The Power Of Thinking...

Hello friends and welcome to a brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! This week our theme is called INSIDE THE BOX and as the title says, we want you to use a box and decorate it in any way you choose!

For my project, I chose to use one of Tim Holtz's Vignette Boxes and inspired by one of the quotes on Tim's Clippings Stickers, I created a box all about 'The Power Of Thinking". (Click on the photo below for an enlarged image and to see all the details).

The outside cover of the box

So, let's get started because it's time for the new challenge!

I started by using the largest Vignette Box in the set and covered the sides of the box with some of the striped paper from the Dapper Paper Stash, all adhered into place using Matte Collage Medium. I then took one of the tapes from the Vintage Design Tape set and applied this around all the raw edges of the box.

On the inside of the box, I used some more of the striped paper, together with some of the ruler design paper and applied these to the sides, applying a coat of Vintage Collage Medium over the entire box to seal all the papers and allowing it to dry thoroughly.

For the cover, I used the largest Vignette Panel and applied some more of the tape around the four raw edges of the panel. I then attached the cover to the left hand side of the box using the Design Tape to form the hinge. By applying the tape on the inside and outside and adhering it where the panel joins to the box, it will hold the cover in place and there's no need to add hinges, it really does the job and hold it solid.

I now have my box ready to decorate...

...and I started by creating the rusty metal background that you can see in the back of the box. For this I chose to use the Riveted Metal Texture Fade and embossed a piece of silver metallic kraft card. I applied Black Soot Distress Paint over the top of the embossed card and then wiped away any excess paint. Gently heat dry the painted surface and then, using a sanding tool, I lightly sanded over the top before applying a small amount of Aged Brass Alchemy Wax to accentuate the raised areas. I then attached my card to a piece of chipboard, applied foam pads onto the back of the chipboard and attached this to back wall of the box. By using the foam pads, it creates a faux back, bringing it in slightly and creating a narrower depth to the inside of the box.

Using one of the new Vignette Frames, I applied a coat of gesso over the frame before painting it with a coat of Antique Linen Distress Paint. Heat dry the paint and then dry brush the surface with Ground Espresso Distress Paint to create a more worn look to the wood. To complete the frame, I applied a small amount of the wax over the top to highlight the detail.

Attach the frame centrally inside the box using Collage Medium.

Using a Tim Holtz lightbulb which I had in my stash, I gave the metal work a quick coverage of Alcohol Ink ~ Rust, Pitch Black and Stonewash and then layered it over the top of a rusty gear.

I attached the smallest of the new metal rulers across the frame and then added a Foundry Adornment over the top, again altered with the Alcohol Ink to create a rusty look to the metal.

Now moving onto to the inside cover and for this I used one of the stamps from the wonderful new Inventor 2 Stamp set (if you love this stamp set as much as I do, it's worth checking out the other two stamp sets in this series).

I cut a panel of Mixed Media card that would fit the cover and then inked it with a combination of Iced Spruce, Antique Linen, Hickory Smoke, Frayed Burlap and Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Inks...applying the inks individually to a craft sheet, spritzing with water and then dipping my card in and out of the inks to pick up the colour. Heat dry the card and if you need to dip again, then carry on...

Once I was happy with the colour, I then stamped the image using my stamp platform onto the inked card and coloured it with Distress Marker Pens. Flick some Black Soot Distress Paint across the surface, distress and ink the edges and then attach the artwork on the inside cover.

We're nearly there and all that's left is the front cover...

I inked a panel of the Mixed Media card using the same inks and technique as before. Scrape a small amount of gesso over the surface, ink the edges and add some Black Soot Distress Paint flicks to complete the background.

For the numbers I used the Merchant stamp set, placing the numbers onto my stamp platform and stamping the numbers across the bottom section of the inked card using Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink. I then spritzed the numbers with a light misting of water, allowing the ink to run before dabbing away the excess water and heat drying to set the ink. Place the card back into the stamp platform and then ink up the numbers with the Vintage Photo Oxide Ink and stamp them again over the top of the original ones to create a really good, defined image of the numbers.

Attach the background panel onto the front of the cover. Taking one of the new large Keyholes, which I inked with alcohol ink, I placed this in the centre using Collage Medium and then attached a Clock Key and screws to the keyhole.

I antiqued and grunged up a Quote Chip, 'Salvaged' and attached this to the cover...

...and as the finishing touch, added a Clippings Sticker, 'the power of thinking' along the bottom.

Finally, I added two metal mini knobs down the side of the box....

...and that completes this week's project, which I hope you love as much I loved making it! It's a fun piece to create and one that I'm really pleased with ~ it turned out just how I envisaged it!

Don't forget, you can find more inspiration from my talented teamies over on the challenge blog and every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....

Thank you so much for stopping by today and I'll see you very soon!

Love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Stamp Sets: Inventor 2, Merchant
Tim Holtz/Sizzix Texture Fade: Diamond Plate and Riveted Metal

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Antique Linen, Ground Espresso
Distress Oxide Ink: Iced Spruce, Antique Linen, Hickory Smoke, Frayed Burlap and Vintage Photo

Distress Marker Pens

Idea-ology: Framed Panel, Vintage Design Tape, Aristocrat Design Tape, Quote Chip, Hex Fasteners,  Foundry Adornments, Large Keyholes, Clock Key, Vignette Box, Vignette Panel, Clippings Stickers

Finnabair Hardware: Mini Knobs

Mediums: Gesso, Matte Collage Medium, Vintage Collage Medium, Jet Black Archival Ink, Aged Brass Alchemy Wax

Surfaces: Dapper Paper Stash, Metallic Kraft Stash, Mixed Media Heavyweight Card

Ranger Craft Sheet

Ranger Foam Tape

Heat Gun
Stamp Platform
Tim Holtz Lightbulb from my own stash