Thursday, 7 January 2010

Waxed Cigar box








Being housebound due to the icy conditions is a great excuse to craft. I justified it by cleaning a room this morning so I wouldn't feel guilty for playing around the rest of the day. Inspired after peeking at Suze Weinberg's great blog, I decided to revisit wax  techniques and it was a real but scrummy mess along the way. I worked in the kitchen instead of my craft room so I could use the cooker to melt the wax in a Bain Marie. I just didn't think to use my melt pot and ended up totally messing up the kitchen with inks, stamps, trimmings etc., and had to clean up before making dinner. Doh!!  


A warning here to anyone thinking of crafting with hot wax... check the internet for full instructions if you've never done it before and take every precaution for safety... don't set the house on fire!!! 


The finished article, an old wooden Cuban cigar box about 200cm x 110cm, looked pretty miserable after I  wax collaged it, until I rubbed the amazing metallic Lumiere paints over a few areas, which really lifted it.


 If, like me, you are a real geriatric,  you should know the lady in the collage.... it's an English film star from my childhood.... Anna Neagle. Such an elegant lady.
 Don't miss two great blog candy chances. One from
katykrunch.blogspot (closes 19th January)........

and scroll down to 4th Jan for my blog candy.
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9 comments:

  1. Cath Wilson7 January 2010 at 13:57

    It looks stunning, Jo - even if it is wax. I love what other people do with it but I really don't like the stuff much at all! I know you made a mess but I really love stamping and messing in the kitchen. All my messy stuff gets done in there, now, lol.

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  2. Tracy7 January 2010 at 15:53

    I am so glad i found your blog this is amazing...well worth the mess !!!!
    xxx

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  3. Neet8 January 2010 at 00:12

    I love waxing (and not lyrical tee hee). Love your box and I do remember Anna neagle. Gosh, are we showing our ages or what?

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  4. Deborah8 January 2010 at 03:48

    Beautiful altered box, Jo. I've had mixed results with beeswax so far but this is really inspirational!

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  5. Sherry8 January 2010 at 04:53

    It's fabulous and I love the stamping into the wax. I always use a mini quilter's iron to melt some wax from a block - far quicker and easier than using my melting pot. I don't venture into the kitchen for cooking even, let along crafting - LOL.

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  6. lisa8 January 2010 at 08:36

    Wow, this is lovely. Wax sounds very interesting and the more mess the better in my book!!
    Hope you are not finding the snow too difficult.
    Stay Warm.

    Lisax

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  7. cockney blonde9 January 2010 at 09:33

    That's fabulous Jo. Its given me an idea for an old cigar box that I've been keeping...Luv, CB,x

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  8. Kaz10 January 2010 at 13:16

    your cigar box is stunning, absolutely inspirational, i'm another one with a box needing ideas for it!!

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  9. Katarina16 January 2010 at 08:15

    WOW! What a beautiful box.

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I appreciate your comments!