An Altered Box Finnabair Style

A little while back I received a couple of Masonite Boxes from Joggles.  I altered one of the boxes right away which Barb shared on the Joggles blog.  I finally got around to altering the second box which measures 4" by 9" by 4".  First I painted the entire box inside and out with black gesso.  Next I dry embossed a piece of Ranger's Inkssentials Foil Tape Sheets and used the self adhesive backing to glue it to the top of the box.  I painted a coat of Finnabair's acrylic paint called Opal Magic Blue/Gold all over the entire outside of the box.  When it was dry I used all sorts of Prima/Finnabair products to create the design on the top of the box.

I made the wings out of paper clay with Finnabair's wing mold, most of the metal pieces are from her Mechanical collection.  I adhered everything with Finn's 3D Gloss Gel Transparent and let it dry thoroughly before continuing.

This is always the hard part...paint the entire top of the box with black gesso.  Now I start bringing some color back into this mixture.  First by painting the top of the box again with the Blue/Gold Opal Magic paint.  When that is dry I bring in Finn's waxes!  This is the delicious part, not only are they pretty but they have a lovely fragrance that fades with time.  I used many different colors of waxes such as:  Vintage Silk, White Gold, Red Amber, Brushed Iron, Amethyst Magic and Lucky Emerald.

Joggles carries all of these waxes as I believe does Michaels.

The colors of the waxes are very subtle and a tiny smear of wax on the tip of the finger goes a long way.  I will be applying paper clay molded strips to the sides of the box and adding waxes to the entire outside of the box.  It is a fun project that requires some patience as there is drying time involved with each layer.  But then too it is a great way to use your stash of buttons and metal embellishments.

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate any comments you choose to leave.  Hugs ~ Renee

Stampington & Co.- Finding that Silver envelope in the mailbox!

My heart skips a beat whenever I spot that silver envelope in my mailbox!  It means I've just received my artist comp. magazine from Stampington.  Sometimes I know it's coming other times it catches me by surprise, this one I've been waiting to see for months.

Every issue of Somerset Studio has a challenge for artists, it's found near the back of the magazine.  The challenge that caught my eye was "Rust It Out".  I love a rust effect on paper, wood, etc. and I have found that I can achieve it by using Finnabair's Rust Effect Paste made by Prima.  I've made several of these paintbrushes over the past few months but I made these two especially for this challenge.  I used Red Rust paste along with Patina Effect Paste in a Turquoise Blue on top of all the inks and gesso.  When they are returned to me I believe I will hang them on the wall of my studio!

I have to give my husband, Joe, credit for sharing his hoard of inexpensive wooden paintbrushes with me for this project.  Thank you Joe!

I used the same technique on my "dollar" store box along with Finnabair's Mechanicals and added the same Red Rust and Blue Pastes on top of the metal pieces.  Wouldn't this be lovely filled with sea shells from a trip to the beach?

This issue of Somerset Studio is packed with all sorts of rust projects by artists like Lynne Moncrieff, Vickie Kammerer, Irl Noble, Linda Trenholm, just to name a few!  I personally can't wait to try some of the techniques shared and I'm sure this will be a magazine that I will use as a reference for rust effects on future projects.

I hope you get to take a look at it next time you're at Barnes and Noble bookstore.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Big hugs on this beautiful, warm spring-like day, I love this weather! ~ Renee

An Altered Masonite Box Finnabair Style

I was a Guest Artist on the Joggles blog sharing my Masonite Box that was altered with Finnabair's Waxes, Fireworks! spray and gesso.

I photographed it in the early morning light that's what gives the box that other worldly glow.

Photographed outside makes it look like another planet.

Photographed in the house

Here is my supply list if you're interested in altering a box, a journal cover or maybe you just want to make a canvas to hang on the wall.

Supply List

Joggles.com Masonite Box measuring 6"x 6"x 4 3/8"

Black Gesso
White Gesso
Art Basics - 3D Matte Gel
Prima- Finnabair's Mechanicals
Doctor's Plague Mask metal pendant by Bead Landing
Metal Flowers by Bead Landing
Crystals, bingo number
Micro Beads by Finnabair
Lace flower trim (under the gesso on the lid)
Creative Paperclay
IOD moulds Prima Moulding 1
Rhinestone Crown by Prima for Frank Garcia

Art Alchemy Metallique Waxes-White Gold, Bronze, Brushed Iron
Art Alchemy Opal Magic Waxes-Royal Robes and Blue Velvet

Imagine Crafts
Fireworks!-Paris Dusk and Lilac Posies
StazOn Royal Purple reinker

Testors-Cement Glue for Metal and Wood (used to glue on crown)

Instructions

Glue the box together using Testors Cement Glue for wood and metal.  Paint entire box with black gesso, allow to dry.  Adhere lace flower trim to the top of the box with 3D Matte Gel.  Dry.  Attach the metal pieces with Gel Medium.  Sprinkle Micro beads in little areas where the gel is visible.  Spray the top with Lilac Posies and Paris Dusk, dry.  Paint the entire top with black gesso, dry.  Paint with white gesso, starting on one side only halfway across the panel, feather out the white gesso on the rest of the panel.  Dry.  Use waxes to highlight elements on the lid.

Make paperclay mold to make the strip across the front of the box, allow to dry overnight.  Glue onto box with Gel medium, glue a key hole onto box.  Paint with black gesso, spray with Fireworks!  Blot off excess.  With wax on a Dauber, finger or a brush, highlight areas on the key hole and the clay panel.  Wipe off excess.  Use waxes all over the sides of the box to make it look like metal.

I hope you enjoyed looking at this!  Hugs, Renee

Altered Paint Brush- AIRs Wood Challenge

On the Imagine blog today I'm sharing one of my altered paint brushes.  The challenge for the AIRs design team was "wood".  This is a small wooden paint brush, a great way to recycle a used paint brush that has messy paint etc. on it.  They are inexpensive and can be purchased by the case, I know because I "found" a whole case of them in my husband's shop area.  WooHoo!  Score!!  Ahem.... trying to maintain a little dignity here.  He actually gave me permission to use as many as I wanted after he saw what I did with it.

The instructions and the supply list are found today on the Imagine Blog, please pop on over there and take a look when you have time.  These altered brushes are so much fun to make and look really awesome in real life.  Thanks for stopping by and allowing me to share my work with you.

Hugs~ Renee

A Steampunk Mirror

I love to recycle or alter items I continue to find in the house that are not really being used.  Some things have just been relegated to the book case, behind books, just barely peeking out.  Sleep often eludes me and I can't stand to just lay in bed, so I sneak into my studio in the wee hours of the morning and use that quiet time to create.  This time I used my new Finnabair Patina Effect Paints in Blue and Red Rust plus a few metal objects to give an old mirror new life.

I won't hide this behind any books now!  Thanks for stopping by-hugs-Renee