EMBRACE THE OLD

Let's continue this new year with a really fun Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge 

"Embrace The Old".  

Speaking of old, it's my fellow Design Team member, Tracy Evan's birthday today!  haha  Just kidding!  Not about it being Tracy's birthday but about the OLD part!  So, Happy Birthday, Tracy and many many more!

It is also Tim Holtz' Birthday!  He has such an influence on my work.  I love his vintage/ grunge style and his products!  Not only is he a creative genius...he really is such a NICE guy; very approachable and always has a smile on his face.  His positive energy is unmistakable.  So, Happy Birthday Tim!!

Now, back to "Embrace The Old" ... This can mean anything from doing an old technique that might be a favorite of yours to taking something new and making it look old.  It could also be repurposing something that is old.  Use your imagination.  As you can see, this challenge is pretty broad.  

I chose to take something new (but I've had it for a while) and giving it a 

vintage shabby chic flair.  Taking something new and making it look old is a passion of mine!

This is one of Tim Holtz' small configuration boxes all "gussied up" with text, white paint, vintage glass, glitter and mica flakes.  Add a Tim Holtz vintage photo and some Ideaology and wha-lah ...

you're "embracing the old!"

I began by covering a small configuration box back of the box and the front and sides of the lid of the box with text.  I tore text out of a book, brushed Studio Matte Multi Medium over an area, added the text and then coated the text to seal it.  I heat set it and then lightly rubbed over the text with a Snow Cap Paint Dabber.  After that, I randomly dabbed the paint dabber over all of the white washed text areas.  Again, I heat set the paint.  To reach the interior of the smaller compartments, I used a paint brush to white wash everything.

I decided to only use two of the compartments on this piece.  After I had white washed their interiors, I taped them together using Tim Holtz' Nostalgic Tissue Tape.

Then I added more text to the side that would be exposed inside the box.

Here is the way the box looked before I began adding all of my embellishments.  I distressed all of the white washed surfaces with a little Antique Linen Distress Ink followed by just a touch of Vintage Photo.  Then on the exterior of the lid, I brushed Matte Multi Mediuim over small area at a time and added Melissa Frances' Mica Flakes.  I also added them to the back of the box, but not until I was finished putting everything in the box and putting the lid in place.

Does the little girl seated on the left look familiar?  I am in love with this vintage photograph.  That little girl is the subject of Tim Holtz' Girls Rule stamp.  I've used her many times.  But, this particular photograph came from Tim Holtz' Distressables DVD.  I sized it to be approximately 3" x 5" and distressed the edges with Vintage Photo and a touch of Black Soot Distress Inks.

Here is the interior of the box with everything in place.  You can clearly see the mica flakes on the exterior (and a little sprinkled on the flowers and the interior of the box).  Mica always gives a vintage feeling....it's wonderful stuff!!!

I added some Prima White Flowers below my sweet little girls.  They are lightly brushed with Matte Multi Medium and then sprinkled with a mixture of Martha Stewart's Fine Crystal Glitter and White Gold Glitter.  Then I very lightly sprinkled the flowers with Mica Flakes.  Below the flowers, the bottom is sprinkled with Stampendous' Silver Crushed Glass Glitter on top of Matte Multi Medium.

I added a silver Tim Holtz Word Key (Dream) and a small Bauble to a Jump Ring and then dangling from a Tim Holtz Screw Eye.  At the bottom, more of the vintage glass glitter.

The compartment above the key holds a small silver Time Piece with (Game Spinner hands) that has been white washed.  The Time Piece is attached to a small wooden block and the hot glued to the bottom of the compartment.  It sits on top of some Mica Flakes and next to it, sits a small pearl Bauble.

I knew that I would be adding a Curio Knob in the center of an Ornate Plate on the top of the Configuration Box.  I wanted some Baubles to hang from it so I made this top piece before I finished the box.

Here is the finished Curio Knob with the dangling Baubles added to the center of the Ornate Plate and hot glued onto the top of the Configuration Box.  I also added some small little "bling" rhinestones to the Ornate Plate.

Finally, I added the set of Tim Holtz Metal Box Feet by adding a little hot glue onto the corners of the box and then pressing the metal feet in place.  Don't hot glue the metal feet and then try to stick them to the box because the hot glue on the metal tends to harden very quickly and not attach very well.

Visit the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge Blog and see what our multi talented Design Team has created for this challenge.  It's inspiring! Then enter our challenge.  You could win a ... 

You could also be selected as one of the TOP THREE entries for the week...a very nice recognition of your talent!

Good luck!!  I can't wait to see you "Embrace The Old!"

Here are the products available at Simon Says Stamp that I used in this creation:
 

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