Craft – Garden in a Book Shadowbox

Garden in a Book - adding tree and mossRecently I was Inspired by the beautiful shadowboxes I had seen on the internet and decided to create a special craft project.  I had a hinged book box that I purchased on several months ago that I thought would be perfect to use for my Garden in a Book Shadowbox.  Most of the other supplies were from my craft closet – paper, a miniature tree, a miniature metal gate and fence set, small flowers and moss.  Once I had all my supplies gathered together, this was the creative part of the craft project.  My advice is to have fun arranging the various items you have collected to make a pleasant arrangement.  In general, I like my scenes to be symmetrical but maybe I would suggest trying to set the focal point (maybe a tree or a garden table and chairs set) off to one side.  This idea would definitely add more room for embellishments and currently the craft stores are expanding their miniatures collections so the selection is definitely larger!

Garden in a Book - supplies

Garden in a Book Shadowbox – supplies

  • Hinged Book Box
  • Durable paper to cover the box (I used a remnant from a wallpaper sample book)
  • Scrapbook paper for the background
  • Blue paint, paint brush (optional)
  • Miniature tree
  • Miniature set of a metal garden gate and fence
  • Small flowers Moss
  • Moss
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks
  • Black Sharpie (optional)

Garden in a Book Shadowbox – instructions

  1. The first step is to cover the hinged book box with the durable paper.  To begin, place the paper on one corner of the box.  Then, smooth the paper while working across to the other side and glue into position, trim any access paper.  Craft Tip: To cover any slight caps between the paper and the edge of the box I used a black Sharpie marker.
    Book cover 1  Book cover 2
  2. Cut a piece of scrapbook paper to fit the inside of the box, this will be the background.  (I used a textured pale blue piece of paper and then painted it will a medium blue paint, this way I achieved the exact color I wanted to represented the blue sky background!)
  3. Using the metal garden gate and fence pieces, I attached the small flowers by intertwining them throughout the railings.  Craft Tip: Before attaching the flowers, determine the position inside the box behind the miniature tree.  This is recommended to assure that the pieces will fit because any adjustments needed afterwards would be more difficult with the flowers attached.
    Garden in a Book - floral fence
  4. Hot glue the floral gate and fence pieces to the back of the box. (I positioned the pieces about an inch from the bottom to allow space for the moss and with the side fencing at an angle to add some depth instead of all the pieces flat against the back of the box)
    Garden in a Book - adding background and fence
  5. Hot glue the miniature tree to the bottom of the box.  (I positioned the tree in the center because I always like a symmetrical arrangement, but it can also be set to one side to allow more room for embellishments)  Craft Note: As you may notice, the tree in the supply photo and the finished photo look very different.  I choose to add small leaves to the tree to create a more “realistic” appearance.Garden in a Book - adding tree and moss
  6. Add moss to the bottom portion of the box to complete the craft project.

Shown below are to different version of the Garden in a Book Shadowbox.  The photo on the right is the first version as explained in the instructions.  The photo on the left is the second version with fluffy cotton ball clouds added to the background (which should be positioned prior to gluing the miniature tree)  To make the clouds I used two cotton ball which I pulled and stretched apart until I create the perfect fluffy cloud!

Garden in a Book- finished 1st version  Garden in a Book- finished 2nd version

Garden in a Book - making clouds

Craft – Star Wars Shadowbox

Star Wars - finished Millennium Falcon

In honor of Star Wars Day, otherwise known as “May the Fourth Be With You”, I decided to make a Star Wars shadow boxes.  A few months ago I made several Beatrix Potter shadowboxes for Easter using some Hallmark Peter Rabbit themed ornaments.  Throughout the years I have also collected Hallmark Star Wars themed ornaments for my son.  I only collect the characters from the original Star Wars series of three movies – “Star Wars Episode VI: A New Hope”, “Episode VII: The Empire Strikes Back” and “Episode VIII: The Return of the Jedi”.  Every Christmas I set up a small tabletop tree in my son’s room and decorate it with the Star Wars ornaments, mini lights and small silver ball ornaments (click on the link to see the photos of the Star Wars Christmas tree)

So, for this craft project I decided to use these ornaments to create a Star Wars themed shadowbox.  This is a great way to decorate a boy’s bedroom with some relatively inexpensive “artwork”.  Heck, these shadowboxes could also be used to decorate other rooms of the house for any Star Wars fan!    

