How to Use This Blog

Hi everyone:
To all my first-time guests, Welcome to Plush Possum Studio!

This is my first new post in quite a while. I keep getting emails from guests who seem a bit confused as to how the process of using my image collection works, so I thought that I'd better update my blog again. I do not share via either Drive or email as it takes way too much work, both for my guests and for me.

To save us all a lot of time, please follow these simple instructions:

1.) When you find an image that you like here at my blog, first read the terms of use or Copyright rules for each one, as they do differ. These are usually in red and are listed directly below each image thumbnail. I call them my Red Letter Guidelines. These Guidelines should help you to be more informed as to which choice to make. Some of the images I offer are unique to my blog. I have partnered in the past with others where design and concept ideas are concerned, but all of the work that was done on each image being offered is mine. While some of my images required no digital brushes, others have. I have used digital brushes that were designed by other artists whose Terms of Use still apply. There are also a few Commons and Gnu images in some of my sets for which there are differing Terms of Fair Use. 

I would ask that we all please honor the hard work of every digital brush artist by continuing to honor their copyrights as well as my own. Without their work, some of my work would not look like it does. You are free to use my product line for your own personal use at all times; however, you are still not free to ever sell them as your own product unless a Guideline says that you may. It depends entirely upon which image you're looking at.
Some of my blog's images are marked "Public Domain," and those are the ones that anyone may freely use in whatever way that they choose. All of the others have rights attached. You may simply search my Public Domain category, if that's what you'd prefer.
I hope that my wording about this is clear enough. International copyright and Commons laws can be very complicated!

2.) Once you have chosen which image you would like to keep, then click on the link that's usually marked "HERE." If you hover over it, you should be able to see that it's highlighted and a link. But if for some reason one of my "HERE" links has stopped working, please do let me know right away so that I can fix it. I will try my best to take care of it for you as soon as I am able.

3.) Then follow the link to the image's page located in my Google Drive account, where you may choose the "Download" option. On my screen, it's located in the upper right-hand corner. (Please see the screen shot below) You may also click on the "Print" icon instead if you would rather not add that much data to your hard drive or device.

If for some reason Google Drive won't allow you to use the Download feature, then please do contact me directly via email or leave me a comment here as I may need to inform Google as to a technical issue. I've recently checked my Google Drive Settings, and everything there still appears to be functioning normally.

I've actually never had occasion to try visiting my blog using a handheld device due to my eyesight health issue, which means that things may look a bit different to anyone who may be using either a tablet or a phone. Nevertheless, here is the promised screen shot:

If you are new to my blog, I want to urge you to try using the Categories feature. It is an alphabetical list of the many categories that I added as I was creating my blog. On my big screen, the Categories feature is located in the left-hand column of a three-column layout. If someone using a phone would do me a favor by leaving me a comment as to where the same list may be seen on a smaller screen than mine, it would be highly appreciated.

There are a lot of images here that may be used in projects for children. There are also quite a few things that may be used for the making of junk journals, and these I like to call my "Book Arts" items. Junk journalers may find some of my antique postcards and Book Arts sets useful. I scanned and processed every postcard myself when I was first blogging and learning about digital art. But there are many other categories besides just those two, among them a few seasonal ones.

Alternatively, you can use the "Search" window at the top, which on my wide screen is located in the upper left-hand corner, but which may be located elsewhere on smaller screens.

Thank you for visiting my blog, and happy crafting!

Sincerely,
Rose

.

"Love Notes" Embellishments

The fortunate thing about having a lot of extra ready-to-use stock items in my files is that it can be much easier to make a few things than it might otherwise be.

My eyes need extensive rest at times since my optic nerve health to one eye became problematic this past Labor Day weekend. This will be my first truly New post (nothing like the most recent post that was found almost ready to upload) since summer 2017. I'm proud of it, even if it cost me in eye strength for the day. I've promised myself to refrain from taking further chances. Building things more gradually from now on might be one way to keep on creating - but gently.

All components are from older projects of times past, all of which have previously been seen either here or elsewhere online. What I did was to combine them for this new project. I think that everything fits together pretty well. Red + black + white is a color trio that's often used for Valentines Day creating.

