StencilGirl Blog Hop: Clearsnap

This week the StencilGirl creative team is joining up with Clearsnap for a fun blog hop full of great projects and inspiration! I had so much fun putting together my project for this, and I got to play with some fun supplies that I've been wanting to try with my stencils for a while now!

My project is a faux-ceramic tile treasure box with "tiles" made from cardboard (you all know how I like my cardboard!)

I started with a wood box I found at Joann that has a recessed top, perfect for filling in with tiles or some other kind of artwork. I painted the entire box with teal blue paint and set it aside. The opening on the top measured 6 3/8" x 6 3/8", so I cut 9 2"x2" squares out of cardboard so that they would fit with just a little opening between each one. Then I took the squares and used temporary adhesive to tack them together on a sheet of scrap paper so that they were all tight against each other - this way I could paint and decorate before separating my tiles and I'd have a pattern that continued from one to the other.

I painted the tiles and let them dry, then used a Mix'd Media Inx® Chox Inkpad in Pomegranate along with the Batik stencil by Nathalie Kalbach to put down the first layer.

Next, I was super excited to try using the Clearsnap Designer Foils - I used Lagoon. You can get adhesive design strips that work with the foils, but I wanted to use them with my stencils instead. I found that the best way to use this particular type of foil for this project was to apply the whole strip of foil to a piece of wide Score Tape and then trace the shapes I wanted, cut them out, and apply over top of some of the stenciled areas for some contrast and shine.

I have a stamp that I made from the Marrakech Set stencil using cardboard and fun foam... I stamped that in a few places with another Mix'd Media Inx® Chox Inkpad - this one in Butternut, then I heat embossed with Mix'd Media Inx™ Embossing Powder in honey.

Next up, I used some ColorBox® Blends by Eileen Hull in Melon to add a little more color and softness around the edges.

And of course, I can't do a project without my dimensional paints - I used some Scribbles in a few different colors to add some fun dimension and color on top.

With that, the base of my faux tiles was done, so I went ahead and used my Pomegranate Chox and Batik stencil again to put a border around the lid of my box. I made sure to secure the stencil with painters tape and it worked great.

After that, it was time to turn the cardboard into tiles... I cut a piece of cardboard that was about 6 3/8" x 6 3/8" and put it into the top, then I adhered my "tiles" on top (You want that extra boost because of the depth of the inset part of the lid.) Once everything was in place and the glue was dry, I was inspired by Mary Beth Shaw's article in the most recent issue of Somerset Studio on acrylic pours (it's an awesome article if you haven't read it!) I took some glossy polymer medium and poured it over top of the lid and let it dry overnight. This is what gives the faux tiles that glossy sheen like the ceramic ones, plus it seals in all your work.

Once it was dry, it was time to grout my tiles! I took some old Diamond Glaze (any clear dimensional adhesive will work) and filled in between all of the tiles. Once that dried, I went through with white dimensional paint and laid that down over the top. I let it dry and came back a few times to fill in where air bubbles showed up during the drying process, but finally it was all set and ready to go!

You still get the shine from the foil and texture from the dimensional paint, but it really does look like tile! I was pretty pleased with how this turned out, and immediately filled it up with some treasures I've collected to use in my work some day :)

So that's it for me, don't forget to hop over to the other blogs today:

• StencilGirl Talk
• Gwen Lafleur <-- you are here!
• Clearsnap
• Sabrina Alery

Updated: Congrats to Burning Rubber who won the prize for this week's hop!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy all the great inspiration this week :)

Comments

[Demise Spillane]

Oh Gwen! Your projects are always so wonderful! Thanks for sharing this wonderful project. Dee.

[Laurie Hunt]

This box is beautiful!

[Nydia Dominguez]

Would love to get my hands on that Batik stencil!

[mjmarmo]

What a pretty box! Love the colors!

[Kathy]

Beautiful, bright colors and love those stencils!

[Lisa M]

What a great project! I always "forget" that I could use my stencils on other materials besides paper and fabric! DOH!

[Janet]

This is Fabulous Gwen!!!! Thanks for the play by play and the great inspiration! I have one of those boxes right here...hmmm....

[Sabrina]

Incredible piece! Love your tiles and the awesome way you usef the foil!

[Beverly Jordan]

Love your bright and vibrant treasure box, and thank you for all the details of how you made it!! So helpful and I'm making a shopping list now! ;)

[marylouh]

thanks for the details on making this design.
The box is beautiful and would grace any setting.
the colors are bright and bold - such fun.
thanks for sharing a great project.

[Daryl]

Love the colors on the box and the stencil you chose too.

[jpscraps]

This is beautiful! Love how you created the tiles.

[Margaret Griffiths]

wonderful mosaic box top. Thanks for sharing.

[Cecilia Swatton]

These tiles are a great idea, and they came out beautifully!

[Jo Murray]

Clever idea...and it looks great. Hope you don't mind if I copy.
jo.murray.art(at)gmail(dot com)

[Shari C.]

Great idea! I love how it has a mosaic tile look :)

[Jackie P Neal]

Gwen, what a great use of those stencils! Your box design is wonderful and your colors-delish!!

[Lynda]

The colors you chose go perfectly with those stencils!

[Amante Del Papel]

amazing job, and looks so beauitful!

[vicki miller]

Another wonderful project!

[Robin B.]

So beautiful! I love the vibrant colors and pattern. Thanks for sharing.

[Martice Smith II]

I'm starting to love that mosaic tile look! Might try my hand at it, someday! Thank you Gwen ;)

[Heather Thompson]

That is beuatiful, what a project, It all lines up and matches perfectly!!! love!

[Mary C. Nasser]

You are so innovative with your projects, Gwen! :)
Love that you created a faux-ceramic tile treasure box with "tiles" made from cardboard! Super-creative and unique!

[stephanie]

great project and tips! sltresso at hotmail dot com

[textilerecycler]

You knocked it out of the park again Gwen! Always love seeing what you come up with... and never disappointed.

[ConnieND]

I loved the colors that you used and it is a great idea. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Amy King]

Amazing!! I love this 'faux tile' look- who knew it was cardboard!! amydavisking (at) msn (dot com).

[Laurajo]

Your keepsake box is gorgeous!!! Love how you used the stencils :)

[auntie em]

Wow! Great tutorial for a great project. I love the dimension you have created on the tiles with the different mediums and the little 'tiles' look so exotic. I like that you made them from cardboard. Makes a person appreciate those scraps and packaging even more.
Thank you for sharing! :)

[Mary Beth Shaw]

Gwen, I am loving this, the orange with the blue is stunning and naturally your sense of design rocks :)

[Jessica Sporn]

this is a fantastic project and, as always, your directions are so clear. Thanks so much!

[Gill]

Stunning Gwen!

[Chph4evr]

Love how you created
the top of this box.
Looks great!
Carla from Utah

[Hetty]

Such a great boxlooking so traditional like folk art! Love the bright colors.

[Amy#8546(TheTigersHaven)]

Very neat projects. I love boxes and you really did a great job creating these. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Viki Banaszak]

This is so cool! I love the colors! I hadn't heard of the Blends before. I think I may need some.

[Donna Simmons Lueders]

Love this the colors are so vibrant and the colors remind me of indian projects. Thanks for sharing

[Michelle Starke]

LOVE the project you made - I have quite a few stencils that would lend a cool effect to the tile technique. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Denise Huntington]

Gwen, this is so gorgeous!

[Glenda Hoagland]

Beautiful Project Gwen

[Heather Ferguson]

What a great idea! Love your "tiled" box!

[Lynne Phelps]

Gorgeous! Your beatiful box made the batik stencil move to the top of my list!