Mixed Media Art Boxes

 As for gifts, nothing pleases me more than to receive a box of old stamps, newspapers, bottle caps, rusty metal pieces, vintage photos, ... 

Well, you get the idea - I love mixed media art boxes.

Crammed with all the goodies for an artist, a scrapbooker, or a vintage collector.

I selected two boxes from my diminishing craft stash (YAY!)

One a slatted box and the other a cigar box.

Yes, I know there is only one in the photo.

I forgot to take a pic of the other.

 I used a mixture of gesso and black craft paint.  It only took one coat.

A nice blue-gray color.

All of the images used in this project were selected from Karen at The Graphics Fairy.

One box has three Eiffel towers and the other a label for a condition powder for livestock.

Of course Mod Podge was involved here.

I did not put a top coat of MP.

 I dry brushed with a linen craft paint. Next I applied two coats of satin varnish.

In the photo you can see the difference distressing ink makes on both the images and the painted surface.

The distressing ink went all over the outside of both boxes.

 I chose five French images for the Eiffel Tower box and five farm animal images for the horse powder box.

Printed them out on antique ivory  cardstock nine to a page and cut them into tags.

Three tags of each image.

I rummaged through Horror Monster, my craft stash, to gather up loose bits and pieces which would fit the two themes.

Carefully so no box felt the least bit slighted, I divided the loot between the two.

Small items were tied with ribbons.

Corsage pins were used to hold pieces together.

Small bundles of lace were added.

The tags were placed in glassine bags and tied with ribbon.

I lined each box with pink tissue paper so the contents would not be jostled.

I tied the boxes with twine with a tag with ART BOX printed on it.

I did write the theme on the back of the tag:  French Theme and Farm Theme.

Just in case someone missed the hints.









So now you know if you have to come up with a present for me, it is the easiest thing in the world.  Look in your junk drawers for some rusty things, some casters, some newspaper, or some old illustrations.  I have been known to be ecstatic over a bunch of keys, buttons, or torn vintage fabric.  

Just throw it in a box.

See y'all!