06 December, 2017

Donation box

What about some more recet crafting rather than cards that have been on my "to show" list for quite some time?
As I stopped by at my friend lately, I couldn't help but notice that his donation box was slowly but surely falling apart. In an attempt to cheer him up with a belated St. Nicholas/early Christmas present, I was thinking of a new box for a moment, but I quickly put the idea aside as I *really* should change crafting papers for books and get some stuff done for University. 
Still, the idea of a new box wouldn't go away. All in all, I could resist temptation for a couple of days (which I did use for anything but learning), until I decided to give it a go yesterday evening (crafting, not learning). 
My original idea was to create a nice outside with acrylic paint, some napkin decoupage or - trying a merger of paper and wood - a paper embroidered silver star. For the inside centerpiece, that would be seen most of the time as the box is to stand open, I imagined a winter scene with a couple of woooden reindeers I found at the crafting store lately. I wasn't sure about the details yet, but they would certainly include paper flowers and some glitter for the snow. 
However, due to the massive amount of time it takes to make the star, I decided to skip stitching it for the moment and focus on the inside instead. 
It took me quite a while to find the right background paper and for a first touch of winter, I decided to cover the blue and white shades with a layer of transparent paper with snowflakes. 
Then, I tried to figure out how to place the deer into a 3D winter landscape - long story short told, leftovers of white cardboard and 3D pads did the trick. Once the outline was set, I discovered I had plenty of empty space in the upper part of my project, which I tried to disguise with a strip of white lace. 
When everything was glued together, I placed a couple of paper flowers in the lower part and decorated te snowy hills with glitter snow. 
However, what I imagined would be a simple application of glitter from a tube, turned out to be a challenge of its own. At first, it wouldn't leave the tube. Then, the tube threw up all over my sweater and papers, meaning I had glitter everywhere except where I wanted to have it. In the end, I managed to apply a strip of glitter to each hill, but it looked rather like a fluorescent worm than a winter wonderland. Finally, in an attempt to save what could be saved, I used cotton swabs to make it all remotely look like artificial snow.
Is it just me in my first attempt of glitter snow or did I do something wrong from the very beginning? Anyhow, I'm just glad the mess I had is not visible anymore and now that everything is dry it even looks OK to me.
Anyway, as I still wasn't happy with all the empty snowflake space, I decided to apply a couple of silver star stickers from my stash - basically in parts where I glued the transparent paper to the surface and needed a little cover-up to hide the glue. To match the star stickers, I used a couple of alphabetic ones to create the word "Donation" instead of writing it on my own. However, I think I could have done better with more of the snowy hills that would automatically reduce the blank space above and at the same time enable me to make the "Donation" sign a little larger.
In the very end, I paced some tiny pearls on the lace and glued the whole scenery on a thick cardboard to prevent any bending. 
Given the way things turned out, I decided to throw my original plans overboard. Even though I planned to work on every single detail inside and outside, I suddenly realized one single centerpiece would be enough, and decided to leave the outside as it was - no details, no paint, no silver star. 
Another major deviation from what I imagined: instead of fixing the paper on the inside of the lid of the box as originally planned, I added a litle loop of white and silver ribbon to the back of the cardboard. The idea is to make sure I can take out the winter scene easily once warmer days come and replace it with something spring-ish, instead of making a whole new box when the season changes. Because a reindeer themed box would look a little weird at least by the end of January.
In the end, the only thing that disturbs me a llittle bit is the strip of glue that can be seen on the side of the transparent paper. Instead of starting another cover-up project, I'll just keep telling myself that this part will probably be in the shade of the lid itself, and therefore barely visible. 
*It will not be visible. It's all good. It will not be visible. Relax.*
The box itself is not only all done, but already delivered - alongside with the wish it shall always be full. To be seen, and filled, in the beautiful chapel of Ljubljana castle ;)

A little contribution to the December collection of Create in Austria - artwork created by Austrians and/or in Austria.

challenges: 
613 avenue create: ATG with optional twist "Christmas/winter"
a bit more time to craft: ATG
gem of a challenge: animals in the snow
as you like it: favourite animal (basically every living thing except the "scary" ones, but of course due to the season, reindeer are first who come to mind - I would certainly want to see them in real life once, with or without slay)
basteltraum: Christmas/winter/stardust
cardmania: Christmas
come and get it: Christmas
crafty calendar: Christmas
crafty catz: ATG with optional twist "let it snow"
crafty sentiments: ATG
craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge: ATG as long as it's Christmas
craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2: ATG as long as it's Christmas
craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper
creative inspirations: winter/Christmas
creative moments: ATG
friendship challenge: Christmas
fussy and fancy: blue & brown winter
glitternsparkle: ATG
inspiration destination: ATG
kreativtanten: ATG
love to craft: ATG 
modsquad: what a flake
path of positivity: festivity (festive cheer-up for a friend) 
pennys papertake: ATG
scrapping4fun: Christmas
crazy challenge: ATG
male room: Christmas/winter wishes/December celebrations
through the craftroom door: ATG
tuesday throwdown: Christmas scene
use your stuff: woodgrain
wortartwednesday: ATG
worldwide open design team challenge: ATG

36 comments:

  1. you have beautifully decorated it.Wishing you a happy festive season. Thanks for playing along with us at Scrapping 4 Fun Challenge.Hope to see you again
    Shylaa DT@S4F
    Adhiraacreations

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  2. Beautiful decoration.. Love it, especially the snowdrifts.

    Thanks for playing along with us at our present challenge at Kreativ-Tanten and good luck! Hope you will join us next month again.

