Altered Box Swap

Part 1 - My creation


I've just completed a partner swap on Crafting Passionz Forum and would've posted these pictures earlier, but didn't want to let the cat out of the bag before my partner, the lovely and talented Faith, received the finished gifts.
The theme was agreed between the respective partners and Faith wanted something that looked like it was made of metal... this I found out AFTER I'd just been out and bought a paper mache box from Spotlight... oh well... time to get creative.
The only requirement was the box needed to be a minimum of 6" x 6". The box I bought was quite a bit bigger than this but then I wanted to be able to put a couple of long die cuts in it, so purchased with that in mind.

I painted the box with silver acrylic paint inside and out. I then distressed the corners with the Tonic Studio Tim Holtz Distress Scratcher Tool on all sides to show wear then coloured the distressed areas with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in a selection of colours. 

I adhered strips of cardstock covered in metallic duct tape and scratched around the side of the lid and finished the front with a metallic label plate held on with mini silver brads.

I attached patches of cardstock I covered in metallic duct tape then ran through my Cuttlebug to emboss. (I will post a tutorial on this soon.) I adhered some strip bling ribbon around the edge of the lid as well as the bottom edge of the box. Finally I added some washers to decorate the corners of the lid.

Inside I adhered some metallic mesh to the inside of the lid. This can be used to hold things on mini hooks or things like dangly earrings. Although you can't see it, I also lined the bottom of the box with a silver mesh material which I loosely adhered to the bottom to create a billowy cushion for all the little extras, some of which are pictured below. 

I die cut four butterflies from kraft cardstock. One I left blank, then from left to right - crystal glitter paint, Radiant Rain - Yellow Rose, and Acrylic Paint - Champagne (even though it looks silver).

I found a couple of mini tins in an emporium type shop. This one I added some self-adhesive silver glitter ribbon and a butterfly. Inside I stashed some ribbons.

This tin I decorated with some Making Memories double sided adhesive die-cut flowers and some blue fine glitter. Then finished each flower with a mini rhinestone.

Inside this tin I put a doiley (to flash-up the bottom) as well as a small hanging charm and a couple of rosettes that I had inked before gluing together. I used the Sizzix Paper Rosette by Tim Holtz and Sizzix Mini Paper Rosettes dies.

I made an over-sized matchbook with ribbon closure to hold securely a set of six stick pins. I'm always concerned about sending stick pins to anyone, so make sure that the sharp ends are always pushed into some foam for protection and safety. The foam is hidden by the bottom front flap of the matchbook.

Inside I enclosed these stick pins. I really loved the finished pin with the chains.

I completed the goodies with a pair of matching mini albums with a hand-sewn butcher's twine binding seam. Each album has mini pockets front and back complete with little tags tucked in. The papers I used were all in silvers and grays with many from the Teresa Collins Timeless and On the Edge ranges which you can purchase from my shop. Check back soon for a tutorial on how to make these mini albums.