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:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Lets Sparkle

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Traditional Christmas

We Love 2 Create at Polkadoodles Challenge #12 - Anything Goes Mixed Media

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #61 Anything Christmas Goes

Do-Al (1) Creative # 36 - Shabby Chic / Vintage

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.