#Engage With The World Around You

Hi GSLC friends - It's Susan today, with another project made with the ATC Shrine Box.  The chipboard is so sturdy that the box is now one of my favorites for small shadow boxes.  One day maybe I'll even put an ATC/ACEO in one of these boxes!

Speaking of sturdy, this box proved to be the best choice for these small-yet-heavy pewter monkeys I got secondhand.

First things first, I laid out the pieces to make sure they would fit.  I knew the monkeys would have bases of some kind, onto which I could put my messages, so I left room for those in the dry run.  Looks good, so on to the next step.

In order to cut one long piece for the inside left-center-right panels, I laid the pieces out before gluing, and made pencil marks for where to cut.  I learned in previous projects that this type of long cutting with a score at the corners takes more paper than you'd think, so I left a small gap between the center piece and both sides before making the pencil marks.

White craft glue seals it all together, and a Q-tip cleans up excess glue well.

Everything got a coat of black gesso, including the base, top (not visible), wooden letters, and the Scrabble tiles used for the monkey bases.

For outside texture, I used a pallet knife to spread light molding paste.  Once that dried, I painted with black gesso and then black acrylic paint.

It the background of this photo you can see the strip of paper that will go inside once the outside is completed.

I added the designer paper to the inside with Mod Podge, then filled in all the elements.

Thanks for your visit today!  --Susan

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Used

ATC Shrine Box #BD12X

Other Supplies Used

White craft glue
E-6000

Liquitex gesso
Ranger Glossy Accents

Golden Light Molding Paste
Acrylic paint
Pewter monkeys
Scrabble tiles
Printed words

Studio Calico wood letters
Wood base and finial