Saturday 30 April 2016

Altered Cigar Box

There is a relatively new and fabulous challenge blog called Creative Carte Blanche and I have entered for the first time with my altered cigar box.  It is the first box I have altered and everything went wrong but I got there in the end!  The post is a bit photo heavy of the finished box but I only took one of the process, sorry!

Here is the finished box, I took the photo's outside as the indoor ones were terrible.  These are not brilliant but hopefully you get the idea!


I should have taken a photo of the box as it started.  It was wooden with stickers on it. First I painted the whole box inside and out with Gesso.  My idea was to paint it in several different colours of paint then add stencilling, texture paste etc. but I had a mishap! I put some lilac and green paint on a tile then went to add the Picked Raspberry Distress Paint but when I took the lid off and tipped it up, I forgot it was more liquid than the other make of paint I was using and emptied most of the pot everywhere!  Luckily I was working on a tan mat.  The only thing to do was paint the whole box pink with cut and dry foam to use it up.


Then I had a pink box inside and out and no clue what to do with it!  I shut the door on my craft room and left it till the next day.

So!  To continue!  I still didn't know what to do so went through all my patterned paper to see if any inspiration came - none!  Shut the door and sulked!   Went back later and looked again and found a very old set of papers designed by Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen and found two patterns that went together really well and included a gorgeous bird and flower image with a matching pink! Yahoo!  Cut all the pieces to fit leaving a border of the lovely pink (which I was happy with now)  and adhered with matt Modge Podge.  There were a couple of bubbles when it was dry, another lesson learned but nothing I could do!  The frame on the front is a cardboard frame from my stash which I painted to match and glued to the front then added beads in the corners and a couple of Tim Holtz Chit Chat Stickers.  Also added beads to the corners of the lid and to the centres of the flowers and the birds eye.  Then added the gorgeous butterflies to the sides, my lovely friend Anne sent them to me the other day and they are perfect!

Next I was going to Modge Podge over again but decided to go with Crafter's Companion Spray and Shine.  Now bear in mind, my head was addled and I was pretty exhausted by now (CFS/ME only lets me play for so long) and I should have stopped, but no!  I decided to carry on with the spraying! Didn't read the can, just went for it, the sides and the inside (thank goodness left the top).  Shut the craft room door and left it.  Next day went to check and nooooooooooo!  Some was shiny, some not and the front especially was covered with rough textured patches of nastiness!  Big trauma!  Box ruined!  Hubby looked and said nothing would fix it and read the can!  I had sprayed too much and too close - silly me!  I did the top, following the instructions, perfect!  The sides and the back were not too bad but the front was terrible! I nearly threw it in the bin! I could'nt think of anything to do!  Then I thought 'beads' - so I covered the front with beads! Yay! rescued and luckily I like the effect!

I am pleased with how it has turned out in the end but what a learning curve!

Here are some more pictures:







I am entering this into the challenge over at Creative Carte Blanche - April Adventure, Think Outside the Box!

Please pop over and look at all the other awesome boxes!

Thank you so much for visiting me, I really appreciate it!  Have a wonderful weekend and take care.
Luv Chris xxx

16 comments:

CastleKelly Crafts said...

Well done Chris, it would have been sooo easy to have shut the door and not gone back! You've transformed this into a really lovely box and it's beautifully lined inside X

Barb said...

Well your patience paid off Chris. Your altered box looks beautiful and I love the colours. The embellishments look super. Sorry you spilt your paint - we've all done it. Good luck with the challenge. Barbxx

chrissie said...

A wonderful box to keep treasure in

Love Chrissie xx

Sue said...

Fabulous box Chris and so glad you finished it! huggles Sue xx

Redanne said...

I would say that those little traumas were very happy accidents Chris because your box is totally stunning! The papers are gorgeous, the pink is wonderful and the beads and butterflies are such lovely additions. Well done Chris on your wonderful achievement, I love it (thanks for the shout out too!!). Big hugs lovely lady, Anne xx

Lynne Moncrieff said...

This is absolutely stunning! So very pretty with the addition of the beads and who doesn't love butterflies!
Wishes
Lynne

Jester said...

I'm glad you didn't throw it out, Chris. It looks stunning and I just love the beads - they lend some sparkle and texture. A happy mistake! Jx

Sarn said...

I think it turned out GREAT. I bet you get the altering bug now Chris!
Hugs, Sarn xxx

alexandra s.m. said...

Beautiful job Christine!
Your box looks beautiful!

Liz McGuire, said...

Oh my, this is fabulous. Love all those little beads. You have made something to treasure.

Liz x

Sharon Fritchman said...

WOW, Chris! This is absolutely amazing! I love your beautiful and pretty altered box! The colors are gorgeous. Thank you so much for showing us how you made it, too!!!!!

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

wise move to shut the door and come back again we need to do this when a brick wall appears, but such a great rescue Chris, it is really a wonderful transformation.
Thanks so much for the inspiration.
Shaz in Oz.x

{Shaz in Oz – Calligraphy Cards}

Anita in France said...

Your persistence paid off, Chris ... what a fabulous box! Such a lovely colour palette ... and those beads are brilliant ... so pretty and positively touchable! Hugs, Anita :

Darnell said...

The best part was the sulking, Chris, lol!! We can ALL relate to that part!! I'm so glad you didn't let the box get the best of you because it ended up just gorgeous!! It's a winner in my book!! Hugs, Darnell

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I shouldn't laugh at all your misfortunes but I must confess that I did. That's because you have portrayed perfectly why I don't try to alter things. If anything could go wrong it will with me. You missed the part about a meteor hitting the house though! However, you persevered and came out with a lovely pink and beaded box in the end. That paper has the perfect pink for it! Wowzah!

Karen Petitt said...

I love the papers, the colours, everything and using the beads to embellish like that is inspired Chris - a nugget for me to remember Karen xx