A Vintage Birthday

Hello everyone!  I'm happy to be back from Frantic Crafter land...one project I had been working on for a few weeks did not make it to be entered into Frilly and Funkie's "Winter Blooms" as planned due to our relatively short 8 hour power outage, but I'm back in time to post my vintage birthday book/box I created for A Vintage Journey for my Guest Creative Guide spot.

 I am thrilled, but mostly honored to be chosen a second time to join the extremely talented Creative Guides this time on their vintage journey called "Special Numbers". Please stop over there to see all the wonderfully vintage makes by the hugely talented group of artists.  You will be so happy you did! Here is the box I altered to celebrate a friend's special milestone.

Let's get started!  I was so happy that Brenda chose the theme "Special Numbers".  Not long after I found out the theme, I received an invitation to an elderly friend's 90th birthday luncheon, and I knew those special numbers must include a 90!  Tim's got us covered when it comes to numbers, so I had no problem finding all the special numbers I needed for this book/box I made for Martha.  There are some other important dates and numbers in her long, fulfilling life that I wanted to include in some way on this project, as well.

I started with this box I picked up awhile ago at a yardsale.  Pretty, but kind of humdrum from the texture point of view in my opinion and some of  the elements were a little too cute for what I had in mind, so I gave it a good coat of gesso and started from scratch.

I did leave the inside pretty much alone, with the exception of toning down the greenish check with a little more gesso and painting the edges to match the cover.

Starting with the background, I've chosen a few techniques perfected by Tim including:

Paint Marbling

Spritz and Flick

A variation of Faded Layers

Effect Powders

Layering Stencil: Texture Paste

To cover the edges and make them look like pages, I used several Distress Paints and a dry brush.

I left the back cover fairly bare except for some painting, stenciling, and a little sentiment from Tim's Rub on collection.  My plan is to make a little bio with a photo of Martha for the back like you would find on a novel.  I think she may not approve of me publishing this, so you will not get to see it.  I also wanted this surface to be flat as the book is meant to sit on a table.

Next up, the spine.  I used Tim's Crocodile Layering stencil and then muted it with some more Distress paints and added my embellishments to represent the states Martha has lived in, a title (Simple Sayings), and of course, her commendable age. I used a string swiped through Distress paint as a makeshift stamp to make the lines on the spine to make it look like an old volume.

Now for the cover.  Of course, all the painting, swiping, texture pasting, etc. had already been done.  I hated to cover up that beautiful background, and other than the few photos above with the paint, I didn't get an in progress shot.  I added some paper from Tim's Wallflower stash and distressed it. I used a Distress marker with Tim's Marker Spritzer for random splatters.

I used my new Flourish Layering stencil I won on Tim's random draw and some crackle texture paste.

I added a few pieces of ephemera from Tim's Thrift Shop and Expedition packs.  This railroad ticket was a good way for me to get Martha's date of birth on here with the help of a game piece sticker. I was able to circle the month and date she was born.  Isn't Tim so clever to include this piece of ephemera in his pack?  It sold me! There's a Flash card with the number 3 with a bit of musical note Tissue Tape to give a nod to the singing trio Martha traveled with. "Good Times" is from my new for this project Framed Alpha Parts collection, and I've given it a variation of Tim's Altered Surfaces technique--no shine wanted on this one!

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I've used a few of Tim's dies to make this little collection of framed flowers and foliage .  The Ornate Frame is cut from Grunge board and painted with Distress paints and Rock Candy Crackle Paint with some Vintage Photo ink rubbed in the cracks. The foliage is cut from Distress Color ore card stock and the Spring Greenery die. The butterfly (and the yellow one) are from the ephemera pack (Thrift Shop) and colored with Distress inks.

I made my flowers using the Tattered Florals Bigz die and used stains and inks to color them.  I added the micro beads to the roses just for fun, and the center of the blue flower is made from  a sunburst punch  and paper from my stash.  (The only 2 non-Tim things on this entire project except for the box are the beads and flower center.)

The 19 game piece sticker was scratched up a bit and made to look a little grungier with Distress paint.  I popped it up using several layers of grunge board.

I made my bow and closure ribbon from Tim's Crinkle ribbon colored with  Picket Fence paint (or was it stain?) and Squeezed Lemonade Distress ink on my mat, misted with water (I don't have any stain in SL). I love the crinkle ribbon, and although I've been known to use my huge cache of vintage seam binding for bows, this stuff is hands down the best for color absorption and shaping! 

Isn't that ribbon yummy?

That's all for today!  I hope you enjoyed seeing my process as much as I've enjoyed making this!  I have to say I love Tim's products, and they sure did a great job of covering up this somewhat ordinary box.  This will be presented to Martha at her luncheon hopefully filled with notes from her friends who may have had the misfortune of missing this special party.

Thank you for stopping by and persevering through this lengthy post.  Please be sure to stop by A Vintage Journey for all the other special numbers by the Creative Guides. I appreciate all your sweet comments, and read and reply to each and every one. Hugs and Blessings! 

Sara Emily

I would like to enter this into the following inspirational challenges:

The Mirror Cracked Challenge #6 "Album or Journal Cover" I would consider this an album of sorts, where my friend can put treasured memories of all kinds.

Artist Trading Post Exchange "Alphabet Soup" There is an option of numbers, and I've used numbers on my project.

Country View Challenges "Drips and Drops" I've got lot's of drips and drops on my background.

Altered Eclectics Anything Goes Altered Art/Mixed Media

As You Like It "Favorite Anything but a Card"  Boxes are a favorite of mine, and I like to alter them for gifts and storage.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge "No Rules" I love a little No Rules challenge!

Inspiration Journal "Love is in the Air"  I love a good altered box, and more than that, I love giving a gift I know will be loved by the recipient! And I love Tim Holtz products, old and new!

Sweet Stamps Challenge #210 "Anything But a Card"