Vacation Memory Box

Hello fellow mixed media artists, I am super excited to share my first ever post on the Fabulous Frog Dog Blog!  I don't know about you, but I get so excited when I see the "brown truck" coming my way...hoping it's my new FD Kit ...AND, I LOVE seeing everyone's creative projects on our blog...so inspiring:)

I received my July kit the day before I left on a family vacation to Glacier National Park in Montana. It was hard to wait to play with so many fun products, but my trip gave me great purpose for my project...a vacation memory box:)

So, here goes...

As we were literally walking out of the last hotel we stayed in, a toilet paper roll wrapper caught my eye.  I liked the color and the word River printed on it and swiftly stuffed it in my bag.  My husband just shook his head.  

I tore it into small pieces and used the Studio multi matte medium to adhere it to the box found in the kit.  I used to use a lot of Mod Podge, but I like this product so much better!  It's not as sticky on your fingers, has no odor, and works great!  It dries fast too.

Both inside and outside covered with just one toilet paper wrapper...Yay! And to think, someone was just going to throw it away:)

Next I utilized the Distress Paint in "peeled paint" & "Antique Linen"

by adding some color to both the box and the Tim Holtz hinges. 

To put the hinges on, I pulled out my paper piercer to make holes 

through the box in order to push the brads through the hinges and box. 

I used some of the cool red letters from the ARTChix studio Ephemera sheet

to spell out Montana for the front of the box.

I couldn't resist coating them with the Crackle Accents.  I  just LOVE the effect this product brings to a flat piece of paper! Be patient though...it's best to let it dry 1-4 hours, depending on the surface area and thickness of the coating.

I inked up a pine tree stamp (the forests of Montana were breathtaking) with one of my favorite inks (moonlight white) to add some texture and color.

The metal embellishment on the front was something I grabbed out of my "stash."

I altered it's color with the "peeled paint" distress paint.  (I sealed the whole project with a clear acrylic sealer, which will prevent the paint from chipping off the metal piece & hinges)

Next came my treasures for the inside:)  

One of the Maps from Glacier National Park had "little squares" of places to see and stay on the back.  They were the perfect size to add to the "coasters" in the kit.

I first painted gesso on each of the coasters.  Next, I added the map squares, and both distress paints.

I printed off some of my favorite snap shots (in miniature size : 1.65 -almost a 2 inch square) using my home printer on card stock and then added them to the "coasters"

 using the Studio multi matte medium.

I added some sentiments using both the Washi tape (found in the kit of course) and 2 of my favorite pens...Faber Castell's Pitt Multi liner (xs) & Scarlett Lime in black.

Below is a picture of the inside lid.  I tore off the title of one of our trail maps (after I altered the color using my Gelli Plate: more on that below), burned the edges, and added the Crackle accents.

Oh, and all the butterflies were "punched" out of the same map that I had altered using both distress paints on my Gelli Plate. I know you'll be learning more about the Gelli Plate in months to come! Hope you're intrigued:)

I added to the box a few maps and a rock I found by the River in the park.  I drew on the rock with another one of my favorite pens...Uni-ball Signo pen in white.  *If you use this pen on a rock you must seal it in some way or it may smear,  I sprayed the rock with a clear acrylic spray.

The WG on the top stands for West Glacier...

this was the location of the beautiful house we stayed in.

I dipped the ends of the twine in craft glue to keep it from fraying. 

I think I'll make memory boxes for all of our trips and display them on a shelf.  It's so much fun for friends and family to pull out the tiny treasures and reminisce.  

I drive my husband crazy, cause I collect rocks when we travel to remember each special trip.  They are all over the house:)  I think he's happy this one has it's own little box.

I Would love to hear from you about your creative memory keeping!  Hope you enjoyed this tutorial as much as I did making it!  Happy Crafting!  

Love, Sue

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