Thursday, December 5, 2019

Pine Cone Gift Box Ornaments


Welcome! Today we start the new challenge over at A Vintage Journey. Our theme this time chosen by the talented Sandy is 'Holly Jolly Christmas'. Here's what she says:

This month Anything Goes as long as it says Christmas and is in one of our preferred styles of vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk.

Well, I almost goofed, and forgot her brief said 'as long as it says Christmas'. But I managed to get 'Christmas' on there! Let's take a look!



I started with these chipboard pine cone boxes I've had in my stash for years. I painted them with brown acrylic paint and sealed the paint with Matte Medium, before giving them a random coating of DecoArt Crackle Paint. I sealed the crackle with DuraClear Ultra Matte once the crackle had dried and done it's thing. After this layer dried, I wiped on DecoArt Media Antiquing Cream in English Red Oxide and Raw Umber, and wiped it back with a damp cloth. To enhance the cracks more, I used Ground Espresso Distress crayon. I only have one process shot. I think at one point I was thinking I was going to go in another direction and deleted my photos.



Then it was time to decorate the boxes. I used the bough from Pine Branch  and a leaf from Large Funky Floral Thinlits both my Tim Holtz. These were cut from card colored in various green inks and oxides and Antique Bronze Mica Spray. The berries (Tim Holtz Beaded Berries)  and pearls (from my stash) were colored with Deception Alcohol Pearl.




Here's the back side. The boxes halves are each decorated separately, so that the box is functional. We have a tradition in our family to leave a gift on the tree tied on with a yellow ribbon from The Christmas Mouse. I will find a small trinket or perhaps place money inside before hanging these on the tree Christmas Eve.


I made a pair of tags using Christmas Circle Words Thinlits and Metallic Kraft Stock. The crinkle ribbon is dyed with Antique Linen and Fossilized Amber Oxide sprays, Vintage Photo Spray Stain and Antique Bronze Mica Spray.





Everything got brushed with Distress Collage Medium and dusted with Frantage Champagne Crushed Glass Glitter. And finally, I used an old Remnant Rub to include 'Merry Christmas' and 'All I Want for Christmas' on each of the pine cone gift boxes.





There's plenty more Holly Jolly Christmas inspiration over at the blog, where my fellow Creative Guides have displayed their wonderful Christmas makes to tempt you to play along in this month's challenge. Thank you for visiting today and for all your wonderful comments. Hugs! Sara Emily

Challenge Shares:
Scrapy Land Challenge #127 Anything Goes I used 3 Sizzix die sets.
Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #448 3,2,1: You Choose I used 3 die sets (Pine Branch, Christmas Circle Words and  Large Funky Floral by Sizzix), there are two types of berries and one ribbon on each pine cone gift box.

19 comments:

  1. Love your pinecones, Sara Emily. The three little letters in the word JOY says so much. It is a joyous time of year. Thanks for playing along this month. Hugs, S@ndy

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  2. These are fabulous, Sara!!! I love them!!! xx

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  3. Oh...... fabulous !!!! Such a creative way to use those pine cones and they shout out Christmas!! I love all the little details, particularly the stamping on the side of the cone! Stunning !! Jennie x

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  4. What fabulous ornaments Sara, I love that they open up to hide special gifts! Amazing textures and details as always, thanks so much for sharing them, Deb xo

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  5. Wow... this is a wonderful idea! Very pretty done.

    Thanks for playing along with our Do-Al(l) Kreatives Challenge and good luck!

    Hugs and please come back soon!
    Doris
    Kleido’s BastelStüble
    *Owner* Do-Al(l) Kreatives
    *List Manager* Challenges for Days

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  6. Wow, what beautiful pine cone decorations! I loved seeing how they came together and they look wonderful on your tree - perfect 😁. Wishing you a Holly Jolly December! Hugs, Jo x

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  7. Beautiful pine cone gift box ornaments. They are realy lovely to put in a little present for someone and then they have a lovely Christmas decoration at the same time.
    Thanks for joining us at Do-Al(l)Creatives #36 and good luck.
    Wies DT DAK

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  8. Oh Sara Emily, your ornaments are so super clever, - who would have thought those pine cones are actually boxes... Love how you have altered them and put these ornaments together, they look superb the way you have hung them, and I bet that in real life they look even better. Have a wonderful December!!

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  9. Amazing christmas decoration! Love it!
    Thanks for playing along with us at our present challenge at Do-Al(l) Kreatives and good luck. Hope you will join us next month again.

    Crafty greetings
    Alex

    *Owner* Creative Crafting Uncles
    *DT + Admin* Do-Al(l) Kreatives{#36 – Shabby Chic / Vintage}
    *DT* Kreativ-Tanten Challenge{#36 – A little present for you}
    Alex' Kreative Seite

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  10. The first word that springs to mind is - WOW !!! You have made those pinecone ornaments look so realistic, you have aged them beautifully and your embellishments look fabulous! Love those pinecones! Apologies for my lateness, I have had a few days away. Hugs, Anne xx

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  11. OH WOW!!!!! I love what you did with those plain ole cardboard pine cones! You have amazing talent, and it's always fun to visit your blog!!

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  12. Wow, what a fabulous decoration and gift box all in one. Thanks for joinig us at DO-AL(l) Creatives, Jonnece DT

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  13. Oh my! These ornaments are amazing Sara! When I first saw them I had no inkling that they were actually boxes! Your aged and decorated them so beautifully and they look fantastic!! I love the idea of making a gift to hang on the tree and, regardless of what is placed inside, these boxes themselves make for a lovely gift! You are so clever! Love, love, love these! Have a wonderful Christmas Sara and wishing you and your family all the very best for the coming year! hugs xx

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  14. https://welove2create.blogspot.com/
    Wowzers your ornaments are just fabulous love what you did with the pine cones Thank you for sharing with the DT from WE Love To Create, Hugs TErry xxx (DT)

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  15. Your Pine Cone Boxes look amazing! One would never guess that they are boxes though, they look like real pine cones that you adorned! Thanks for sharing these lovely boxes with us at Scrapy Land Challenges!

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  16. I have some of these cone boxes in a drawer as well - Now you have given me inspiration for using them Sara Emily! Although you are truly the master of layers without making mud which I am not! These are so pretty with the foliage and berries and ribbons you added - a wonderful Holly Jolly project! Merry Christmas to you and yours! xx

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  17. I feel so bad... I only just realised that I never got around to visiting the Holly Jolly projects, and now the next challenge is almost upon us!

    Your altered pinecones are just brilliant, Sara Emily. All your painty layers have created such a natural look to the cones themselves, and I love the greenery, the festive bows and the little baubles - fabulous decorations to adorn any home.
    Alison x

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