Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Rusted cardboard

Hello, crafty friends!  I had so much fun using the contents of A Vintage Journey's travel bag, I wanted to give it another go. Sue would like us to use cardboard, rust, metal and lavender in our projects.  I love rust, and many of my storage containers in my craft room are old rusty yard sale finds.  I keep all of my DecoArt products in a vintage lunchbox, but my supplies are growing, so I wanted to make a larger storage container.  This started out as an orange juice box from the warehouse store (cardboard). We drink a lot of orange juice!





I started by tearing off most of the outer paper and applying gesso, which I scraped back with a credit card to reveal some of the cardboard which adds a nice vintage texture.  I added vintage book pages and Ideaology Tissue wrap, then various paints and sprays and water to blend for my rust and lavender background. I can't really recall exactly what colors I used, because I was texting back and forth with my good blog friend,  Niki of Pawsatively Creative at the time.  It's our way of getting together to craft even though we live at opposite sides of the country. When dry, I added glass bead gel and DecoArt Crackle medium like I did here on my rusted tag and paints, alcohol inks, and antiquing cream to highlight these mediums. I did some stamping on tissue paper (Stampendous image/Watering Can Archival ink) and adhered.



It was a bit too shiny for my liking (left), so I gave it a coat of DecoArt Dura Clear Ultra Matte Varnish (right).


Next came the embellishments. Frilly and Funkie wants to see three of a kind on our projects for their current challenge, so I made three rusted belt buckles. I only show 2 in my process shots because I had already experimented on the first, larger one.  The two larger ones from my stash and layered on top of each other are made of plastic, and the smaller one you might recognize as being Ideaology (metal).  To rust my buckles, I first applied a coat of Mod Podge in Matte, and while wet add a sprinkle of cinnamon and instant coffee. When completely dry, I coat with more Mod Podge.  This is also too shiny, so I added a coat of DecoArt Utra Matte Varnish.  I patted on DecoArt Quinacridone Gold to give it a look of old rusted iron. I threaded some hand colored vintage seam binding through the buckles and tied it off with a piece of hand colored twine. Excuse the next three photos--not so pretty, and Blogger wouldn't cooperate with the placement.

  






Since we're looking for three of a kind, I decided to make three kinds of faux rust on my project...the first is the glass bead gel rust, the second is cinnamon and coffee, and for my third, I rusted some metal pieces (metal) from my husband's hardware drawer using household chemicals.  Actually, the nails and nuts were already rusted, but the washers and key rings were faux rusted using a bath of vinegar for 24 hours, followed by a  soaking in a mixture of salt and hydrogen peroxide for another 24 hours, then a sun bath for another day. Time consuming, but I just had to try it. Notice there are three washers, three nuts, three nails and three key rings.



Since we are  on the subject of trios, I decided to embellish just three sides of my box.  The other side will be against a wall anyway.  For the third panel, I added three clocks.  (Shhh! There's really 4, but the tissue paper stamping (which is a clock) didn't look enough like a clock once I was through with it, so that doesn't count.) Two of the clocks are Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs and the third is an old watch face  (metal) from my stash (yes,  I have a box of old watches, too!!) I painted the face with Rusty Hinge Distress paint and DecoArt Q-Gold, then Ranger Rock Candy Crackle paint, and finished with DecoArt Antiquing cream in Raw Umber. I kept all my embellishments simple and flat, because this will be a functional piece, and it will sit on a shelf when not in use.






The fourth side is left unembellished, but has enough going on with the torn top layer of cardboard, the tissue, book pages, crackle, and rust. I also left the inside unfinished as it will be holding messy paints anyway, and will develop a scene of it's own soon enough. Below is my old DecoArt storage and then my new roomy box.  Now I can get some more supplies!



And now for a quick tour of all four sides:





I would like to enter my rusted box into the following inspiring challenges:
-Mixed Media Place Creative Gym # 17 Coffee  I used coffee along with cinnamon for one of my rust techniques.
-Happy Little Stampers March Mixed Media Challenge Water I used water to blend my background colors.