    Hugs
    Alex

    *DT* Kreativ-Tanten Challenge {#12 – Anything goes}
    *DT + Admin* Do-Al(l) Kreatives {#12 – End of year }
    *DT* Craft Rocket Challenges {on beak until January 2018}
    Alex' Kreative Seite

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  3. Your box turned out beautifully! I'm sure it will be treasured. Thanks so much for playing along with us at As You Like It Challenge!

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  4. Oh, this is absolutely gorgeous and truly full of the Festive Christmas Spirit! I know your friend must have been delighted to see this frosty scene added to his box. Just beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us at Path of Positivity! ~Katrina

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  5. What a lovely idea and fantastic scene you created with so many stunning details. Love it!

    Thank you very much for joining us at the bastel-traum Challenge.

    Hugs and good luck
    Claudia
    GD bastel-traum challenge

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  6. This is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this with us at Creative Inspirations. Good luck!
    Rene

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  7. WOW WOW WOW amazingly designed donation box. Absolutely stunning work. Thank you for sharing with us here today at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

    Annette DT Registered Owners/Admin for World Wide Open Design Team Challenge


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  8. This turned out to be beautiful. I love your description of your creative process, especially the very uncooperative snow. Thanks so much for sharing it at Tuesday Throwdown Challenge. Good luck. Debi DT

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  9. Such a cool donation box. Love all the details. Thanks for playing along at USE YOUR STUFF - Gail

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  10. Wow! This is gorgeous and I'm sure your friend is going to love it! Thanks for playing along with us at Use Your Stuff this week and hope to see you again!
    Tammy - DT Co-ordinator.

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  11. Very creative and so very pretty! Thanks for playing along at Use Your Stuff -- Heather R

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  12. Beautiful card! I love the little wooden deer, and those flowers are stunning. Great take on the challenge, thanks so much for playing along with us this week over at The Mod Squad!
    Judy~ Mod Squad DT and Challenge Host
    {Judy's Happy Place} Stop by and see me!!

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  13. Such a pretty background. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us at The Male Room. Merry Christmas!
    Chris (DT)

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  14. Eine wunderschöne Dekoration. Ein Traum!
    Danke, dass Du es uns bei den Kreativtanten zeigst.
    LG Beate

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  15. Oh my... it's PERFECT. You created such a WONDERFUL WONDERFUL winter wonderland. Love the thought of keeping the box plain too. Sure hope you share your "spring" creation for the box. What a FABULOUS gift for your friend. Thanks bunches for entering our ATG challenge at Through The Craft Room Door this week. Sure hope you will remember us for our next challenge too! Xj.
    TTCRD DT: Joi@RR{My Blog}
    Through The Craft Room Door
    ttcrd.blogspot.com

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  16. Great use of wood grain. Thanks for playing along with us at Use Your Stuff.

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  17. This is stunning. Thank you for joining in the Anything Christmas challenge at CHNC Extra for December.

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  18. This is stunning - I am sure he will really appreciate this, especially as it is taking time away from your 'learning' lol.

    Thanks for sharing over at Creative Moments,

    Hugz Tinz

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  19. Thank you for sharing your lovely crafting for Penny’s challenge 358, Hazel DT - and also for all of my Craftyhazelnut challenges - hope to see you again soon x

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  20. Wonderful box!
    Thank you for joining us at Crafty Sentiments Designs.
    Hugs Marja DT.

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  21. Wow this is gorgeous! Thank you for sharing this beautiful box with us at Creative Moments. Hope to see you again next time.

    xx Grietje
    Grietje's Kaartenhoekje
    Creative Moments DT

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  22. Awesome project and approach to the woodgrain challenge :)hanks for playing along with us at Use Your Stuff.
    Tina-DT

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  23. This is just gorgeous, what a beautiful make! Thanks for sharing your favourite animal with us at AYLI. Hugs xx

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  24. Great Job!
    Thank you for sharing with us over here at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

    Ewa DT for  World Wide Open Design Team Challenge

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  25. Ha, glitter is dangerous, lol. Us crafters know that. I love the whole story about making this project. I also love that it'll be in Ljubljana, where i was born :)
    Thanks for sharing with us at Come and Get It Challenge.

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  26. Wow very nice. I like it very much.
    Thanks for joining us at the Kreativtanten Challenge.
    Greetings Andrea

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  27. Wow, what a wonderful project! Different and very beautiful. Thanks for your entry to CraftyHazelnut’s December Patterned Paper challenge! Hope to see you at new year’s challenges, too!

    ~~Heidi @ My Little Stamping Blog

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  28. This is beautiful. I love the colour and design.
    Thank you for joining us at 613 Avenue Create.
    Hugs Sheryl
    DT member xx

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  29. A really beautiful project and beautifully worked too, I'm sure it will take pride of place. Thank you for sharing your wonderful project with us at The Male Room - Faith DT

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  30. Wunderschön gemacht. Vielen Dank für deine Teilnahme bei der Friendship-Challenge.

    Liebe Grüße
    Heike

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  31. What a wonderful creation! Thanks for sharing over at the Bastel-Traum Blog.
    Hugs, Kerstin (BT Design Team)

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  33. Hallo liebe Aukje,
    eine wunderschöne Box hast du gestaltet sie gefällt mir sehr gut. Vielen Dank für die Teilnahme an der Friendship Challenge. Ganz liebe Grüße herzlichst Silvi

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  34. Great way to decorate the inside of your box lid, lovely piece of work. Thanks for playing along at The Male Room Challenge. Good Luck!

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  35. Wow this is a gorgeous creation!
    Thanks for playing at Card Mania Challenge.
    Ileanaxx

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  36. Gorgeous creation, a lovely layout. Thanks for joining in this months 'Christmas' challenge over at Crafty Calendar.
    Hugs
    Bev x

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