Exploding Box - Scottish Butterflies

Sorry - where did this last month go!!***? I seem to have been very busy but not a lot to show for it.

Anyways - here's my latest box:

I was asked to make a magic box - butterflies with a Scottish 'twist'.

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I decided to incorporate the Scottish national flower - thistle.

Outside panels.Closer detail of the butterflies and thistle panels.

Will be adding more details shortly.....

Thanks for popping by and for all your lovely comments - they mean a lot!

Exploding Box - Firefly

I know they're dragonflies but I wanted the impression of fireflies in a ferny woodland.

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This is a very small box. The closed measurements are: 1.75" square by just under 3" tall.

I actually managed to resist using glitter (it was very hard for me). I used amber gemstone accents and gold holographic mounts to give the 'fiery' illusion.

The stamping technique is one of my favourites:

• I started with a light green background and stamped my first fern using VersaMark clear ink then embossed with clear powder.


• I then inked over the whole thing with VersaColor Fresh Green and gently cleaned the ink off the clear embossing.


• I stamped the fern again in VersaColor Green Tea (no embossing this time).


• After the ink had dried I stamped the fern one more time, using VersaColor Evergreen (again no embossing).


• When dry I finished by inking over the whole thing with VersaColor Bamboo and a small amount of Evergreen.

It's my favourite technique because the result is very three dimensional.

The stamps I used:

• Stampabilities - Dragonfly & Stampendous - Summer Leaves (Fern).

I have a tutorial for this size box on my Gallery site. Here's the link: http://www.magic-boxes.com/smallbutterflybox.htm

The tutorial is in metric but for those of you who work in feet and inches there is a link, to a printable ruler with both centimetres and inches, at the top of the tutorial page.

Thank you for visiting.

Exploding Box - Violets (In Memory of)

Diana commissioned this box for her daughter. The theme was violets because they were "Gran's favourite flowers".
I love commissions because I learn something about that person and their family or friend. If I'm asked to make a box it is always for someone special and usually for a special reason. I feel privileged when they share a part of their family history with me and it's heartwarming to know how close some family relationships are.

Materials and Techniques:

Image Panels:

• As with the origami box below, the panels are lime green card, tinted with VersaColor Evergreen and Marigold. The fern stamp is Stampendous 'Summer Leaves' stamped in Evergreen and then dotted with green ultra-fine glitter.
  These panels were mounted onto heavy weight black card - (cut 5mm larger and edged with holographic black glitter).

3D Leaves:

• See-Dees self cling stamp 'Leaves #50052' stamped in VersaColor Evergreen, onto mid green lightweight card. I ran over the image lightly with VersaColor Evergreen and cut each leaf out when the ink was dry.
  The leaves were mounted onto fine strips of acetate and fixed to the box (side and centre panels).

Violets:

• Eight flowers were punched out, from lilac lightweight card, using a large five petal flower punch and painted with Twinkling H2Os Purple.
  To dimension the flower - I embossed a line down the centre of each petal then cut between two petals (to the centre of the flower) and glued these petals together.
  I finished with a small, square, amber gemstone in the centre of each flower.
  The violets were attached to thin strips of acetate.
  Four (of the eight) were fixed to the four box side panels (before gluing the panels to the box).
  Four were attached to the box centre panel. This is demonstrated in my tutorial 'Small Butterfly Box' on my gallery site.

Flower Buds (paper beads):

• Were made from long, triangular pieces of lilac lightweight card. Painted with Twinkling H2Os Purple.
  When the paint was dry the card strips were rolled tightly round a cocktail stick and glued.
  A thin strip of acetate was fed through each bud and glued in position.
  Finally, they were attached to the four side panels as described above.

Thanks for visiting.

I have more boxes on my gallery site:
http://www.magic-boxes.com/

I will be adding more to my blog over the next few days. Hope you can bear with me.