Handmade Matchbox

PaperArtsy Challenge Topic 8 : Boxes.

Last weekend when I saw the PaperArtsy challenge inspiration, the example that caught my eye was the matchbox art. I have never tried making a box so retrieved my old envelope punch board that has been gathering dust on the shelf and searched the internet for instructions to make a matchbox. I found a good one and made a test box out of kraft card. The test box worked so became my final box.

Here is the You Tube video I found:
http://www.ddstamps.com/dd_stamps/2013/12/another-box-using-the-stampin-up-envelope-punch-board.html
Thanks to Diane Dimich for the instructions.


I decorated my box with Jofy images from stamp sets 13 and 24, stamped directly onto the box and stamped onto old book pages. What to put in the box? Well, it is always useful to have a few gift tags to pop on presents so I made three matching gift tags.

Here is my matchbox project.

I decorated the inside of the box.

.... a view of the front of the match box.

.... and the three tags.

That project was a good way to relax after spending the morning tackling the wilderness that is my garden on such a hot day. 

Until next time, have a great weekend everybody. x

Crafting with Kraft : PaperArtsy Topic 7

Kraft card is so versatile and I really like the natural effects you can achieve using it. For the latest PaperArtsy Challenge we use Kraft card as the base. 

The PaperArtsy challenge blog for Topic 7 : Kraft Card has many inspirational ideas for using Kraft card.

I wanted to use a stencil for texture on my card and I was thinking leaves. I really like black and white on Kraft but to add some colour to the composition I decided to experiment with texture paste mixed with paint. Then I tried texture paste with infusions (Emerald Isle) and really liked the result.

Here are the experiments:

On the left is the texture paste applied through a stencil, sprinkled with infusions and a quick spritz of water. I really like that effect. The middle panel is a mop-up of the texture paste left of the stencil mixed with the infusions. The panel on the right is mermaid Fresco paint mixed with texture paste and applied to the stencil. 

I stamped some leaves on Kraft card and cut them out. After arranging them on the panels I ended up with two cards. I think I know which one I like best.

PaperArtsy Stencil PS090 by Sara Naumann

Leaves and Wish sentiment from PaperArtsy ELB29 by Lin Brown

Quote on the second card from PaperArtsy EAB04 by Alison Bomber

Kraft card as a base material works for me for CAS cards so I prefer the Wish card with the bright mermaid texture paste but I am pleased with the effect of the infusions so will use that again maybe with a mixed media project.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else has done for this challenge. x

Loves Me, Loves me Not

Inspired by Alison's lovely vintage tag project mentioned in my last post, here is  my Kraft tag, book pages and gesso project.

Two Kraft tags, stick on some pieces of torn book pages and paint roughly with gesso. The edges of the tags are distressed with vintage photo distress ink.

The daisies are from JOFY13 and stamped on the tag using black archival ink. The photo is rotated and I don't know why.

Colour the daisies with distress markers. I used mustard seed, wild honey, spiced marmalade and brushed corduroy. Tags complete. 

So, having made the tags, I had some of the book page left. To use it up I made the card using the same technique but on white cardstock and mounted on Kraft paper. This works better on Kraft card than on the white cardstock but I am pleased with the result. Love those JOFY daises, I think they are my current favourites.