Sentimental at heart

It’s time for another Sentimental Sundays Challenge!

This week we would like to inspire you to create something from a new or neglected stash.
As always, there is a fabulous set of digital sentiments for grabs. Feel free to also browse the sentiments designed by Raindrop Echo Designs at the Whimsy Stamps. Using the sentiments is not obligatory for the challenge, but it’s great fun! ;-)

Well, I couldn’t decide whether to use my neglected goddies or the brand new ones. At first I thought brand spankin’ new ones as I was dying to use them! But then I also wanted to challenge myself with the stuff that I bought as an impulse and never used before…

So I did exactly the same as when trying to buy a new handbag... I decided to go ahead with both options rofl ;-))))

So I first brushed off a thick layer of dust (not that there is any dust in my spotlessly clean house rofl !!!!) from my forgotten “treasure chest”, then got out my newly purchased paint dabbers, went through my routine Polish spells, abrakadabra, czary mary, hokus pokus…

and here’s the result of my creative spell................

DRUMROLL PLEASE……

TA DAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

I decorated this sweet heart shaped keepsake box for one of my nieces. My brother has actually got two girls so I am going to decorate another box soon.

I wanted to personalise the box so I included a little panel for a photo.

The girls, being girls, are sometimes really unpredictable in terms of their gratitude for gifts…. So I usually try to get them same or very similar things to keep them both happy and avoid casualties lol. They are also known for swapping gifts, bless their little hearts, to avoid upsetting the gift donor, and this way everyone is happy!


So, taught by experience, instead of just gluing the picture, I used an acetate for the picture panel. I then sewed it together (using my brand spankin’ sewing machine lol!) with the patterned paper matted onto a pale yellow card (please excuse my wonky sewing, learning in progress….) leaving the top edge free. This way, if the girls want to swap the boxes from the original presentation, they can just change piccies and Bob’s your uncle! Or Joanna’s your auntie, wooo hooo!

The colour palette for this creation was inspired by the Play Date Café Challenge #32.

I first "gessoed" the paper mache box. Then using a baby wipe I smooshed loads of lemon and peachy acrylic paints (I'm loving my new dabbers!!!!). Then stamped lots of flourishes with the lemon paint and leaf patterns with yellow staz on.

 

I decorated the side of the box with my ancient embellies that I once got from good old Tesco. The embellies were treated with a dab of dabber paints and a good coat of gluey sparkle.

I thought it would be difficult for me to work with these colours, with the yummy lemony yellow being my favourite colour and the peach being considered less favourably. But as I went along, I felt I somehow managed to find a way for these two colours to speak to each other…lol ;) Hence my entry to the Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #22. :)

In my design I incorporated a bow and a button for the City Crafter Challenge #7 and my fluffy heart is just about to fly away with so many pairs of butterfly wings! (Gingersnap Creations #57).

I am also giving my heart away to the Shabby Tea Room challenge #12.

I hope you like what I shared with you today and I hope you will join us at the Sentimental Sunday challenge.

And don’t forget to have a look at all the DT’s fabulous creations!

Ps 1. I’ve recently promised to tell you where you can get yourself a customised signature and a watermark beauty for your blog. Well, pop over to Whimsy Stamps to find out more!

Ps.2. Note to myself. Don’t torture your blogging friends. Learn to write shorter posts lol ;-)))