“Pimp a Box”- It’s All About the Vintage and Beauty Challenge

    Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone!  It’s a day to give someone you love a big hug and let them know how much they mean to you…
     Today, I am sharing a “first” with you…. I was invited to be a guest designer for this month’s challenge at a blog new to me called “It’s All About the Vintage and Beauty”.  The blog features projects that are vintage, retro, old fashioned or antique!

   A day after I accepted the invite, the challenge theme was revealed, and yes, it was to “Pimp a Box.”  Now I am sure that since the blog is written in another language, that something might have been lost in the translation to English, so after I had a laugh, I went into an immediate panic as I did not know where to begin.  Of all the challenge themes I might have anticipated, this was NOT among them!
    Thank goodness for Pinterest, as there were so many gorgeous altered boxes and books from which I could draw inspiration. I even created two new boards on my Pinterest page featuring all the wonderful altered books and altered box creations of some talented artists!  You can check them out HERE or click on the Pinterest link on my sidebar!
     For my project, I purchased a 5 inch unfinished wood box from Joanns. I knew a square would be the best shape to begin with and the size was perfect for a beginner!   Working with a soft shade of blue, I painted the entire box, inside and out with a beautiful soft  blue Martha Stewart satin acrylic paint – “Cloud”.


     Next, I pulled out an old K&Company 12×12 paper pad called “Bailey”. All the papers are so lovely and vintage- they look like canvas and many are already distressed on the edges.  I fussy cut two five inch squares, one for the top of the box that featured two lovely flourishes, and a square for inside. I glued them down with Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive. This glue is perfect for attaching paper- no bubbles, no wrinkles!  Once attached, I sanded the edges for a more distressed look and then inked the edges with Brushed Corduroy ink.

     Then, the “fun” began.. I painted a silver WOC metal corner with White Pearl (Ranger) paint dabber and sprinkled it with Deco Art Glamour Dust before attaching to box. Next, I added the pearl/bling flourishes over the white flourishes in the design paper.  I added WOC and Prima roses, but the white/blue combination did not pop until I added the deep red roses to the mix.  Then, I stamped “DREAM” with an Inkadinkadoo wood stamp on a piece of manila tag and cut the letters apart, again distressing the edges with Brushed Corduroy ink.  I added blue swarovski crystals to each letter.

      Last, I embellished the side of the box simply with lace and trim.  I added some ivory shabby crinkled seam binding (oh I hate to use it because I love to look at it….) from Live and Love Crafts, and roses.  The lace and trim were attached with a Fabri-Tac glue (open the windows) and it went on effortlessly.  Because of the snow blizzard, I was unable to get out to Michaels to buy the Tim  Holtz Foundation Feet  to add to the bottom of the box before this post. I am getting them tomorrow!

   I hope you like my project… while I stressed out initially, I knew the challenge would leave me feeling good about trying something outside my comfort zone!

     Now, it is your turn to join the “Pimp a Box” challenge at It’s All About the Vintage and Beauty challenge blog… For the month of February, you can enter to win some candy, too…the winner will receive Goddess Girls -a set of 25 beautiful digital stamps from The Gecko Galz- you must check them out HERE… gorgeous!
      Thank you for your patience in reading this long post, and as always, for your kind comments! I will be entering this creation in the following challenges:

Challenges:
Bunny Zoe’s Crafts- Flowers and Pearls
Eureka Stamps- Swirls and Pearls
My All Crafts Challenge- Show us what you create
Pretty Little Ribbon- Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp-Something Messy
Stamps With Fun- Vintage
Through the Craftroom Door-Anything Goes
Deep Ocean Challenges- The Letter B (box)
Sarah Hurley Challenges- Anything But a Card
Southern Girls- Bling it On

This Post Has 28 Comments

  1. Helen

    Wow, this is stunning. I've never altered anything but you've inspired me to have a go.

    Hugs Helen xx

  2. Johanna

    Hi Ann Marie! So nice to see you as our guest designer at our challenge blog! Your altered box looks so beautiful, great color combo and details. I love that shabby chick style :o)
    Your blog is full of wonderful creations, I really like your coloring with copics!
    Hope to see you again soon…

  3. What a beautiful box, love all the very pretty details!! the pearls look wonderful, thanks so much for joining us @ Deep Ocean,love,melly. xxx

  4. mamof9

    WOW Ann Marie, what a gorgeous box, Love the colour and the flowers are gorgeous to. Thank you for joining Eureka Stamp Challenge, hope to see you again.
    DT Memeber x

  5. brenda

    An absolutely stunning Victorian box Ann Marie.

    Thanks so much for sharing with us Pretty Little Ribbons challenge.

    B x

  6. Sandra

    Really stunning! Love the frilly look! All the beautiful roses, lace and pearls. The foundation feet will look great underneath it! Thank you so much for joining us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. Hugs, Sandra

  7. Your box is breathtaking! Very beautiful creation.
    Happy Valentine´s weekend to you.
    Susan

  8. Your box is breathtaking! Very beautiful creation.
    Happy Valentine´s weekend to you.
    Susan

  9. Hi Anne Marie, this is just fabulous…I love the vintage look and you created a wonderful box. Your showcasing is awesome. joann sassy raggedy

  10. Marlies

    A gorgeous box! So very romantic with all the lace and pearls! I love this! Thanks for joining us at The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop. Marlies

  11. Penny

    Love this beautiful box, Ann Marie! The colors are gorgeous, love the distressing, love all the pretty laces and flowers you used, and love the embellies, too! :^)
    Hugs, Penny

  12. So very girly. Lovely project Anne-Marie, thanks for joining our Bling it On challenge.

    Cheers,
    Kasey ~ in Oz
    Southern Girls DT

  13. Anonymous

    Just gorgeous, I love the pretty lace and pearls beautifully done
    hugs julie P

  14. Janine

    Your box is just gorgeous Ann-Marie.
    Lovely colours and details.
    Thanks for joining us at Anything Goes.
    Hugs, Janine xx

  15. Ann Marie
    Absolutely stunning, beautiful and a treasure box to show off! You did an amazing job. I went to the Gecko Galz and ordered both their sets of stamps – they are beautiful and I am excited about working with them. Thanks for sharing your talents with us. Big Hugs

  16. I'm SO blessed to have found your sweet blog today, Ann-Marie. You are so talented, and I love this gorgeous treasure box. Thanks for sharing this in our Pearls and Swirls Challenge this week.
    Come back soon!
    Blessings,
    karen

    P.S. I have another challenge blog where we'd just LOVE to have you share your beautiful art and talents with us. We are Word Art Wednesday – always Anything Goes. Please come play along with us!
    http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

  17. Hello, your box is a dream and such wonderful photographs of it too. Thank you for being such a fabulous GDT with us at It's all about the Vintage for this challenge. Wishes, Suzanne x

  18. Gorgeous, I love boxes. Beautiful piece. Thanks for joining the challenge with Sarah Hurley this time.

  19. Tracy

    This is so lovely Ann Marie and a perfect box for a special treasure! You picked wonderful embellies to give it just the right flair. Great job on pimping your box. LOL Hugs!

  20. Kjersti

    Wow! This is stunning Ann Marie! A gorgeous box, beatifully decorated!
    Have a nice week!
    Hugs Kjersti:)

  21. Sandy

    I had to read this twice – at first I thought it said Pimp's Box – and I thought well this is interesting. Well I must say your box is divine – wonderful and beautiful – who ever thought that pimping a box would be so grand!
    Sandy

  22. Kezzy

    Wow wow amazing creation I love it. Thank you for joining us at Anything Goes Challenge Blog 🙂 Kezzy xx

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