Attic Treasures ATB

Hello dear friends! How are you doing today? It's a busy time of year for so many. Quite a few of my friends have been taking vacations, and this week I've seen several 'first day of school' photos on Facebook. Hard to believe school is starting back already! I'm always amazed at how quickly summer speeds by. 

It's also time to unveil a brand new challenge at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog! Our host, Jenny, asks us to create a 3D vintage project based on a cube shape. I've used Artist Trading Block die cut cubes from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. To celebrate the challenge Linda is offering an extra 15% discount on this die during the current challenge period, but you're welcome to use your own templates, dies or hand cut cubes. Decorate, embellish, and alter them in any way you choose as long as they are cube shaped and have a vintage feel. For some absolutely amazing inspiration from my teammates and for all other entry details just click on the Frilly and Funkie link above!   

For this challenge we're teaming up with our friends at The Artist's on the Block. They have a dedicated team that focus on Artist Trading Blocks using Eileen Hull Design cubes (along with many other 3D die cut shapes) in incredibly imaginative ways. Their companion challenge blog, Art With Heart, has an 'Anything Goes' theme this month. This gives you the option of entering your creation there as well, where they are offering the chance to win a brand new Eileen Hull Designs die!

This was my first experience creating an ATB, and I admit to being a bit apprehensive. It turned out my fears were unfounded as they are a joy to work with! Now I'm like a kid with a new toy. I'm thinking they may become a new crafty addiction...   

My mind's eye envisioned a young lady's box of treasures, time-worn and tattered, found stashed away in a corner of a dusty attic. In reality there wouldn't be a garden of flowers cascading from the box, but I adore flowers so I created my own reality. I feel like that's one of the most wondrous aspects of art; if you can imagine it you can bring it to life!   

I used two cubes; the largest is 2 1/2 inch square and the small cube is 1 1/2 inch square. I prepped them with gesso and covered them in hand distressed layers of Maja Vintage Summer Basics design paper. The mini ephemera is part of the same paper collection.   

Some of the flowers are handmade and others are from my stash. Each is stained and painted to coordinate with the papers. I also die cut rose leaves from the paper collection. With my embellishments prepped and assembled it was time to start the collage process.  

No proper hope chest would be complete without pearls! I added strands of fused pearls throughout as well as Prima adhesive pearl flourishes to the sides of my cube. I couldn't resist tucking in some frayed cheesecloth.    

It's difficult to discern in the photos but all of my paper layers were stitched together on my sewing machine. 

I hope you'll join in the challenge! If you've never tried an ATB before just take my word for it...you're going to love them!!  

Thank you so much for visiting and sharing in the love of paper crafting with me. Stop by anytime and share your crafty adventures with me! I wish you peace and joy as you go continue through your day! 

Hugs,

Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents	Ranger Inkssentials Non-Stick Craft Sheet	Ranger Inkssentials Mister Bottle	Ranger Inkssentials Wonder Tape - 1/8"	Tim Holtz Tonic Studios 9.5" Titanium Scissors
Ranger Inkssentials Manila Card Stock 8.5x11	Claudine Hellmuth Gesso	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Tattered Rose	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Worn Lipstick	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Victorian Velvet
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Spun Sugar	Maja Design 6x6" Scrapbook Paper Pad - Vintage Summer Basics	Eileen Hull Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Blocks/Cubes, 3-D	Prima - Say It In Pearls Collection - Mini Flourish with Roses	Ranger Tim Holtz Wild Honey Distress Ink Reinker
Ranger Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink Reinker	Ranger Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink Reinker	Ranger Perfect Pearls Pigment Powder - Perfect Pearl