The sheet music is from my own collection, scanned by me and then altered. The typewriter was in the Public Domain when I found it some while back. As for the phrases chosen, two of those are outtakes from the writings of William Shakespeare, while the third one is obviously universal. 

PPS™Embellishments: Love Notes

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

use any of the above items

shown here in artwork and/or crafting

that is to be either kept or given away freely.

You are not free to:

ever sell my designs 

for any reason whatsoever,

even if they have been altered first.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

In the Pink "Extras" for Card-making or Collage

It's simple, but it's sweet. An unexpected happy find for me in time for Valentine's Day creative projects.

This set I just happened to run across in my searches for another file entirely. It only required a little repositioning of the items involved to make it into something usable. Such a lucky find is really nice for me, as my eye health (a condition known as Optic Neuritis) hasn't been good for several months. In fact, this is my only new post here for quite a while.

There are copyrights to be considered for this little one page set of "Extras." Please see the Digital Brush credits and follow my red letter Guidelines for best use that are listed below. Thank you.

The original set to which this belongs may be found by following the link HERE. There you may see everything from tag blanks to ATC Backgrounds and many other collage elements for a number of creative purposes. Again, please follow the Guidelines and respect the design credits there.

A final note:
All digital art brushes used in the making of this pink patterned set are by www.obsidiandawn.com except for one  that may no longer be found at the source (brusheezy.com).

Happy Creativity!

PPS™In the Pink Extras

(Print version only)

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

use the above pink items

in art or craft

that is for fun or for profit

BUT

not without giving Credit to

www.obsidiandawn.com.

Please give credit where credit is due

to all artists online,

including their website.

(and me, too, please!)

Fair and LEGAL use is what it's all about.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things (legally) free!

Women's Shoes of 1900

This is a re-post of a prior offering at this blog, the links for which are no longer available. 
Aren't these fun to look at? Each one says something about women's shoes of the very late Victorian era as it was in the year 1900. I had to choose from dozens to make this Collage Set for you. I also improved and tidied up the looks of each shoe with background. This is actually an older post that I could not find a proper link for owing to technical difficulties. I found the image in my files, and have added it to storage for you via my Download link below.

Please see the red Guidelines at the foot of this post. Thank you.

PPS™Collage Set: Late Victorian Shoes

Download  HERE

Display version
(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:
Use these in your personal art, whether in artwork that is to be sold or for your personal use.
You are not free to:
 Repackage this set, either in whole or in part, 
for sale in any way.
Thank you 
for helping me to
keep free things free!

Sapphire Blue September Book Arts Set

The second of 2 September Book Arts posts...

...before I go on a bit of a health hiatus for a while here at the Studio.

The month of September's gemstone is the Sapphire. I chose to use the differing tones in the average sapphire as the inspiration for this set.

Please respect my copyrights and follow the red letter Guidelines listed at the foot of this post. Thank you.

The set requires 2 circle punches, one in the 1 inch size, the other in the 1/2 inch size. For some examples of how I like to suggest that people might use my sets, please follow this link HERE and look for the Display.

Happy September Creativity!

PPS™Book Arts Set: Sapphire Blue September 

Download HERE

(No ideas display this time, as no time. 

Please see post above. Thank you)

Plain Display

You are free to:

use any of the above items

shown here in artwork and/or crafting

that is to be either kept or given away freely.

You are not free to:

ever sell my designs 

for any reason whatsoever,

even if they have been altered first.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

September Set: "Black-Eyed Susans"

The first of 2 September Book Arts posts...

...before I go on a bit of a health hiatus for a while here at the Studio.

The colors that the end of summer brings can be bright and promising. This set has been inspired by the flower known as the "black-eyed Susan." I love that pleasant blend of golden yellow with a deeper orange, don't you? Some "Susans" come in a variety of colors, but I prefer this orange-y yellow the best.

Please respect my copyrights and follow the red letter Guidelines listed at the foot of this post. Thank you.

The set requires 2 circle punches, one in the 1 inch size, the other in the 1/2 inch size. For some examples of how I like to suggest that people might use my sets, please follow this link HERE and look for the Display.

