Thursday, May 1, 2014

Fond Memories!

I am hosting the current challenge at A Vintage Journey and chose the theme of "Fond Memories." This challenge turned out to be just that for me as I found myself with many fond memories and an overwhelming sense of joy and sadness as I looked through photos. This challenge goes live in the UK May 2nd and that so happens to be my Mom's birthday, which she would be 81. Happy Birthday to the woman who started it all and the one who made me who I am and of course my Dad helped!

My Mom and I had birthdays very close together and then Mother's Day within the same week. We would even go birthday shopping together for each other. So silly we were. Once time we were driving around and I saw a sign for "puppies." We stopped and I picked up my Hugo! My Mom thought she wanted one, but then thought not. The next day we were back and she brought home Shiloh!
That was a very fond memory. Well onto my altered cigar box! Country View Crafts is our sponsor and you could be a prize winner, so stop on over and join in and be sure to check out all the lovely art my DT Sisters are sharing for your inspiration.
In the beginning this started out as a warped old wooden cigar box and yes a warp remains, but what can a gal do? I removed the old hardware, which was pretty cheap, did a light sanding a covered with gesso. The boxed was painted in a neutral color and then stamped in Sepia Archival using one of Tim's new Distressed Damask stamps in a pattern to be reminiscent of old wallpaper. This was finally shaded with Vintage Photo and Black Soot and highlighted with Treasure Gold, White Fire.
The picture wheel with my Mom standing so proudly with me was cut from grunge board covered in foil using double sided tape and then colored with alcohol inks, Pitch Black, Latte, Gold Fixative with Blending solution. Only Latte was used for the PW inserts and then added the label letters "Fond Memories." The center was cut using the circles movers and shapers. A little highlighting on the edges with Treasure Gold.
Pretty much the same steps for the photo wheel with the exception of using black card stock with foil attached. I copied and resized some old photos of my parents and me. Oh how I miss them. Come on don't you like the "T" and by the way my Mom was also a Terry!
Flowers were a mix of grunge, tissue paper, painted in vintage photo, crackled and inked with Black Soot(large flower) and Walnut Stain (small flower), shaded with Black Soot and again a little Treasure Gold. Finished off with one of Tim's pulls.
The Hearts were cut from grunge and painted, crackled and shaded and obviously a couple of chit chat stickers adhered.
The XO was done in the same fashion as the Hearts.
To finish the sides, I added another size filmstrip which was cut from Tim's paper and I clear embossed that and amazingly enough the size was a perfect fit!!!
Added a few more chit chats and of course the "May" tissue tape calendar. My Mom also was quite the sewer, so I loved using the measuring stick tissue tape!

The leg  insets were colored with a Sharpie Brown Marker and a little Treasure gold on the raised areas.
The inside of the box I really did want to keep simple and not have anything that could tear photos. This will be actually used to store those old photos of my parents with me. I finally purchased and got to use that incredible WALLFLOWER paper that some of my DT Sisters have been teasing with me :-) Added a stamped ticket and trimmed it with some tissue tape, some of Mario's Hash Tags sentiments. And another "T" for "Thoughts" that I had plenty of.
Added a stamped ticket and a little stenciling then trimmed it with some tissue tape, some of Mario's Hash Tags sentiments. And another "T" for "Thoughts" that I had plenty of.
I will probably make a couple of nice envelopes to hold the photos and place inside. That I will figure out in time.
Well I do thank you for taking this sentiment journey with me and enduring what is a very photo heavy post. Please take time to enjoy the people in your life and never take anyone for granted and always keep those "Fond Memories" close to heart!

Dies: Picture Wheel, Tattered Flowers, Movers & Shapers Hearts, Ticket, Mini Filmstrip, Filmstrip Frames
Misc: Grunge Letters, Tissue tape, Chit Chat, Labels, Idea-ology misc.
Stamps: Distress Damask, Mercantile, Hashtags
Inks: Archival Sepia, Distress, Black Soot, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo
Paints & Stains: Vintage Photo
Alcohol Inks: Pitch Black, Latte, Gold Mixative, Blending Solution

Other Mediums: Treasure Gold, Multi Matte Gel, Glossy Accents, Crackle, Tissue Paper

35 comments:

Annie said...

