Saturday 13 October 2018

2018 #17 Colour - A Box of Eggs: An Actual Box of Eggs! with ECF/HP {by Alison Bomber}

 2018 Topic 17: A Box of Eggs (Colour Topic)


This is the perfect end to a great topic! Trick eggs!! With Halloween coming...I'm sure you could have some fun with this idea!  But how pretty do they look! Alison would no doubt do a great job marketing egg packaging ! ~ Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Alison with you today from Words and Pictures with a very literal but quirky take on the theme.  As soon as I read the topic title, the only thing my brain would consider was an actual box of eggs... and I've found it's better to yield to my imagination when it get holds of something, rather than to try and fight it.  So here are two boxes of eggs for you, created with some of Courtney's gorgeous new Fresco Finish Chalk Paint colours.  They've made their way straight into my top 20 Fresco colours, no question!


Originally, I'd considered using real eggs (blowing out the centres and decorating the eggshells), but then I decided they'd be too fragile, so I sourced some plastic eggs to play with and gave them a couple of coats of gesso to start with.  (By the way, somebody ought to tell the egg-makers that almost nobody wants to buy eggs in packets of five - whose idea was that?!)


I then had a lovely time layering up the palest of Courtney's new colours, using a natural sponge to apply them.




Some are pure Seaglass (oh happy day, what a glorious colour!), some are pure Eggshell (but of course)...


... but most have at least two if not three colours sponged delicately over them to create the natural colour variation you find in eggs.


Surf's Up worked beautifully to add a touch of "duck egg blue" to both the Seaglass and the Eggshell versions, and Koala was perfect for adding a slightly darker shadowing to some of the eggs.


I then used an old toothbrush to flick some Taupe onto the eggs for that mottled, speckled look.


I love how this brings them zinging to life.  As you know, I love my spatter, and I'll admit I got a little carried away here!  You should have seen the craft mat by the time I'd finished.  I had thought of adding some extra texture using stamps at this point, but I decided I preferred my eggs au naturel.


However, eggs need eggboxes, right? So the crackled stamp from Eclectica³ Courtney Franich 03 which I'd thought of using on the eggs (cracks on an egg... an irresistible connection) made its way onto the eggboxes instead.


The half-dozen box is just a regular eggbox, and the little four-way one was from some chocolate eggs last Easter.  I hung onto it because... well, you know why... and here it is.  (I must be the only person ever to have been okay with the plastic eggs arriving in bags of five - it's simply the wrong number for eggs!)


I created the labels with stamps from the new Hot Picks 1801 set.


I used the original labels as templates to cut my card and sponged on some more of the Eggshell and Seaglass paints.  I also used the Eggshell to liven up the cardboard boxes themselves.


The cockerel was perfect for a box of eggs, so he was a simple choice.  I added some extra text around him and the word stickers tell you all you need to know about this particular creative process.


For the other label, I indulged in a little bit of alteration.  The poppy seed head...


... became an egg, with the help of a little paint and penwork.  Okay, it's not perfect, but then imperfection is to be embraced, no?


And I love the added imperfection of Courtney's great cracks and crannies stamp all over the eggboxes.


I used Hickory Smoke Archival, so they're fairly subtle, but they add just the right extra interest to the background, I think.


So there you have it... some of Courtney's new Box of Eggs colours used to create an actual box (or two) of eggs.  I know we're a long way from Easter, and at first I was a little concerned at how my mind was fixated on these eggs.  But as I was playing, I found that my mind knew exactly what it was doing.


There are all sorts of big plans being put into action just now for me, new ventures and possibilities opening up... some of them still very much in the shell, but some of them with definite signs of hatching.  So sometimes you do just have to "trust your crazy ideas", and you find that maybe they're not so crazy after all.



Having said that, how perfect will these colours be for home decor projects come the spring and Eastertide?  And in the meantime, they're a fabulous addition to the Fresco Finish Chalk Paint range for all sorts of neutral, pastel, gentle projects.  You'll definitely be seeing them in action round my way a lot.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you had as much fun as I did.
Alison x

Pinterest: butterfly crafter
 
To join our challenge and win a PaperArtsy £50 gift voucher:
Simply make something arty relevant to the topic, and link your creation from any social URL (eg. Instagram, Pinterest, Blog Post etc) sharing your original make to this challenge page.

