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Monday 30 April 2012

Altoid Tin Challenge

The local craft stamping group I attend on a monthly basis, set us a creative challenge at our last meeting. To alter an altoid tin. Each of us was furnished with an empty tin and told to take it home and transform it.  Well it has sat on my desk, daring me to make something of it for the last few weeks and suddenly I realise that the next get together is looming. So with paints, gesso, paper and fabric in hand, I set about it's alteration.



I began by painting it with a thin layer of white gesso, to give the surface a key for painting onto. I then mixed a tiny amount of blue acrylic paint into a big dollop of white and brushed the outside in two coats. When dry, I took Ranger's White Opal Liquid Pearls, and smeared the surface with a thin application, using  my finger. This gave it a shimmering, almost metallic appearance. I glued paper twine around the lid and cut a patch of fabric to glue to the top. I frayed the edges of the fabric and adhered it using Ranger's Glue N' Seal. I used a Spellbinders heart die to cut out a shape from mulberry paper and cut out words from an old charity-shop book I have in my stash. I adhered everything with the Glue N' Seal before coating the surface of the tin with a thin layer of Glue N' Seal. It does just what it says on the tin :) Finally I dotted the edge with liquid pearls.




Inside the tin, I cut out a patch of linen fabric to line the bottom. I added a sprinkling of small buttons and a shell to accompany a miniature handmade book.




The book was made from the smallest die in Spellbinders Labels Number 17 set. I made a concertina book using ribbon as the binding. On the outside of the book, I drew a freehand heard using the liquid pearls. Inside, I decorated the pages with more drawn hearts which I coloured with acrylic paints.

And there you go, my entry for the altered altered tin challenge.

If you're wondering if the pictures have been installed on our walls over the weekend, fear not, they are still gathering dust in the corner. So did baking win over? Nope. We had an idle weekend, interspersed with trips to the shops for essential food supplies, a spot of gardening, a couple of countryside strolls and waiting on the cat hand and foot. We blinked and the weekend was over. Never mind, the next one has a bank holiday. We may actually do it then haha.

Px

17 comments:

kjjc said...

fabulous Paul. Maybe we should have a challenge at our crop too. i'll leave that one to you to set-lol. No pressure there then.

Steven said...

lucious!

olive said...

absolutely gorgeous..... I think they make great keepsake tins... xxxx

olive said...

absolutely gorgeous.... make great keepsake tins. xx

Margaret Ann Moffat said...

wow thanks for the tips, love the concept

Vicki said...

This is beautiful! I love the color you were able to get, such a delicate and relaxing color. Inspiration to start a Monday morning. Thank you for sharing this wonderful project.

Michele said...

Gorgeous tin - love the mini book inside x

Frank Garcia said...

What a gorgeous creation Paul, how amazing,love the beautiful colors, and the inside is just perfection! Well done, I am now drooling and feel the need to make one. I worked on one over the weekend, although not a tin but a wooden one, will share soon! Have a good one Paul!!

Hugs! Frank

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous project Paul.
Regards Florence x

JoZart Designs said...

Your tiny tin is so exquisite and I really want to hold it and look at it for myself. Some good little ideas there and I love the tiny die cut pages of the book. Oh, yes! the twine around the lid.. and more and more!
Lv Jo x

Jocelyn said...

This is so beautiful. I love altering mint tins and giving them as part of a "gift card" gift.

Linda Simpson said...

Hello Paul, It is my first visit to your blog and WOW I am blown away by your works of art!!!! I am so loving this little tin and what you have created.

I will be back to see more of your fantastic art work.

Hugs
Linda xxxx

Jemara's said...

Truly stunning Paul.
You should be very proud of your achievements.
A fab gift idea too.
Perfect challenge project.
Well done.

Sandra Wright. said...

Came across you blog and all I can say is I am well impressed...I'm following now.
Super little tin and I love your card...

Sandie

Neet said...

Lovely and I get to see it in real life soon. Great minds re the book! Hoping for a big show of them all on Saturday.
Hugs, Neet xx

Heather Rogers said...

What a darling project. I am totally addicted to SB dies. :)

alexa said...

How delicate is this! And what a great idea ... I love minature objects, and you have packed such a lot into a very small space. That concertina book inside is inspired.