A warm welcome to all my visitors,

Thank you for taking the time to come and look at my blog, I really do appreciate it. I would love you to leave me a comment, even if it’s just to say Hi. It means I can come visit you!

All my designs are original, so copyrighted to me. If I have been inspired by someone elses work, I have named them in the post, and where able, I have provided a link.

Please feel free to use my designs for inspiration, I just ask you to credit me, and provide a link back to my blog.

Thanks, Shaz XX

Tuesday 3 January 2012

WOYWW #135

Well, a Happy New Year to all my fellow WOYWWers-  if you are new to this, pop over to our delightful hostess, Julia Dunnit at The Stamping Ground and join in with the most addictive bit of legal snooping around.
You may remember a few weeks ago I was talking about finding a wooden chest for my  Beloved Husband, who is a fan of fruit teas ( I call it his Hot Squash fetish). I managed to find some, and they have them in all sorts of sizes, from two to a dozen compartments. The supplier was via Amazon, Coins Accessorise, and they have lots of little boxes in their store, perfect for altering. I didn't want one too large, as it was to take to work & keep in his toolbox, so this one seemed perfect.
I inked loads of white tissue with mists, then overstamped with dragons, swirls and so on.  The tissue was torn up, then pasted over the box. A few coats of spray varnish sealed it from the oil where we work.  I stamped a large dragon onto acetate, backed with adhesive film and then covered in gilding flakes, from a selection at Crafty Notions.
This was a lot of fun to do, and I learned quite a bit in the process.
Firstly, colour & stamp a lot  more tissue than you think you will need. When you run out, its very hard to get the same sort of colour blend.

 Second, don't put the main image on first, then do the tissue bit.Definitely the wrong way around.
 But I think the most important lesson I learned, was Never have your mug of coffee and pot of PVA on the same side of the table. Very easy to dunk your brush in the wrong one.
So, I have plans to do some more of these, maybe as Christmas presents this year (See my New Years Resolution post, if nothing else it will give you a good laugh when the epic fail undoubtedly happens), because they had some lovely little drawer units that would make fab jewellery boxes, and for people who don't like teas, the box above could hold candles maybe, or little pots of jam, or bath bombs- what's that phrase about best laid plans of mice and (wo)men? Well, my intentions are good, and yes, I do know there's a saying about that too. Probably the more appropriate one , :)
 So have a great Wednesday, I did really well last week and visited everybody- I even surprised myself,but I was at home all day- back at work this week though, so it will probably take me a few days.

34 comments:

sandra de said...

Ohhh Shaz this is just beautiful. I am sure your DH loves it. Coffee and PVA mix up yep, I think we have all done that one! We just get so absorbed in the creative process and then discover that coffee and tea add some colour to the project. Looking forward to lots of your creations in 2012.

Inkypinkycraft said...

Fantastic box, love playing with boxes too! Youbhave done a great job!happy new year and happy woyww trace x

jude said...

Loving the box it's beautiful.Now ive just been given some gilding flakes havent got clue what to do with them so any help gratefully received!
Have fab wednesday
hugs judex 10

Helen said...

Loving that little box, and good luck with your resolutions! I don't make them, but am trying to de-clutter this year - my flat is sooooo full!!! Happy WOYWW.

ScrappnBee said...

LOL! At least you did not try and sip the other! The box is exquisite! You did a fab job! Thanks so much for sharing! Have a great WOYWW! -Amanda 28

Lunch Lady Jan said...

I love that box!! I think you should do a load for prezzies next year as everyone would love them - you could personalise the contents to make it even more fab :D
PVA/Coffee, mmmmmmmmm. Hope your teeth didn't stick together!!
Happy New Year!
Hugs, LLJ #34 xx

Tuire Flemming said...

You have found a lovely box - and made it even better! Love it!

Happy 2012!
Tuire #44

Neil said...

Happy New year to you. I hope 2012 is a full, busy, fun and creative time for you. Love the box. It came out really well.
Neil#49(ish)

May said...

Beautiful box, you have done an outstanding job, Love it! Hugs May x x x

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

I bet that coffee did not taste too good after that mix up, Shaz. I like your box, though and I know two people at least who would love one of those for Christmas next year - Bec and Merlin would soon fill them. I like working with acetate, and gold leaf etc, you can get such dramatic results with little effort. I am also making a list of possible presents to make for next year, rather than rushing round the shops buying useless stuff. xx Maggie #73

Ann B said...

