ALTERED CIGAR BOXES - BEACH THEMED

HEY Y'ALL! I HOPE EVERYONE IS STAYING SAFE AND WARM. WE'VE HAD SOME WINTER STORMS HERE IN THE SOUTHEAST... SOMETHING OF WHICH WE ARE NOT USED TO AND NOT PREPARED FOR. SO, AFTER PLAYING OUT IN THE COLD, WHITE, WET STUFF WITH THE KIDS FOR AWHILE... I AM SO OVER THAT STUFF AND READY FOR OUR GOOD OLD SOUTHERN WINTER AGAIN! 

ANYWAYS, I HAVE A PROJECT THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU. IT'S A COUPLE OF ALTERED CIGAR BOXES THAT MY NIECES' MOM COMMISSIONED ME TO MAKE FOR HER DAUGHTERS FOR CHRISTMAS. YES, I SAID CHRISTMAS. I'M A LITTLE LATE ON POSTING THEM, BUT IT'S ALL GOOD.  :)

SHE (LET'S CALL HER MY CLIENT) WANTED TO PUT COPIES OF OLD PHOTOS FOR EACH DAUGHTER INSIDE OF THE BOX. SINCE MY "CLIENT" AND HER DAUGHTERS LOVE THE BEACH; SHE DECIDED THAT BOTH BOXES SHOULD BE A BEACH THEME, HAVE A FRAME ON THE FRONT SO SHE CAN INSERT A PHOTO, AND SHOULD BE AS CLOSE TO THE SAME AS POSSIBLE. SO, WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS IN MIND... I GOT TO WORK ON SOME GREAT CIGAR BOXES. 

USING SOME PETALOO FLOWERS FOR INSPIRATION, I STARTED BY SELECTING THE PATTERNED PAPER THAT COORDINATED WITH THE COLORS OF CHOICE. AFTER MEASURING, CUTTING, & INKING THE EDGES OF THE PATTERNED PAPER AND SOLID CARDSTOCK MAT, I CONTINUED BY COVERING THE BOXES WITH THE PAPER AND THEN MOD-PODGE FOR A PROTECTIVE LAYER. 

I USED A SMALL FRAME ON THE FRONT THAT I PURCHASED FROM MICHAEL'S IN THE DOLLAR BIN.  IN ORDER TO "DISTRESS" THE FRAMES A LITTLE, I USED SOME OF WENDY VECCHI'S "ORANGE BLOSSOM" ARCHIVAL INK ON THE TIP OF MY FINGER AND SMEARED IT LIGHTLY OVER THE HIGH EDGES. ONCE THE INK WAS DRY, I GLUED SOME FLAT BACK PEARLS AND SHELLS TO THE FRAME.

WHILE THE MOD-PODGE WAS DRYING, I GATHERED SOME SHELLS, PEBBLES, WHITE SAND, AND OTHER MATERIALS TO DECORATE THE BOX. AS ALWAYS, I USED FABRI-TAC TO ADHERE THE FRAME, ALL OF THE EMBELLISHMENTS, AND THE RIBBONS.

ON THE INSIDE, I DECIDED TO ADD A POCKET SO THAT MY CLIENT COULD WRITE A LETTER TO EACH OF HER DAUGHTERS AND TUCK IT INSIDE. 

THE SENTIMENT THAT I CHOSE TO ADD SAYS, "EACH ONE OF US IS GOD'S SPECIAL WORK OF ART". I THOUGHT IT RELAYED THE MOM'S FEELINGS FOR HER BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS; AND SHE WAS VERY PLEASED!

I ADDED THE SAME MATTED, INKED PATTERNED PAPER ON THE SIDES WITH A STRIP OF "VINTAGE" LOOKING LACE, A SHELL, AND A FLAT BACK PEARL. THIS WAS ADDED ON ALL SIDES, EXCEPT THE BACK WHERE THE HINGES ARE. I ALSO COVERED THE SIDES WITH A COAT OF MOD-PODGE FOR PROTECTION.

AND... THAT'S ABOUT IT! MY "CLIENT" WAS VERY PLEASED, AS WELL AS HER DAUGHTERS WHO RECEIVED THEM. I HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH THESE BOXES AND I THINK THEY TURNED OUT BEAUTIFULLY!! ALTERING CIGAR BOXES ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE CRAFTS. IT IS VERY FUN AND REWARDING TO SEE HOW THEY TURN OUT.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR VISITING WITH ME TODAY! I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS PROJECT AS MUCH AS I ENJOYED WORKING ON IT. BEFORE YOU GO, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT A NEW ADVENTURE THAT WE WILL BE EMBARKING ON...

We are so VERY EXCITED about this new chapter in our lives! My family and I; along with Trina Hall Floyd, DeAnna Catron Goen, Kristine Woodruff Whittaker, & all of the other vendors are looking forward to seeing all of our friends and family at the Grand Reopening of Chinaberry Dreams Soapworks and Gifts as Chinaberry Dreams Artisan Marketplace on Feb. 15th!!!

Our booth is looking MARVELOUS and I can't wait to have it complete and ready for shoppers. There is a little something for everyone in our booth, so please do come out and show us a little LUV. Our booth sits right in the front, on the right as you come in the door. Also make sure you stay in touch with the shops' facebook page as well as ours for some amazing classes and crafty times coming up in the CREATION STATION!

Check us out at the "LIFE INSPIRED ART" booth at Chinaberry Dreams Artisan Marketplace in Leesville, SC (Main Street)!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME, HAPPY SCRAPPIN'!