Happy September Creativity!

PPS™Book Arts Set: September "Black-Eyed Susans"

Download HERE

(No ideas display this time, as no time. 

Please see post above. Thank you)

Plain Display:

You are free to:

use any of the above items

shown here in artwork and/or crafting

that is to be either kept or given away freely.

You are not free to:

sell these designs 

for any reason whatsoever,

even if you alter them first.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Acrylic Pour ATC Backgrounds in Violet

I've found a few spare moments for another Friday freebie ATC Background set.


This time, I'm offering my Backgrounds for you to build upon in the many varying hues and shades of that mysteriously moody color known as violet.

As already mentioned previously, this began with my second try at using the technique known as "Acrylic Pouring" or "Poured Acrylics." The "cells" that developed in this small pour are so very tiny that it is difficult to view them without a little help. So I took a few pictures and then played with those for a little bit using Photoshop. I had to zoom in an awful lot before the "cells" could be enjoyed.

This led to my musing as to how to play with those same photographs I had taken of this experiment using acrylic pouring. There have been other colors before, among them Aquatic and Fuchsia. These are fairly recent posts, so all you have to do is to scroll down just a little bit and you'll quickly see them in other posts. I've already offered a duo of envelopes with labels to match as well, which you will no doubt find on the way down as you scroll.

Happy weekend creativity!

PPSATC™Background Sixpack: 

Acrylic Pour "Varietous Violet"

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

only give, keep or trade any or all of the ATCs

given in my Set above, with or without altering.

You are not free to:

ever sell any of my designs

unless otherwise specified by me

in the Guidelines (like this one).

Thank you 

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Castle Coloring Page

This illustration is of a real castle in France.

I like medieval artwork and architecture. I also like to "geek out" on history now and then, so this illustration really pleased me when I ran across it online. 

While I've cleaned it up and resized it, it's still a Public Domain image. For more about the Château de Coucy or the Coucy castle, you may visit this website HERE. I'm fascinated by it in that I used to reread a favorite medieval history book by Barbara Tuchman entitled, "A Distant Mirror," that traces the history of the Coucy family. (Please do not let anyone fool you - that book is not fictional. I revel in the footnotes and appendixes as well as the bibliography. See? I am a history nerd or "geek.")

Happy Coloring Creativity!

PPSColorMe™: Medieval French Castle

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Free and in the Public Domain.

Please give me credit for the cleanup job 
I supplied to make this picture more fun.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

ATC Acrylic Pour Background Set: Hot Flash Lava Lamp

Today's freebie is another color way of the "Acrylic Pour" series of ATC Background Sets. This time, the theme is "Hot Flash Lava Lamp."

As I mentioned previously, this began with my second try at using the technique known as "Acrylic Pouring" or "Poured Acrylics." The "cells" that developed in this small pour are so very tiny that it is difficult to view them without a little help. So I took a few pictures and then played with it for a little bit using Photoshop. I had to zoom in an awful lot before the "cells" could be enjoyed.

This led to my musing as to how to play with some photographs I had taken of this experiment using acrylic pouring. There have been 2 other colors before, Aquatic and Fuchsia. More recently, I posted one entitled, "Peanut Butter and Hot Chili Peppers." These are fairly recent posts, so all you have to do is to scroll down just a little bit and you'll quickly see them in other posts. I've already offered a duo of envelopes with labels to match as well, which you will no doubt find on the way when you scroll.

Happy weekend creativity!

PPSATC™Background Sixpack: 

Acrylic Pour "Hot Flash Lava Lamp"

Download HERE

Display version
(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

only give, keep or trade any or all of the ATCs

given in my Set above, with or without altering.

You are not free to:

ever sell any of my designs

unless otherwise specified by me

in the Guidelines (like this one).

Thank you 

for helping me to

keep free things free!

ATC Sixpack:Acrylic Pour Peanut Butter + Hot Chilis

For today's Friday freebie, I've gone a bit wild this time by choosing today's weird color way for my Acrylic Pour series.

