Tuesday, 26 March 2013

A Box of Inspiration

Showing you this one feels a bit like baring my soul. There's a lot of me in this box, so I hope you like it.

"A box of inspiration"

There are so many gorgeous quotes stamps about, but my favourites are these from IndigoBlu.

"Let Your Soul and Spirit Fly"

This little box helps me out when I'm feeling sorry for myself.

"Love to Create"

It started out as a cheap £3 blank wooden treasure chest.

"Discover Your Passion"

It's coloured with distress stains, overstamped in archival inks, then has inked diecuts stuck on (I love this tree in the corner). The whole thing was finally coated in multiple layers of clear embossing powder. Originally, I'd intended to embed gems and seed beads into the embossing, but I changed my mind and left it like this, just inking the edges with a gold aquamarker and adding some glass pebbles for feet.

"Inside"

The inside of the box is decorated but not embossed.

"Inspiration"

And here's my inspiration... "Courage, Determination, Strength. That's What Little Girls are Made of".

Ingredients:
IndigoBlu stamp set "Discover Your Passion"
Marianne dies: Bird with Branch (small), Bird with Branch (large), tree
Distress Stains - including Tumbled Glass, Picket Fence
Distress Ink Pads - Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Chipped Sapphire, Peacock Feathers
Archival Ink Pad -  Cobalt Blue
Versamark Ink Pad
gold aquamarker
UTEE
glass pebbles
adhesives: Glossy accents, Claudine Hellmuth matt multi-medium
cheap, wooden treasure chest

Entered for the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Quotable
IndigoBlu - Words and Phrases

14 comments:

  1. I think this is one of those pieces of artwork Maddy that you need to view bit by bit otherwise you might miss some of the lovely elements.

    I've looked at all the pictures several time and see a gorgeous fusion of colour, wonderfully meaningful sentiments (I so need those from IB), the butterfly, the tree, not to mention the lovely chest shape of the box, all so yummy.

    B x

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  2. Fabulous project, so full of detail. Great use of the Indigo Blu words stamps.
    Thanks for joining in with the Forever 21 Challenge. Good luck! Linda xx

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  3. A gorgeus box, I love the coating.

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  4. Beautiful altered box love all the texture and beautiful sentiments
    Carol x

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  5. Hello my friend. Sorry I haven't emailed you back yet....I think these wedding invitations have it in for me, lol. I hope you are starting to feel s bit better now. Maddy this box is incredibly beautiful. I love the stamps you've used and the colours. So stunning. I still have my wee box sitting, begging to be altered, lol. I need to get these invites finished and out of my room because I'm starting to get fed up with them as my head is filled with other projects I WANT to make but I haven't been able to create a thing with so many invites to do! I have until the end of the week to finish them.....and typical me isn't even half way through them yet. **Sigh**....back to the craft room with me, lol. Lee x

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  6. Interesting box! I love colours and sentiments! Natalie

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  7. Oh my goodness Maddy, this is stunning. I love every single detail, especially the colours and the wonderful stamps you have used with such meaningful words.
    I believe that you do indeed have Courage, Determination and Strength.
    take care
    Sue xx

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  8. oh gosh hun,this is just stunning,love each tiny piece of detail,especially love the colours,and the stamps you have used, sorry not been over for a while hun,things not been to great,hugs Cherylxxxx

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  9. I could sure use a peek in this box if it really helps with all those wonderful words...it's been that kind of day! It's absolutely gorgeous! The blues and vintage shabby feel are just wonderful, but I LOVE the tree! All good trees bare sweet fruit...right?!? Gorgeous work here! Thank you for taking the time to quote something for our challenge this week at Simon Says Stamp & Show!

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  10. This is beautiful.. what I call a treasure box. Thanks for all the great pictures to study over and over.

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  11. Maddy...very cool box! I love it!I love the washed cream background with the touches of blue. Very vintage feeling! Your raised tree and birds on the branches are really cool. I love all of the random stamping and the sentiments you've used. The interior is also gorgeous! Very nicely done ... as per your usual, Maddy! Thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. <3 Candy

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  12. What a lovely keepsake and so beautiful! Thanks for sharing your box of courage. Sweet design. So happy that you have shared your special project with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show this week!

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  13. What a stunning project Maddy, and just perfect for our challenge....Thank you for joining us over at our IndigoBlu Forever 21 Blog Challenge....Jo. X

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Thanks for leaving a comment, it's nice to know I'm not just talking to myself :)