When a box of mints became a box of pencils.........

I was delighted to have won the mixed media challenge over at Rhedd's Creative spirit in January. It was for my Maze Moment and if you would like to see that project this is the link to it.

My prize is to be their guest designer for March's challenge which goes live on Saturday. Please do pop on over to their great challenge blog here.  If this is your first visit to Jane's Journal I would like to give you a very warm welcome. Pull up a chair, grab a cuppa and have a little browse around my blogland space.

I decided to try something new for me as their GD today...to alter a box. I had kept this mint box from Christmas as I thought it might be useful.

 I needed a box to put my new Inktense pencils into. My Hb bought me a set for Christmas. They came just in a simple plastic wallet as they are a set put together by LOTV.

 My empty box of Bendicks mints was the perfect size. I did a bit of research on the internet and through trial and error my plan and box came to life.
I started by painting the box with a coat of gesso and then added strips of book pages to start to get some texture.

I also added some texture paste through some TH stencils

followed by some distress and acrylic paints using stencils and bottle tops. I wanted to a cream/linen coloured background.

I kept building up the layers of paint and I also covered the inside with tissue wrap

I added some stamping using tissue paper. I kept to a "writing" theme so used a typewriter, pen and ink bottle TH stamp.

This was quite a lengthy process with lots of drying time ....

and here is my finished box.

the inside of the lid

and a side view

I added just a few pops of green here and there.

I would like to enter my altered box into the following challenges;

Simon Say stamp work it Wednesday
Artist Trading Post alphabet soup
Simon Says Stamp Monday no rules
Country View Crafts drips and drops
Simon Says stamp Wednesdays anything goes
As you like it favourite project that's not a card and why? This is my favourite as not only do I like the end project but it feels fabulous, so much texture and it is providing a useful home for my pencils.


Thanks Sandie over at Rhedd's for inviting me to Guest for you today, it's been pleasure and I have tried something new for me and got a useful pencil box from the result.

Thanks for all your birthday wishes you left for my son's birthday on Tuesday, We had a fab evening and he loved his lemon birthday cake.
Here it is;

and even his dog Bear approved ;0)

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x