Fairy Door Altered Altoids Tin

Hello! First thing first-I am so happy to see that I have 3 followers! It means a lot to me as I am still so new to the mixed media art scene. Big thanks to my 3 peeps! Project time: This was totally a fun and frustrating project. I will tell you what NOT to do first. I learned the hard way. Here is my Fairy Door Altered Altoid Tin and ATCs.

First Don't: don't put any paper lining inside the top lid of the tin. It won't shut. 

Second Don't: don't put paper around the bottom of the tin that covers the little lips that allows the tin to close-it won't shut properly. I used lace to cover the edge of the paper that I messed up. Sshhhh!

Those are the big problems I ran into. Okay, onto the break down

First I cut all my paper to glue to the tin. I edged the papers with a purplish/pink chalk ink and then glued the papers using Mod Podge (love the stuff)! While that was drying I cut my ATCs to fit in the tin. 

Next I grabbed some polymer clay and set to work creating my fairy door, rocks (I didn't use these) and flower stems. I hand designed everything you see. I baked all items, let it cool down and painted everything with acrylic paints and Silks. This was my first time using clay. Fun stuff!

After that was all dry I glued my door to the front of the tin lid with Tombow glue and added some moss, the flower stems with glittery flowers and the grass moss at the bottom of the door. 

Now we turn to the inside part of the lid. I added a fairy, a mushroom (painted with Gesso and metallic purple acrylic paint), flowers and a small vial that had Wish Dust in it. So cute!

I then decided to start the ATCs that go in the tin. You can put anything or do anything for this part. I used everything from my stash. I used a pink ribbon as the "hinge" to fold the ATCs up in the tin and as the "handle" to pull it out. Don't use too many embellies or the lid won't shut-but if you do, grab a paperclip and clip the ATCs together so they don't spew out. 

Put all your parts together and Viola! Fairy Door Altered Altoid Tin with ATCs.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving your lovely comments. It brightens my day! Carpe Diem! ~Niki

This project will be shared with the following:

Altered Eclectics-Anything Goes HERE

Craft Hoarders Anonymous-School/Office supplies. HERE I used the paperclip to keep all the ATCs from spilling out-may have gone overboard on embellies. Oops!

Try It on Tuesday-Recycle It. HERE I recycled the Altoid Tin my hubby was going to throw away. 

Left of Center-anything goes in the mythical category. HERE

The Mirror Crack'd-Anything Mixed Media Goes Challenge #1. HERE

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge-Color challenge. HERE I used the pinks and garden feel from the photo. 

Steamed Up

We all need a way to vent our frustration right? This little Steampunk inspired box tells my story about being irritated, mad, frustrated or upset. I write down what is bothering me and at the end of the month I burn all the little papers, therapeutic huh? Yep. Sometimes there is only 1 paper, thank goodness!

I started with a box that I purchased at the thrift store and of course the little hat. I painted the box with teal acrylic metallic paint after I applied gesso. It took about 3-4 coats. While that was drying I was working on finishing my hat. I had started the hat awhile ago but wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. I based the box around the hat. 

I used paper from SOE/SOD that had a flourish design on it and cut 5 panels to cover the outer sides. I also used paper on the inside of the box to cover the inner 5 sides as well. 

I used a wooden corset on one side that I painted with the same teal paint. I added a lace trim and a pleated skirt (it didn't photograph well) to the corset. On the other side I used a TH die to make paper roses. I also painted these with the teal paint, and added black ink to the edges of the flower and clear Stickles to give it some sparkle. 

The front of the box has a black clock on it that was embossed with black glitter embossing powder and a peacock feather with black tulle behind it to tie the box and hat together. The metal corner TH pieces were added last. 

This little box is probably my favorite project done so far. I wish you all could see it in real life. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your lovely comments, it brightens my day! Carpe Diem!

This little story box will be shared with the following:

SanDee & Amelie's Steampunk-Steampunk Stories (HERE)

Craft Hoarders Anonymous-All the Pretty Flowers (HERE)

Anything but a Card #39-Steampunktember (HERE)

Through the Craftroom Door Sept 9th-15th (HERE)

Falling Leaves

Hello! I started this project with a mad hatter theme in mind but switched it up to Fall to fit with the theme for Mixed Media Mojo-Fall/paste, where I am a new Design Team member. Thrilled is not even close to how happy I am to be with this team! Enjoy!

First I use gesso on my 8x10 canvas, then painted small strips of blue to show the "sky" between the wood panels I applied. 

The wood panels were made out of chipboard. I used a Mod Podge stencil and made my texture paste a light brown color. I use homemade texture paste made from baby powder, white acrylic paint and Elmer's glue. I then added a layer of gesso over that, dried it and then used Archival brown ink to add some color. 

I cut out plenty of leaves with my Cuttlebug using a Momenta die from Hobby Lobby. The pumpkin was from the Dollar Tree, I just cut it in half and painted it with Silks Spiced Pumpkin. The original pumpkin is the bottom one. 

I found these amazing top hats and bought every last one they had (4 total, lol!) because I knew I could do lots with it. I cut the hat in half and sprayed the hat with Smooch Spritz copper (not a fan of their bottles-too messy but the color is wonderful) and added a red stitching design, a leaf, and a gold band to fill it out. 

Next comes the box holding the leaves. I purchased this with the top hats. I applied Distress Crackle paint in Peeled Paint and Vintage Photo to the box and added  the words "Leaves are Falling". I embossed the words with black glittery embossing powder and edged the orange paper with brown Archival ink. Adding the straw (Dollar Tree) put the finishing touch on this box. 

Thanks for stopping by and leaving your lovely comments, it brightens my day! Carpe Diem!~€

I will be sharing this project with the following:

Rhedds Creative Spirit-Anything Goes. HERE

Artistic Stamper-Autumn Colors and use a rubber stamp HERE My stamp in Leaves are Falling that I embossed.

Inspiration Journal-Fall is in the Air HERE

Try It on Tuesdays-Use Your Stash HERE. I have had the leaf die cut in my stash but never thought I would use it. Thank goodness I had it and the orange construction paper is from an art class I took in High School, yes, I save everything art related and orange is not a favorite color for me. :)

Altered Eclectics-Anything Goes HERE

Mixed Media Mojo

Hey y'all! This is my first post as a Design Team member for Mixed Media Mojo! So exciting!

For our September Challenge we would like you to create a project that incorporates Fall and uses paste (modeling paste, embossing paste, etc). Get those creative hats on and enter HERE!

Here is a sneak peak at what I made. Enjoy! I will post more later. 

You can check out the other Design Team members projects by clicking on their names.

Maria

Amber

Tameko

Shery

Barb

Kim