“Orange You Glad It’s Autumn Challenge” Artisan Style Shadowbox

Hello, Friends!

It’s time for another great challenge at Really Reasonable Ribbon.  The theme this time around is “Orange You Glad It’s Autumn?” and you can make any kind of project you like as long as it features orange in some way with ribbon or trim.  You can get all the details on the RRR BLOG.  I chose to go “off the page” and make an Artisan Style Shadow Box using Graphic 45 papers and an 8″ x 8″ matchbox.

This was a challenging project for me, but I really enjoyed the process!  I layered and matted background papers from Graphic 45’s Artisan Style paper collection using foam dots to create loads of dimension.  Then I began to build my scene on the inside, using lots of flowers, fussy cut peacocks, die cut vines, real peacock feathers, altered resin embellies and incredibly GORGEOUS Vermilion Hand-Dyed Silk Ribbon from RRR.

This close-up shot shows all the layers and layers of Petaloo Darjeelling Flowers, Spanish Moss and dainty Mulberry Sweetheart Blossoms in two-tone orange, peach and brown. I love these little guys…they are so often the perfect pop of color on a project, and they come in a rainbow of hues.

I fussy cut the door image from the 12×12 paper collection, using my craft knife to cut the door open.  I painted the doors with Glossy accents to strengthen them, and added additional GA to the windows to give them a glassy finish.  Turquoise brad “door knobs” were inserted and the opening was backed with a sentiment panel from the paper collection. (Photo below.) Next, I fussy cut another pair of these incredible peacocks.  These were layered over the first pair to add even more dimension.  Dabbing them here and there with Diamond Stickles added amazing sparkle and shine.

I love this sentiment!  I painted a chipboard sentiment to go over the lintel, and then flanked the door with a Prima Shabby Chic resin piece and a Kaisercraft wood bird cage that I altered with paint. The dragonfly charm just seemed to fit as this collection features them in many of the prints.

Altering this lamp post was really fun!  It was chalk white to start with.  So I painted it first with a layer of DecoArt Copper Dazzling Metallics Paint.  When that had dried, Black Soot Distress Paint was swiped across the surface, left to dry for a couple of minutes and then rubbed away with a paper towel.  Then, I tapped it randomly with Ranger Verdigris Patina to give it that aged copper look.  The lamp panels were filled with Glossy Accents.

The chipboard sentiment fit perfectly next to the lamp post, but didn’t “pop” until I added that little snippet of Vermilion Silk Ribbon and another sweetheart blossom.  I tucked a little wooden protractor behind it, too. Three jade stones were also added in the upper left hand corner.

Let’s talk about these vines!  For some reason, the whole time I was working on this piece I kept thinking about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. That’s why I chose to drape these Bella Rose Leaves all along the top and sides of the shadowbox.  After they were stamped, die cut and shaped, I painted each leaf with Glossy Accents.  I love how they turned out.

The top of the box has a double layer of a Kaisercraft wood flourish that was painted with Black Soot Distress Paint and glued down.  They I went to work on my multi-layered, multi-loop bow tied with Vermillion Hand Dyed silk and tied with my Zutter Bow it All.  I topped this with a flaming yellow Trellis Rose that was sponged with shades of brown and orange distress ink.  It sits like a fiery crown atop this creation.

Now it’s your turn!  Link your “Orange You Glad It’s Autumn” project up on the RRR BLOG.  You’ll find all the details and submission dates there.

I’m also linking up this Artisan Style Shadow Box to the Frilly and Funkie Challenge “Stamps be Gone.”  No stamps were used in the creation of this shadowbox, and you can find a great deal on these Graphic 45 papers at the Funkie Junkie Boutique.

And, if you’d like to purchase this Artisan Style Shadowbox, you can find it in my ETSY Shop.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy