Dream a Little Dream

This is a challenge that I totally became 100% involved in... in so many ways... hopefully I will be able to convey that to you on a few levels...  No pun intended... just truth. 

I have never been a short winded writer, and this is no different... this is a long posting...  It is something that I had never really done prior to this challenge... it is called an Artist Trading Block.. I have seen them on different gals blogs, but wasn't really sure what they were all about...  so you will find a few places on to go see for yourself...  The creator of these blocks is called Eileen Hull...I suggest you go see all the pretties on that site... as well as these others... and it will give a more total FUN outlook on these boxes...

I personally LOVE boxes... I think that last year I made alone over 200 boxes and must have sold at least 175 of them...  I love them... the ones I didn't sell are generally in my collection of boxes.. I have made all kinds and shapes, with all kinds of decorations on the OUTSIDE...  this time I took it a little bit deeper.. as you will see...

Okay... another site... is called The Artists on the BLOCK... how neat is that one.. a design team with some really WILD creative thoughts that go into action when they start with a blank block... wow... fun and games...

So last Wednesday.. .I went to see what was going on over at FRILLY AND FUNKIE challenge...  and it was all about these ATB... Artist Trading BLOCKS...  I got so very excited and called a few friends to come over and make and create and decorate these fun boxes...  What fun these are going to be... 

But it was Wednesday... and they were not coming over until Saturday... okay.. .I would get started with a smaller box...and so I started on the top box... 

I have taken a lot of pictures... as I have had some gals request more pictures of my projects... so I took a lot... hope this enough... the gals that don't want to see them... can more thru quickly...  LOL.... I love to look at pictures... 

There are a lot of different companies etc that I have used on this project... and I really cant' list them all.. as some are really old... and I can't remember whose they are... LOL... one of the main situations with having too many things...  There are two boxes here and the little one does have a surprise to it...  so very much fun.. .that is why it took me over 4 and a half days to complete... I love this project and will most likely make many more... 

I personally don't have the die.. but I did use another box, that I used for a pattern on the bottom box... which is 4.25 X 3.75 X 4  anyway... that is the way it was...  the top box is 3x3x3xand the entire project stands about 10 inches tall... 

Okay... enough ado ... lets start to show you what I created...

You can click on all the pictures to make them larger... and also there are lots of pictures of each side...  and section... 

 

Side one

 

Side Two 

 

Side Three

 

Side 4 

 

Top area

 

Bought this at the dollar store and took it apart and painted it... and added my own word... and then crackled it... (I ma not good at crackling... either too much... or too little... LOL... but I still love it...) 

 

The underneath lace is Velum and I took a picture so you could see that there are dragonflies on the velum... I think I bought this over 10 years ago... and still have at least 10 or so sheets left..  you will see more of this on other projects.. just found this in my STASH... the other lace is real lace...   

 

In between the two blocks I had to add a space for some really lovely flowers... Mona Pendleton had these on here scrapbook page the other day and I LOVED them so very much that I made some myself...  to use... and they were really needing to be used... SOOOOO  I built this in between area for these special flowers... I love them...  I used kraft colored paper and then painted them with gesso and pool Adirondack dabbers... love these flowers.. thanks Mona so very much for all the inspiration you give to me...  

 

When building this area, I used corrugated cardboard that I have had for ages also.. it is small corrugated... love it... and used quite a bit of it on these pillars... rolled and then decorated each pillar with some of my favorite little paper flowers that I love to make and also greens from Tim's templates... 

 

I had to have a little vintage fence... this is a Martha Stewart punch...  it holds the top box in place... 

 

On the back side... there is another item on the fence... and it is a layered butterfly with a paper bead that I made for the center of the butterfly...

 

I have had so very much fun making these boxes... just wait and see why I am so very excited... 

 

Three different size flowers are nestled in the between area... 

 

On the top of the platform I used real birch bark that my Daughter in law brought back from the Adirondacks for me... she carried this bark in her arms for over a miles walk... what sweet dedication is that... ???  so I use it only on very, very, very, special occasions... and this was one... the little box will sit on this as a special set of honor...   

 

 

 

Okay... now to see all the close up work on the four sides of the larger box.. 

 

I used stencils and texture paste to create the white on the right side of this section...  and there is birch bark in the underneath area ...  pearls surround the oval picture of some sweet little birds...  and of course my favorite little flowers...  and some dragonfly stamping going on here and there too.. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Side two 

 

 

 

When I started this project, I laid out about 10 Spellbinders that I thought would be pretty... cut them out.. and started to play... I knew that some wouldn't make it onto the box... but I really desired this window...

 

I have a piece of the birch bark with a knot area... so very unique... and also some Tim tape, branch and a piece of Graphic 45 paper under the top of the window...  a lot of things on this area... 

 

Clip art birds, and a little tag with

A GARDEN OF GOOD WISHES... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Side Three

 

I had a very difficult time getting the look on this section... I used real vintage music sheets... and they were crumbling under pressure so I had to sort of just leave it there... but the one little bird, did sneak under it... and is peeking its sweet little head out...  I also used paper lace from a Martha punch...  and some textured paste for the stenciled areas.. 

 

 

 

Side Four 

I have  been cleaning out stuff from my studio and also trying to organize things that I want to use for different projects... and so I came across these wooden flowers... love them... had never used any... so here they are... along with a template of swirl and oval butterflies dancing all around in the background...  and of course more little flowers...  I think the last time I made these little flowers I made over 200 of  them... (May be more??? )  and I have to make some more.. they are easy enough to make... a small flower punch and I made some inked paper, of the colors I need in flowers.... and then a hole in the center of each flower... and a stamen put into two flowers.. and glued...  that is it... easy and quick... unless you are making a few hundred of them... 

 

I mixed up some textured paint and added some dye... and then cut out the leaves...  gives me the look I want for these things... 

Now for the little box... 

A friend gave this special little box to me about 8 years ago... I have always treasured it... for many reasons... it had a snowman/ snow/winter theme... and it was just so very cute..  I still have it, and keep it around... so I thought I am going to make one of these...  it is made with a 12 x 12 piece of paper... and oh.... 

 

You will just have to look at the following pictures...  you will see... 

 

The four sides and the top and bottom of the box... 

 

 

 

I put lace all around the lid of the box... and also a little bit on each side of the box.. somewhere... 

 

Opening.... 

 

The innerness of the box... 

 

BE YOURSELF... 

 

When the box starts to open.. you see little tags... and it is going to open up and lay down flat... 

 

Entirely opened... 

 

starting on the left hand side...  it has more birds... 

 

I have used gesso, textured paste, acrylic paints, inks, stencils, and also stamps and clip art to create this inner being... 

 

Also some spackling tape...  looks like a checker board... or look burlap... love it..  (only about 8 years old... maybe a few more... ????) 

 

Over at the far right is an area, where 8 little tags are attached... the tags are about 1/2 inch wide to 1 inch tall..  I used a single section of jute string for the top ribbon.. 

 

Tags... row one 

 

Row 2 

 

Row 3 

 

Row 4 

 

 

 

 

Dream a Little DREAM...  and

Just BE YOURSELF... 

that is the inner most message to these blocks... 

 

 

I am also putting this into Simon Says Monday Challenge... as it is ANYTHING GOES... 

 

Thanks so very much for stopping by for a long visit... and hope that you enjoyed your stay here...  I really appreciate all your lovely comments and read each one and take it to heart...  love them all.. 

 

Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie