Monday, January 16, 2012

I'll do anything...for you dear anything...I'll do anything for you...

...but a Card! Welcome to Monday, a new week and challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show!  Well, the first line says it all really. Yes, it's an 'Anything but a Card' thing, so oodles of opportunity for creative thinking and fun makes methinks!
Let me be the first to practice what I preach and show you my Valentine Shrine which began life as an electrical socket box! In my town there's this totally chaotic but fabulous DIY, hard ware, 'got it all' kind of shop. The shelves are heaving with loads of wondrous metal stuff and as you can see I bring a lot of it home!

I'm still in a metal mood... I started by roughly brushing the whole metal box with Red Pepper Alcohol Ink. Boy, is that stuff potent. Thankfully, my daily swim does wonders for inky fingers! I took a piece of my favourite mesh wire, gave it a sponging of Gesso and cut it to fit  halfway inside the box. I made sure it was a tight squeeze so it holds itself in place and then added a strip of gesso swiped Ruler Ribbon.
I painted some Grungepaper on both sides, cut nine Tattered Floral flowers and stamped them with Tim's Stuff To Say in Vermillion Archival Ink which comes out so well. I edged the petals with Barn Door Distress Ink and created three Grunge Roses turning each layer to vary the wording. I glued them onto the wire adding ribbon, a Trinket Pin and just one word taken from a larger stamp.
The roof is created with two metal corner brackets (from that shop!). I painted them white and lined the inside with Tissue Tape. I stamped and cut a Papillon butterfly from painted Grungepaper to perch inside the roof. I coloured an old key and Charm Clip with more Red pepper Ink, adding a single 'L' for love of course - or it could be your secret sweetheart's initial!
I finished off with a wrap of Ball Chain which is fab stuff, again dipped in the red stuff. You can create any colour chain you want with a touch of Alcohol Inks! Even added a little colour to my 'nutty' feet - all glued together with good old Glossy Accents. So there it is. A little house but a lot of love! And definitely NOT a card.

 After the Christmas frenzy, I'm sure you are all raring to go with anything but a card, so this is your chance to show us your creations. Hop over to the Design Team Blog to see more inspiration from my wonderful teamies and all the challenge details. There's a chance to win this fab $50 prize and make a bid for our specially selected Top Three!

Time for me to be awaying... Thanks for calling by, hope you enjoyed your stay! Wishing you all a luuuurvely week, see you soon. Sarah.

27 comments:

Pam said...

Wow! I am in awe...this is stunning. Just fabulous!

Lisa & Elaine @ Destination Art said...

Hi Sarah
so well cool honey!!!! Fabulous creations! Love all the upclose photos and the rundown on how you made it. Thanks for sharing.
Hugs across the miles, Lisa and Elaine @ Destination Art Western Australia

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hi Sasa great work here, Shaz in oz.x

anna christensen crafts said...

This is awesome (twice!) I love it!... Um, also, I teach Electricians and Plumbers their Communications and Maths skills... so... I may be searching through the rubbish with fresh eyes! I cannot believe what you used to create this beauty. Brilliant!! xx

Sharon Field / Inky A*Muse-ment said...

What a lovely piece! Love the key and flowers!

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Such a creative use of an electrical socket box and the red pepper alcohol ink is such a fabulous colour for this piece combined with those gorgeous flowers. Love all the metal touches. A great creation. Enjoy your swim, I have just been to the gym and walked the dog, now need to find some time to get creative after the cleaning! Tracy x

Trish Latimer said...

Love it! Fab use of metal, wonderful! xxx

Suze Bain said...

Wow, a fabulous project, loving that red pepper and thise grungy roses. xx

Peggy Parker said...

Sarah, it's fantastic!

Candy C said...

Sarah..your altered electrical box is so wonderful! I'm glad you told us that is what is was...I never would have guessed! The red is really a nice, vibrant color. I love your white Tattered Flowers stamped in the Vermillion ink. They really pop. The white wire background is really neat, too. Really cute idea and your design is wonderful! <3 Candy

Ruby Craft said...

Love all the details you've put into your shrine. I never would have thought to use an electrical box in any art project. Simply wonderful!

pooky said...

Wow! Thanks so much for the inspiration!! Guess I'll be going to the hardware section more then usual..lol Love it!

Marjie Kemper said...

I bet those hardware guys would have heart attacks seeing what you do with their metal. WOW this is stunning. I love the colored chain and nut feet. I love all the metal bits and bobs. And I do believe I might have to take up swimming to clean my hands at times!

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

You are insanely creative!!! Holy moly this is a masterpiece. Red is my absolute favorite color and honestly this is so amazing it brings tears to my eyes! I visited my local hardware store a couple of months back and really didn't find anything to get my mojo running, but your project is sending me back to look at their stuff with new eyes. You are always such an amazing inspiration!

Have a great week.

Hugs,
Linda

Art By Wanda said...

It's wonderful, Sarah!!! Very creative!!

Crafty Loops said...

I was just on Simon Says and as soon as I saw this gorgeous creation, I knew straight away it was yours Sarah. This is amazing. I love the flowers. Lee x

Jessie Lubyk said...

Simply Stunning!!! Love it

Melody (lacyquilter) said...

This is fabulous!

Dawn B. said...

Love it! Very unique!

Terry said...

Hey there Sarah, I just love your project for this weeks challenge, never thought you could do such a magical thing with a socketbox LOL....AMAZING and the colors and flowers are AMAZING too...thanksss for sharing Sarah. Hugs Terry xxxx

Lori said...

Fantastic piece, Sarah, love the rich color with the splashes of white, really stunning!

:)) ...Вика said...

Очень красиво!

email: Steph@SimonSaysStamp.com said...

Gorgeous project, Sarah! I love the vibrant love color and the flowers are divine!

*mwah*
Steph
Simon Says Stamp

PsyPenguin said...

Wow, this is just fantastic! Gorgeous colours and the butterfly is so vibrant. I always love your work - you have such an individual style. xx

Sarn said...

Amazing! xxx

Gillian .... said...

Hi Sarah, always inspired by your metal dimensional projects .. LOVE LOVE LOVE this little beauty.

P.S your LIM cards are fab too xx

Lisa :) said...

I really love this it's lovely!!!!!!