing between the tissue I've added later, as it has a vintage look.

Step Two: Rather than discard the tape, I stuck it to my craft mat and decorated it with some stencilling through sequin waste using London Bus and Chalk Frescos. 

I then stamped over this without an acrylic block with the beautiful text from HP1505 in Wendy Vecchi Potting Soil Archival .

Step Three: You can see my tape in the middle here. I also painted some Damask tissue on the reverse side with a wash of Nougat then dipped a juice lid into little puddles of Chalk and London Bus Frescos and used it for mark-making on the tissue, before stamping on the poppy heads and text from HP1505. Finally I painted a piece of Smoothy Card with Sherbet and London Bus Frescos and then stamped the poppy from HP1505 onto it in Squid Ink, clear embossing for greater definition.

Step Four: Now it was time to transform this little box! I tore the tissue, attaching it with Satin Glaze randomly. When the first top coat was dry, I edged the box with a little more of the Potting Soil on a piece of Cut 'n Dry Foam and stamped some more of the text in the spaces, before applying another coat of Satin Glaze. A swipe of Classic Treasure Gold completed this half of the project.

Step Five: I added a few last tissue scraps to the lid and then fashioned the 3D poppy. You can see I really did take photos as I went along, as the Glaze hasn't dried in this one!  First I painted the back of my card with Squid Ink Fresco Paint and then cut my stamped images into sections of differing sizes, which I sprayed with a little water before curling them around a pencil. It was then a matter of waiting until they were dry, adding some Treasure Gold to the back and then forming my poppy carefully; sculpting and sticking the petals into place with Glossy Accents. The centre is a tiny pearl painted with Squid Ink with a little Indigo Treasure Gold added.

It took very little time to create a special circle gift box out of an object that cost less than a pound! These stamps are so incredibly versatile that they work equally well whether you use them for 3D projects, canvases or journals. I reach for the Fresco paints so often now that I don't use ink pads nearly so much: I find I can achieve a coordinated project far more easily. And the waxed tissue is a great solution if you need to stamp on a curved surface!

I do hope you will try 'going round in circles' on a project of your own that features circles in some way and link up with the PaperArtsy Circle Challenge. 

Meanwhile, I am Julie Ann (@woletz1) of Magpieheaven, hoping that you continue to have a lovely creative Summer.

What a fun idea Julie Ann! I can really see that a stash of these made now to use for small Christmas Gifts later in the year could be a really good strategy! Love your colour scheme too! Love how the damask tissue pattern is just visible in the BG, adds an interesting detail! Thanks again for such a lovely project, I know how busy you are juggling a lot of late, we really appreciate it ~Leandra

Did you know that you can play along with us on the PaperArtsy blog to share and explore with us how you interpret the current theme: Circles. If you are inspired by any of our contributors on the blog this fortnight, then please join in and link up your creativity HERE.

All links go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Circles challenge link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, Sept 6th, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.