Thursday, December 18, 2014

Celebrate with Shiny Brights

I was thrilled to be asked to be a guest Creative Guide over at A Vintage Journey this fortnight, with the challenge "Let's Celebrate".  The idea at A Vintage Journey is to create  projects with a heavy Tim Holtz influence which the Creative Guides have polished to perfection.

(Warning:   this is a long, photo heavy post, and there are many white lines and other ghosties in my photos from the reflection off the "glass" in the frame--they are not on my project!.)

  I've been a huge fan of Mr. Holtz for a couple of years, and have been admiring the many Configurations projects on his blog. I've hoarded a few boxes, but just never got up the courage to put one together (commitment phobe).  This challenge has given me the creative push I needed.  When I think of Christmas and Tim, I always think of Shiny Bright ornaments. I share a love of these fragile, colorful glass ornaments with him, and have collected quite a few over the years.. I chose to make my project for my guest spot using a few of my ornaments and one of Tim's Configurations boxes.


I wanted to make a wall hanging which I could display year round, so I chose to give the exterior of my box  a wood grain look. My thought is to be able to remove the cover and use it to display other Configurations collections with an quick change.  To achieve the  framed look, I die cut thick chipboard using Tim's On the Edge die and attached one top and bottom. I gave everything a coat of gesso--both large and small pieces.  For the faux wood finish, I used  Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain and Weathered Wood Distress Paint, followed by Rock Candy Crackle Paint and another wiped on coat of the same paints. In person, this has the look of old barn siding.  Just the look I was going for in the area of my home where it will be displayed.



I added the Idea-ology word plate and key hole after applying Antique Linen Distress paint, allowing it to set up, then wiping off the majority of the paint for a nice antiqued finish.

Now for the interior.  What fun!  This is much more tedious than I ever imagined it would be, but I am a perfectionist and there was a LOT of measuring twice, cutting once.  I chose to use just 3 of the 9 little boxes (I LOVE boxes!) for this project.  Each of the boxes is lined with paper from Tim's Seasonal 8 x 8 paper stash, which is the perfect size for these little "rooms".  I chose the Shiny Bright ornament (of course!)  and the catalog pages and aged them slightly with Distress ink. Most of it is covered by the ornaments, but I tried to get a "before" photo of the boxes in the following photos.  I just love the graphics on this paper!  I painted the edges of the boxes using the same paints mentioned above.


There's my bell!  You can hear it if you BELIEVE!


I attached an Idea-ology ring fastener to the bottom of one box to hang a vintage bell, and once my background paper was in place and the exterior of the boxes papered, I glued the three boxes in place.

For my background paper, I chose to use photocopies of some vintage Post Cereal Promotional pop out and assemble Christmas ornaments.  I picked up these great little folders at an estate sale this summer.  One side is printed with the sweetest Santa, angel, tree and other ornaments you pop out and assemble into  3D paper ornaments, and the other is this graphics you see here (You can see the lines of the perforations if you look closely).  I gave the photocopies just a little distressing with Distress inks to tone down the brightness. I think the paper is just a perfect compliment to my ornaments. I also papered the sides and top surfaces of my little boxes with this paper taking extra care to cut the papers so the images would appear continuous as they would on the original paper.  I didn't get it right every time--not such a perfectionist, after all!  The ceiling of the large box and the little boxes and undersides of the little boxes were inked with Vintage Photo.

I glued on some Idea-ology Mirrored Stars which I colored using alcohol inks.  One star was placed so that it would appear to be the star on top of my vintage tree. (I did not want to actually attach anything to any of the ornaments.)

These are vintage deer; they just don't build them like they used to!



I made several embellishments using Tim's dies, which I will list at the end of this post.  For the poinsettia, I embossed  with Tim's Poinsettia Texture Fade, inked with Distress Inks and glittered with Diamond Dust  The center is Platinum Stickles. This is my favorite Christmas die.


 The pine cone and foliage glistening with Rock Candy Distress Glitter.


Same with the holly leaves and berries from my stash. I think the glue was still wet when I snapped this photo.


 Snowflakes cut from acetate waste packaging and glittered as above.  Adhered  to acetate window with removable glue dots.


I filled an Idea-ology vial with mercury glass beads, tied up with string given as part of my little gift with my most recent Funkie Junkie order. (Thank you, Linda; it was just what I needed!) An Idea-ology metal word tag altered with a little Antique Linen Distress paint.


One last embellishment is an Idea-ology game piece aged  with a little Distress ink.



All that's left to do is to decide which ornaments I want to put in and decorate! (which is what I have to do in my home now, too!)  I installed all the ornaments with removable glue dots, so I could remove and replace them with other favorites.  I can also remove and store my precious vintage ornaments and store them in their original Shiny bright boxes for safe keeping.








A piece of my vintage jewelry found it's way in!

I hope you've enjoyed my little ornament display box as much as I've enjoyed making it.  You'll notice it is sitting on a shelf.  I still have not found an ideal hanging system for this.  If you have any suggestions, please let me know.  The folks over at the frame department in Hobby Lobby could offer no advice.


Dies used:  Tattered Pinecone and Poinsettia dies, Festive Greenery Decorative Strip, Snowflake Movers and Shapers and Brackets On the Edge dies.
Texture Fade: Tattered Poinsettia

Thank you for visiting my blog today and for your lovely, heart warming comments you leave!

I would like to enter this into the following inspiring Christmas Challenges:

Country View Challenges December's Festive Challenge "Nostalgic Christmas"

Inspiration Journal "Sing, Sing It Loud!" (My bell!  Can you hear it???  Only if you believe!)

