Mother's Day Treasure Box

I am always on the look out for cigar boxes and each different kind bring a new challenge which I love! I got two raw wood cigar boxes, bringing me back full circle to the original fancy lacy wood cigar box, I had designed months ago.

On these I used the 3 step painted crackle medium, only one took the crackle better than the other. I used white paint as the base and orchid as a top coat. I went back in with white paint on the smaller box, which didn't take the crackle very well and it looks just fine!

 I ran a running stitch across flat cream lace and gathered it around each box using a glue gun to adhere the lace to the boxes. Then I adhered ruffled cream lace over the flat gathered lace.

Using music printed paper and purple cardstock, I die cut label shapes, putting them through the Cuttlebug with Spellbinders. Then I glued one music label on top of each purple label, for stability and distressed them with purple ink.

 Next I made a purple rose with deep green leaves using the Flower Shoppe cartridge on my Cricut. The Cricut was set at fit to page and Fun1 flower part and for the 2 green leaves I cut at 2 1/2" at Fun 5. Next I wound the coil flower around itself, adding quick drying glue as I went helping it to stay in place and glued the ends at the bottom of each. I pulled the petals down and shaped the flower. I gave each flower more definition with ink on the petal edges and I glued the leaves to the flowers.

I placed 2 shapes on pop dots on each box and glued a flower to the top o each. A hole was drilled and ribbon tied through it. Tim Holtz feet were added at each corner. Beads and other embellishments were added.

I'm sure any mom would enjoy having this box to put treasures in! I'm going to give one of these boxes to a very special treasured friend!

The Circus Pop-Ups with Graphic 45 and Cricut

Well it's no secret Graphic 45 is my favorite paper company and I doubt that you didn't know that cigar boxes and pop-up cards are running in second place, as far as favs go! In these projects I get to use all three plus my wonderful Cricut Expression!

The Graphic 45 Le Cirque paper spoke to me and said circus cigar boxes. So after a lovely black cigar box was finished, I noticed I had 2 more boxes that were narrow and wouldn't it be so neat to open a box and see a circus act inside? Well of course it would and I figured I was up to the challenge.

First using Beacon 3 in 1 glue I papered strategic areas of the boxes with those wonderful illustration and patterns. I used Tim Holtz feet on one box and I used his curio knob on another. Next I looked through my Cricut cartridges and decided on the images. The first with clowns and a tent are from Paper Doll Dress Up page 58 and the second pop-up is from Everyday Pop-Up cards pages 24 and 66. No, I didn't use the cartridge pop-up cuts. The op ups were done with the same cube technique, I had used in the past. It was a bit tricky, taking time to make them work and fit in to the box, but when they worked it was fun to see the surprise on peoples faces!

I entered this post into several linkys this week!
My entry into A Crafty Soiree sponsored by Appliances Online and the Bosch Washing Machines.

More Altered Cigar Boxes

Congratulations to the 30 artists who made the cut into the second round of the Graphic 45 design team call. Graphic 45 paper is just so inspirational, just check out my latest boxes! These two boxes were created and inspired by the "Steampunk Debutante Collection."

Beacon 3-in-1 craft glue was used to adhere paper and embellishments to each box. I used Tim Holtz feet on both, his sprocket gears on one and a curio knob of his on one also. The amber knob was in a bin at Michaels and my husband cut the shank to fit the box. The clock 3D sticker is from Jolee's boutique.

I sure hope you come back to see what I'm working on now...inspired by another Graphic 45 paper collection.