Coffre au Trésor by Sandy Trefger

Hello, hello!  Sandy here with a fabulous project using some beautiful French inspired (I think) chippies to alter this treasure box or as perhaps the French would say "coffre au trésor."

For this project, I actually constructed this box from scratch or zero using chpboard, gaffer's tape and the beautiful Graphic 45 paper collection "Cafe Parisian."  Of course, to decorate the top, I used some fabulous chipboard sets from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts and fussy cut images from the Graphic 45 paper. In today's post, I'm going to quickly show you how to finish up the GSL chippies to give them a French vibe and to compliment these papers.

So let's get started:

Step 1:  Lay out your selected chipboard pieces on to a craft mat.

Step 2: Use a sponge dauber to add two coats of white Gesso to each chipboard piece. Allow to dry completely.

Step 3:  Select the colors you'd like to use for different parts of the chipboard such as a mint green for the chair cushions, pink for the table & chairs, platinum for the lamp post and gold for the frame as shown below.  I used Nuvo Embellishment Mousse and rubbed the color on with my fingers.

Step 4:  Use embossing ink and different glitter embossing powders such as white, silver and gold to had some sparkle to different areas of the chippies.  Set with your heat gun.

Step 5:  Fussy cut out your paper elements and then lay them out along with the chippies to the top of your box for your final placement.  Move them around as desired before permanently attaching them down with a wet glue.

Step 6:  Use foam squares or small pieces of chipboard to layer up the different pieces and to add dimension. I created a cafe scene on the lid of my box.

Step 7:  Use Wink of Stella Clear pen to add some sparkle to the leaves and flower petals and different areas of the scene.  If desired, use Glossy Accents to cover the area of the sign to give it a glass look.  Allow to dry completely.

And that's it! You have a beautifully altered and decorated box to store photos, jewelry or other treasures.  My box opens from the top with magnetic closures and a glass knob pull.  I will be making a mini album that will fit inside this box.

  

Supply List:

• Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Cafe Table & Chairs Set
• Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Filigree Frames Shape Set
• Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Fancy Lamp Post & Sconce Set: Large
• Graphic 45 Cafe Parisian 12x12 Paper collection
• Box to Alter
• White Gesso & Foam Applicator 
• Nuvo Embellishment Mousse
• Embossing Ink
• Embossing Powders (Metallic Gold, Silver, White)
• Heat Gun
• Wet Glue
• Foam Squares
• Scisssors
• Glass Knob (Tim Holtz)
• Wink of Stella Pen, Clear
• Glossy Accents

Thank you so much for following along and I hope that you will order some of the awesome Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts chipboard sets and have a go at altering your own Coffre au Trésor or Treasure Box/Chest.

Please visit my blog/website, YouTube channel and Snapguide at: www.sandyscraftycreations.com.

Happy Crafting!

Sandy