The Mirror Cracked #4 Recycle/Upcycle or a Christmas Gift (I've recycled waste plastic packaging for my snowflakes, an old earring (only had one of a pair) for my Santa ornament, chipboard from the back of a paper pad to make the top and bottom "frame", and berries from an old wreath for my holly berries)

Crafting For All Seasons #92 "Anything Christmas BUT a Card"

20 comments:

  1. Sara, I had no idea you were such a crafting ROCK STAR! This is absolutely beautiful. Now that i found your blog, I cant wait to see what else you post.

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  2. Wow! Niether did I! So kind of you to visit my blog and leave you day-making comment. I tried looking for your blog to visit, but I'm afraid I'm hitting a dead end--can't find your blog. I hope you'll be back to visit and that you'll leave me a way to visit you!

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  3. Did you hear my squeals of delight? Ooooh, I love, love, love this! It's so much more than an altered art piece...it's a time machine, transporting me back to the magical Christmasses of my childhood. I remember standing in front of my grandmother's tree, filled with wonder and excitement over the gorgeous ornaments that adorned it. And yes, they were shiny brites....Thank you for that trip to a happy place in my life! The details you build into your projects are always the thing that grab me and pull me in. That poinsettia! Whoa! The way you altered this box to make it look like a vintage curio cabinet! The artful arrangement of all the vintage treasures within....every bit delightful and magical and wonderful. You truly are one of my favorite artists! Merry Christmas!

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    1. Kathy, I think I did hear them! I'm so happy you had those images when you had a look at my Shiny Brights! Just the response I would have wanted from one viewing this. I love you have given my piece the status of a vintage curio cabinet! Yes, you are right, with that ornate top--we used to have one like that sitting exactly in the place I am sitting right now. My husband thought we had one too many, so away it went.

      Thank you so much for your very generous praise! You have just made my month, and possibly my whole year with your words! Warm Christmas-y hugs to you!

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  4. Sara, this is a stunning creation! Thanks so much for sharing the close-up photos, your little vintage ornaments are wonderful and I love your treatment of the frame! Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Inspiration Journal. Anne x

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    1. Anne, This is such a wonderful compliment from you! Thanks for the frame reference--I love painting and was happy I was able to achieve the look I was going for. I so enjoy looking at my shiny treasures! Hugs!

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  5. This is beautiful Sara! I LOVE vintage glass ornaments and have quite a collection myself. i just finished a Christmas Config box too. =) They are wonderful.

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    1. Thank you, Lisa! I had a lovely visit to your blog to check out you Configurations, and I have to say to everyone here--do NOT miss this blog post! Lisa, your display is stunning!

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  6. I love this kind of display, the box works so well with all the little vintage ornaments which would otherwise be hidden away. Thanks for sharing this with us at The Mirror Crack'd and happy crafting, Angela R. x

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    1. Thank you, Angela! You always say such nice things! I'm happy you like my display! Really enjoying the Mirror Cracked!

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  7. I love that layered painty finish you've created on the outside, and the inside is so full of treats. What a wonderful way to display those fragile ornaments and really let them take centre-stage. Fabulous! Thanks so much for playing along with us at Country View Challenges.
    Alison xx

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    1. Thank you, Alison, for your very generous praise! So happy to be able to play along again at Country View Challenges! Hugs!

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  8. Wow Sara, you have knocked it out of the park once again! What an absolutely amazing project! I just love all of the ornaments, and your tree and those tiny reindeer and of course that fabulous poinsettia! That's my favourite Christmas die too! This will look gorgeous hanging on the wall, what an amazing Christmas decor piece!

    Regarding how to hang it. There are a couple of ideas on this website here...
    http://www.visualvoicecollections.com/2012/12/14/hardware-guide/

    A big Merry Christmas to you filled with love and laughter my dear friend! :)

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    1. Pamellia, you always make me smile with your sweet comments! Yes, that poinsettia die gets a lot of use! And I know it does on your cards, too! Thank you for the link on the hanging hardware; I will be sure to check it out! And thank you for your Christmas greetings, my friend! A BIG Christmas hug to you!!!

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  9. Sara, this is absolutely a Christmas treasure. Love the vintage goodness and all the wonderful elements! So thrilled you could join us at AVJ and share your beautiful configurations box for all to see. Merry Christmas!

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    1. Terry, what a delightful thing to say! I'm so happy you like my little cabinet and to be able to make it especially for A Vintage Journey's Let's Celebrate Guest Designer spot! What a thrill it was to be a Guest Designer for AVJ, and what fun this was to make! Merry Christmas to you, too!

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  10. Hello Sara,
    Your little or not so little creation is wonderful, you have collected all your little treasures and given them a place to delight all who are lucky enough to see it in real life. I believe you when you say you enjoyed creating this, you must have felt very pleased with yourself, and so you should as it is a fabulous piece of work.
    All the mixed media elements create interest in the project and one so wants to touch and react on each area.
    Thank you so much for joining us at TMC this month.
    Smiles:)
    Sue (Dt)

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    1. Wow, Sue!!! What a generous compliment you have paid me! I'm so happy you can feel the enjoyment I had in creating this! That's what it's really all about! I'm particularly pleased to be able to walk by this and enjoy my little ornaments everyday this Christmas season! What a pleasure it was to link up to The Mirror Cracked this month! Merry Christmas!

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  11. Totally stunning. I love everything about this. The way you have arranged the bits inside is inspired xx
    hugs from me and I have saved this for my daughter Zoe to look at after school. We have already started on our next box/shelves so we will keep you posted xx

    hugs
    Sandie
    http://fairytaledaydream.blogspot.co.uk/

    I have started to follow your crafty journey and would love it if you would follow us too xxx

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    1. Thank you, Sandie! What a nice thing to say, and thank you for following! Now I've just got to get back to work! It's been a while! I'll check back with you and add my name to the followers list!

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Thank you for leaving your comments...they mean so much to me.