Steampunk Tissue Box

One thing I can not get enough of is embellished home decor. The simple side of me suggests that the tissue box is decorated all nice and pretty from the manufacturer, and when you're done, you recycle the box. 

But I need these sturdy pieces scattered around my house so I can remember to do the things I love to do. And that would be cut paper, paint, and distress! I have spent a good chunk of my life trying to make something really cheap look really authentic. 

This is a wood tissue box from Craft Warehouse in Vancouver, WA. This is my favorite wood tissue box from all the stores I shop at. It has the open bottom and it's heavy and loose around the tissue box.

The majority of the die cuts I used are reclaimed chipboard sheets from a manufacturing department, but I found a way to make them look like real weathered metal items. 

I will eventually get to a place where I can show you step by step how I create all the layers, but for now, please enjoy the finished projects while I make sense of some "behind the scenes" photo's I have taken for that purpose. 

Supplies: I bought pretty much all of my dies and embellies from Joann's. They have amazing sales on scrapbooking supplies and tools, you get the best deals. But you have to get it on sale, because sometimes, and especially with the dies, they mark them up so the discount seems bigger. The 40% sale is my rule.

joann.com

Tim Holtz - Weathered Clock

Tim Holtz - Gadget Gears

Tim Holtz - Clock Face

Tim Holtz - Metal Box Corners

Tim Holtz Idea-Ology - Sprocket Gears

modernmasters.com

Modern Masters - Reactive Metallic Paints

Grunge calendar hanging

 

I painted the chipboard using basic acrylic paint, and then used mica powder and glimmer mist to add a subtle sheen and variation in base color.

The flowers were made over the course of a year as I tested new ways to mangle paper. There are various links to flower tutorials for similar projects listed at the right. A few vintage finds were added for fun. This was a “use what you have” type project inspired by a sample I saw at CKU from Crafty Secrets.

 

• Vintage images from Crafty Secrets
• Chipboard pages from Michaels in the dollar section
• Rosettes hand made by me
• Calendar designed by me
• Ranger Distress inks
• Glimmer Mist (on everything!)
• Die Cuts: Sizzix and Tim Holtz Alterations dies
• Fabri-Tac adhesive. Zip dry would also work perfectly on this type of project.