Wednesday Stamper's theme this week is "favorite thing to alter". When I'm not using every object in sight for a mixed media piece, I usually have a handful of things that I need right beside me while I'm working. I pick something up, use it, set it down, look for the next thing, then look again for the thing I just set down...wouldn't it save time and frustration to have something arty to hold just the few things I need immediately? And something that won't take up space? So I thought about it, and Hermine's suggestion to alter something gave me the idea to alter something just the right size to hold a few pencils, pens, knife, glue, scissors, so I looked around, ...and there it was!
Among other things, I have been saving empty tea tins, just knowing that there's a better life waiting for these useful things, and here you have it! I put the lid in the recycle bin, and got to work on the tin. In honor of its recycled nature, I'm also posting this to Arty Girlz On-going Recycling Challenge.
I muted the color of the dark gray diamond paper, and the scrolling edge of another paper, with white and very pale yellow acrylic paint washes, then I aged and distressed the papers with pounces of mushroom Adirondack ink. I stamped the large bird, one of my all-time favorite Studio Art Stamps, and the small bird, which is a tiny part of a larger stamp by Character Constructions, with black VersaFine, and added a couple of leaves to the branch with a black Pitt pen. Then I spread glue over most of the background, excluding the stamped images, and dipped it all in snowy opalescent glitter, then hung it up to dry for a couple of hours before running it through the Xyron and sticking it to the tin. Next, I used smoke Adirondack alcohol ink around the bottom strip of metal and let it seep up a little into the paper to make it look a bit more distressed, then after adding the 7Gypsies "Once Upon A Time" rub-on, I used a strip of dimensional tape to adhere the scrolling paper to the top of the tin. Last, I added a string of black seed beads around the top perimeter with Diamond Glaze, and let it dry. Quite a difference, ce n'est pas?
Have a great day, Everyone!
i love ravens, i love ledger, and i adore this!!
Posted by: johanna | October 23, 2008 at 12:14 AM
That is my current favorite thing to look at in the house mom.
Bravo.
<3
Posted by: Amy | October 23, 2008 at 12:18 AM
Wow amazing Tin.
Looks so great. Love them.
Posted by: Sandy | October 23, 2008 at 12:32 AM
What a nice idea - love the colors!
Posted by: mamapia | October 23, 2008 at 02:17 AM
Very beautiful tin!
Posted by: Viola | October 23, 2008 at 02:30 AM
Fabulous, love shape of the tin, the design and I realy love how you made the snowflakes, they look absolutelty gorgeous.
Posted by: Hermine | October 23, 2008 at 02:55 AM
Fabulous altered tea box !!
Posted by: harpie38 | October 23, 2008 at 03:45 AM
Beautiful tin!
Posted by: rein. | October 23, 2008 at 05:01 AM
this is great !
love the end result.
Posted by: tina | October 23, 2008 at 09:19 AM
What a stunning piece of altered art! I love the vintage style!
Posted by: Manuela | October 23, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Barbara I love this so much its fantastic!!
Thanks for joining in with our recycling challenge once again
Julie xxx
Posted by: Julie | October 23, 2008 at 10:37 AM
wow, fantastic! I hve no more words for this artwork! The raven stamp is great!
Lg Anke
Posted by: stempelfrosch | October 23, 2008 at 11:17 AM
very cute - i was trying to guess what kind of tin it was. a tea one did not come to mind
Posted by: AscenderRisesAbove | October 24, 2008 at 09:48 PM
enjoying your links along the side
Posted by: AscenderRisesAbove | October 24, 2008 at 09:48 PM
that's really a fantastic tin!!!
Posted by: ilonka | October 25, 2008 at 12:26 PM
wow!! and you can still purchase tea in tins there?(i have a tin collection)
regards
P
Posted by: p | October 25, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Great altered tin, love it!
Posted by: rein | October 27, 2008 at 11:15 AM
I love your alteration...you chose some great papers!
Posted by: Louise | October 28, 2008 at 04:20 PM