Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Vintage Match Box Ornaments

I have been working on these little match box ornaments a little at a time while I was working on a few other projects. Just to clarify, these are made with real matchboxes--I have many match sticks left over, if anyone needs some!


To start I opened up the cover of each matchbox and unfolded into one flat rectangle.  I used Tim Holtz' Movers and Shapers dies to cut the postage stamp and bottle cap openings.  I used a Stampin' Up punch for the oval.  

Next I gave both the covers and the drawers of the match boxes a coat of gesso. Once dry I painted the oval cover entirely with Brushed Pewter Distress Paint and just the front of the postage stamp cover with Tarnished Brass DP.  Allowed both to dry.  

The bottle cap cover front only was inked with Vintage Photo.  I gave the front a coat of Multi Medium and a dusting of sparkly glitter and Rock Candy Distress Glitter medly.



I applied Platinum Stickles to the front  of postage stamp cover and set that aside to dry.



  I heat embossed the entire cover of the oval with Rangers Embossing Tinsel.  



I photocopied vintage music that seemed to be sized just right for these tiny ornaments, distressed it with Distress ink and glued this onto the 3 sides of the 2 remaining box covers and both ends of each drawer.


I chose 3 bird themed Christmas images from my stash of ephemera.  The Santa with bluebird and the 3 birds with a holiday bell came from a collage sheet I purchased at 32 Degrees North a few years ago, but I don't know who the maker is.  The four finches with holly came from an ATC Collection paper pad from Memories in the Making.  I cut a copy of each and glued it into the drawer bottom. From additional copies, I fussy cut the birds, sentiments, and holly for the oval and bottle cap boxes and layered them in with layers of dimensional foam adhesive.  The Santa with bluebird was a single image which I brought to the front of the drawer with a couple of layers of foam adhesive.  






I punched holes in the tops and bottoms of each drawer and in two of the tops I used an Idea-ology thingy to hold an ornament hook. and in the third I used a piece of twine to hang my hook on. (I just thought it was more fitting for this one:))  I glued on little color coordinated jingle bells on each drawer bottom inserting the raised loop at the top of the bell into the hole for extra hold. I covered the prongs of the brads with tissue tape on the inside of the drawer to give it a more finished look.

To finish, I added the fussy cut holly and Christmas Greeting to the front of two of my boxes.

These will be sweet little additions to my Christmas tree and will look extra sparkly with lights around them...that is, if I ever get the lights on the tree!  I was influenced by Tim Holtz' vintage colors, text, images, glitters and Configuration boxes in the making of these treasures, although very few Tim Holtz products were used.  

I hope you enjoyed sharing my little birdie match boxes with me!  Thank you for all your sweet comments--they mean so much to me, and inspire me to try different things to keep you coming back to see what's new!

I would like to enter my ornaments into the following challenges:





Inspiration Journal "Sing, Sing It Loud!" This time you won't have to listen to the birds singing to know my project fits into the theme, you can see the sheet music and the jingle bells!

Just Us Girls #270 Word Week "Sparkle" I think I've got some sparkle going on here!  This is my first time entering this fun challenge.

43 comments:

  1. Sara, oh my goodness these are precious! I love them! and I think you did a fabulous job!
    Have a good week!

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    1. Thank you so much, Sharon! How thoughtful of you to stop in and visit and leave a sweet comment!

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  2. These are beautiful Sara! Love them!! Karen.x

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    1. Thank you, Karen! I am officially a follower of yours! Getting closer!

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  3. These are so pretty! I love the vintage feel of them! They look beautiful on the tree!
    Thanks for joining us this week at Just Us Girls!

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl. Glad to link up for my first challenge at Just Us Girls (love that name!)

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  4. Oh wow Sara, you never stop making my jaw drop! These are absolutely gorgeous and what a creative way to use the matchbox for one and two, what a creative idea for a tree decoration as well! The Santa and bird images are stunning, so vintage and a perfect match for the stickles, which I love! Your tree is going to sparkle like crazy! Hope you post a pic of it when it's all finished! big holiday hugs my crafty friend :)

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    1. Hi Pamellia! How sweet of you! I love that platinum Stickles, too! I think you have a great idea! I think all of us in blogland should snap a photo of ourselves in our pj's in front of our trees on Christmas Eve and post. Ha! Ha! It would be fun to visit with everyone on Christmas! Thank you for your always kind words! You always manage to make me crack a huge smile!

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    2. What a great idea, although I think I might just post it before Christmas, as my last post. I love to see what other people's decorations look like! Now if I can only get my camera to cooperate! ha! hugs :)

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  5. Aren't these such darling tree ornaments! I love your inventive ideas and attention to detail. Thank you for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x

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  6. What a a creative way to use Tim's Matchbox die! I'll be case'ing these for sure! love the cut outs and the lovely way you've decorated each one! Thanks for joining us in the AVJ Birds of a Feather challenge!

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    1. Thank you, Julia! You always say the nicest things! I must clarify that these are the real matchboxes that I've covered. They are not die cuts. I would be honored if you would give them a go!