Very pretty box and thanks for the link to the Amazon site (saved for future spends). Know what you mean about paints and coffee only my trick is to dunk my brush in the drinking water glass and not the dirty water one. Luckily I notice before I swig it.
Ann B
#42

Cathy said...

Gorgeous box Shaz. I too have learned the same lesson as you ... amkes for revolting tea!! Happy WOYWW
Cathy xx

Anonymous said...

I have to confess to slurping my painty water once! Trust me, it is something you'll only ever do once!! Love the box, great style and I love what you did to it.

Hugs
Brenda 76

mamapez5 said...

I love your box, so I hope your husband did too. It has opened up a whole lot of ideas I'd like to try, so I shall keep the link to the box supplier. When I've done a tissue covered box before, I have always done a layer of white gesso first. I don't think you have but the colour is still good, so maybe I don't need to next time. Kate x

Elizabeth said...

Hi Shaz, love the box - it's brilliant and I'm sure hubby was delighted with it. Useful to point out the pitfalls you discovered in the process of making it. I don't make resolutions but I do like to be organised and plan - your plan to make about two Christmas cards sounds good to me :) All the best, Elizabeth x #60

Tertia said...

Your box os lovely. I am sure your DH loves it.
I have learnt the lesson about coffee and paint a few times, but I don't think I am a very fast learner, because I keep doing it! LOL
Happy WOYWW

Julia Dunnit said...

Well what a result! Bet he was really pleased. And welcome to the club. Of dipping your brush in...only one move down from drinking out of your water jar!!! Am loving your best intentions, don't believe a word aboutthe saying....

Unknown said...

I love the box it is gorgeous.
Happy WOYWW
Carol

CRAFTY WOMBLE said...

Ooooh I have that sire pinned on Amazon. I love boxes and drawers (small sets) and tins. Think I shall be joining you in altering a few this year. I agree with the consensus what lovely presents they shall make :)

Cheryl said...

Your altered box is GORGEOUS!

Hazel said...

This is stunningly beautiful - great crafting (Hazel, WOYWW 108) x

Enfys said...

Fantastic project, I love what you did here...happy new year
hugs
Enfys

Katie said...

That is beautiful! I was just thinking yesterday that I needed a nice place to hold my tea, and something like this would be perfect!

Katie #81

Robin Panzer Art said...

Wonderful altered box, a lovely gift indeed! Happy WOYWW #5 Robin Panzer Art Studio 33

505whimsygirl said...

WOW!! What a very cool box! Thanks for giving us a little tutorial on how you made it. Something else to try!!!!

Happy New Year!

Kay
WOYWW #92

Princess Judy Palmer said...

So I did go back and read your resolutions and have a chuckle. Not really at you, but at the thought of how many of us have those same resolutions, whether formalized or not. Remember that organization is dynamic and on-going. As you and your life changes so will your organizational needs. That's a nice way of saying it is never-ending! Meanwhile, I love your box! And my advice is never put your reinker bottle next to your eye drop bottle.

lisa said...

I love your box, Shaz, what a gorgeous present. I bet your DH was thrilled. It's so easy to get pots mixed up isn't it, times I've put my brush in my coffee.
Good Luck with your resolutions. I think we all have the same thought in January, it's only when I get to December and time has run out that I realise I've failed with my resolutions in spectacular fashion!!
Happy WOYWW
Hugs Lisax #112

Anne said...

That box is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing and a Happy New Year. Anne x

karen said...

Oooh, you have done an awesome job on this box! Lucky hubby! These would make such fabulous xmas presents for next year!
xoxo Karen

VonnyK said...

Love that box, so beautiful. I know where you are coming from with the coffee and pva glue, mine is usually paint water and coffee.

Angie said...

Happy New year to you and yours ....I love that box ...what a wonderful result.

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hi there Shaz, a stunning piece of work and love the way you did boo-boos too and happily shared them with us - everything like that is a new learning experience. Don't forget about the challenge at the Craft a scene blog.
Thanks so much for popping over, and for sharing. Happy WOYWW! Love, Shaz in Oz. x #24

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

Well done, Shaz, at joining the design team for http://craftascene.blogspot.com/. It is well deserved, and I can't wait to see what you get up to there.

Sheree said...

Gorgeous!! You always amaze me! Congratulations on becoming a Design Team Member at Craft A Scene! I look forward to seeing your designs..Yay!
Hugs,
Sheree

An End of an era

An end of an era

I write this with a broken heart, that only time can heal My beautiful, wonderful wifelet Shaz (Silverwolf) passed away peacefully in the ea...