Friday 5 July 2019

Precious Metal ~ A Vintage Journey ~ New Challenge


Hi everybody! It's time for a new challenge over at A Vintage Journey. Amanda is our super talented Creative Guide this month, and she has chosen the title 'Precious Metal'. This is what Amanda has to say....

'For this challenge we would like to see some kind of precious metal feature in your project. Think gold, silver, brass, copper, aluminium, steel..... It could be in the form of embellishments, cardstock,  paint, gilding wax, foil, gold leaf or rub ons. Just remember to ensure that you create in one of our preferred styles of vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk.'

 Now, Amanda is obviously a woman after my own heart as I love using metal. You can see Amanda's fabulous project by hopping over to the A Vintage Journey blog with this link. You will also see some wonderfully inspiring work by The other Creative Guides.

Those of you that have  visited my blog over the years, may know that I have a minor obsession for creating with spent tomato paste tubes. I never, ever throw these tubes away as they are a fantastic source of bright, shiny, precious metal. Let me show you how I used them to transform this paper mache book box.......
I bought the book box from Hobby Craft. It's a really nice size not too big, not too small, with a height of approximately 15cm and cover width 10.5cm....
The cover proved to be the perfect size for a tomato paste tube. To prepare the tubes, I cut off the top and bottom and then cut down one side. I rinse off any remaining tomato paste and flatten out the tubes. I use a wooden spoon to get out any creases. You have to be a little careful as the sides can have some jagged bits, these can be easily cut away with scissors. For this project, I used one tube for the front cover and one for the back. I embossed them with Tim Holtz's 3d Cogs embossing folder, which gave a wonderfully deep impression. I then painted them with Deco Art, black, Antiquing Fluid. once dry, I wiped the surfaces, gently, removing some of the colour. This is a super, easy, technique which gives an instant 'antique' finish to embossed metal. I then dabbed over the surface using Archival Ink in Potting Soil. Here's a picture of the various stages.......
Before applying the metal to the book box, I adhered a piece of black fabric along the spine I also painted around the edges, inside and out, with black acrylic paint. 
I then trimmed the metal so that it fitted the box book cover. It was fortuitous that the covers are around the same size as the embossing folder I used. I also rounded the corners with my  corner 'chompers'.
 I adhered some text washi tape around the sides of the box. It  was then ready to add the embossed metal to the covers. I used heavy matte gel medium and left it to dry for several hours. When I came back to it, I used a poky tool to make  holes, so that I could add an elastic loop to the back and a jeans button to the front as a fastening for the 'book'. I used Glossy Accents to fix a little metal cog on top of the button, which I think has worked really well......
 I used some paper from and old street map to cover the interior......
 To decorate the front of the book, I added one of the new Idea-ology Stencil chips. It's almost is the same colour as the metal cover. I think I might need a bulk order of these beauties ! I glued a piece of black card behind the letter to make it stand out....
This is what the back looks like.....
The streak of silver down the middle is where the tube was folded, I think it rather adds to the distressed look!  The finishing touches were to add some faux studs down the side front panel and  a little Dymo label echoing the challenge title, saying 'Precious' . It was a little stark in black and white so I toned it down with some Butterscotch alcohol ink.
I thoroughly enjoyed creating this for our 'Precious Metal' challenge. If you'd like to join in with the challenge, all you have to do is hop over to the AVJ blog with this link  Once you're there, you'll find the challenge guidelines as well as plenty of inspiration to kick start your creativity. I'm looking forward to seeing all your Precious Metal projects. x  




15 comments:

  1. Wow, what a beautiful project! I loved how you used the tomato paste tube, it looks stunning and I had to smile as my friend has the same obsession with these tubes ...lol 😉. It looks so amazing! Happy July! Hugs, Jo x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Now that's some clever recycling... another thing not to throw away!! Beautiful gilded textures for your book cover - it's just fabulous.
    Alison x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wowzers, not only did I not know that tomato paste comes in something else than a can, I am also surprised that the tube material is metal! Now that I think about it, a tube is great packaging for that. Kudos for a well-planned and executed project that looks fantastic and thanks for sharing the process, xoxo.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow Toni, I will never look at tomato paste tubes in the same way again - I think I need to bulk buy them and the stencil chips! The cover is fabulous and looks so beautifully aged. I love the inside too and that silver streak really does add to the ageing! Love this. Hugs, Anne xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. aw Toni I LOVED your book project when I first saw it and now on visiting and reading all about your inspiring creativity I LOVE it so much more. Tomato paste tubes - who'd have thought??? Brilliant and boy have you made them look amazing ! Love the rich embossing and the golden gilded tones . Your choice of embellishments and interior lining are just the perfect fit! ❤️.
    Thank you so much for contributing to this challenge and that you too for the lovely kind compliment - •blushes•
    Amanda
    x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Exquisite make, Toni!! And so inventive - I will certainly be saving my tubes henceforth! I've not heard of the antiquing fluid - what a gorgeous patina it lends! Will have to put that on my shopping list. This is a beautiful piece of steampunk, one of my favorite styles, and recycled to boot! Love the map in the the interior as well... perfect all round. Thanks also for your visits - much appreciated! xx Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a fabulous project Toni, adore how you upcyled the tomato paste tubes (think I am now going to have to buy all of my tomato paste in tubes instead of cans!) and your patina technique on the embossed metal is perfect. Wonderful details with the closure and that great Stencil Chip, thanks so much for sharing it, Deb xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, Toni, I really need to pick my jaw up from the floor! Your tomato paste tubes underwent a fabulous transformation under your talented hands! Gorgeous metal work! The jeans button with the cog on top and the altered Dymo label are the perfect finishing touches on this beauty! Thank you so much for your inspiration and tutorial! Big hugs! Sara Emily

    ReplyDelete
  9. A tomato paste can??? WOW!!! I love that idea, and you are brilliant! The gold from the can is perfection! LOVE every bit of this! Amazing little treasure box!

    ReplyDelete
  10. WOW! What a amazing box! Love the metallic cover. So beautiful!
    Hugs,
    Ann x

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is truly STUNNING and I really love your extra little touches like the inside of the box and the jeans button for a closure. Very innovative! I have been using my hair dye tube for years in a similar way but I have never tried the tomato paste tube - thanks for the inspiration! I have always loved your work. Cx

    ReplyDelete
  12. This piece struck me from the first glance! I love gears, your design is amazing! Barbara

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm SO sorry to be so late in coming to visit your project Toni! It seems I looked at all of the entries - but forgot to come visit all of the Creative Guides! What a gorgeous box you created here with the tomato tubes (who knew!?!) and the cog embossing folder - love the paper you used inside and the washi tape on the sides - a beautiful project for the challenge - thanks for sharing all the details! Julia xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. WOW! This is a prime example of Steampunk at its best. I love that you use recycled materials, so it's an environmentally conscious project as well. Thanks for your visit to my blog and blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi to everybody, here everyone is sharing such knowledge, so it’s fastidious to see this site, and I used to visit this blog daily. cash for cars Brisbane

    ReplyDelete