Thursday, October 10, 2013

Top Secret Altered Box ~ eP Get Altered Challenge


It's time for the October Get Altered challenge at eclectic Paperie. The Get Altered Challenge is all about exploring your creative journey, stepping out of your comfort zone, experimenting with new products, and creating altered or mixed media art. We love to see your creations and if you link up to the eP challenge you could win a $15 gift certificate to the eclectic Paperie shop. Micki is our talented and creative hostess with the mostest for this challenge and she has chosen the theme Alter a Box.


 I have been altering more playing cards for a Christmas present and needed a home for them as part of the gift so I started out with a wooden box from Dollarama, similar to the one in the photo but with a different closure and size. Guess who forgot to take a picture before she started...lol.


I removed the handle and coated the box with white gesso. Once that was dry, I scribbled on 5 different colours of Neocolor II watercolour crayons and spread the colour with a wet brush. After allowing drying time, I intensified the colour particularly around the edges but also wherever it needed it using gelatos (Boysenberry, Snow Cone, and Margarita Mix) and a wet finger. Sometimes the watercolour crayons can have the same depth of colour throughout and I like the intensity of the gelatos to break up larger areas. The colours were further deepened around the edges with Cobalt Green, Cobalt Blue, and finally Black Big Brush pens.
Front open

Paper scraps were torn from an old book page and edged with Vintage Photo Distress ink. Papers from Lilybee Designs' Persnickety Tiny Tablet and Fancy Pants' Park Bench collection plus leftover bits of die cut borders were also added to the mix.
Back open

Background stamping was done with a TH script stamp using Memento Teal Zeal ink. Pieces of drywall mesh were added both inside and outside the box to add texture.



Stencilling was done with white gesso using TCW's Halftone Borders (seen below) and Spinning Tops stencils as well as Dylusions Number Jumble stencil. Memento Bamboo Leaves ink was applied through the TCW Confetti stencil.


Shading was created next to the papers on the background with a Sketch and Wash pencil softened with a waterbrush.
(Back view closed)


The collaged images mainly from Tumble Fish Studio were fussy cut and combined before being adhered to the box. The sentiments "Open at Your Own Risk" and "You're going to peek, aren't you" were computer generated and matted with black cardstock to allow them to show up better.

(Inside view)

The Top Secret, Evidence, and This is Art signs were stamped using darkroom door's Mail Art stamps, Versamark ink, and black embossing powder. They were grunged up with Vintage Photo Distress ink after heat setting.
(Sides)

Messy outlining was done with a black Pilot pen. Black gesso was watered down slightly and loaded onto a bottle lid to make the black rings. By placing them over all of the layers it ties them together and embeds the layers into the background and each other.


The knob was painted with the black gesso and a metal edged sticker was adhered to the center of it. What a fun and inexpensive holder...the atcs fit perfectly inside. I know I'll be making a trip back to the dollar store to see if they have any more this size.

Thanks for visiting today, for your amazing support, and wonderful comments. I truly appreciate your spending time with me. Be sure to check out the eclectic Paperie blog to see Micki's amazing altered box. You can see the ones from the rest of the DT and wonderful challenge participants by clicking on the thumbnails below Micki's post.

Life is good; so is art.
Bonnie

Here are links to the eclectic Paperie store for the following products used in this project:

11 comments:

Kim said...

Adore this, Bonnie! Love your little messages...great project!

Micki said...

oh Bonnie, I love this. And I had a "slap my forehead" moment ..... using neocolor II's..... duh me.... I never thought to use these wonderful crayons on altered objects (I tend to use them in art journals or watercolor projects only). LOVE the colors. Awesome!!!!!

ParkNSlide said...

Wow! What a transformation of a dollar box into a treasure chest. Amazing and wonderful.

Sue Lelli said...

OMGosh! There are so many FAB details to your super secret box! LOVE it! Love the photos! Love the colors! Every time I look at it I see something new! Great creations

Redanne said...

What a fabulous transformation of the dollar box, the colour is gorgeous, I love that 'you're going to peek aren't you' sentiment - so funny. The boy image with the butterfly wings is so cute. Love the whole box Bonnie, it is amazing. Hugs, Anne x

Unknown said...

So amazingly fabulous!! Love it! So many layers and colors! What a great place to keep altered cards!

Rea' said...

Amazing idea!!!

~ginny said...

Squack! Wowza! Bonnie - the colors hit me between the eyes - as if I could move deep into the space thru all those layers of colors - kinda ooze down in them. The details are insistent that I look at them, and examine them, and read them... I loved the kid's expression the best with the words - "You're going to peek aren't you?" (S)he looks sad but resigned.
Thank you for your kind and supportive words on CYP - you will see me often here & I hope I can be supportive of you too!
~ginny

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

I LOVE your altered box! The detailing is incredible and the color scheme is so fun. Blessings!

Tracy said...

Another totally fun project Bonnie. Those sentiments get me every time. :-) Hugs!

Tracy said...

Gorrrrgeous and that little boy with your going to peek.pure genius!!
Big hugs
Tracy xxx