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  7. Oh Sara these are so sweet and packed with so much inspiration. They look adorable hanging on your tree. Thanks for joining us again at AVJ and good luck.
    Julie x

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    1. Thank you, Julie. Because they are so tiny, I had to group them together. I think an entire tree decorated with these would be great. Something to work toward for next year! What will I do with all those unused matches?

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  8. Wow, how creative. Love everyone of your ornaments. Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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    1. Donna, you are so kind and sweet to leave me this uplifting comment:)!

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  9. Oh Sara...you are one patient creator! So many beautiful ornaments out of match boxes...lovely! Your tree is glowing with all these...sure stunner of a tree! Lovely work, dear. Hugs.

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    1. Awe, Rupa, you always say the sweetest things! I think I need about 100 more matchboxes to made my tree glow! For now these three will have to huddle together to make any impact on my tree! They are so tiny! and I'm afraid my eyes are getting too old to do these little things anymore! Hugs!

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  10. These are just adorable, Sara - lovely vintage images, and the music paper is perfect for Christmas decorations - all ready to sing to round the tree! Thanks so much for joining us on A Vintage Journey.
    Alison x

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comment, Alison! It sure makes me smile! Hugs!

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  11. These are so creative! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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    1. Glenda, it sure makes me happy to read a comment from you!

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  12. Hi Sara - just popping in to say thank you for your lovely comment over at Artistic Stamper - and I'm afraid to say the pinecones ARE Mother Nature's own work! Sorry if that wasn't clear in the text - I'm off to make sure it is!
    Alison xx

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    1. Awe, thanks, Alison. You still have added your own special touch to them to compliment your lovely tag! There are so many delightful projects on your blog. I must make sure to subscribe so as not to miss anything!

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  13. These are amazing! Love them! Thanks for joining us at Just. Us Girls!

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    1. Thank you, Chris! I'm happy you like my tiny matchboxes!

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  14. These are wonderful!! I'm hoping to get the Matchbox die for Christmas so maybe I can make some next year. =) Thanks for joining us at Inspiration Journal. Merry Christmas!!

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    1. Hi Lisa, Thank you for you sweet comment. Just to clarify, these are made with real match boxes ( I have updated my text to hopefully clarify this), so they are a bit smaller, I think than the die produces. Making them with the die would be the ticket, but I don't own that die, either! Merry Christmas!

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  15. You know how much I love birds! So these matchbox ornaments are especially delightful to me. I love the vintage finish...the sweet images and the wonderful glitter accents. Such a clever idea..and so beautifully created! Thanks for sharing with us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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    1. Hi Kathy, Well you and I share that love of birds! I have finally gotten some lights on my (most perfect ever) tree, and just a few ornaments (the fewer I put on the fewer I take off). These are some of the few. Because they are SO tiny, I've surrounded them with some of my glass bird ornaments. I'm so happy you've enjoyed these! I always enjoy your comments, and you have started my day off with a smile! Hugs!

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  16. These tree ornaments are divine Sara, what a clever idea. I may just have to have a go at making some of these little beauties myself.... thanks so much for the inspiration.

    Thank you also for your lovely comment on our Secret Santa swap and I wish I could say yes to the homemade Chicken soup, that would be so lovely! Anne xx

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    1. Awe, Anne! Thank you for your kind words, and I hope you do get to make some of them for yourself. I have a zillion matchboxes waiting for me to take apart and make some more. I just don't know what I will do with all those match sticks!

      The Secret Santa Swap has been so much fun to look at...you all have really outdone yourselves in making a special gift for your teamies. Just gorgeous labors of love! I just really love the one you made for Jenny...SEW useful, too! Feel better:)! Hugs!

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  17. These are so sweet Sara and very delicate to make I should think. Thank you so much for sharing these with us at The Mirror Crack'd. Hasppy crafting, Angela R. x

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    1. Thank you for your sweet words! Yes they are so tiny, so they were very fiddly to assemble, but that's my cup of tea! My biggest problem is my eyesight is getting worse, and makes it difficult to get the details right.

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  18. Totally adorable!!!!! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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  19. These are the most adorable little ornaments with such sweet details. What a great way to use match boxes, especially since you can pick them up for a song at the dollar store. Unfortunately you are right about the pile of matches you are left with because I made an advent calendar from them a couple years ago and haven't made a dent in the pile. I hope you don't mind me tucking this idea away for next year. Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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    1. Hi Cec! You made me smile with your lovely comment and the pile of matches! I will have to check out this Advent calendar you made! And yes, please tuck the idea away and pull it out for next year! I would be honored! Hugs!

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  20. Love these adorable little pieces of art that are going to be displayed on your tree.... what a wonderful tree it is going to be. and what wonderful little ornaments that your children will have when they grow up... so very much fun... I love them all... so cute... Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie

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  21. Hi Bonnie,
    I could have swore I sent you back a little (long) reply to this sweet comment, but it is gone! I think you know I am not decked out yet. Just a few balls on the tree and my glass birds surrounding these so they don't get lost--so small. Happy you liked my little birdies! Love!

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  22. These are so cute Sara. They remind me of the fabulous decorations of yesteryear. I am sure they will become family treasures.


    Thanks for sharing with us

    Lin
    The Mirror Crack'd

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    1. Thank you, Lin! What a fun challenge this has been for me!

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