Treasure Boxes
various sizes

Images were burnt into the wood and then painted to create these one-of-a-kind treasure boxes.

 

 

   

   

Field Box
9" x 6 1/4 " x 2 1/2 ", closed

I painted a cigar box with blackened bronze paint, and then applied crinkled tissue to the box with decoupage medium. I then lightly accented the surface with gold acrylic paint, using a sponge. Then glued wooden pegs to the bottom of the box in each corner, and painted them to match. I used suede matboard to create compartments inside the box, cutting her section pieces after deciding where to place the artifacts. I glued the matboard compartments in place, painting the edges to match the cigar box. I then made artifacts for the box, starting with Crayola®'s modeling foam to make faux teeth and a small horse. The foam, once dry, was rubbed with burnt sienna and raw umber paint. For the shards of sea glass, I stamped images with ColorBox pigment ink and embossed them with Verdigris Antiquities embossing powder (by Delafield), heated, and then rubbed with black and gold Rub 'n Buff. For the manilla coin envelope book, I used ColorBox cat's eyes inkpads to rub roussillion ink on the edges, and then collaged handmade papers and color photocopies of my own paintings on the front of each envelope. I punched holes in them and used bronze mini grommets to run a black wire through the holes to create a book. The miniature bottle contains a small photo copy of the my painting; it has also been embellished with wire Coffee-stained tags with handwritten notes complete the ancient "field box."

Papier Mache Boxes
3 3/4" x 2"

Using round and oval papier mache boxes with rusted tin tops, I layered ColorBox® ink onto the box lids and then sprinkled them with bronze Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel by Suze Weinberg. I heated the powder and added more, reheating until I had a thick layer of molten powder, and then pressed pre-inked, hand-carved stamps into the powder. I removed the stamps, allowed the box lids to cool, and then painted the boxes with Pearl Ex powders, using a soft dry brush. She also used gold Rub 'n Buff to highlight the edges. After painting the bottom of each box with a base coat of acrylic, I sponged on gold paint. Images may also be stamped on the box with Ancient Page inks. Ribbon or wire may be used to embellish these boxes. Small wooden pegs are used for legs on each box, which may be painted to coordinate.