Match Box Treasures

Happy Saturday Everyone!
I thought I might share a little of what I have been working on in my art room.
I love making lovely things from items I would normally throw out! There is something that feels so good about taking garbage and giving it a new purpose.

This match box project was inspired by Holly who hosted this swap at Marie Antoinette Mail Art Ning group. The first one I have sent off to Debi and the second is one of my upcoming giveaway items! Yes, I am having a giveaway for June, and there will be at least 6 gifts to win!
Yay! I love giveaways!

To create one of these you begin with an empty match box. This is the larger 4 3/4"x3 3/4" size boxes. If you don't have any almost empty ones sitting around, they come in a pack of 6 and only cost about $3 at Kroger's.

I used a French perfume label made available by the Graphics Fairy.
Thank you so much Karen! (Today I am joining Brag Monday for the first time)
If you have never been to Karen's site, you are in for a treat. It is full of all kinds of free images that are perfect for creating and decorating.

I primed the box with gesso to hide the bright red color.
The background paper I made myself by doing a tissue paper transfer off of an 130 year old French document I purchased in Paris at the Fleas.

I am just finishing a new video tutorial on how to do tissue paper transfers (paper saving version).This video will be out before next weekend. Yay!

I filled the box with all kinds of paper ephemera, as well as charms, ribbons, lace, and millinery (new and vintage). It was stuffed to the brim!
Inside is also a tiny matchbox that I filled with vintage beads, cabochons, buttons, pearls, rhondelles...little treasures for creating.

Art Tea Life by Sandra Gordon, has a fabulous paper doll Marie page. I have minimized it's size so I could mail it along with the box.

This second box I have made is for our upcoming GIVEAWAY!!!

This time I used a Echo Park Papers "Be Mine" series scrapbook paper. I gessoed it a bit to take the brightness down, added some silk ribbon, velvet leave, and a vintage flower. The Marie cameo I created myself.

...and here is a sneak peek of some of the goodies inside!!!I will be announcing the beginning of the giveaway by June 1st.I would love to hear about what you are creating this weekend.Thank you so much for stopping by!

Hugs,
Terri

Valentine Creativity

Hello All!

I have been playing with some romantic ideas for Valentines day. These little boxes are sweet and just the right size for a pair of earring, a small necklace or some little notes of love written out on strips of parchment.

They are very easy to do. I bought some heart shaped boxes from a craft store and painted them with Gesso, then the color of my choice. I did not paint the top of the box though, I left that free for the image I had chosen to glue on with tacky glue. I also glued on a strip of vintage lace trim around the lid. Then I used Diamond Glaze just along the outer edges to adhere a string of vintage rhinestones. When that was dry, I filled in the center with more Diamond Glaze (let it dry overnight). I used a thin line of Stickles just below the rhinestones on the outer edge.

More Valentine crafting to come!
Hugs,
Terri

Marie Cloth Doll Debut

Hello All
I have been working on another "Marie" cloth doll this past month. Here she is, my "Hamlet Marie". I call her that because I think that this version of her is the one that lived in her little Hamlet a couple miles from Versailles. There, she dresses more simply and may have even worn her hair down. The Hamlet itself is utterly charming, with cottage like abodes, a windmill, a stream and plenty of kitchen gardens....very romantic!

I used some beautiful quilting cottons, some vintage seam binding which I dyed, some silk, a piece of a very old doily for her apron and some vintage rhinestones.

I may sew her head back on again, it doesn't seem to be on quite right....

I am still learning about this process. I need more practice on doing the face, in fact, she definitely needs new lipstick. I enjoyed making her body and clothing very much, I just need more confidence with the face and hair.

I figure practice makes perfect (or close anyways!) so I will make another one.

I do love making the shoes!

Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope that you are having a great holiday. Tomorrow I will announce the winner of my giveaway from my last two posts.
Leave a comment to be entered.
Hugs to you all.
Terri