After all, whoever heard of having hot chili peppers with peanut butter? Thai food often will contain a combination of peanuts and spicy flavors, so why can't I follow suit?
:)

As I mentioned previously, this began with my second try at using the technique known as "Acrylic Pouring" or "Poured Acrylics." The "cells" that developed in this small pour are so very tiny that it is difficult to view them without a little help. So I took a few pictures and then played with it for a little bit using Photoshop. I had to zoom in an awful lot before the "cells" could be enjoyed.

This led to my musing as to how to play with some photographs I had taken of this experiment using acrylic pouring. There have been 2 other colors before, Aquatic and Fuchsia. These are fairly recent posts, so all you have to do is to scroll down just a little bit and you'll quickly see them in other posts. I've already offered a duo of envelopes with labels to match as well, which you will no doubt find on the way when you scroll.

Happy weekend creativity!

PPSATC™Background Sixpack: 

Acrylic Pour "Peanut Butter + Hot Chili Peppers"

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

only give, keep or trade any or all of the ATCs

given in my Set above, with or without altering.

You are not free to:

ever sell any of my designs

unless otherwise specified by me

in the Guidelines (like this one).

Thank you 

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Free Cinderella Coloring Page

Cinderella in one of her quieter moments, feeding the little birds who've come to pay her a visit.

This is a favorite story for many people. I love the old style hearth that's big enough to sit in. The whole setting is really wonderfully done. Though I've seen it in a number of spots online, I thought I'd offer my own version for coloring or tinting. I think this project would work best using colored pencils, but the choice is yours, of course. Don't you simply love her shoes?

Happy Coloring Creativity!

PPSColorMe™Cinderella Feeds the Birds

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Free and in the Public Domain.

Please give me credit for the cleanup job I supplied,

along with my straightening and resizing of this picture.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

ATC Acrylic Pour Envelope Set

For those who are enjoying my recent Acrylic Pour ATC Background Set, here are some matching accessories.

For the first ATC Background set in this style (Aquatic), you may follow this link HERE. For the second (Fuchsia) set in this style, you may follow this link HERE.

Happy Creativity!

PPS™ATC Accessory Set: Acrylic Pour,

Colors 1 and 2

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

only give, keep or trade any or all of the ATCs

given in my Set above, with or without altering.

You are not free to:

ever sell any of my designs

unless otherwise specified by me

in the Guidelines (like this one).

Thank you 

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Now in Fuchsia: Acrylic Pour ATC Backgrounds

This new color way for the Acrylic Pour series of Artist Trading Card Backgrounds is the result of a few stray moments of break time color play.

I sometimes have time enough to offer something fun to play with in time for the weekend. Today's will be a new Friday Freebie ATC Background "Sixpack." ATCs are more fun than any sixpack of raspberry soda pop ever could be! (No calories plus they last for as long as we want them to.)

As I mentioned in my first offering in this series, this was my second try at using the technique known as "Acrylic Pouring" or "Poured Acrylics." The "cells" that developed in this small pour are so very tiny that it is difficult to view them without a little help. So I took a few pictures and then played with the most successful image for a while using Photoshop. I had to zoom in an awful lot before the "cells" could be enjoyed. Maybe my next pour experiment will contain some bigger "cells." I hope to be able to try it again fairly soon.

Happy weekend creativity!

PPSATC™Background Sixpack: 

Acrylic Pour "Fugue in Fuchsia"

Download HERE

Display

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

only give, keep or trade any or all of the ATCs

given in my Set above, with or without altering.

You are not free to:

ever sell any of my designs

unless otherwise specified by me

in the Guidelines (like this one).

Thank you 

for helping me to

keep free things free!

A Thank You Post for Dorthe

Dorthe Hansen is a Danish artisan with an eye for detail within design. She is also one of my favorite bloggers. 
Recently, she very kindly shared some of her work using an envelope of my design. I am thrilled with how she's chosen to use one of my ATC envelopes (from this post HERE). Dorthe's work stands out to my eyes as being special anyway, but it's an added bonus to see how she's used my envelope along with one of my color coordinated postage buttons for one of her pieces.

