Configuration Ornaments

Today I thought I would do something a little different and use the boxes from a Configurations print tray to create Christmas Ornaments.  One Print Tray has 21 little boxes.  That's a lot of ornaments!  So lets get started!

Each box starts out with the same paint, ink and paper.  Once the boxes are prepped, you can add anything you like to the inside.
Basic box:
Punch a hole in the top the box for hanging.  Make sure it is centered left to right and top to bottom or the ornament could hang off balance.
Paint the inside of the box with Gold Dapper paint.  One coat is fine.

Use Multi-medium to cover the outside of the box with vintage paper.  Sand away any excess, then add a coat of the Multi-medium over the paper to seal it.

Use Alcohol Ink (slate) on a blending tool with felt to color the gold paint.  To get the corners, I used a small piece of paper towel.  Yes, it will get the tips of your fingers dirty but it's worth it.  If you have acrylic nails you can always wear gloves.
One note about the alcohol ink - if you get it too dark you can always add more and then wipe it away with a piece of felt.  That's how I got the center lighter than the corners.

I used two different methods to create a hanger for the ornaments.  The first one uses a vintage button and some ribbon.
1. Thread the button onto the ribbon.  Center it.
2. Thread the two ends of the ribbon into the hole from the inside.
3. Pull until the button is tight against the box.
4. Tie the top of the ribbon in a knot.
The second method for hanging will be shown later in this post.

All right, that is the basic boxes.  Now on to the inside!

Box #1 - 
1.  Use the Sized Ovals - medium, to cut a piece of chipboard covered with vintage paper.  I used an old store receipt.
2.  Cut black cardstock letters using the Typeset die.  I like this decorative strip because you get both capital and lower case letters in one run through the machine.
3.  Glue words onto oval.

4.  Cover with Distress Crackle paint - clear rock candy and set aside to dry.
5.  Once dry, ink with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink  Love the texture.

I purchased some vintage metal tinsel edging when I was in Paris (both gold and silver).  This is the first time I have retrieved it from it's special hiding place to use in a project.  I cannot tell you how beautiful it is, and the pictures really do not do it justice.  

6.  Anyway, to add the edging to the oval I cut an oval piece from a Wonder Tape sheet just a little bit bigger than the paper oval.  That gave me just enough glue to add the edging around the oval.

7.  I added a mirrored star that had been colored in Mushroom Alcohol Ink, a oval Vial label and a number 25 from the Christmastime Remnant Rubs sheet.  Once I had all the elements, I added the paper oval to the box using foam squares so that it is raised up off the back of the box.

The gold edge was too monochromatic for my taste so I painted over the gold edge with Silver Dabber paint, then used Mushroom Alcohol ink to age it.  Perfect touch to go with the French metal edging.

Box #2 - Wreath Box
A square box this time - perfect for the woodlands wreath.
1.  Start with the same basic box steps.
2.  Add Glossy Accents or another liquid glue to the edge over the gold paint.
3.  Pour out Stickles Dry Fine Glitter - Platinum onto a sheet of paper.  Turn box over and dip into the glitter.  Set aside to dry.  Slide excess glitter back into jar.
4.  Add Multi-medium to top of wreath. 
5.  Dip wreath into the jar of Distress Stickles Dry Glitter - clear rock candy to get a nice thick coat.
6.  Add lace and ribbon to wreath with hot glue.  Add vintage pearl.

 

8.  Add Remnant Rub to the back of box.
9.  Once wreath is dry, adhere to the box with Glossy Accents.

Box #3 - Shaker box
1.  Complete basic box.
2.  Trim the back of the small Woodlands tree so that it lies flat in the box.
3.  Cover the front of the tree with Multi-medium and roll in Distress Stickles Dry Glitter - clear rock candy to get a nice thick coat.
4.  Add vintage pearls to tree - pushing them into the branches (use hot glue if necessary).
5.  Cut a piece of plastic (mine is old plastic packaging) to fit over box.
6.  Add Remnant Rubs to plastic.
7.  Adhere tree to box with hot glue.
8.  Add a bit of Distress Stickles Dry Glitter - clear rock candy to mimic snow.
9.  Adhere plastic to box with Ranger Metal Foil Tape (mine has been Alcohol inked) to seal in the snow.

This shows the second method of adding a hanger to the box.  I mean really, how simple is that? a small idea-ology screw eye.

Box #4 -Wish bones
This box is the same as the previous one except I added wishbones and alcohol inked pearls to the box.  I also used a rub on the inside of the box and on the plastic cover.

Here are the configurations ornaments on my feather tree.  I thought I would share the boxes as well as my silver and pink ornaments that go on this tree.  I have collected a few each year from places I visit.  The last few I bought in Oct. when I was in Waxahachie, TX with my sister.  Good times.

Well, I hope you like these ideas.  I love that it is a confined space to create in, and since the basic boxes are all the same it can go very fast once you have the boxes done.  So many ideas, so little time!
By the way, Gilded Christmas Box Kits are now in my Etsy Shop!  Just click on the Aqua sidebar link.
Now carry on!
paula

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