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Saturday 21 December 2013

Musical Christmas Box

Hello all - a warm welcome to you on this wet and scarily windy Winter Solstice.

Sorry to have been absent in Craftyblogland - as you all know very well, it's a busy time!  I'm looking forward to some quieter time over Christmas both for crafting and visiting.


In the meantime, I'm still squeezing in Funkie Junkie makes, trying to keep up with Linda Coughlin's wonderful 12 Tags of Christmas.  Most of this one was actually made a couple of weeks ago, but I only got around to the finishing touches and the gluing this morning.









It was inspired by Linda's  Tag 4.  (I'm happy to say I have completed more than four of them... I'm just going in a slightly random order!).

Thanks to Linda's extended deadline and bonus tags, I hope I'll be able to manage the January 8th deadline to complete them all.  That way I'll qualify for the prize draw sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

For a second time I've burst out of the tag format into another kind of creation.









This is because my main inspiration from Linda's tag was the wonderful letters layered onto burlap.  I immediately thought of one of the Artistic Stamper stamps I got recently, from the Victorian Christmas #2 set.






The problem with that, of course, is that while "NOEL" has four letters to fit nicely on a tag, Christmas gives you a whole nine letters to play with, so I was going to have to go another way.












Instead of a tag, I used a little wooden box tray which had been hanging around for ages.  

I gave it the full works with paint and Fresco crackle glaze, playing with the blues and browns which have featured already in several of my FJ makes this year.









And I used the Seasons Greetings from another Artistic Stamper set, Christmas Greetings #1, to decorate the outside walls of the box.
















Rather than the beautiful vintage adverts Linda had, I lined it with some Tim Holtz music paper... and so it became a "musical box"!











I added a bit of pale blue stencilling to the paper for fun.








Over the musical background, I cut up the letters, added a bit of inky goodness, and layered them onto pale burlap.













It's all mounted on padded tape for extra dimension.














I think the Kate Greenaway figures around the letters are adorable.













And I'm guessing we can all sympathise at the moment with how letter C is feeling!














I made a few musical flowers with the same paper, die-cut from the Tattered Flower Garland decorative strip die, inspired by Linda's poinsettias on her tag.










And I filled two little jars - one with little wooden hearts and stars, and one with "snow crystals" (otherwise known as crushed glass/sand from that certain Swedish store we all know and love).














There's a pinecone (because I don't seem to be able to do a Christmas make without them at the moment)...










...and some rusty jingle bells tied up with string, as well as a wooden flourish to frame the central
lettering.















I think I'll probably create some fixings on the back so that this could be wall mounted or hung up somehow.












Thanks so much for dropping in at this insanely busy time.  

I hope you're all in good shape for the festivities... I'm getting there! 








All being well, there'll be a continued stream of Funkie Junkie inspired creations over Christmas so that I can make that all-important deadline, and I can't wait to catch up with what you've all been up to as well.

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.
Laura Ingalls Wilder

I'd like to enter this as Tag 4 into the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas, sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique.
And with plenty of stamping, I'd also like to pop it into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge's attempt to Stamp Out 2013.

50 comments:

Almo said...

Love your Vintage festive box Alison, this looks a lovely stamp set. A great soft blue colour choice it looks really nice with the music paper and the natural brown tones of the wood & burlap. Hugs Mo x

Amanda said...

Beautiful Alison. Have a wonderful Christmas .
Love
Amanda x

scrappymo! said...

Oh my goodness....this is so gorgeous! Love the flower made from the musical note paper...love the box itself and love the finished inside! Gorgeous!

Just heading out to my first Christmas party...blog surfing till it is time to go...I am in the full Christmas spirit now after seeing this lovely creation!

maria's knutselplezier said...

Super creation again , I really love the soft backgrond with the music on it, and a really love your beautiful letterstamps!!!They are gorgeous!!!

Greetings and I hopoe you have a great christmas time !!

Greetings
Maria

Helen said...

Simply beautiful, Alison! I hope you have a fabulous Christmas.

Joan said...

Love this Alison, great use of the letter stamps, I have had those stamps for a long time and never used the letters ,of course dumb me never thought of cutting them up!

