Angel Shadow Box DIY Home Decor with Shaker - Instructions

 

Hello.  Happy Valentines Day!

Today I'm sharing my version of a very untraditional DIY Valentines home decor project.  Hmmm how so?  Well this was created for my little Granddaughter's room.  My first grandie is 7 months old and in this day of Covid, we have not gotten the opportunity to spend as much time with her as possible.  Sadly she moved 1000 miles away last week.

That is why this is a Valentines piece - made from my heart for my little loved one.   Of course the added spin to this is that I used  some of my favorite chipboard pieces AND added a shaker ( which I love making).

Scroll down and you can see the DIY tips and instructions for creating a home decor shadow box. 

Here are the chipboard pieces used in this shadowbox: Creative Embellishments Star Shaker set  and Girl Word Set.  The Star shaker set was simply painted with cream acrylic paint.  The chipboard words were embossed with Ivory Aged Embossing Enamel  from Stampendous.

 

 

No shaker is complete without fabulous shaker mix.  I used Buttons Galore's new Shaker Mix in a Cube- Spring Blooms.  I added the mix to the shaker, obviously, but I also added it to the bottom of the shadow box using matte gel medium, such as Prima's Art Basics - Heavy Body Gel as an adhesive.

Tips and Techniques

The wood frame used for the shadowbox was really a table top home decor piece on clearance at Michaels.  I am flipping it around and using the backside of the piece.  The wood frame is perfect because I can add hardware or staple embellishments as desired.  I cannot do that to plastic frames.  

The angel is a Christmas ornament I bought at the end of the season and tossed into my stash.  

As I mentioned, wood frames work the best for altering.  I'm always on the lookout for wood pieces in the clearance sections.  I attached the angel with a small eye hook that is easily screwed into the wood frame.  I didn't even need a tool because the wood is soft enough to screw with my fingers.   

 

Moving along, I decided to dab cream acrylic paint to the wood using a natural sea sponge.  The sea sponge is my choice because it leaves a stippled look on the wood - not full coverage. 

   

Here is a close up of the shadow box showing the details in the darling angel and the  star shaker.

The paper used is Graphic 45's Princess Collection - unfortunately a retired collection.

Thank you for stopping here today.  Happy crafting.

Shop Here: 

Creative Embellishments Star Shaker set

Creative Embellishments Chipboard - Girl Word Set

Buttons Galore  Shaker Mix in a Cube- Spring Blooms Ll547

Ivory Aged Embossing Enamel .60oz - Stampendous	Emboss It Ink - Clear Re-Inker - Ranger - Archival Ink	Prima - Finnabair - Art Basics - Heavy Body Gel - 8.5 Ounces

 

Best Friends - DIY Shadow Box Home Decor with Julie Nutting Doll Stamps

Best Friends - Carter and Carly Doll Stamps DIY Home Decor

Prima and Julie Nutting have a new set of doll stamps that melt my heart;

 Prima - Julie Nutting - Carter and Carly.  They are darling and look fabulous dressed in Maja Design's newest paper collection, "Miles Apart" .   

Today I am sharing a DIY shadow box home decor piece made with these delightful products.  If you scroll down, you'll see how I made the piece.   

Below is an image of the stamp set and Maja Design paper collection, with it's soft and delicate prints. 

Prima - Julie Nutting - Doll Stamps- Carter and Carly

Maja design - Miles Apart 6x6 collection

I primarily used the "Miles Apart" 6x6 paper pad to "dress" the Julie Nutting paper dolls in my shadow box.  The background of the shadow box is the only 12x12 piece I used from the collection.  This sheet is call "A Phone Call".  

Simple DIY Instructions

Here are some simple instructions on how I made this sweet shadow box using the new Carter and Carly doll stamps from Prima and Julie Nutting. 

I stamp the dolls using a platform that enables me to stamp several times in case I need touch ups with ink.  I've stamped too many dolls without heads or limbs to not use a platform these days.  In terms of stamping, the  MISTI Stamp platform (Most Incredible Stamp Tool Invented)  is right up there as an essential invention breakthrough - like sliced bread.  

I also like stamping dolls using brown ink that has great pigmentation, dries quickly, and doesn't run when it gets wet.  Which is why I love Spellbinders / Fun Stampers Journey Dark Roast True Color Fusion Ink Pad.  

The wooden box is a decorative piece I bought from a big box store.  It had a great wood frame and was pretty sturdy so I grabbed it for re-purposing. 

First,  I wanted Carter's tire swing to actually move so I cut two layers to use as a sandwich. I glued two pieces of hemp string between the two layers. 

Next I stapled the string to the wooden box.  No worries because we will be covering and hiding the staples. 

Covering up the staples was super easy with ribbon wrapped around the box to decorate (but mostly to cover the staples).  A crafter's gotta be sneaky that way.  

Meet Carly.  She looks adorable in the Maja Design papers.  Plus the 6x6 prints are perfectly sized for the dolls.  

I cut two layers to make her more durable especially because I am going to be bending the doll at the waist so she can sit.  No need to color the second layer but I definitely inked the edges so they would blend nicely when glued together. 

I added some foam behind Carly's head and torso so she had a bit of dimension when glued to the wooden shadow box. 

Next I gave Carly and her doll a few sparkly finishing touches any sweet little paper would love.  The gem accents are Buttons Galore's new Princess Sparkle Doo Dadz. 