Star Wars-inspired Shadowbox supply list

  • Shadowbox
  • Star Wars Hallmark ornaments
  • Printed copy of a Star Wars photo (to use for the background)
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Star Wars-inspired Shadowbox instructions

  1. Disassemble the shadowbox by removing the backing (Craft tip: this is a good opportunity to make sure that both sides of the glass are clean, allow the glass to dry completely)
  2. Search the internet to find a background picture for the shadowbox, print a copy in the appropriate size to fit.  (I found a Star Wars illustration of the Millennium Falcon and printed a copy on our home printer)
  3. Arrange the Hallmark Star Wars themed ornaments in the shadowbox.  When pleased with the placement, hot glue the ornaments in position.
  4. Reassemble the shadowbox, replace the backing and secure

The Star Wars-inspired shadowbox will make a great decoration for the home of any Star Wars fan and can be hung on the wall, placed on a side table or set on a bookshelf alongside the Star Wars DVDS to make a great display.  

Craft – Framed Floral Decoration for Spring

20160801_093934

A few years ago I made a Framed Floral Decoration for Autumn which I displayed in our dining room for Thanksgiving.  (Please click on the link to view photos of this craft project)  Now, for spring I wanted to make another seasonal framed floral decoration and I decided to recycle the old display.  I re-used the golden frames that I had originally found in the clearance section at a local craft store that I had previously used for the autumn craft project and added some different flowers, greenery and a cloth-covered backing.

Listed below are the complete supply list and full instructions for the Framed Floral Decoration For Spring.

Supplies for one framed floral decoration

  • 1 frame, any size (the frame’s glass and backing are not used for this craft project)
  • 1 cloth covered backing
  • Flowers, number of flowers needed is determined by the size of the frame
  • Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
  • Optional – Painter’s tape

20160801_093516

Instructions for one framed floral decoration

1.  Select a frame to use, remove the frame’s glass or picture backing, you will not need them for this craft project.  Frames can be any size with an opening from a smaller size of 5 X 7” to a larger 10 X 13”.  (I am using frames with a 5 X 7” opening)

2.  I used a pre-cut cloth covered backing  to fit the frame opening, but one could easily be made with a sturdy board with a piece of cloth stapled or taped to the backside

3.  Backing can either be taped into place with painter’s tape or hot glue

20160801_0940454.  Place flowers and other decorations into a pleasing arrangement and hot glue to the backing

Shown below in the photo is the finished framed floral decoration.  I think it looks wonderful in the dining room of our home.  I have used the same frames for both this Spring Framed Floral and also for the previous Autumn Framed Floral for two very different styles. Framed Floral decorations can be created for any season throughout the year, just use flowers or decorations that are appropriate for the particular holiday.

20160801_093934

 

 

Craft – Beatrix Potter-inspired Decoration

Beatrix Potter - finished 1 exterior

This Spring I decided to make a special Beatrix Potter-inspired Decoration to display in our home for the Easter holiday.  Over a hundred years ago, an English author and illustrator named Helen Beatrix Potter (Born: July 28, 1866 Died: December 22, 1943) published her first book “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” in 1902.  Eventually she would write a wonderful series of charming children’s books featuring not only Peter Rabbit but Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle Duck and also Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail to name just a few of the delightful characters.  (For more information about Beatrix Potter and the history of the Peter Rabbit books, please click on the link)

Several years ago I started to collect a series of Hallmark Peter Rabbit themed ornaments and I decided to use these to create several Beatrix Potter-inspired decorations.  These charming ornaments are beautifully detailed and readers might recognize them from photos of my annual Spring/Easter display in our china cabinet in our dining room.  (click on the link to see the photos)  Inspired by the beautiful illustrations that are featured in the books, I printed copies of lovely English countryside paintings done by Beatrix Potter and I used these as backgrounds for the craft projects.  

Special Note:  For this craft project, I had a unique Beatrix Potter “book” that I had found in a local retail store several years ago which I thought would be perfect.  I know this type of item was very unusual and probably could not be found again, so I have a solution! Purchase a paper mache “book”, these are generally available in craft stores.  Copy the cover of a Peter Rabbit book and paste it to the front to create a similar Beatrix Potter “book”.

