Intentions for A Vintage Journey

Hello friends and visitors! Welcome to my first post for the New Year! It's time for a new challenge at A Vintage Journey, and this time our lovely Deb has chosen the challenge theme 'Think Inside or Outside the Box'. 

Here's what Deb has to say...For our first challenge of 2018 we'd like you to create with a box. Any box of any size will do, it can be one you have made yourself or one that you are recycling or even one that you have drawn. We'd like you to make your project either inside the box itself or do something imaginative on the outside or both if that's where your muse takes you. As always we like to see your projects in our preferred styles: vintage; shabby; mixed media; art journaling; industrial, timeworn or steampunk. So put on your thinking caps and re-imagine those boxes both inside and out!

I decided to recycle some gift boxes from my stash and trash for Deb's challenge. While I was at it,  I gathered some other found objects and trash to make my 'canvas'. Here are the boxes I used... The smaller ones were all either tops or bottoms of gift boxes without a mate, there's a lovely gilded stationary box I've been hoarding, some trash boxes from the recycling bin and a piece of my spray box that I've been saving  hoarding because I thought the colors were pretty.  (Be forewarned; photo heavy and long post. Please feel free to skip to the close ups.)

Step by Step

I've always wanted to try this style of mixed media, and being the New Year, it seemed like a perfect time to try some thing new. I think I better watch a few videos before I start next time! I began by reinforcing the largest stationary box with the rubber glove box, so that it would handle the weight of what I would be putting on it. I just glued the box on the inside, so it wouldn't shift around.

I kind of got carried away in the making so there's a bit of a pictorial gap in my story. I replaced the cover, gluing it closed and adding design tape to further reinforce the edges. I also added a strip of contractor's joint tape around the edges and down the center of the 'canvas' as well as on the edges of the central vignette for texture.  I cut a few strips of the sweetener box to add more texture and extend my focal cluster. The photo below shows how things are progressing after some stenciling  and a coat of gesso. Here I am deciding on what embellishments might work.  I used crackle paint with the gears stencil,and texture paste with the circuit stencil. More circuit was added later.  

I gave all my embellishments and the small boxes two coat of black gesso. The two labels from my label maker, one of my charger cords, and the watch face got a coat of  Raw Umber antiquing cream.

Some stenciling on one of the boxes.

The 'canvas' was coated with two coats of black gesso, and I played around with  my embellishment choices and placement. I love that the gold stationary box had some existing texture.

Part of my spray box got pressed into service to boost my circuit plate and 2018 dial.

And now for the close ups.

Thankfully, Santa left us some new phone charger cords for Christmas!

Here's the little pink plastic spoon from the sweetener box. I mixed up three embossing powders to get that delish texture. Thankfully, I didn't melt the spoon!

 

Jesus is at the center of it all, represented by this little mirrored star. I had fun with this little vignette. The beautiful pearl antique button is from my friend's button collection. Lawton passed away a several years ago, and I got his jar of buttons, among other things from his family. He was quite the collector, but his collections were all very well organized. Their uncluttered home was very tastefully decorated with antiques--he kept his collections in his shed or in the attic. I painted the star with several blue alcohol inks and gold mixative. I elevated the star on a section of drinking straw and surrounded it with the plastic roll of a tape dispenser. I found the watch face roadside.

My Cropodile went kapooie when I tried to punch this hole! What the heck; I may have used it 10 times over the years I've had it! But I was able to use my awl to make a passage for my phone plug. I'll call it a plug, so you understand what I'm trying to say here. I doubt I will unplug totally, so that's why I call my piece "Intentions".

Pretty deep, huh?

The sun was very bright the day I took photos, making it quite difficult to photograph this without lots of shadows, so I've included shots from different angles. As you can see from my parka photobombing in the last shot, it was also VERY cold. 

That's all for me today! Please be sure to stop by A Vintage Journey to see how the talented Creative Guides have thought outside or inside the box! Then it's over to you! So put on your creative thinking caps and submit your entry for a chance to win a prize from The Funkie Junkie Boutique, who is our generous sponsor for this challenge. Of course, there's also three chosen as our Pinworthy winners.

I'm sharing with:

Country View Challenges January 2018 - Anything Goes

Sandee and amelie SASPC January 2018 Challenge Anything Goes - Steampunk/Industrial

Simon Says Stamp Monday: Something New Mostly everything is old here, but the Seth Apter die cuts have never been used, and this style of mixed media is new to me. Ringing in the NEW Year with my 'intentions'.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Something New Same as above.

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #44 - "Ring in the New" New 'intentions' for the New Year, new technique for me and new die cuts (Seth Apter) to me.

Thank you for your visit today!

Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily

I used the following products, most of which can be found at The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Ranger Multi Medium Matte 4 oz.	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium Matte TDAK47933 (February Pre-Order)	Prima Art Alchemy Acrylic Paint - Metallique Steampunk Copper (March Pre-order)	Prima Art Alchemy Acrylic Paint by Finnabair- Sparks - Raven Black 50ml	Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Indigo
Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Gold Mixative	Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Pool	Emerald Creek Alure Powders - Burnt Copper Leaves	Emerald Creek Alure Powders - Hammered Metal	Emerald Creek Alure Powders - Oil Rubbed Bronze
Sizzix Alterations Tim Holtz Gadget Gears Die	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Gears THS052 (February Pre-Order)	Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Mirrored Stars

Additionally:  DecoArt Crackle Paint, Media Raw Umber Antiquing Cream, Prima Metallique Midnight Sky acrylic paints, Seth Apter Ring Around die,  Stencils by  Decoart (Short Circuit) and TCW (Mini Specimens), Idea-ology  Grunge Blocks