Sunday 29 July 2012

ATC-storage

Today I did my very first altered art project and I admit it - I so want to share it with you! (This will also be my last project before we leave for a three-weeks' holiday, so I think it may be a longer post than usual ;)
 As this will become quite a long post, I will only do it in English this time, hoping this will neither offend my German readers, nor my English readers because of my rather "moderate" English. 

Two or three weeks ago I stumbled over this metal photo-box and immediately the idea was clear in my mind: this was to become my one and only precious atc-storage! (Costing only 9 Euros, it was not too pricy - therefore I dared altering it. I admit, I can be quite a sissy with things like that...).


This is the "before"-look of the box.

As you can see, there are three hanging storage compartments in the box and I loved especially the handles at it's side!

First I altered the sides and the top with Ranger Alcohol inks "Rust", "Sunset Orange" and "Juniper".


After that it took me quite a while to choose the "perfect" papers for the back and front. I wanted them to match with the rusted look but also to be some of my favourites in grungy and vintage style. Because I only own "favourite sheets", this turned out to be the most time-expensive step of the project.

Finally I was successful when browsing the Tim Holtz paperstashes. Of course ;)

But during the search I stumbled upon some long-time treasured single sheets from Graphics 45, which I decided to use for some layering.

I cut the back and front papers to size, inked the edges with "rusty hinge" and "vintage photo" and glued them to the front and the back.




So this is how the box looked like
after doing the sides with Ranger alcohol inks and covering the front and back with the Tim Holtz papers.


Next I needed to cut out some chipboard letters for the "atc" on front. They should match the look of the silvery metal and rusty tones, so I stamped the Tim Holtz script stamp with embossing ink over the three letters in one turn and embossed them with silver "Sternenstaub".
After embossing, I inked them with Distress inks "rusty hinge", "mustard seed", "vintage photo" and a light shade of "broken china". As the edges still turned out too bright, I did some additional outlining with a dark brown felt tip pen.


The "finish" consisted of a rather long time of "playing around", arranging the paper-pieces and scraps I had intended to collage on the front. Some of them I tore, others I cut out. I inked all of them at the edges, but not before distressing some of them with my carpet knife blade.

After fixing the layers on the background paper with my new and cool permanent glue roll-on from tesa, I stamped some Tim Holtz images with "rusty hinge", "spiced marmalade" and "vintage photo" to get more texture. Finally I  finished the front with a self-adhesive paper-lace-border at the right. To add at least a tiny bit of depth, I attached the "storage"-label with sticky foam pads. Voila!


At the backside I just added a border and one gold-embossed image of the Tim Holtz airplane, as the paper itself was already quite vibrant.


I almost forgot to do the little "atc"-tabs to stick into the label clips on the lids at the top. I used black card and embossed the letters in silver, to match the metal.


Here, finally, some pictures of the whole finished box, which I cannot wait to fill with awesome new traded cards! Hope you enjoyed sharing this project with me! CU, die amelie xxx



I am going to enter this project at the Fashionable Stamping Challenges-blog, where "anything goes".




28 comments:

  1. Wow - completely fantastic altered storage, Amelie. Love the combination of inking and papers, and what a great job on choosing which papers! It's a gorgeous piece of work, and I really enjoyed hearing about and seeing the process unfold. And anyone who's got 'sissy' in their vocabulary is beyond schoolroom English!! Have a wonderful holiday... I'll miss your beautiful work while you're away. Gute Reise!
    Alison x

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Alison!!! :D

      Your laud means very much to me!
      I am glad you like my project and it's outcome too ;)
      I try not to let my schoolroom English get too rusty and watch tv-series in original language if possible. I also read English books from time to time and listen to lyrics quite carefully (because I love good song-lyrics - they are poetry sometimes).

      LOL - "Sissy" is the name of Austrias still beloved but long-gone empress. It amuses me every time to use the word "sissy" as I did above....

      Thank you for the lovely holiday-wishes too. I admit, I will miss my working desk, even though I am looking forward to a great summer holiday at our favourite place in Salzkammergut!

