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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

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,


19 comments:

  1. I get it! Putting the smallest cube inside the larger one to help create that cascade effect is awesome Nancy! I can't believe you had the patience to stitch all those papers together and love the idea of using the pearl flourishes on the sides of the 'hope chest' to compliment the string of pearls across the top. SO MANY ideas and I love everything about this amazing make! Jenny x

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  2. As a member of the AOTB DT I have to say that this is one of the most beautiful, feminine and romantic set of blocks I have seen! It took a moment to work out where the second one fitted in - you are so clever using two like that. From the gorgeous Maja Design papers to the gorgeous flowers and pearls, this is utter perfection Nancy. Anne x

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  3. LOVE how you nested the boxes together here, Nancy. What a brilliant idea. This box is just bursting with shabby vintage goodness. Beautiful soft colors and your signature flowers and leaves. Wow, wow, wow! I'm positively drooling on my keyboard while I am typing this. Sensational take on Jenny's fun cube challenge!

    Hugs
    Linda

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  4. Wow, Nancy! This is gorgeous. I love the box in a box idea! Fabulous!

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  5. This is so gorgeous, I don't even know where to start! Bravo!! You have really inspired me to put on my thinking cap! Hugs :)

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  6. Hi Nancy, such elegance, style and beauty in this and I love how you placed the second box.
    Julie x

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  7. Nancy this is outrageously magnificent... is that strong enough words to explain this pretty box??? NOT... but I hope you realize that it is really PRETTY and so very elegant... truly magnificent. LOVE IT... love all these boxes... I am flying high at this point... trying to decide what to create... Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie

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  8. Love love love it Nancy!! Just truly STUNNING xxxxx

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  9. This is really beautiful Nancy! It's so feminine and dainty!

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  10. Nancy thank you for the lovely comment on my blog - just made my day xxxxx

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  11. Hi Nancy, I have just come over from the Frilly and Funkie blog. Love your project and now a new follower :-). Right, off to have a peep at more of your gorgeous work.
    Sharon x

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  12. Another amazing project!! I absolutely love it!!

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  13. OMG, Nancy! This is one of the most beautiful projects I have ever seen! Just spectacular!

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  14. I saw this one one FB and was just blown away, such a beautiful project Nancy! You are so talented!! xo

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  15. Your beautiful box is so jam packed with lovely little pieces and pearls - your spray of roses is gorgeous!

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  16. HI Nancy, I've seen your ATB pop up in my facebook feed several times. It's just gorgeous and I love all the details that you included! The cascading effect is really accentuated by the flowers on the front and I especially love the cheesecloth that you added. It's wonderful!

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  17. You are AMAZING Nancy , love, love, love your work.
    Elaine H X

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