Exposed Brick Gift Box and Tutorial

Grungy Vintage Gift Box

 I wanted to tackle three new projects/techniques for myself; one of which is a tutorial I created for the exposed brick, found at the bottom of this picture heavy post.

I've built the 4 drawer base and followed the tutorial here and then built the top box using only 4 envelope templates (picture below) and adhering their tabs together to make this.

The challenges I wanted to enter this into were asking that the elements be Grunge, Masculine Valentine, Vintage, 3D or dimensional and also another, to be inspired by a Paris Photo.

When I have to create something masculine, I really try to focus on the textures and keeping it simple.  I really like the interior decoration of an exposed brick wall and I was hoping to create it myself out of paper and have it look somewhat accurate.  I also figured a vintage car, and evil clown flirting with a young lady, a rustic shop sign using SU! hardware and a TH Dream ticket and a "make-shift" vintage lamppost might be other masculine items I could incorporate as well.  Oh and women's legs, don't forget the legs!  Thanks to Pamela at Free Vintage Digital Stamps, I was able to do my one stop shopping and all the images on the walls and the clown were found on her blog here.  The vintage car is a rubber stamp from Stampabilities.

I've kept the base very simple and masculine with the drawer and antique brad as the knob. I could have added more elements to the black, but again, simple, masculine, not too much to draw away from the box.

This was my first wall and "ehh" it's not bad, but process improved by the 4th wall.

I've also bent down the top tab of the envelope box and using Spellbinder's Fleur de Lis Rectangles, I've made the awning.  I was able to use the largest rectangle and then cutting the decorative border of the frame off, was exactly enough to make the awnings on all four sides.  Each was first colored in TH vintage photo stain and then distress inked in spots with TH Tattered Rose.  When dried, TH Picket Fence Crackle applied and then an extra coating of TH Clear Crackle to finish it off.

Here is a close up of the wall that has the women's hose advertisement as well as my make shift lamppost using the TH hinge die cut.  It's not perfect, but I like symbolic art so it works for me.  Off to the side, you'll see the flirting evil clown.   I sized them on Microsoft Word, copied the image and pasted a duplicate next to.  Taking the second image, I flipped it so that I could cut out both, adhere them together and no matter the angle, you'd see them clearly from both sides.

Here is the inside of the box, I've decorated with coordinating papers from Stampin' Up! Well Worn papers and Scrap Pad To Go papers.

I really wanted to add so many more elements on the base, but figured, keep it masculine, keep it simple and let the artwork of the walls do the talking.  Hopefully you like what they are saying!

Image showing the base of the project

Here are the four envelope templates I've traced to make the top box.

EXPOSED BRICK TUTORIAL

Step 1 -  I've used regular white cardstock and run through the BigShot with this brick embossing plate from Fiskars.  If you don't have this particular plate or folder, using a scoring devise would work just as well too.

Finished Embossing Product

Step 2 - Tear the papers as you would like them to look on the surface of your project and then paint with a small brush or toothpick, the "mortar" with Acrylic paint.  Here I've used Antique White from Homefront.

Allow the paint to dry before next step

Step 3 - Add drops of red dye to color the base of your bricks.  As you can see here, I've used TH Tattered Rose Distress Ink.

Step 4 - Next I highlighted the brick with a richer, darker red and dauber.  As you can see in the picture below, I only highlighted a portion.

Step 5 - Add browns to the red for an even richer color.  Color variation is totally up to the creator, but I wanted a mix of red and browns in mine.

Step 6 - Top it off with a clear glaze coat.  I've used crackle here, but Glossy Accents would work just as well too.

Step 7 - Affix the pieces with tape adhesive in the desired spots.

Step 8 -  Using a sponge, it's now time to cover the wall and brick to get the underlying exposed brick look.  I've again used the Acrylic Antique White. I've dabbed the sponge for more of a stucco look.  

Step 9 - Here is the wall drying and I forgot to take a picture of this but, once this is dry, I applied TH Photo Distress Ink over the entire surface once more.  Leaving the advertisement a bit lighter.  With a paper towel, wipe off the excess ink and you're done.

As you can see, this little gift box is really pretty versatile and would make a nice grunge, vintage, Paris aura looking Copic and whatnot holder after the candy is gone!

I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit and I hope you've enjoyed the tutorial.

Happy Stamping...

Lisa xx

Challenges I would like to enter this project into:

Studio L3 - Grungy Monday 36; Who Loves Ya, Baby?

(Also affiliated with these sites:  Tim Holtz website and Simon Says Stamp)

Inspired By - 10; Photo Inspiration

Sugar Creek Hollow - Masculine Valentine; vintage, shabby chic, or primitive style

Vintage Challenges - 34/35; Vintage Project in 3D or dimensional