Nautical Treasures - by Claudia

I can't get enough of ocean themed projects at the moment! This time I am sharing one of Calico Craft Parts' lovely "Trinket Boxes" in nautical style.

I was mainly inspired by the designer paper I found in my stash and the beautiful Galleon Boat - the first was a find from rummaging through my stash (in search for something else of course) and the latter had been sitting on my table for the last weeks....so when I saw them both on my desk side by side they suddenly formed the idea for this trinket box to keep my treasures in.

Calico Craft Parts used:

- MDF Trinket Box Kit - Style 2
- Galleon Boat MDF Wood Shape - Style 7
- Word Elements - Summer & Seaside
- Ships Wheel MDF Wood Shape - Style 1
- Sheet of Mini MDF Nautical Motifs - Style 6

The designer paper's colours were my lead, so I aimed for browns, yellowed whites and coral pink mainly.

I measured the bottom and top panels of the trinket box so I could cut two sheets of designer paper to size and glue them to the box lid and inner bottom. 

I used matte Decou-Page (as always) and once that was dry I grabbed a sanding block to sand the excess off. I sealed the designer paper with a layer of matte Decou-Page. 

The box was assembled and set aside to dry. 

The Trinket Box Kit comes with shapes for feet and handles, but I had this lovely ships wheel in my Calico Craft Parts "treasure chest" that I wanted to use, so I combined parts of the box kit with that to form the handle. 

I also glued four little feet to the bottom of the dry box after I had painted the outside with DecoArt Americana Coral Blush acrylic paint (I forgot to take a picture of that I'm afraid).  

The little shell shapes had been sealed with matte Decou-Page too before I applied a thin layer of white DecoArt media Crackle Paint to them with a palette knife. I also scraped some onto the box lid here and there. 

While the shells and box lid were set aside to dry I dry brushed some white DecoArt Acrylic Gesso to the Word Element and the Galleon Boat. 

Once the crackling process was finished I added washes of DecoArt media Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide to the shells, the box lid and the dry brushed Craft Parts. 

I used DecoArt media Liquid Glass as a glue to add a rough cord border to the box lid. 

The back of the Galleon Boat got a coat of Coral Blush paint as well. The insides of the box were left untreated. 

I also partially scraped on some white Gesso to the glued on cord and toned that down with another wash of Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide. A little glued on half pearl was added to finish everything off. My Galleon Boat was ready to set sail! Yay! 

Some detail shots:

and once more the finished trinket box:

Hm......I think I might keep this one ;) 

Hugs and happy crafting!

Claudia

xxx