Dorthe is a Design Team Member of "That's Crafty!", and whose work has been featured in Simply Neutrals Tuesday. It's easy to see why her work must be so desirable. She lavishes very careful consideration on each and every detail. She knows how to blend neutral tones with more colorful ones. Some of my favorite designs by her use only neutral tones. Building layer upon layer, she likes to draw everything together into one story of her own making. Some of her work reminds me of delicately decorated pastries, each one unique.

She and I both appreciate the beauty of handmade lace, buttons and trims. There is something truly evocative of times past in such pretty items, isn't there? Dorthe's pretty works are loaded with old lace, buttons and other treasures. Perhaps that's one of the many reasons why I've always enjoyed visiting her blog.

Dorthe has informed me of her choice of materials along with how she's made use of my envelope within her designs. She writes: "I use the envelopes for my tiny tags created with fabric, finding one suitable in colors, for what I made.

Sometimes they are longer, but then I just let them stick out on top, I will send you a photo ."

Here are her 3 photos of one of her projects. I really like how she's used my envelope with its matching button.

Isn't this a nice gift for me to share here?

:)

If you'd like to visit her blog, Den Lille Lade, to see the rest of her very pretty work, you may follow the link located in her name at the top of this post or you may follow this link HERE. There is a lot to see at her blog, so be prepared to be tempted to linger if you go there.

My thanks to Dorthe for her generous gesture!

Happy Creativity!

Free Butterfly Coloring Page

Time to get out the colors in your favorite medium as these butterflies need color!

This particular new PPSColorMe™page was so simple to update for coloring that it is Free and in the Public Domain. 
The Butterflies speak for themselves.

Happy Summertime Creativity!

PPSColorMe™Butterflies

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

ATC Sixpack:Acrylic Pour Aquatic Dream

I've finally found a few minutes for this new free ATC Background "Sixpack." More fun than any soda pop, don't you think?
;)

This was my second try at using the technique known as "Acrylic Pouring" or "Poured Acrylics." The "cells" that developed in this small pour are so very tiny that it is difficult to view them without a little help. So I took a few pictures and then played with it for a little bit using Photoshop. I had to zoom in an awful lot before the "cells" could be enjoyed.

Acrylic Pouring is a fun and challenging technique. Beginners can even try it on a shoestring budget. Here in the U.S. we have bargain outlets called Dollar tree or the Dollar Store that sell everything from smaller sized silicone spray lubricant (for squeaks in hinges, etc) to craft paints. An acrylic pour artists named Rick Cheadle has his own channel on YouTube, and there you may find his video entitled, "Paint Pouring On a Dollar Store Budget - Get Started Paint Pouring for UNDER $10." He's not as specific regarding exact ratios of everything, and yet I was stunned as his results using low budget supplies. It really inspired me to begin experimenting myself.

As another option, you can always play with my little experiment for ATCs, shown below.

Happy weekend creativity!

PPSATC™Background Sixpack: 

Acrylic Pour "Aquatic Dream"

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

only give, keep or trade any or all of the ATCs

given in my Set above, with or without altering.

You are not free to:

ever sell any of my designs

unless otherwise specified by me

in the Guidelines (like this one).

Thank you 

for helping me to

keep free things free!

Victoria and Her Family at the Beach

Mercy and her husband, Tom have invited Victoria to join them on holiday at the seashore.

The proud new papa of one still sports his fatherly mustache while wearing the grey stripe bathing costume that we're so accustomed to seeing him in.

As for both Mercy and Victoria, this year the two cousins will be wearing the very latest in swimwear. Most women then tended to wear something on their heads in order to cover their hair, but not our two young Victorian women! Both have appointments with a hairdresser for later in the afternoon. By then, both will have changed clothes following bath time. After that, everyone is looking forward to a casual teatime in their family suite at the hotel with the baby, when it will be Nanny's evening off to visit a friend.

As for Mercy and Tom's new baby, the little one is still a bit young to be out of doors all day long. We are allowing Mercy to have a nice, relaxing afternoon swim. This is her family's first chance at a holiday since the arrival of the baby in March. The baby's new skills have grown very recently to include rolling over. This caused much excitement, as all were present for that special moment. 