 Doo Dadz are a unique mixture of flat back diamond faceted gems combined with sparkling shimmery iridescent sprinkles.  You can see the entire Doo Dadz collection here. They are perfect to use as shaker mixes, project accents, and even paper doll accessories.  

Thank you Carly and dollie, for being our Doo Dadz accessories models today.   

Next, Carter had to put his baseball mitt down so he could swing.  The mitt is a 3D button from Buttons Galore, Buttons Galore 3D Buttons - Baseball.  Of course Carter needed accessories as well, and how can you blame me?  The 3D baseball button set is perfectly sized for Carter ( or Carly).   

Buttons Galore 3D Buttons - Baseball 4065

Thanks for stopping here today.  I appreciate your time. 

 Shop Here:

Buttons Galore - Princess Sparkle Dd112	Prima - Julie Nutting - Cling Mounted Stamps - Mixed Media Doll - Carter and Carly	Maja design - Miles Apart 6x6 collection
Nuvo - Deluxe Adhesive	Dark Roast True Color Fusion Ink Pad from Spellbinders and Fun Stampers Journey	Hero Arts - MISTI - Original MISTI Stamp platform- Most Incredible Stamp Tool Invented

Buttons Galore 3D Buttons - Baseball 4065

Walnut Stain Distress Ink Pad - Tim Holtz - Distress Ink Pads - Tim Holtz

Maja design - Miles Apart 6x6 collection

Unicorn Shaker Shadow Box Home Decor

Glittery Unicorn Shaker DIY Home Decor

Hello crafty friends. Today I'm sharing a glittery, sparkly, magical unicorn DIY shaker shadow box.  Adding glitter, sparkles and shakers to your projects is easier than you think. 

If you scroll down, I show how I made this unique unicorn home decor piece. 

The features shaker piece was created using Creative Embellishments  - Baby ATC Set.  The cool thing about these ATC's is that Creative Embellishments has made it super easy to transform them into fabulous shakers with the Coin Ring and Shaker Acrylic Pieces .

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Creative Embellishments  - Baby ATC Set

Creative Embellishments - Coin Ring and Shaker Acrylic Pieces

Creative Embellishments - Artist Trading Coins

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The inspiration for this DIY magical piece was the unicorn Christmas ornament snagged from the clearance section at Hobby Lobby.  I saw the ornament on clearance and and tossed it into my cart.  Actually I bought the last two.  I couldn't leave one unicorn all alone (especially for the eye popping clearance price).   

Next I saw a pink glittery picture frame also in clearance and tossed it in my cart.   

As I mentioned above, the moon and stars shaker was made using Creative Embellishments  - Baby ATC Set and the shaker adaptor rings - the Coin Ring and Shaker Acrylic Pieces .  For this particular piece, I wanted the shaker to be totally see-through so I used two acrylic windows for the shaker - no worries since six acrylic windows come in the adaptor set.  

 I think the transparent effect is charming and perfect for my magical themed project.  

The chipboard pieces were painted white, assembled and filled with shaker mix from Buttons Galore and More, then the edges finished with white tulle.   

The cute resin castle and coach embellishments are 3D buttons from Buttons Galore -  Happily Ever After , Fairy Tale Collection.  

The Glitz and Sparkle (Sequins and Shaker Mix)

The glittery sequin, button and bead mix is from Buttons Galore and More.  I used two different mixes for this project: 

1.   Midwinter Night Shaker Cube Mix ( used for the background)

2.  Unicorn Legend Shimmerz

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Buttons Galore - Shaker Cube Mix - Midwinter Night LL533

Buttons Galore/ 28 Lilac Lane -Unicorn Legend Shimmerz RZ103

*********************************************************************************This piece has been bedazzled for sure - exactly what I'd expect from a unicorn.  

The "Believe in Magic" words were printed on my computer and attached to the finished piece using gel medium.  

Here's how I created this piece:  

1. The back of the picture frame was removed and covered with Silver Glitter Paper .  I slathered a generous amount of 3D Matte Gel medium or  heavy body gel  to the glitter cardstock.  

I love this gel because it dries crystal clear, and acts like a super bonding glue to hold all those beads and sequins in place.  

2. I poured glittery  Midwinter Night Shaker Cube Mix mix from Buttons and Galore over the gel medium, making sure there was a thick covering and let air dry.  

If you use a heat gun to make the process quicker, it will bubble and my warp or discolor the glitter paper. 

3. After the back of the picture frame was removed, two eye hooks were screwed into the wooden frame - one near the head and one eye hook at the tail , enabling me to secure the unicorn in place with wire.   After the unicorn was set into place and wired securely, I could finish assembling the shadow box.   

 

It looks very complex when assembled but it was actually a simple piece to create and gussy up into something unique and  befitting a unicorn.  

Thanks for stopping here.  Happy crafting.  

Shop Here: 

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Prima - Finnabair - Art Basics - Heavy Body Gel - 8.5 Ounces

Prima - Finnabair - Art Basics - 3D Matte Gel - 8 Ounces

Creative Embellishments - Artist Trading Coins

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Creative Embellishments  - Baby ATC Set

Creative Embellishments - Coin Ring and Shaker Acrylic Pieces

Buttons Galore/ 28 Lilac Lane -Unicorn Legend Shimmerz RZ103

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Buttons Galore - Shaker Cube Mix - Midwinter Night LL533

Ella and Viv Paper Company - Sparkle Collection - 12 x 12 Glitter Paper - Silver

Buttons Galore - 3D Buttons - Happily Ever After 4337

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