Today I put the call out for a preference for me to post an off the page project or a layout. Seeing that off the page won, here I am to share with you a little gift box and card set I made today. I have a lucky lady in mind for this little set, so I just can't wait to gift it.
In creating it I got busy with my Helmar Step 1 & 2 crackle, Helmar Decoupage and my Helmar 450 Quick Dry.
I have had these little boxes for a while... well since before I got married 6 and a half years ago as they are from our Wedding rings. Not being used in any sort of way I decided to alter them.
I started by using the Helmar Decoupage to cover the box with torn pieces of old book paper. I had the text going every which way. It doesn't matter as it is simply providing some extra dimension to the project, it will not be seen a great deal.
After it was dry i gave it a light rough paint with some cream paint. I wanted some of the text to show through so I painted it sparingly and not too dark. (sorry forgot to take more step by step photos - but I am sure you can see the rest in the end product photo).
After the paint was dry I applied the Helmar Step 1 & 2 crackle and allowed it to dry. As it is winter here, I wasn't liking my chances of it drying in time for me to get a chance to decorate it todya. Gee to my surprise it was done in a couple of hours. I did cheat a little and placed it on the ledge of a window that was in full afternoon sun. It dried a treat in the warmer temperature. I will definitely be doing that again!
After it was dry I wanted to accentuate the cracks I had just created, so I rubbed it over with some antique gold Rub n Buff. I just love this stuff as it gives beautiful old feel to it and the tube seems to just go on forever! After I rubbed it on the crackle I buffed it a little with a tissue to remove some excess and really show off those cracks. You can see the effect pretty clearly in this detail shot. The text still shows through without being overpowering but I just love the extra dimension it adds.
I didn't want to take away from the crackle too much but to decorate it used some beautiful Prima flowers and cut outs from the Madeline range, along with some crystal vine, Hambly Screen print acetate cut out flowers and trim, all adhered with my Helmar 450 Quick Dry. To give it a little more of a Shabby Chic feel I added some cream paint to the edges of the box and the flowers.
To create the the card I did some fussy cutting and adhered it altogether with my Helmar 450 Quick dry. It was especially useful for the crochet doilies and lace. It was so quick to put this one together once I knew what I was going to do as the 450 dries so quick I didn't need to hold it in place for very long at all.
At a class I taught recently some of the students asked me how to avoid a string of glue following the tube as you lift it from your project. Helmar 450 is great for this not happening as long as you don't let the glue dry on the end of it and you simply scrape the edge as you lift it.
Well I hope you like my little share in the midst of all the Nikki Sivils fun!
Happy Creating
Helmar USA Inc. Design Team Member
