Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Do Your Best

Many things going on in the house today.  I say "house" because I pretty much have a project going on in every room!
Currently, the kitchen table is set up for photography...and photography means pulling out props for "lifestyle" shots.  When you are photographing 20 + samples, that's a lot of different vintage pieces, backgrounds, and linens.  Just waiting for some afternoon natural light today and I will be done!
The CHA aftermath continues in the living room.  All samples have been organized into their respective boxes for shipment back to the designers on Friday.
And back in the craft room, my work desk is a mess - still working out some class ideas for my spring classes.  Gotta use a little Cracked Pistachio! 
Anyway, as you can see there is always a lot going on and that is GOOD.  Keeps me busy and lucky for me, I'm married to someone who does not give a care if there is a photography studio set up on the kitchen table or a pile of boxes in the middle of the living room.  If fact it probably bothers me more than it bothers him.  No worry though, it's all in a days work!

So on to the project for today...
I'm sharing one of my CHA projects - "Do your Best" cigar box.
I use a vintage cigar box I picked up in TX last fall to house a assemblage of letterpress, thread, a thimble, a new trophy cup and a Salvaged Doll. 
 
please click on photo to enlarge

I did not change the front of the box because the graphic was just too good to cover up.
On the inside, I used burlap from the new Textured Surfaces and Emporium Ephemera for the background.  And yes, you are seeing that right...I used tack nails to secure the burlap to the wood box.  The Foundry Frame has been painted with Weathered Wood and Brushed Corduroy Distress Paint and Alcohol Inked.  A small Adornments Arrow added (gold alcohol ink).  The photo is from the new Photobooth set.  I also used a Screw Eye and some chain to hang the Shield Charm from the top of the box.
You might notice there is a Mirrored Star on the Letterpress.  I used the star to cover up the "leg" on the Q, as I really needed two O's to spell out the phrase, with one set of Letterpress.  I'd like to buy a vowel please...
I used the new Trimmings- Lace to add a skirt to the Salvaged Doll.  The metal flower came from a vintage earring that I clipped off.  The little bottle is one of the new Tiny Vials that has been filled with glitter.  In the background you can see the trophy cup that I alcohol inked with silver (to cut back on the shine) and then burnished with very fine steel wool.
Hope you enjoyed today's project.  I sure had a great time making it.  Now it's back to doing the things that need to get done today so I can at least get the kitchen table cleaned off for dinner tonight!

I am teaching in Iowa and CA in March!
Hope you can join me!

Ankeny, Iowa
 March 6 and 7th

Down to Details
Stevenson Ranch, CA
(Valencia area)
Saturday, March 28th
Please contact ginger for more information
gingbugg@cs.com

now carry on,
paula





32 comments:

  1. Paula, you do make me laugh! How good to know someone else can get their entire house involved in their art, and have an understanding husband! Aren't WE the lucky ones? Thanks so much for sharing your cigar box project with us, I love it! You clever clogs, you! Jani

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the cigar box - so many wonderful elements, I see a different piece every time I look! I am always thankful that I have a large house - I take over rather a lot of rooms too. Obviously the sign of a busy crafter !

    ReplyDelete
  3. That cigar box is amazing! I love how you dressed up your Frozen Charlotte.

    ReplyDelete
  4. WOW! I love it all! just gorgeous Paula! TFS!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for sharing a day in your life Paula. Your cigar box looks amazing! I'm putting some serious thought into driving from MN to IA for your classes. Sounds like a fun weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely to get a little in site into life at the Cheney household! I think many of our hubbies have had to resign themselves to this kind if thing....

    Your cigar box looks amazing, I could keep looking at it for ever!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is fantastic! What a great idea to use the star to make a Q!

    ReplyDelete
  8. My favorite thing to alter!! I love this!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's so amazing ... down to smallest details ... the dolls dress and corsage ... OMG !
    Hanging shield charm ... the Q turned O with star ... my , my my ...