      Hugs,

      die amelie xx

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  2. Wow - this is totally gorgeous, it really is. I love the way you've combined stamping, colour work, papers, embossing and all the other wonderful things. I so want to do this type of project but never get round to it and really should have a go. Your work is beautiful.
    I do hope you have a lovely holiday and I shall look forward to seeing your work when you return.
    I think it's really funny seeing 'sissy' in your text and you've used it in exactly the right context - very impressive!!
    Have fun, Juliaxx

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    1. I am sure, Julia,

      when the muse's kiss touches you, you will have a go and will succeed! I had this box at home for some weeks, not daring to start altering it, bedause it did not feel right until today. I guess, this is how creativity works. It comes from the heart, when the right moment has come.

      Thank you for your lovely laud and the holiday-wishes too! I hope I will return with my head full of new ideas and pictures. No, I am sure, I will ;)

      I just love the phrase "don't be such a sissy!". Can't remember, where I heard it first. I would love to know, where it originates from. ;)

      Hugs,

      die amelie xx

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  3. Da fehlen mir glatt die Worte, was für ein Hammerteil.

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  4. OMG just amazing and more I love it.

    Thank you for sharing with us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges.

    Hugs Shirley x x

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, Shirl,

      for the loveyl laud, the visit and the challenge!

      Hugs,

      die amelie xx

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  5. Fabulous project- loving everything about it....! I really enjoy the visual and all of the instructions you included too- Thanks!

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    1. Thank you,. Shelly,

      for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment!


      Greetings from Vienna,

      die amelie xx

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  6. wow your transformation is totally wonderful, such a treasure. x

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  7. Thank you very much, Netty! :D

    Greetings from Vienna,

    die amelie xx

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  8. I love your storage box already before, but now is AWESOME!!! You choose perfect colours and images...you are magician!!
    Hugs from Slovenia!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Ana K.,

      for this awesome lovely great laud and your visit!

      Big hug,

      die amelie XXX

      Delete
  9. This is great, I love it all, and it has come out so well. I have been looking for something like that for my atc's, they are just in plastic wallets at the mo.
    very nicely done, mark x have a great holiday.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Mark!

      Hope to see your new creations after the holidays! CU !

      die amelie

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  10. Hi
    A remarkable piece of altered art. I cannot believe this is your first ever altered project.
    Stunning use of products and stamping.
    Thank you for sharing with us at Fashionable Stamping Challenge.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the visit and the great laud, Lynne!

      It may be my first altered project, but it is not my first crafting or painting project ;). But I admit, I felt quite out of my comfort zone doing this one. The happier I am with the outcome. :)

      Greetings from Vienna,

      die amelie x x

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  11. O, how beautiful! LOVE the way it turned out...
    xxx Ellie xxx

    ps thanks for joining us at FSC!

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    1. Thank you so much for the visit and your laud, Ellie!

      Glad, you love it!

      Hugs, die amelie x x

      Delete
  12. Are you kidding me?? This does not look like a first attempt at alteration and hopefully there will be many more to follow! I so hear you on being afraid to take something and change it, as I have a box I so need to alter! Every little inch of this ATC box is gorgeous and the time and effort was so worth it! Thank you for joining us at FSC!

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    1. Thank you so much for this great laud, Terry!

      You give me a lot of confidence!!!

      Wishes,


      die amelie xx

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  13. Love this!! Gorgeous colours, I think the ATC letters are my favourite part!! xx

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    1. Thank you very much, Trish,

      for your lovely visit and the laud!!

      Hugs,

      die amelie xx

      Delete
  14. I don't know whether you can get online wherever you are on holiday - but you must check the Fashionable Stamping Challenge site if you can! Congratulations!! I knew this was a brilliant piece - hurrah!!
    Alison x

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    1. Thank you so much, Alison!!!

      I so hoped to maybe maybeeeee at least to be among the Top 3....and now.... hope I will manage the whole contacting-thingie. *lol

      I hope you have had a pleasant return and all things are settled and in place again.

      Hugs and hurraah!!!

      die amelie xxxx

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  15. Das ist ja umwerfend geworden. Bin völlig hin un weg.
    Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Gewinn!
    lg sabine

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    1. Herzlichen Dank, liebe Sabine!!!!

      Freut mich total, dass du hier vorbeigeschaut hast und die Glückwünsche sowieso. Danke dir!!!

      Bussi aus Österreich!

      die amelie

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