Thank you for stopping by today and for all your lovely comments!  I read and appreciate each and every one of them!
Hugs and Blessings!
Sara Emily

36 comments:

  1. Sara this is gorgeous! I don't normally do or like rust but I do love this one! The papers, the colour, the beautiful rich tones of the rust: absolutely gorgeous hun work and up-cycling. I need to get some more goodies, especially crackle paste - love the purple hues that are coming through this pieces with that awesome shimmer. I would love your old box, if only we were in the same country lol! Karen xx

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  2. Oh wow, this is amazing!! The rust looks so real!! I love the texture and the details!! The crackle is fabulous!! Wow!! Spectacular!! Have a great evening!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  3. Not only did you use water in the making of your project, but it also makes me think of an old box sitting at the bottom of the sea getting all rusty from the water - so it's perfect for our "water" challenge at Happy Little Stampers. Thanks for joining us.

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  4. You are so clever to make your own storage solution! What an awesome project, and one that you will get to enjoy for ages to remember AVJ birthday celebration! The rust is gorgeous and the subtle hints of lavender are such a pretty addition. Great creation! Congrats on Lauren's scholarship! That's AMAZING!!! Woo hoo! <3

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  5. You have completely up cycled this OJ box into the perfect storage for your crafty supplies! If I hadn't seen the photo of the original box I wouldn't have believed it! Thank you so much for sharing your creation with us at the Frilly and Funkie Blog!
    Hugs,
    Nancy

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  6. Wooooooooow, Sara, it's a rust effect at it's best! What a clever make, my dear! It's such a fantastic combination of lavender and rust! I am simply in love with your storage box and I am so inspired, as always! Oh, dear, it's brilliant! Lots of love to you! Branka xxx

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  7. WOW! This really is a project....and then some....I will be coming back to check this out again - 3 kinds of faux rust! Brilliant! Hugs, Chrisx

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  8. Your rust looks amazing, Sara! Wow! Love your container! (I know too well about growing paints stash...lol...).
    Thank you for playing along with us at SanDee&amelie's Steampunk challenges!

    Claudia xx

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  9. I would have never known you started off with a cardboard box, with that amazing rusty effect. I love the rusty embellishments you used, especially the way you arranged the washers and nails. Thanks for visiting my blog and blessings!

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  10. I need to start drinking some orange juice so I can try this! It turned out amazeballs Sara! Love the rusting techniques and so many to choose from! I am definitely going to try your cinnamon technique and layer it with the DA products. Wowzers, fantabulous, stunning, holy Toledo and a bag of coffee! Hehe! Those washers and watches are drool worthy! Absolutely awesome sauce! I wish we could craft together IRL, but texting will have to do for now. Have an amazing day and Hugz to you muffin! ~Punkin

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  11. Ahhh what a unique box Sara. Just sorry to say that I'm not sure how long it will hold up. It is already cracking and starting to disintegrate. You can't even tell what kind of box it used to be because a lot of the markings have worn off. But - hey - to each his/her own. If you like this type of grungy, crackled, rusty, bumpy, chipped, lumpy box then more power to ya girl!

    HEheheheheheh - sorry - just couldn't resist the tease!!!! No one could ever convince me that wasn't REAL RUST if I didn't know you were a truthful gal !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And.... you can count too... welllll, sort of!!! Seriously... it's AMAZING... just FABULOUS. Those colors are WONDERFUL. YOU are just such an amazing artist my friend. HUGS, j.

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  12. wow Sara - this is amazing - that rusting is just fabulous - love it to pieces! I think I need to join in! Hugs rachel p.s thanks for joining our industrial challenge at cvc too! Hugs rachel x

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  13. Sara, this is so cool! I love all of your rusting techniques - need to try some of them out! What a fun storage box! Amazing how great rust looks with lavender!

    Thanks for your sweet comments on my blog - I appreciate your feedback :-)

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  14. What a fabulous way to store your paints and mediums! I have to keep going back to look at the amazing rusting on the buckle, I can't believe that it is not genuinely rusty - you did an amazing job! I love the rust running down the sides too - well I just love, love, love your whole project!

    Thanks so much for joining in our challenge this month at A Vintage Journey! Hugs, Anne xx

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  15. Wow love all in this box. AMAZING project. Thanks for playong at GYm Mixed Media place Challeneg.