It's Nanny's turn to look after the little one for the afternoon today, especially as it is now nap time. Then it will be time for a promenade using a fancy stroller that was called a perambulator (we called them baby buggies here in the U.S.). For more about the baby, you'll have to wait for a later post. That will keep you guessing, won't it?
:)

Meanwhile, it's grownup swimming fun for all three of the members of this Victorian family.

For more Plush Possum Studio paper doll fun, from wedding gown to riding clothes, my guests may follow this link HERE.

Happy summer playtime creativity!

PPSPlaytime™: Mercy, Tom and 

Victoria at the Seashore

Download Mercy's Seashore Outfit HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Victoria's Seashore Outfit HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Tom's Seashore Outfit HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

Play with or trade or give

my paper dolls and their accessories

including outfits, backgrounds/rooms

and so on.

You are not free to:

ever package them for sale in any 

way or for any reason, even if you alter them.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free! 

One Inch Button Alphabet for July 4th

A new theme just in time for a patriotic annual celebration.

As usual, the set works best if cut out with accuracy. One inch circle punches or cutting stations with a one inch setting will be most useful.

Please respect my copyrights by following the red letter Guidelines listed at the foot of each post that isn't public domain. Thank you.

There is also a new July 4th Bunting here in my blog. That may be accessed by following the link HERE.

Happy Creative Independence Day crafting!

PPS™One Inch Button Alphabet for July 4th

©RHMcGuinn of Plush Possum Studio

Download HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

Use my Kaleidoscope 1 Inch Button Alphabet

in artwork that may be either

given or traded (as in

for personal use only).

You are not free to:

ever sell anything made using

any of these letter button images

even if you alter them first.

(You may alter them otherwise, 
just not for sale, please.)

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!

#ATCAD2017 ATC Treasure Box Project

I have a special fondness for useful, decorative boxes, don't you?

This year's June Artist Trading Card fest, #ATCAD2017, really got me going. Even though I am not celebrating by making any new ATCs, I have made something which can hold a whole bunch of them. This is my first ever dual blog post. Downloads are included in this blog only (see below), though. To see my other, smaller blog, you may follow the link HERE. Please respect my copyrights that are listed in the red letter Guidelines located at the foot of this post. Thank you.

Here's what my project's interior looked like once it was completed. As you can see, I'm already storing some ATCs inside my new creation. I hope you'll enjoy the process I went through for this project. The construction of this Treasure Box was a bit tricky at times, but overall it's a fairly easy project for just about anybody to make.

I used a 140 lb watercolor sheet from my  18"x24" Canson Montval Watercolor block, but even a single sheet of watercolor paper in the same weight will work once primed using gesso.  Single sheets (I recommend getting at least two) may be purchased from Art and Hobby stores.  I have often used heavier weight watercolor paper with acrylics as the results can be really interesting, sometimes almost leathery in feel. For this box, every additional coat of pigment or medium really made the paper tough and a little bit more on the leathery side.

The technique which I chose to try for the decorative part of my painting was acrylic paints + 91% Isopropyl Rubbing alcohol (surgical spirit in the UK, I think). The layers have to be applied and treated with speed, otherwise the effect will be minimized or simply won't occur at all.


On the watercolor block top sheet of paper I first added matte medium in 2 layers. I'd begun that project with the idea of creating something semi-transparent using colorful glazing techniques, but later chose not to. Overtop those few layers, I added my turquoise in at least 2 layers. Once it was dry, I next added a very runny but still thick layer of copper that I'd tinted slightly for an"antique" effect. I splashed drops of the alcohol all over the surface right away and watched the turquoise underneath begin to peer out in surprising ways. It still didn't work completely well enough, although I could see that I was headed in the right direction. So I let everything dry overnight, then tried it again from the beginning with first more turquoise and then more copper. This time, I had the right formula for the thickness of the copper paint!

As a finishing touch, I then added a dash more of the turquoise in 2 toned splatters using a loaded paintbrush which I tapped just inches above the surface. I allowed those paint layers a nice, relaxing drying time of (as I recall) several days.

