24 April 2013

A Box of Tricks

Hi everyone, time to show you my project for the current Frilly and Funkie challenge - Upcycle For Earth Day. Storage is always an issue, especially when your media stash keeps growing! My set of Distress Paints have until now sat in a small cardboard box, but as there is no doubt that the colour palette will grow in due course a larger container is needed.
And so here's what I've come up with...


And the 'back side'...


Here's how the box began its life...














I started by using a mix of Distress Paints, Stains and Inks to create sheets of 'rusted' paper and used these to cover the box. 'Rust spots' were also stamped around the edges in random patches in Archival Ink.














The next job was to reinforce and the corners with more cardboard - yes, that's corrugated cardboard, great for bending around corners! It was die cut, embossed and then covered in a mix of Distress Paints, Stains, Inks and Embossing Powder, with a final touch of gilding wax.














The handles were made from Grunge Paper strips, coloured with Distress Inks and anchored to the sides of the box with 'nail' brads covered in Alcohol Ink. The letters were made from Grunge Board covered in the same ingredients as the paper and again given a touch of gilding wax to highlight them. To highlight both the letters and the corners Black Soot Distress Paint was dry brushed and smudged around the edges. Finally I added a treasured rusted heart and bottle cap which were further enhanced with some old net curtaining cut into flower shapes and coloured with Distress Paints, heated to wrinkle slightly and finished with more gilding wax (you'll have seen some of these on my Tattered Florals bag previously).















This took some time to complete but will be used daily and holds my Distress Stains collection too (until the space is needed for more Paints when they are available/launched of course!) There's a full 'recipe' list below and if you want more details feel free to leave a comment and I'll get back to you. We would also love to see what you have upcycled for the Frilly and Funkie challenge - don't forget, there's a prize draw up for grabs.
For now, happy Wednesday everyone, hugs Jenny xxx



34 comments:

  1. Terrific recycled box and I love the way you have reinforced the edges--I have made a note of that idea-thank you

    Chrissie x

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  2. I need you to come,
    To my place right now,
    I'm sure you could sort my storage somehow,
    And make amazing boxes out of things in the shed,
    Why, we will even provide you a comfy bed.
    My mess you could make into something quite grand,
    And yes, of course, I would give you a hand.

    Your storage box is AMAZING Jenny!

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  3. Fabulous Jenny. You have created the perfect container for your paints and in wonderful colour tones. I love the rusted background and little elements you have added.
    Have a lovely day.
    Hugs Brenda xox

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  4. Another fabulous make Jenny, you are so creative! Love the grungy rusty effects you have achieved with this box, the die cut corner strengtheners look fantastic too as do the embellishments. Great storage solution!!

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  5. Stunning make! Love this one ... Suzanne x

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  6. This is so practical but looks so great too, and so appropriate for the contents! Will you sort me out after you've sorted everyone else out, please!

    Lucy x

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  7. What a brilliant project Jenny, stunningly altered and a perfect home for all your TH paints & inks. xx

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  8. Morning Jenny, WOW, what a transformation, stunning make and so useful, loving the rust effects and the reinforced corners are brilliant.
    Lots of love from Patricia xx

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  9. Oh Jenny, who would'nt want to have a gorgeous box like this to keep their paints/inks in! The rusty treatment looks fabulous and I just adore the corners and your gorgeous flowers. This really has the wow factor for me.

    Love Julie's ditty above and loved yours on her blog too..... you are both very clever ladies!

    Hugs, Anne x

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  10. jenny what a beautiful make,I love how you achieve the wonderful rust finish and those corners look wonderful in allthe or embossed yumminess, a really fab make hugs trace x

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  11. Oh! WOW! Jenny I wish I had half of what goes on in your head. This is absolutely amazing.
    I am off out to our Paper Recycling Bin to rescue a similar box. I threw it out as I felt the "corners" would come apart when using it. Now I know better..............brilliant project you have done here.

    Patricia xxx

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  12. Jenny, this is such a great alteration and a gorgeous one at that! Love the rusty effect! I could kick myself as I had a pretty sturdy box and never thought to recycle it! Maybe I still have it!!! Hugs!

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  13. That's so cool Alison I really thought it was an old tin should have known better lol
    Von ♥

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  14. Hi Jenny, How do you keep doing it! every time I come on to your blog you make me go wow! Love this altered box so effective and so very useful. Love the handles and corner pieces in particular. Hugs Mo x

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  15. This is awesome! Would fit well in my "mission organization"!

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  16. Fantastic, a wonderful box for your paints.

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  17. Great idea Jenny and one that I could do with copying. My paints are currently in the tin "bucket" I bought to keep the clothes pegs in. And the clothes pegs are in, er um, a plastic bag LOL Margie x

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  18. Hi Jenny,
    Happy Wednesday to you,
    I do love your pretty storage,
    Rosie x

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  19. What an amazing idea Jenny! Your paint box looks so great since your alteration. Hard to believe that it was just a simple box...but "we" know how good you can alter all kinds of things. Again great artwork in every detail!

    kind regards, Alie :-)

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  20. Love this Jenny ! The corner pieces are fabulous and this is such a wonderful piece of art that will be great to have in your craft roomn. Sue C x

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  21. What a fabulous make... beautiful, practical - and brilliantly 'upcycled'... for this you deserve as many Distress Paints as you like!!
    Alison xx

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  22. Hi Jenny, I'm trying to catch up but have realised very quickly that there is no way I can noe absorb all your fabulous deets. However I can most definitely say that you are superb in your amazing capacity for new techniques - always with stunning results. Especially love the faux aged plasterwork some posts down! I hope that you are well. Nicola x

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  23. Lovely! It's so nice having customized containers for all our craft goodies, isn't it? I love your colors and how you've reinforced your corners.

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  24. Great upcycling here! I love love love the corners and handle! It really looks so sturdy and vintage! Great idea!

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  25. That is great!! I love the design you did on the box and it is so useful. How fun!!
    Hugs Kelly

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  26. Hi Buttons, well what a fabulous idea, you have taken that box and totally and utterly changed it.
    Its excellent and has some wonderful techniques going on. Awesome! Cx

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  27. What a great idea! The box itself is beautiful and cleverly executed and I just love the creativity in the box 'corners' and the handles. A clever piece indeed, great! Chris xxx

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  28. ^This looks fabulous, practical and beautiful!
    Avril xx

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  29. A brilliant piece of recycling and you've made a plain old cardboard box look so amazing - love it!! Such attention to detail - this would grace any working area.

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  30. I love upcycling and this is fabulous! Love it!
    Hugs, neet xx

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  31. Just catching up with your projects as I was absent for a few daysx Absolutely love this box. Lots of different techniques used and great corners/florals.
    Great piece of upcycling.

    Hugs

    Annie x

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  32. First of all I cannot believe I am just seeing this now. Second I'm absolutely flabbergasted that this beautiful (and functional) work of art was once a cardboard box. Wowza Jenny consider me inspired! I would love to feature this on Totally Green Crafts next week. Such a great project...my hat's off to you girlfriend!

    Amy*

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comments - they are really appreciated and will be published when moderated. Jenny xxx

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