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  16. Great job Sara Emily! I love that rusting- yumminess!
    hugs,Jackie ")

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  17. This is so cool...the rust effect looks authentic...love it.
    A fabulous entry for our challenge over at Altered Eclectics...x

    http://rheddscreativespirit.blogspot.co.uk/
    http://somewheretobeme.blogspot.co.uk/
    http://alteredeclectics.blogspot.co.uk/

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  18. Looks amazing Sara, love the rust effects you used. X

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  19. Wow, what an amazing project Sara, talk about having your supplies stored in style! Gorgeous textures and your rust techniques are quite amazing, just a fabulous altered box. Thanks so much for joining us at A Vintage Journey! Deb xo

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  20. This is an awesome project. So many different techniques.
    Glad you stopped by to visit at Creative Artistes Challenge Blog this month.
    Hugs Sheryl DT member xx

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  21. Sara you never seize to amaze me with all your gorgeous altered projects you make, I love your work... This is no different to the rest it just get better...
    Thank you so much for entering our challenge over at Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge Blog, we hope to see you join in again...

    Hugs Rhonda DT & Owner xxx
    http://creativeartistemixedmedia.blogspot.co.uk

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  22. What a fabulous mixed media project Sara. The details are so interesting and the end result is so professional looking!
    Thanks for sharing with us at Happy Little Stampers and I hope you will join us again soon.
    Hugs
    Carol x

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  23. Your "rustiness" is totally creative and intriguing. You've triggered a whole new faux metallic investigation here. I came to the party late, so have lots of catch up to play. Thanks a million for sharing!

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  24. Ooo I really like this Sara, the rust and the crackle are amazing! Thank you so much for joining in with our challenge at Country View Crafts, and enjoy your weekend. Sue xx

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  25. What amazing rusted effects, Sara - the whole thing is simply brilliant! Thanks so much for joining us on A Vintage Journey.
    Alison x

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  26. I love everything that is rusty and this is gorgeous. Thank you for joining us at MMW

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  27. An utterly divine altered box Sara full of wonderful techniques and effects and something we would all love to have as storage in our craft rooms. Thanks for sharing your fabulous project at A Vintage Journey. xx

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  28. That is some serious upcycling Sara!!! LOVE that rusting effect and the contrast with the crackle, and the way you've used trios throughout! Thank you for joining us at A Vintage Journey and at Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x

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  29. Sara, this is fabby! You make rust look stylish and awesome! I love every gorgeous detail...and those rusty metal bits are out of this world! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Frilly & Funkie "Let's Make it a Trio" Challenge!

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  30. This is awesome my lovely! I love what you have created with your rusting techniques. Love how you left one side unfinished and say it will find its own way, you must show once it has :) Mine often go through this journey too. Have really enjoyed looking through your work hun and so glad you have joined us at MMP xx

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  31. OMGoodness - rusted cardboard, who'd a thunk it. Love the texture you have created with the crackle and the "rust". Great recycling too. Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  32. This rust effect is fantastic! I also love what you did with the box on the whole, the lavender crackled tissue paper mix is very original!
    Thank you for playing along with us at SASPC!

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  33. What a wonderful repurpose of a plain old cardboard box! love the rusting - and all the metal pieces - a beautiful place to store you paints! Thanks for playing with the AVJ challenge! Julia xx

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  34. Now that's what I call upcycling done to the max! Love the idea you had to start with and that you have maintained the 'three' throughout. What a great idea to use three different ways to achieve a
    rust effect all of which produce fab results ( in your capable hands anyway) - That buckle -WOW! Note to self must add coffee with cinnamon next time !!
    Thanks so much for joining us at A Vintage Journey .

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  35. I absolutely love your rusted box Sara!! The colours and other elements from the travel bag have been used to perfection on this piece. I love the idea of the cinnamon and coffee too - need to try that! The ultra matte varnish is the perfect choice for getting rid of shine isn't it?! Thank you so much for joining us at A Vintage Journey. Julia S-W x

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  36. just as perfect rust look. great work ! love it.
    greets
    Alexa

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