paper strips

Here is a fun project to try; start with any kind of paper. I used some non-slick magazine page that I used to smear paint with.  

 Tear the paper into strips of similar width and length. Glue the strips onto watercolor paper using mod-podge or gel medium, making a grid 

After the glue dries fill in the white space and had shading, highlights and shadows. You can use a acrylic wash, watercolor or markers, I used a little of all three.

To learn more about the box go to Upcycling with Ruth

After I finished the project I thought it might have looked better if I had weaved the stripes. So on a little box I made, I did the same project, and this time I weaved the stripes. I like it better weaved, but you can do it either way.

The finished project can stand on it’s own or be used as a background for a more complex collage.

Painted CD case with pressed flowers

This project took a lot longer than it should have, but I like how it turned out. I started with an old CD case I received in the mail.

I kept this case because it was made of wood. I started by painting the front and sides red. I painted the inside with blue and white acrylic paint.

I tried to give the front a weathered look using gesso and brown acrylic paint.

I ripped out two pieces of heavy water color paper to fit on the front and back of the case.  We had massive storm that took out the electricity for the entire town. So I took my two pieces of water color paper out on the porch to paint in the light. I painted the vase with flowers to go on the front using water color pencils.

My neighbor's daughter was fascinated by the water color pencils, so I let her paint on the other piece of paper. She mostly just drew patches of color and her name. She left the paper, I did not want to throw it away. I crumpled up the paper, then I got it soaking wet. I let it dry than ironed it flat.

I was happy with this, I could see flowers and butterflies in the patterns. So I painted a flower and butterfly on the paper.

Using tacking glue, I glued some flowers I pressed onto the painting. Now it was to fragile to go on the outside, so I decided it would go on the inside.

I had the case on the bed, so I could study it, and decide what to put on the back. My cat Gir thinks all craft supplies on the bed are there for her to make a next out of.

She jumped on the case and broke the spine. I made a new spine out of red fabric. I glued a strip to both sides, than I repainted the outside with gesso and red dots.

I painted poppies to go on the back panel after watching The Poppy Spree - Painting week 3 by StudioMargot

When gluing the painting to the back, I smeared the paint with glue. I had to paint another picture of poppies.

At last the project is finished inside

and out.

Little wooden box with stained glass

I have had this little box for years, but I could decide what to do with it.

I stained it brown, but did not like it, so then I painted it  with Gesso.

to paint it I put some bright color (green, blue) down then blended out into white paint.

Next I took some strips of stained glass I had left from some glass boxes I  made, and cut them with a glass cutter to fit in the indentations in the box.

Using Amazing Goop I glued the glass to the box, fitting it into the indentations.

I finished it off with a beaded wire I tied into a bow. If you don't have glass strips around you can use beads. The beads will stay in the indentations long enough for the glue to dry.

Blue chalk paint box

I found this box in with some old toys, it had battleships and pegs in it. I liked the pattern on the box.

I mixed together one part blue and white paint and one part Plaster of Paris. Normally for chalk paint it is 3 parts paint to one part plaster of Paris. I mixed it up with a wet paint brush and than covered the outside of the box.

After the paint dried I used a medium grade sandpaper to sand off some of the paint letting some of the pattern to show.

I found an old earring and some fuzzy yarn with colors I thought would look good on the box. I hot glued the earring on the lid and wrapped the yarn once around the lid and three times around the bottom of the box. My cat Gir is in the picture because when ever I get the yarn out, she thinks it's for her.

I love how this turned out. I liked the chalk paint also, I will be using it again.

Bird upcycled stationery box

I started with a box that steaks came in.

I cut off the tabs and cut a piece of cardboard to fit across the bottom of the box to form a tray.

I glued the cardboard in place using tacky glue. The tacky glue did not work very well, but it was good enough. Next I got out different colors of resume paper and tore them into strips. Using a half glue and half water mixture I glued the strips to the box. The paper helped to hold the cardboard in place.

After the glue dried I painted a blue back ground with watercolors. on top of the box. Using a toothbrush I dipped in green paint I sprayed paint on the top and sides of the box I painted a bird on a branch on the top of the box.

Next I took some pink scrapbook and ripped out the corners and glued them to the corners of the box. I ripped the paper on the bird a little bit, and painted a light brown wash over the bird and background using watercolor pencils. Using watercolor pencils I painted the edges of the scrapbook paper red.

I outlined the flowers with magic markers and glued glitter on the flowers. I painted more red on the edges of the scape book paper, and outlined the inside with black ink.

I thought the edge was too smooth, so I took a wet sponge to the edge and ripped and tore it until it looked a lot more ragged. Using pastels I drew in more trees, sky and fixed up the bird a little bit. I used pastels because I think it is a good contrast to the paper. I filled in more dots on the paper.

I covered the entire box with a sealant. I put more glitter on the flowers, than I used mod podge puzzle saver on only the paper to give it a glossy finish.

I made a pull from some red velvet ribbon I think mom had left over from the 60's. I attached it to the inside of the lid using my glue gun.

It is  hard to tell from the pictures, but the bird part of the box is nice and chalky and the paper is shiny with glitter. I wanted it to look like the flower paper ripped away to show an older painted bird underneath.

All in all I am happy with the results.

Box with bead tassel

I started this project with a box a candle came in. I liked the metal decorations on the corners and the holes on the top of the lid.

I started by removing the decoration from the top of the box. Than I painted the entire box turquoise, being careful to clean any paint off the corners.

Using a sponge I added some dark blue ink and light green ink. I painted the metal silver, I filled the holes in with black ink to give the box an aged feel.I made the tassel stinging turquoise flat beads and  chips, silver beads, a silver star, green seed and bugle beads and a light  blue glass bead on .015 bead stringing wire and a silver hoop.

I made simple patterns with copper, light blue and silver acrylic paint. In the center I made swirly patterns with copper paint, then decided I did not like it. So I painted over it with light blue paint. I like the way you can just barely see the patterns under the light blue.

I am happy with this box.

Zentangle inspired box

This was an easy project, I had the perfect box, I think a phone or something electronic came in this box.  I cut out watercolor paper to fit the sides and top. I created a design that would run around the box, then I painted in the background color, then I filled it in with patterns. I used pens and colored pencils to color in the patterns, then I glued the watercolor paper to the box.

The box is ideal for storage of my small drawings.