ARGH! I hate it when my scheduled post doesn't post!!
The challenge this month at Anything But A Card Challenge is one of my favorite themes, Anything Goes (#37). I love Anything Goes challenges as they give me free reign to use some of the items I have hoarded over the years, like the shadow box I used in this project. Well, honestly, most of what I used has been in my stash for years. It was fairly simple to make and since I had everything on hand, it was free!
 | |
| Sorry for the glare - glass!! |
What I Used to Make This
Project:
Shadow Box, mine was about
13” x 10” (the frame was darker, so I sanded it)
Background paper from
KaiserCraft, Art of Life Collection, P1399, Always (2 pieces) 12" x 12"
8 Skeleton Keys
Washi Tape from Tim Holtz
Brown Velvet Leaves (I can’t
recall where I got them, but if you search you can find plenty of options)
Small Bulb from Tim Holtz
Other Embellishments from
stash & around the house
Crafters Pick The Ultimate
Glue
I began with the
background paper. Since my shadow box
is 13” long, I needed a bit of something to fill in where the 12” x 12” paper
fell short.
 | |
| You can see the sides of the board - this was before I put the scalloped pieces on |
 | |
| The Keys |
I happened to turn the
paper over and found the scallop border design on the other side, so I just cut
those out of the paper and used those to make up the difference. Once I got the background settled, the
placement of the keys was next. I wanted them to be the focus of the piece so in the middle they went. I honestly am not on to measure and be
precise, I always do it by eye when I make cards, but I actually measured the
area around the keys so they could be placed as close to the middle as possible
(as possible for me anyway). Once I was
happy with the keys, I glued them to the board and put it aside for overnight
drying.
I had already begun
gathering some prospective embellishments before I began making the shadow
box. I am always thinking (obsessing?)
about upcoming projects and I think a lot before I actually begin one. Of
course I have those days where I just want to play, but if I have a theme, I
often think for days prior to beginning the piece. I tried doing the sketchbook thing, can’t do it, can’t draw what
I want to and this frustrates me to NO end.
I will occasionally make notes if something strikes me that I fear I
might forget. And, since I started
blogging as a part of teams, I do make a list of the items I use to make
something so when it comes time to do this part I can be sure of what I used
and if I can, I like to supply manufactures (I hate seeing something really
cool and not having any idea what people used in making it). Sorry for the detour into my creative
process! I had gathered some stuff that had been hanging around; one item is
particularly special for me is the pen nib.
When my Dad passed away, I found this pen nib in a drawer along with
some other art materials and have squirreled it away – I think this was the
perfect use for it! Everything is real,
except for the bulb and the keyhole – the keyhole was a brad and I just removed
the “legs”. The snippet of letter on
the bottom right is from a real letter, the typewriter key (or is it an old
adding machine key?) is real, the clock dial is real and the optic piece is
from a real optometrist kit. Flea markets & eBay are wonderful!
 |
| Playing with Placement |
 |
| Playing with Placement |
After I fiddled with the
placement of the embellishments, and fiddled some more, I finally felt the
piece was done and glued everything down.
After allowing it to dry overnight (and I am SO proud to say I didn’t
get spare glue anywhere!) I placed the board in the back of the box. Now, originally, there was a piece of
cardboard as the backing, but I knew that would never work, so I asked if I
could get a piece of wood cut to size.
My SO used an old cabinet that was left here when the previous owners moved out. Love to recycle that kinda stuff! The wood fit the back so perfectly I didn’t even need to glue it to the
box – I just folded the little holders and I was done! The only thing missing is a hanging
mechanism, which I will rectify on my next trip to the wonderful Dollar Tree.
 |
| The board, before I put it in the frame |
I hope you enjoyed my
creation, and my detour into my creative process! There is plenty of time to
enter the Challenge at Anything But a Card and I do hope you will pop over to
the blog and get some inspiration. Thank
you so much for stopping by! Have a marvelous week ~ Christi
PS: If you'd like to see a photo in more detail, please click it. This is true on all of my posts :)
 | ||
| Another view of the final product |
I am entering my Keys Shadow Box in the following Challenges:
Crafting at the Weekend - Challenge 3, Anything Goes
Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes
Just for Fun Challenge Blog - #1, Anything Goes
Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - July Challenge (Around the House)
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
The Sailing Pineapple - #11, Anything But a Card
Crafting at the Weekend - Challenge 3, Anything Goes
Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes
Just for Fun Challenge Blog - #1, Anything Goes
Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - July Challenge (Around the House)
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
The Sailing Pineapple - #11, Anything But a Card
