Secret Garden: Mixed Media Altered Shadow Box

Hello there bloggers! Arlene here again with a project for Graphic 45!

I've been having a great time creating mixed media pieces and recently spent some time figuring out what I wanted to create next. As I was going through my scraproom, I ran into a few of the 12x12 Matchbook Boxes by Graphic 45 that have been dying to be altered! So I got my hands a little dirty and created a new mixed media piece!

This Mixed Media Shadow Box is a unique piece using Graphic 45's Metal Staples and various other embellishments and flowers from my stash. So much fun!

I pulled together a 2 part video series that shows you step-by-step how I created this Mixed Media Altered Shadow Box. The video series can be accessed towards the bottom of this post.

This project will also be featured on the Graphic 45 blog HERE. But before you head over there, let me share some photos with you and talk you through the shadow box...

The photos on the layout were taken on my wedding day when I was in the hotel room with my bridesmaids and Mom, preparing for the wedding ceremony...

The 12x12 Matchbook Box is so fun to work with. There is a limitless amount of ways to alter this box.  I thought it would be fun to do some mixed media art on the "cover" and create a shadow box peeking into a scrapbook page.

Mixed media art is very liberating... throwing on the layers, textures and just having fun! I covered everything with gesso, then sprayed over the gesso with Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays in pinks, peaches and greens... You'll see

some of the metal embellishments, doilies and stenciling peeking through.

Here you'll see the Antique Metal Door Pull embellished with flowers... 

I used a variety of mulberry flowers including I Am Roses, Recollections and Prima...

Here is an up close picture where you can see the detail of the stenciling, stickers, doilies and flowers...

I love the Ornate Metal Door Plate and Knob. This set is one of my favorite metal Staples from Graphic 45...

I embossed the Metal Butterfly with an Impressions Folder, then shaped the wings with my jewelry pliers. I topped an Ornate Metal Key Hole over it and accented around with mulberry flowers...

I used an Imaginarium Designs chipboard phrase accented with angel wings by Tim Holz...

Here is a peek at the stenciling on the side of the box...

I adhered the layout to the inner "box" which slides out from the mixed media piece. I added a Staples Metal Tag topped with an Ornate Metal Label Holder to pull the box out...

Look at all the Graphic 45 Metal Staples goodness.... ♥

The box pulls right out to reveal the layout...

...the layout is adhered down to the inner box...

I used Graphic 45's Secret Garden collection on the layout... the papers and coordinating embellishments are just gorgeous! I love that the coordinating embellishments like the chipboard pieces, and stickers make creating so easy...

I altered this miniature flower pot and added a bouquet of I Am Roses flowers inside... I added a string of pearls, doilies and lace to add feminine charm to the project...

But then... I also added metal pieces to the layout to "pull in" the feel of the mixed media shell... 

Here is what the Matchbook Box looked like before the gesso and sprays...

Be sure to join me for my video tutorial series so you can see how to create one of these pieces for yourself! It was certainly a fun project to create and I hope you give it a try! ♥

Mixed Media Tutorial

Part 1

Creating the Layout

Part 2

Be sure to stop over at the Graphic 45 blog where this project will be featured today!

Thanks so much for joining me and have an AMAZING week ahead!

xoxo ♥,

Product List:

Secret Garden papers: Secret Garden, Meadow Lark, Springtime, Pretty Primrose

Secret Garden Chipboards 1 & 2, Stickers, Alphabet stickers

Staples: 12x12 Matchbook Box, Antique Metal Door pull, Ornate Metal Keyhole, Ornate Door Plate & Knob, Ornate Metal Label Holder, Metal Butterfly, Metal Tag, Metal Hinges 

Other Metal findings and embellishments from my stash

Doilies

Cheesecloth

I Am Roses flowers

Recollections flowers

Prima flowers

Imaginarium Designs chipboard phrase "Lifetime of Memories"

Miniature flower pot

Pearl string

Lace

stencils

Modeling Paste

Gesso

Mod Podge

Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays: Salt Water Taffy, Cotton Candy Pink, Cape Cod Coral, Sea Grass Green, My Mojito Green, Green with Envy Green

Scor Tape

E6000

3M ATG adhesive

Glossy Accents

Hot Glue