The current topic link Topic 17: A Box of Eggs (colour topic) will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, October 14th 2018, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.


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29 comments:

geezercrafter said...

Fab project Alison, really like the crack stamping on the boxes, and of course your altered seed head.

Corrie Herriman said...

Fantastic and fun ! xxx

Craftyfield said...

I can't blame Alison for being literal with the theme, I haven't come up with anything, a complete dearth of imagination although I love these colours! Alison's eggs and boxes are lovely though, rather real looking, bluer-than-nature egg colour excepted!

Redanne said...

The eggs are so beautiful Alison and I love the way you decorated the boxes, the crackles look wonderful and the box labels are beautiful. Two beautiful boxes! xx

Miriam said...

wow - stunning! They actually look so realistic!

Nikki Acton said...

Wonderful idea, beautifully created xx

Mac Mable said...

Fun project and so creative. Loving the new paint colours and a fun idea with the wrapping and the crackle stamp. Fabulous inspiration, thank you x.

Helen said...

this project could have been made for you, Alison! I love your eggs, and the egg boxes as well. (I kept my 4-egg box too!)

cocoya said...

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D2bet

craftytrog said...

Absolutely brilliant Alison! The texture and colours you created on those eggs are perfect, and I love the boxes!

Jane said...

Oh this is fab Alison, I too could only think literally when I saw this topic and you have made such a brilliant take on it xx

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is brilliant, Alison, love how your mind works! Such a great project for Courtney's new colours,

Lucy x

Ruth said...

The eggs look so realistic, I cannot believe they are made of plastic, brilliantly transformed! The egg boxes are a perfect match, great showcase for the stamps...this is such a beautiful project xxx

froebelsternchen said...

This is fantastic Alison! Your plastic eggs look so real! Wonderful made!

Marci said...

Lovely eggs and so clever with the stamps on the boxes.

Brenda Brown said...

A fabulous project Alison, I love the shabby eggs and delightful boxes xxx

Dorthe said...

Gorgeous in every way, I love your boxes , too, and the beautiful eggs, so natural looking with the created speckles , in the lovely tones.
Always something special from you, dear Alison.
Dorthe xoxo

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Such a clever idea, love the delicacy and the perfect stamping. Tracy ❤️❤️

Anneke said...

A fabulous project, wow!

Neet said...

Those are beautiful and I now want my kitchen repainting in those colours so that I can have some of those eggs on display. A fab project Alison. Love it!
Hugs, Neet xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Reading this in Australia, where it is Spring right now, this feels right on topic... Both the eggs and the boxes look fantastic, and fabulous new colours!!!

Lauren Hatwell said...

Gorgeous and so much fun! Lx

Jennie Atkinson said...

So creative Alison! I just love the beautiful eggs and their boxes too x

Lys said...

Both the eggs and the box are beautiful! I love the textures and the soft colours of the eggs: spring in autumn: a brilliant idea!

Roosterhead Designs said...

Such a great look you have created here!
And thank you for all the 'step by step.' <3
Loving the mottled natural feel; rustic and farmhouse-
but ever so soft with the Great colors!!
Covering packaging is something I love to do and so it is very
inspiring~ Again, such a great look! Thank you for sharing~ karen o

Jackie PN said...

OMGosh! How lovely it would be to open the fridge each morning to see this gorgeous designer box of eggs!
Alison just brought new heights to everyday food product containers!
I adore the new colors- have to go shopping I guess! heehe

Sandy said...

You always amaze me Alison - those eggs look real!!!! And of course your egg boxes are treasures!
Sandy xx

Cocofolies said...

A really lovely project, Alison!!
Your eggs are so realistic, and the new stamps and paints by Courtney are beautiful. Love you use of them here. Hugs, Corinne xx

Paper Profusion said...

Absolutely fantastic project Alison!! Cracking stuff! (Sorry). You are incredibly adept at producing beautifully subtle and delicate effects. Nicola x