One Love...

Hello friends!

Another week has flown by and how is it already the end of January?!?! Where did the last month go? Well, the good thing about the start of a brand new week is that the new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge has arrived and this week we are celebrating the fact that LOVE IS IN THE AIR and challenge you to create a project that is based on this fun theme and can't wait for you to join us and play along...

For my project, I couldn't resist using the brand new Faceted Heart Sizzix Die by Tim Holtz and knew that I wanted to create a project that would use this as the focal point. So, I created a vintage vignette box that incorporated plenty of Tim Holtz products and bought them all together to make this home decor piece that holds the key to my heart...

So, let's begin and here's how I created my one love vignette box...

 

To begin with I used the largest of the four Vignette Boxes and before adding the papers, I used Design Tape to cover the raw edges on the outside of the box. 

I then covered my box on the outside and inside using a selection of papers from the Dapper (on the outside) and Collage (on the inside) Paper Stashes.

After attaching the panels of paper using Matte Collage Medium, I set about making the box look worn and old and applied some Ranger Ink Crackle Paste using a palette knife to add directly over the top of the papers, to the corners and around the edges of the box.

After allowing the paste to dry and the crackle to appear, I then applied some Frayed Burlap Distress Ink over the top and let it sink into the crackles before wiping away the excess. To complete the box, I ran the Gathered Twigs Distress Crayon around the outside and blended the colour with a semi dry baby wipe.

I now have my box ready for decorating and began by creating my heart.

I used the larger of the two hearts in the set and cut it from Mixed Media Heavystock Card. I then made my heart up by folding along the scorelines and sticking it together with Collage Medium. Once the medium has dried, I then painted the heart using Candied Apple Distress Paint.

Allow the paint to dry between layers, you can always use a heat tool if you're a little impatient like myself but don't overheat as you don't want to melt the adhesive. I now wanted to grunge it up a little, so I took some Black Soot Distress Paint and dry brushed it over the Candied Apple, concentrating on the folds and the facets of the heart. I then heat dried the paint layer before dry brushing a little Picket Fence over the top and again dried it before flicking Black Soot over the heart. To complete it and make it appear slightly rusty around the edges, I took some Dina Wakley Ancient Paint and just applied it with my finger along each of the edges, just to accentuate the folds before adding a touch of Aged Brass Gilding Wax.

I now have my painted heart and added some Hardware Heads to either side and also added the Number 1 from the Numeric set, onto the front, which I painted with Picket Fence Paint. I had so much fun making these hearts that I made another some more in various colour ways, one of which you can see below, a rusty patina version ready to use on another project!

For the next stage of the box, I made those paper rolls for the heart to sit on. This is such a great way to use up all those offcuts of paper that I collect. I usually cut the papers to the length I will need and them tear the top and bottom edges before rolling the offcuts around a pencil and securing the ends with tape or glue. I then inked the ends of each paper roll using Ground Espresso Distress Ink.

For this project I made 7 paper rolls of various sizes, which I then attached to the smallest Vignette Panel covered in the same paper as I used on the inside of the box.

I matted the panel onto a piece of gold metallic kraft card, cut slightly larger than the panel to create a border.

After attaching my faceted heart over the top of the rolls, I then wrapped the entire panel in wire, securing the ends at the back before mounting it on the inside of the box.

Below the heart panel I spelt out the word 'LOVE' using the Alpha Dice blocks which I wrapped in some more of the paper that I had used on the inside of the box and then, also smeared with a touch of Crackle Paste. I then placed the blocks on the bottom of the box, attaching them with Matte Collage Medium.

Once all the pieces are secure and the glue has dried I then attached a Vignette Stand to the base and added the handle from the Hardware Pulls set, to the top.

Both of these have been altered using Evergreen Bough, Black Soot and a touch of Rust Alcohol Ink to create a rusty finish.

I also added some of the Hardware Heads, (I absolutely LOVE these and I will be buying them in bulk, they are just so cool) to give the appearance that the handle is nailed to the box.

To complete my box, I added the locket key to my heart which hangs down the side of the box, attached by a piece of chain to a Hitch Fastener. The key itself was altered using Evergreen Bough Distress Paint and a touch of Rust Alcohol Ink.

I also included a Story Stick with the word 'found' on it....

So, that completes my project for this week and I really hope you've loved how I bought this to life and how it tells the story of One Love, who has found the key to someone's heart.

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 taking the time to stop by today and hope to see you again soon, love Emma xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Dies: Faceted Heart

Distress Paint: Black Soot, Evergreen Bough, Picket Fence, Candied Apple
Distress Ink: Ground Espresso, Frayed Burlap

Idea-ology: Vignette Box, Vignette Panel, Hitch Fasteners, Hardware Heads, Vignette Bases, Numeric, Hardware Pulls, Story Stick, Alpha Dice, Locket Keys

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Crackle Texture Paste, Dina Wakley Ancient Acrylic Paint
Alcohol Inks: Rust 

Surfaces: Dapper Paper Stash, Collage Paper Stash

Tim Holtz Media Glass Mat

Tim Holtz Guillotine

Heat Gun
Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool
Palette Knife
Paint Brushes
Aged Brass Alchemy Wax, Wire and chain from my own stash