As the paint layers were still drying, I began a first mock-up using graph paper. As a base or mold, I used a vitamin powder packet box that I noticed fits ATCs a bit snugly. The snug part was the clue. To build a brand new box with a totally different construction and lid became the goal.

While the paint layers were still drying, I began a first mock-up using graph paper. As a base or mold, I used that vitamin powder packet box that I noticed fits ATCs a bit snugly. The snug part was indeed my first clue - this allowed me to figure out that my new box would probably fit ATCs a bit more loosely, thereby not damaging them. You see, my building a refit from the outside would add to the size a bit on all sides. To build a brand new box with a totally different construction, look and lid became my ideal. And the fewer the seams, the better.

Once the fit to the graph paper pattern was finalized, I carefully removed my painting from the watercolor block using a smooth edged blade to separate it from the glue edging, then traced around the pattern on the back of the painting and carefully cut it out. The orange pencil marks made everything simpler with the next step. These did not show once I'd lined the inside of my Box.

A T square ruler really came in handy for scoring. This project is the wrong size and shape for a scoring board - but then, I currently don't have one anyway. Tip: if you should decide you'd like to try making my box using your own decorative skills, please be aware that to score and fold first prior to adding the lining is essential to the success of this project.

Below is how the unassembled Box looks when marked, scored and carefully folded. There is a somewhat trickier fold than usual in the Lid area. Notice how the top of the Lid is a tiny bit broader across the top? Please do pay close attention to the dotted lines of my download when scoring. The added width is there in order to allow the Lid to fit smoothly down over the top lip of the Box.

Prior to bothering with any prep work for the lining, I paper-clipped the box at its join spots to see whether I had got the fit just right. I am delighted to say that everything about this went well.

(sighing) Lovely, creamy Mulberry paper - the best thing I could think of for when a thin layer of something decorative would work best.

Prepping the Box's interior for its lining is the next step. Notice how the folds held steady for me even after the gesso had been added. I attribute this staying power to the heft and sturdiness of the paper along with all of the many layers of pigment on the outside side of it. Though I neglected to photograph it, my next layer was one in the verdigris Turquoise. Once the Mulberry Paper lining was being adhered using Liquitex Heavy Matte Gel Medium, notice how the turquoise showed through. I left this to dry lying open and unassembled overnight.

The next evening, I began gluing the box together - I did this backwards, unfortunately. It would have been simpler to have begun with the back rather than the front. Lolz My enthusiasm got the better of me!

Lastly, I glued the Lid so it would hold its shape. Already, I could see the possibilities for the decorative portion.

The following morning (this past Wednesday), I was up with the lark and working on making my very first paper tassel. Although I'm not altogether pleased with how it turned out, it can always be replaced later on. I began by coating a single sheet from an approximately 3.5"x5" tiny pad of some luxurious Italian paper. The paper is Velata by Cartiera Magnani. It's actually made for drawing, although it took the Turquoise acrylic quite well, as you can see in this photo. (BTW, I have looked it up and the Italian word, "velata" means "veiled.")

Next, it was time to play a few "dress-up" games with this box. I am still not quite satisfied with the the way in which it turned out, but I left certain areas un-glued in order to make any new changes a bit easier later on.

Next, I added a bit of embellishment to the top of the Lid, as outlined in this next photo's caption below. One bit of advice: never construct this box using 2 already decorated pieces that are joined together at the lid "hinge" fold area. Too many layers and too much stiffness would make it less usable. it really is best to make a one piece version if you choose to use my own Pattern.

For anyone who may be interested, downloads of the Pattern are in this post here at my main blog, Plush Possum Studio. Please see below. 

I'd really enjoy your feedback as to how this project works for those among you who are into making your own approach to my #ATCAD ATC Treasure Box. 

Happy ATC Creativity!

PPS™Projects: ATC Treasure Box

Download Pattern Part One HERE

Download Pattern Part Two HERE

You are free to:

Use my Pattern and instructions

for personal use ONLY.

You are not free to:

ever sell it  to anyone, even if you build on my idea.

Please give credit where credit is due.

i would surely do the same for you.

Thank you

for helping me to

keep free things free!