Meggymay said...

Beautiful project.
Hope you have a Happy Christmas.
Yvonne x

Rita said...

Your box looks fantastic Alison. I hope you enjoy a Wonderful Christmas and have a Happy Crafty New Year. Hugs Rita xxx

Unknown said...

Beautiful, Gorgeous and very Festive! Just LOVE everything about it and love the blue/brown color combo, too! Thank you for sharing another FABULOUS creation! OH--I'm expecting my rusting powder any day now :) XOXO-Shari

Marci said...

Thank you, for the Alison art "fix", lol. Such a pretty box, Christmas without red and green. Delightful! Merry Christmas!

Marci said...

Thank you, for the Alison art "fix", lol. Such a pretty box, Christmas without red and green. Delightful! Merry Christmas!

Nan G said...

Lovely soft and ooh so pretty! Warm hugs

Inkypinkycraft said...

Love the colours and great vintage feel to the make and those stamps! It looks fab hugs trace x

chrissie said...

Amazing idea to use the wooden box in this way. I always love your makes and the way you share how you make them.

Have a wonderful Christmas and the relaxation you deserve.

Love Chrissie xx

Brenda Brown said...

Such a delightful Christmas music box Alison and a wonderful take on Linda's tag. I still have this weeks to do to catch up.
Festive greetings and only three more sleeps.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Anonymous said...

Swoon! That is spectacularly beautiful, I love every millimetre. I don't remember seeing those AS stamps before, going to have to put them on my wish list for next year, if they're still available.

Annie said...

Absolutely stunning Alison. This is truly beautiful and so inspiring.

Best wishes to you over the festive period and I look forward to viewing your amazing creations in 2014

Best wishes
Annie x

crealinedance said...

Hallo heel mooi .gr.Nel

brenda said...

Beautiful work as always Alison, many thanks for your inspiration and friendship in 2013 and wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas.

B x

Deborah said...

Love your vintage Christmas box, Alison - with all the wonderful embellishments and textures. It would indeed look fantastic on a wall. Have a happy, crafty Christmas!xx

May said...

Gorgeous vintage box Alison, the detail you have added to this beauty is amazing...I adore your creative work Alison... simply Beautiful... Merry Christmas & A blessed 2014...enjoy!! Hugs May x x x

Von said...

That's so magical Alison :)
Have a wonderful Christmas
Von ♥

Shirley said...

Keep coming back for a peek Alison this is one amazing Christmas make. Especially love the letter S & C I am sure they were modeled on me (not only are they my initials but they look as lazy as me) lol.

Another beauty hunny bunny.

Warm crafty hugs from Shiorl x x

Shirley said...

How stupid am I, can't even spell my own name x x

craftytrog said...

This is one set of AS stamps that I don't have! It looks magical here Alison. What a beautiful Christmas decoration!
Alison xxx

Jenny Marples said...

I do love this idea. As you say it makes sense to see all that beautiful lettering and with the burlap backing and gorgeously decorated tray you have really spotlighted them perfectly. Jenny x

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

A total delight! I just got lost in admiring all the sweet details of this Christmas gem. That stamp set is fantastic and I really love the way you stamped on the sides of the box. This definitely needs to be hung where it can be enjoyed throughout many Christmas seasons to come. Amazing take on Tag #4, Alison!

Hugs,Linda

Astrid Maclean said...

A great make Alison and I simply LOVE how you used those AS stamps!!

Dorthe said...

Dear Alison, I`m in a hurry, to have time wishing all my blog friends a happy christmas, before my little family arrived in a few hours.
So I have to wait reading about this amazingly wonderful project!
For now, a blessed and beautiful christmas to you and your family, dear friend.
Love and hugs, Dorthe

Michelle said...

Alison, I LOVE this! I love the little bells and the way you used the stamps and the sweet little bottles and...well, EVERYTHING!

Thank you for sharing this beautiful project with us this week for the Simon Says stamp Monday challenge. Happy Holidays! ~Michelle

Redanne said...

