Altered Art Tutorial...."Time Flies"

Morning folks..time to share with you all the step-by-step tutorial for the Altered Art Box...lots of pics so time to make yourselves a cuppa and find a comfy sofa to park your bum....
The box I used is made from reconstituted paper but this technique will work on many different surfaces and particularly lends itself to working on wood.  The paint is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint..colour Versailles which is a soft light mossy green available from Rustiques but Paperartsy Fresco Finish Paint works just as well.

Step 1...
Using a soft bristle large brush or a piece of Cut and Dry cover the box with one coat of paint...because the box is made from wet paper which has been compressed...it can bubble but don't worry once it's dry it will flatten out again....the secret is not to over-work it or you will damage the surface. The paint doesn't take very long to dry but if you are impatient like me....you can dry it with a heat gun.

Step 2...
The next step is softening the colour down a little and giving the box a shabby distressed look using Old White.

Load up a piece of Cut & Dry with paint and drag across kitchen roll to remove any excess....then swipe across the surface of the box in different directions until you achieve the look you want.....you may want to try out this technique on the bottom of the box to check that you don't have too much paint on the sponge but don't be too fussy because the whole box is going to be overstamped so just go for it and have fun....what's the worst that can happen...you need to repaint it with the original colour.

And here is the box suitably distressed.....

Step 3...

Now it's time to have fun with stamping....it is important to make sure that the paint is thoroughly dry or you will end up with an inky mess...the stamped images are not going to be as crisp as stamping onto smooth card but it's the slightly rough uneven texture of the box that helps to achieve that shabby chic look.  First I stamped with Hero Arts...Cling Dots inked with TH Distress Ink...Vintage Photo randomly around the edge of the box and on the lid followed by the Text Stamp from Stampers Anonymous: Tim Holtz Collection..Papillion...inked with Versamark Onyx Black.

And a little tip for doing the edges of the lid and sides of the box....lay the box down on the stamp and press down working your way around..

And no Timmie Project would be complete without a touch of distressing around the edges with Vintage Photo...

Step 4...

If you're still with me....it's time to play with the Vagabond....die cut 2 Weathered Clocks...colour with Distress Ink Vintage Photo and the hands with Walnut Stain....

sprinkle with Distress Embossing Powder,..Brushed Corduroy....heat until set...leave to cool and then rub off the excess powder

 leaving you with a rusty old metal look....

Step 5...

This is the faffing bit and you can miss out this part if you wish but I quite like the effect it gives....attach the clocks to white scrap paper and cut out.....colour lightly with Distress Ink Vintage Photo...and before you bombard me with e-mails about using the die cut pieces that fall out....believe me girls I've been there...done it...got the T Shirt...that is taking faffing to extremes...one that will have you tearing your hair out.  Time to stick the clocks down...colouring over the face again with more Vintage Photo before fitting the hands...

Step 6...

Nearly there folks....first the wording....

using Tim Holtz Grunge Alphabet coloured with Paint Dabber...Snowcap and letters from Idea-ology Alpha Parts...

and Hero Arts...Typewriter Letters cut to make Letter Tiles....

Step 7...
finally the embellishments...stamp three butterflies from Hero Arts...Antique Engravings onto scrap card...colour with Vintage Photo and cut out....

 decorate with pearls...

 Woohoo..hoo...hooo the finished box....

Crikey was that a marathon or what.....I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and will have a go at making a Timmie Altered Box...if you do please send me a pic...I would love to see your version.  Don't know about you but I think we all deserve another cuppa....catch up with you all tomorrow for the winner of the Fiskars Give-Away and perhaps a sneaky peek or two.

Hugs Kath xxx