    ReplyDelete
  10. very cool!!! I love all the fun details.

    ReplyDelete
  11. So happy to have an outstanding use for the box I've been hoarding for 'that special project.' A the little intriguing details. I'll do my best to make it grand. 😉

    ReplyDelete
  12. I remember those tack nails from the Peace on Earth/Angel Wings assemblage you made a few years ago. Genius then, genius now! I like how you left the raised portions on the frame silver and how the lovely faded blue color is carried throughout the piece. Thanks to your great photos, I can now better appreciate the scale of the Salvaged Doll since she's placed next to a spool of thread and thimble (I do wish the fractured ones were still available). A truly inspirational project, thanks for finding the time to share it with us.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love this! The new salvage dolls are awesome. Makes me want to do something with my cigar boxes.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your altered cigar box is gorgeous Paula!!! So many details and you always make it look AMAZING! You're so inspiring, thanks for the how to's...inquiring minds want to know...how'd she do that! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. The cigar box is so unique and creative! You even have a cigar band in there!! I am really inspired to dump the odds and ends in my cigar boxes and make one♥

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nicely designed cigar box! LOVE the inside flap and what a great combination of old and new on the inside! A yr ago I was browsing the disorganized back room of a second hand/antique shop and spied a stack of 5 vintage cigar boxes, all the same design. They were marked $1 each so I grabbed them up knowing if I never did get around to getting crafty with them, they'd make good storage for my little crafty bits. You have inspired me to think more about how I want to decorate them. My Mom jas been cleaning out drawers as of late. I'll bet she has some goodies in her "give away/throw away" box that I could use. Can't wait to go over to browse for inspiration. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love your altered cigar box, the details are gorgeous. Also lovely to see someone else who works/creates in every room of the house lol. Tracy x

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'd like to solve, please.

    Fabulous interpretation of a cigar box makeover!

    You WIN, Paula!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lovely cigar box (and use of the star!). Love the stacked suitcases in your living room - we have nearly the same rug in our living room as you have in yours.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I always love the little vignettes you make, this one is wonderful, too.

    ReplyDelete
  21. A beautiful cigar box assemblage! Love that you maintained the integrity of the box by keeping the outside as it was! Toni x

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ok, so now I'll never look at a cigar box the same!! Wonderful rustic & vintagey creation, Paula!! OMG--you dressed a salvaged doll!! How totally FAB is that?! Just love everything about this!! XOXO-Shari

    ReplyDelete
  23. LOVE this Paula!! Love all the bits and bobs in there...see something new every time! LOVE that someone else has stuff all over there house too...thank goodness for supportive husbands and families!!! All the projects in the booth were gorgeous!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wonderful project! Love the use of theTH cup for flowers. 😉

    ReplyDelete
  25. J'adore ! J'adoooooore ! Wonderful work !

    ReplyDelete
  26. Paula - We are very excited that you are teaching at Memory Bound!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Your altered cigar box is an extraordinary piece! As always I love your work, your style and all the wonderful details ! You're always always a great inspiration for me! Barbarayaya

    ReplyDelete
  28. It is beautiful Paula!! Love all the details. I can't wait to play with all the new products.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I LOVE your altered cigar box SO much. It's nice to see a BTS at Casa Cheney. I wonder if we can entice you over to Europe for a junk finding excursion, (with a little teaching thrown in)?! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  30. I was sure, that I already comments on this...but obviously I didn’t...shame on me...This cigar box is stunning, inside and outside...I agree with you that front is beautiful as it is and I am happy you didn’t covered it! Thank you for sharing...

    ReplyDelete
  31. Have a few of these boxes. Thanks again for great ideas. Would love to follow you.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Paula, I saw your wonderful altered cigar box on Pinterest and am so happy I found your blog! I would love to use a cigar box instead of a frame or shadow box for a baby "name frame" kind of thing. You have inspired me! Thanks so much!!! Hugs, Laura Holm

    ReplyDelete