Oh what a wonderful music box Alison. Those Kate Greenaway images are adorable and suit the word Christmas so well. Love the flower and the flourish, as well as the gorgeous little pinecones. Another stunning make! Festive hugs, Anne x

sam21ski said...

Fabulous box and sooo much detail, have to keep going back and I see so many other new things.

Wonderful - Sam xx

Paper Profusion said...

Beautiful work Alison - especially love those alphabet stamps.

Wishing you a most happy and peaceful Christmas and all that your heart desires in 2014. Nicola x

Kasia said...

Beautiful box, Alison! Those letters are realy great :)Love those two little jars :)

Candy C said...

Alison....your music box is absolutely gorgeous. I don't know why but that stamp set you've used with the CHRISTMAS letters really speaks to me!!! I can't get Artistic Stamper stamps in the US, I don't think...but I am definitely going to have to check into that set. I sincerely LOVE it! You have used it in such a beautiful way. I love the blues and browns together. Be still my heart! I think you and I share a common LOVE of that color combination. :) I love the stamping you've also done on the sides of the box. As always, a real work of art! Thank you so much for the sweet comments you've left me over the year. That are always valued so much. Alison..I want to thank YOU for all of the inspiration and so much of yourself that you share with all of us. I absolutely love your work! May you have the happiest of holidays and a very blessed new year. <3 Candy

Andrea Ockey Parr said...

This piece is absolutely stunning! I love this clever combo of beachy with the holiday! And the decoration on the outside of the box itself-- all I can say is a triple WOW! You never cease to amaze with your creativity and the unique way you see the world and translate it into art. Another beautiful creation and I'm so glad you shared it with us for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog!

Anna-Karin said...

This is so gorgeous Alison and what a great idea for that stamp set. Love those letters (I think I need to take a nap in the 'C'). Beautiful colours and details as always. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! I hope you will have a lovely Christmas!!

Hettie said...

WOW! This is absolutely gorgeous and I have just the right spot for it to go in my lounge! LOL!
Absolutely love this Alison.
Hugs
xx

Terry said...

This is beautiful, Alison! I love what you have done with the box tray and all the pretty little details! Yes a very busy time and so little of it! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas! Hugs!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

I haven't seen these stamps yet...LOVE them! Cool project! Merry Christmas!

maj. said...

Beautiful project, Alison!
Wishing you a sweet and merry Christmas!!

Mona Pendleton said...

Gorgeous project Alison! Love the texture and beautiful blossoms! Thanks for joining along with Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge! Happy Holidays!

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Wow, breathtaking.

Chrissy said...

Oh! WOW!!....Gorgeous Alison..I love it.

luv CHRISSYxx

Cocofolies said...

Oooh...I almost missed that, this is really lovely!! Coco xxx

Julie Lee said...

Ooh! This is fabulous! I love every detail and those stamps are so very pretty! Just perfect! Julie Ann xx

Margaret said...

Your altered box is a fabulous take on the tag! I love the larger 'canvas' and the bottles are so sweet!

Marjie Kemper said...

What a stunning creation, Alison... it's absolutely gorgeous! Those little bottles of goodness are such fabulous touches, and your flowers are exquisite. Hoping you had a very Merry Christmas.

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow absolutely gorgeous stunning box. I love the Christmas stamp set, hmmmm I may have to buy that next year. I didn't get to play, being so poorly through December I feel like I missed out. Actually I still feel so rough hence so late at dommenting but a forced trip to the doctor's yesterday means I should feel better soon, I thought it was a cold and its a severe chest infection oops so I can't wait to be running around soon lol. I am saddened though as I had so many Christmas goodies and didnt end up making anything. At least I can start early for next Christmas lol. Sorry im waffling. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and I hope the new year brings you health happiness and lots of creating :-)Hugs Kezzy xxxxx

Mary Elizabeth said...

Ok -- I seriously must stop now. This has a wonderful Words and Picture marathon, but I have to wash dishes and then I think I'll post something on my own blog. You've inspired me :). Love this tray. Oh ... what a great way to showcase those new stamps. Lovely. The music in the back ground and the stamping and stenciling ... adorable. This piece make me relive the joy of Christmas all over again:) Thanks Alison! -- Mary Elizabeth