Honey Bee Shadowboxes

While I can often be seen running, arms flailing, yelling "get lost" to wasps (in not so lady-like language) honey and bumblebees are welcome visitors in my garden.

Just look at that buzzy bum in the chive blossoms!

Inspired by my pollinating visitors, I've made a couple of sweet honey bee shadowboxes.

With Fold Up Oval and Fold Up Box Rectangle boxes as my base, I've added beautiful yellow papers from Graphic 45's Floral Shoppe. Inside there's a pretty image of a vintage lady, a pinch of moss and paper flowers.

For the exterior I've used Honeycomb & Bees. The bees have been painted and have Transparent Wings added. A tiny bit of black fuzz finish off these chippy bees.

The interior background is vintage music paper with a splash of white and blue acrylic paint.

Want to make your own? I've created a video walk through for you to follow along and create your own. You can find it over HERE

And here are all the bits you'll need:

Fold Up Box Oval 

Fold Up Box Rectangle

Honeycomb & Bees

Graphic 45's Floral Shoppe

Transparent Wings 

Paper flowers

Moss

Vintage portrait images (These are the ones I used)

Glue

Foam spacer squares

Black flocking

A note about the flocking: Don't buy a pound of flocking for this project!  You really only need a very small amount. A few pinches! If you can find it, "Ultra Fine Flower Soft" will work well for the bee fuzz. Or search for miniature landscape "scatter" or "static grass" and you should find something suitable.

Alice Revisited

Here are the quotes I used in my Alice in Wonderland post from March 2018.
"When you can't look on the bright side, I will sit with you in the dark."
"It's no use going back to yesterday, I was a different person then."
"Have I gone mad? I am afraid so, you're entirely bonkers. But I will tell you a secret, all the best people are!"

They are the inspiration for this piece which I have titled “Alice Revisited”

 

1.  Take apart GSLC Altoids Alice Inserts, and GSLC Wrought Iron Archway.

2.  Quickly Paint GSLC Altoids Alice Inserts with White Gesso.

3.  Once Dry Color with Assortment of Colored Pencils and Brush Watercolor Markers.

4.  Antique GSLC Alice pieces with a Dry Brush Technique and, Gray, Green Gold, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Iron Oxide Acrylic Paint and Matte Medium.

 

5.   Use Versa Mark and Red Embossing Powder to Color “Hearts” Leftover Pieces from GSLC Wrought Iron Archway. Cure with a Heating Tool.

6.  Use Tim Holtz Distress Stains- Barn Door and Abandoned Coral Reef-to add Additional Details to UpCycled Hearts.

7.  Use Weldbond to Adhere Seth Apter Baked Textures of Dirty Sand and Ancient Amber on GSLC Wrought Iron Archway. Cure with a Heating Tool.

8.  Use Tim Holtz Distress Stains-Pumice Stone and Fossilized Amber to add Additional Details to GSLC Wrought Iron Archway.

9.  Assemble Artwork Piece Stacking GSLC Altoids Alice Frames, GSLC Wrought Iron Archway, and Tiny Heart Card Embellishments. May Need Glue to Adhere Some of the Pieces Inside the Square Glass Tiles.

10.                Hold Everything into Place with Clamps.
11.                Use Red Linen Tread to Make a Frame Around the Inside of Your Square Glass Tiles.

12.                Place Glue on Knotted Linen Thread and Allow to Dry Overnight.

13.                Cut off Loose Linen Thread.

14.                Add Additional Tiny Heart Card Embellishments Using a UHU Gluestick.

15.                Use Needle Nose Pliers to Attach Two Jump Rings to the Top Intersecting Linen Threads.

16.                Use Needle Nose Pliers to Attach a Length of Red Enameled Copper Chain.
17. Hang Your Creation Some Place So it Can Be Admired from Both Sides.

 

 

 
 
Here are a few more wonderful quotes from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland:

"If you don't care where you are going any road can take you there."
"Every adventure requires a first step."
"Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality."
"I'm not crazy, my reality is just different than yours."
...and finally.
"This is my dream, I will decide where it goes from here!"
Supplies:  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Altoids Insert Frames Alice Theme, Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts-Wrought Iron Archway, White Gesso Acrylic Paint, Paintbrush, Assortment of Colored Pencils and Brush Watercolor Markers, Gray, Green Gold, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Iron Oxide Acrylic Paint, Matte Medium, Versa Mark, Red Embossing Powder, Weldbond, Seth Apter Baked Textures Dirty Sand Ancient Amber, Heating Tool, Tim Holtz Distress Stains-Pumice Stone, Fossilized Amber, Brushed Corduroy, Barn Door, Abandoned Coral Reef,  Two Square Glass Tiles, Tiny Card Embellishments, Red Linen Thread, Glue, UHU Gluestick, Scissors, Jump Rings, Needle Nose Pliers, Red Enameled Copper Chain,
I cannot wait to see your interpretation of this project. Share it on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Page on Facebook. I would love to see what new creations you are working on!