Beatrix Potter - supplies 1 exterior

Beatrix Potter-inspired Decoration supply list

  • Beatrix Potter “book”
  • Beatrix Potter Hallmark ornaments (ceramic figurines could also be used)
  • Printed copy of a Beatrix Potter illustrations (to use for the background)
  • (Optional) Moss
  • (Optional) Floral stems
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Beatrix Potter - finished 1 interior

Beatrix Potter-inspired Decoration instructions

  1. Search the internet to find a background picture for the shadowbox, print a copy in the appropriate size to fit.  (I found a Beatrix Potter illustration and printed a copy on our home printer)
  2. Arrange the Hallmark Peter Rabbit themed ornament.  When pleased with the placement, hot glue the ornaments in position.
  3. Option: To create an additional dimension to the shadowboxes for these enchanting characters to “live”, floral stems and moss can be used.  Add the moss to the shadowbox to simulate grass, this will also cover the bottom of the ornaments

Shown below are two “shadowboxes” that I improvised using two beautiful frames:

Beatrix Potter - finished 2b  Beatrix Potter - finished 2a

The Beatrix Potter-inspired shadowbox will make a great seasonal decoration for any home and can be hung on the wall, placed on a side table or set on a bookshelf.  

Craft – More Fabergé-inspired Eggs

Silver Egg  - display

This month I posted a craft project on a Fabergé-inspired Egg.  Peter Carl Fabergé was the famous designer of these beautiful jeweled Russian Imperial Eggs which were specially created for the Russian Tsar Alexander III and later his son Tsar Nicholas II between 1885 and 1917. (For readers interested in more detailed information about the House of Fabergé or the Fabergé Eggs, please click on the link to the previous blog posts)

The previous Fabergé-inspired Egg craft post featured a lovely golden eagle pendant with a large blue gem which seemed to copy the style of the Russian Imperial crest.  Then, recently when in the jewelry/accessory store Charming Charlie looking through the clearance section, I found two inexpensive necklaces, a bracelet and earrings that I decided would be perfect for two more Fabergé-inspired egg craft projects.       

Fabergé-inspired Egg supply list

  • Large wooden egg
  • “Inspiration pieces” of jewelry (necklace and bracelet)
  • Self-stick pearls (select a color to coordinate)
  • Metallic paint – for one egg I used gold and for the other I used silver
  • Paint, paint brush
  • Sally Hansen Miracle Gel – Top Coat nail polish
  • Sandpaper
  • Hot glue and glue sticks
  • Wire cutter

Fabergé-inspired Egg  instructions

  1. Use sandpaper to smooth any rough surfaces to prepare the wooden egg for painting.
  2. Begin painting the bottom portion of the wooden egg, let dry completely.  Then paint the upper portion and let it dry completely.  (I selected a metallic paint color to coordinate with the metal of the “inspiration pieces”)
  3. After the paints dries, to give the egg a beautiful finish to resemble the enamel technique that was often used in the creation of the original Fabergé Eggs I used the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel – Top Coat nail polish to achieved this effect.  Apply the nail polish covering the entire egg; let it dry completely before proceeding to the next step.  (I think that the nail polish worked much better than a gloss paint to create an enamel look)
    Gold Egg - supplies
  4. Prepare the necklace and bracelet by clipping the links to create separate pieces, use sandpaper to smooth any rough or sharp edges.  
  5. Hot glue the individual pieces to the painted egg, work out the placement before gluing by marking with a small dot to indicate the position.
    Gold Egg - jewlery poistion
  6. Attach the self-stick pearls to the egg.   (If desired, the pearls can be additionally made secure with the use of glue)

Gold Egg - finished    Silver Egg - finished

Please check out the two previous craft posts also inspired by the Fabergé Eggs.  The first craft project is an elegant Fabergé-inspired oval box that is painted and decorated with crystal and pearl stickers.  This box is still displayed in our family room bookshelf during the Easter season.  The second craft project, as previously mentioned, is a Fabergé-inspired Egg which features a lovely golden eagle pendant with a large blue gem which resembles the style of the Russian Imperial crest.  (For more information regarding the supply list and instructions for these two craft projects, please click on the links)