April 21, 2021 Janine O'Rourke

Altered box by Lorna Simons

Oh, I love boxes and tins, and I love to decorate them, these papers were just perfect for this.

I measured the height of the box above and below the opening of the box and cut the full width of the paper. I cut the two strips together so they matched above and below the opening.

I did the same for the back as it didn't go all the way around and butted them up to each other on corners just making sure the back piece was on a not so very patterned piece so it blended in easily.

I used gel medium to stick the papers down and carefully cut round the catch and the hinges on the back.

I then went round with some sandpaper to distress the clean-cut edges, this also helps to blend in the joins.

Next, I added some stencilling using a leaf stencil and some heavy body paste, just randomly over the box, you can dry with a heat gun or allow to dry naturally.

I then painted over the whole piece with some clear gesso and allowed it to dry, this allows me to then add some more colour using the distress spray and allows it to move. Without the gesso it would just sink into the paper, with the gesso I can then move it around by adding some water and moving the box to move the colour or using a paint brush to move the colour around, then allow to dry or dry with the heat gun.

Next I added some of the pieces from the ephemera pack using the gel medium as my glue and then clear gesso'd them as well.

Then I fussy cut the butterflies from one of the 12x12 sheets , I clear gesso'd these too, it is also good for strengthening the card stock. I did back and front of these before adding them using the gel medium as my glue.

Lastly, I used some wax to go round the edges and pick up some of the detail from the stencilling, I just did this with my finger but you could use a paint brush. Be careful not to have too much, you can always add more but you can't take it away and it has strong colour to it so be gentle. I have just realised it didn't splatter, I may just go back and do some of this, I do love to finish with some splattering.