Trades box… using up scraps and transforming the junk

I had this square box which a kit from Stampin Up came in a number of years ago and until recently have been storing scraps and playing cards in it which were for my 365 atc challenge of 2017 and 52 playing card challenge (which I didn’t finish) for 2018. Well I decided to sort it out and get rid of scraps and sort out the playing cards in it.

I tipped out all the contents and then had the idea of redecorating the box and turning it into the box I use for storing things I make for swaps before they head out … that way I can keep track of them. So rather than throwing away all of the scraps I used a random selection to cover the entire lid of the box. This is following the Nina Ribena idea of transforming junk into art.

I then added a thin layer of gesso to the whole box and this helps to knock back the mishmash of papers.

So next step was to start adding colour to it.. I chose magenta and ultramarine fluid acrylics for this and added them over the top of the box. Then using distress crayons and neocolors I defined some of the elements. And then started Stamping using white gesso and as well as the fluid acrylics. I had in mind at this point the moodboard that Nina Ribena had shared for her first week challenge… the top left in particular and the blue on the right mixed with the pink flower on the bottom.

My magenta might be a tad more red, but this is what I was thinking of with my colour choices.

Next I decided to get some woodchip letters for the title on the box… And added some distress oxide and some embossing to give them texture.

I carried on with some doodling and more definition on the edges of the panels and then stamped the Clare Lloyd sentiment to go with the swaps letters.

Super happy with how this looks now it’s finished. And happy to be able to keep swaps all in one place until they go out to their new homes.

Thanks for the inspiration Nina… I actually think I might have hit three of the four weeks of challenges with this project … mood board, scraps and junk! Not bad for an impromptu project clearing out my desk.

Happy crafting!

Catherine