Today I'm sharing how I transformed a boring old cigar box I found at Goodwill into a fun artsy box.

Supplies Used:

• Cigar Box
• Gesso
• Whipped Spackle
• Copper Texture Luxe
• Black PITT Artist Pen
• Stencil from the 101 Collection
• Acrylic Paint
• Paint Brush
• Spatula
• 20 guage Copper Wire
• Feathers
• Beads
• Metal Embellishment

Below are the steps I took to create this, but you can also check out this video I made on the process to see it in action:

I started off by covering the outside of the box with Gesso and allowing it to dry.

Next, I lightly dry brushed on some blue-green acrylic paint over the lid and then covered it in Copper Texture Luxe.  (If you've followed my artwork you know I'm obsessed with the Copper one! It gives such a fun metalic texture to my projects!)

After that dried I taped off the beveled edge of the lid and then placed one of my favorite stencils on top. I then covered it with Whipped Spackle using my spatula.

Before removing the stencil I picked up an alphabet stamp I had and stamped into the Whipped Spackle to give it a bit more texture.

I seriously LOVE how that looks!

After that dried I took out my acrylic paints and randomly painted in each of the fractured pieces from the stencil.

I also gave the sides of the bottom of the box an underpainting with the same colors of paint and then used the same stencil and paints to create a pattern. After that dried I outlined each of the fractures with a black PITT Artist Pen and then added copper dots using the end of my paintbrush and the Copper Texture Luxe.

While everything was drying I took my metal embellishment, which was originally silver, and covered it with...yep, you guessed it...more Copper Texture Luxe! After that dried I filled back in the lettering using a PITT Artist Pen and then went to work stringing beads onto the copper wire and then adhering all of the beadwork, metal piece, some feathers, and trim onto the lid of the box.

This was so fun to make!

Disclosure: Erin is a paid consultant and has received  products from Faber-Castell to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely her own and based on her use of the products.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy from these links it won't cost you a penny more but Erin will make a little bit of money (not enough for a pony). 

Creating your own, one of a kind picnic blanket is really simple using your ScanNCut, and it would make a great gift!

Supplies:

• ScanNCut Machine and accessories
• Black Iron-On Transfer Film
• Iron
• Ironing Board
• White Fabric Paint
• Paint Brush
• Ant Cut File (free!!!)

Optional Supplies:

If you create your own blanket you will need the following supplies, however you can always alter a store bought blanket instead of sewing your own

• Sewing Machine
• Canvas Fabric
• Thread
• Pins or Clips

Instructions:

Follow along with the written instructions below, or view the video on how to create it here:

 Step 1: If you decide to create your own blanket using canvas fabric, hem in the edges.

Step 2:  Import the Ant.fcm file into ScanNCutCanvas and wirelessly transfer it to your ScanNCut.

Step 3: I created the cut file with the eye being a separate piece so you could adapt the design as you desire. If you plan on using the design as I did you will need to unify the ant's eye and body before resizing it. To do that click on the button with the three red squares.

Select both the eye and the body.

And then click on the Unify button.

Step 4: Apply the Iron-On Transfer Film onto the mat with the film side up. Insert it into the machine and click on the scan button.

After the scan is complete you will be able to see both the film and the design and then you can resize, multiply, rotate, and then move the design as desired to fit as many as you can onto your film.  Then cut out the designs so that the blade only cuts the film and not the backing.

Step 5: Weed out the negative parts of the film and then cut the ants apart so they can be transferred onto the fabric.

Step 6:  Following the instructions on the package, heat up the fabric with an iron and then place the ant design onto it with the backing side up. Cover it with a pressing cloth and iron for approximately 30 seconds. Allow it to cool and then remove the backing.

Step 7: Use fabric paint to paint in the whites of the eye.

Continue on until all the ants are finished.

Step 8: For the monogram, cut out the letters you desire along with ants to carry them off with. Follow the same instructions above to adhere them onto the center of the fabric.

And then you're finished and ready for a picnic!

Disclosure: Erin is a paid consultant and has received  products from Brother to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely her own and based on her use of the products.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy from these links it won't cost you a penny more but Erin will make a little bit of money (not enough for a pony). 

For this piece I started off by sketching out my word art and then erasing it a bit so I could trace over it using a PITT^® Artist Pen with a fine nib.  I made sure to let the pen work dry completely before erasing any visible pencil marks so I could add wet layers on top of it without it running since once the ink is dry it's waterproof. (Oh, and if you want instructions on how to create a fun pencil like this one, check out the instructions here.)

Next I painted over the block lettering with Gel Medium and allowed it to dry.

Then I rubbed some Gelatos^® on my craft mat, added a spray of water and then used that to watercolor in my word art. After the watercoloring is dry I gently took a damp cotton swab over the Gel Medium since it resists the Gelatos^® leaving the letters white. 

Next I wanted to jazz up my clipboard so I took Glass Bead Glitter Gel and mixed it with the Red Cherry Gelato^® and then painted it into a heart shape on the clipboard, I added a touch more glitter to it, and then let it dry.

I then jazzed it up a bit more by dotting the pearl colored Metallic Texture Gem^™ around the heart and adding some ribbons and trims.

At that point I thought I might be done...but it was just missing something so I broke out a stencil from the 102 Stencil Collection and then mixed some Whipped Spackle and Gelatos^® together to use with it.

I knew I wanted to add in a darker color as well so I mixed up some Gelatos^® and Glaze and dripped it on and then allowed it to dry before attaching my watercolored word art to the clipboard. 

 Done and ready to put up in my studio!

Disclosure: Erin is a paid consultant and has received  products from Faber-Castell to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely her own and based on her use of the products.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy from these links it won't cost you a penny more but Erin will make a little bit of money (not enough for a pony).