Configuration box part 2

Hi all, this is gonna be another pic heavy one!
Before I get on to the second part of my configuration box, I have a few stand alone things that I have done.The first is another shrink plastic piece, which will be another one up for eventual sale.

It's a house key keyring! Admittedly a little smudgy, and you can still see some of the pencil lines, but, considering I can't draw for toffee, I'm quite pleased with it. I was inspired by the little keys. I guess this could be extended. I've already thought of different types of houses, but there are other things that have keys; cars, even Tardises for those of us who are geeks!

Speaking of geeks, what to do when it's your younger brothers birthday coming up? As I have said before it is hard to think of cards for men, but I got a magazine the other day that had instructions for a pop up card and, as the present for him is a mario cross stitch, I decided to make a mario box card!

Basically, you score a 290mm by 120mm card at 70, 140, 210 and 280mm, then turn it and score at 70mm. Fold all the pieces, and cut a flap at the top so you can join the box together (that's the larger part). Cover all in yellow paper, then add white question marks and stick to the outside (you need 4). Glue the flaps together to make the box, then draw (trace if need be) and colour a yoshi egg, fireflower, star, two mushrooms, and a happy birthday sign. Cut out a strip of card and attach it inside the box so you can attach acetate strips to it. Attach each item to a strip and you're done!

Right, now onto the configuration box. I've done quite a bit on it this week, although I'm still nowhere near done. 

This is the cover so far. I have finished the spring part, and the title. With the ornate plate, I added an extender chain and four charms; a flower, flip flops, a toadstool and a snowflake, each representing a different season. The spring cover is a free Sew Lovely paper, with red bobunny lace, wooden flower shapes that have been inked with various distress inks and glossy accented. I cut out two of each butterfly shape from Madam Payraud so I could stick them together (hate seeing white on the back of them) and added some daisies and peach roses. 

 The February box obviously lends itself to valentines, so it has a polymer clay heart, which has been lightly textured with a background stamp. A Tim Holtz lock has been attached to it and the key is by the side of it. The reason for this is that I keep my heart locked up, but the key is there for those who wish to look. The number 24, which has been inked with Victorian Velvet and glossy accented, is my birthday.

The inside cover is a Sew Lovely paper with each month from a calendar tab attached, and various shapes that signify season/holidays added. All have been inked with distress inks and glossy accented, bar the cupid which was crackle glazed, and the white snowflake which had distress glitter not ink. 

The November box has the theme of ice (it is very cold after all!) and i wanted to find a way to depict ice, so i got some chipboard letters and covered them with polar ice flower soft. I then glossy accented them and covered with distress glitter.

Be careful not to add too much glossy accents; I had to keep moving them so they didn't get stuck to my craft mat! When they are finished, they look like this.

Pretty cool huh? 

I cut some chipboard swirls to size and coated them with gathered twigs and a bit of distress glitter before using foam pads to place them in the box. 

To finish the box off, I added the mini lantern and a deer which I painted with picket fence crackle paint, then used faded jeans distress ink to get into the cracks, and glossy accented again.

I'm really pleased with how this is going so far. It's actually nice being able to work on a bigger piece. The only drawback is it's not helping my totals for the stash busting ban on mse! Guess I will have to make some cards to up the balance a little! I have got back to the stage now, where I am regaining the confidence in my abilities. 

Hope everyone else's crafting is going well

Emma x