A beautiful memory of your mum Terry and your dogs look amazing x I adore the cigar box and all the wonderful details you have incorporated in this fab creation x TFS and crafty hugs
Annie x

S@ndy Diller said...

Terry - great job on the hosting part of this challenge. I really enjoyed your story about your mom and the pups. Your cigar box is just beautiful.

Hugs, S@ndy

Anonymous said...

Beautiful memory box Terry. Karen.x

Sharon said...

Wow beautiful box!

Candy C said...

Terry... Thank you so much for the really sweet comment you left on my blog. That means so much to me. I love your challenge theme. So inspiring! Your altered cigar box turned out so beautifully! I love Tim's legs that you have added to it! They give it even more personality. Your picture wheel is so unique. I love it! That picture of your mom is so sweet. I love all of the negative filmstrips that you used on this. It really carries out your family photos theme! Beautiful job! <3 Candy

Krisha said...

Truly stunning Terry! and a wonderful was to remember your Mom. I miss mine everyday, so this really touched my heart.

Great tutorial, love to see all the pictures of the process.

hellerlittle said...

TFS this amazing creation, a wonderfull Memory box for you and your thoughs of the memories with your mom.
CU hellerlittle
PS: Sorry for my bad english

Valerie-Jael said...

Lovely box full of good memories, just great! Hugs, Valerie

Redanne said...

What a beautiful and heart warming post Terry! I love the theme you chose and I love what you have done to the cigar box, is is absolutely beautiful. Your embellishments are gorgeous, love those feet and film strips. How wonderful to store photos of your lovely parents in such a lovingly crafted place. Hugs, Anne xxx

Astrid Maclean said...

Oh Terry this is such an amazing box and what a wonderful post of your fond memories! I love the way you have used the film strip with the additional photos! All the details are incredible and the inside is just beautiful too!!

Sophie said...

Meine Güte, das ist unglaublich schön.
Eine wunderbare Schachtel.

Unknown said...

Wow! Terry, this has to be one of my favourites, it's GORGEOUS! I love your creative thought process in the elements you've used and you've achieved some fabulous textures too, it's beautiful. Terrific memories in an awesome make - great work! Chris xxx

Words and Pictures said...

What an absolutely brilliant piece of altered art, Terry. You've transformed that old cigar box into an extraordinary tribute to your mother - and father too, of course! - and all those wonderful memories (the puppies are adorable - what a lovely story!).

Beautiful use of the papers, and gorgeous gilding and distressing. It's magnificent!
Alison xx

Jenny Marples said...

Staggeringly fantastic Terry. I love the way you've trimmed the edges of this box and your use of those precious photos on the top. Such a great way to store up those memories. Jenny x

Unknown said...

Wow!! This cigarbox is GORGEOUS!!

Unknown said...

Your Mom sound like a wonderful Lady, I enjoyed hearing about her and your doggies. I have to say your box is WOW!! You did an awesome job my friend.

Hugs~

1CardCreator said...

This is a beautiful treasure box, so sweet that you were thinking of your treasured memories of your Mom while you made it. I am sure she would have been so proud of you and your talent. ~Diane

Meggymay said...

A beautiful altered box Terry. thanks for sharing the lovely memory of your trips with your mum.
Yvonne x

Anonymous said...

Terry
Your post is the second which has touched my heart this Saturday, the other being a post where an art friend shared a Mother's Day card yet her Mum died earlier this year.
Both of your posts have made me appreciate what I have all the more. Like yourself and your Mum, my Mum and I are also May Flowers and close with our birthdays, my Mum will be 80 on the 25th with me swiftly following on the 30th. At the time, my Mum was classed an older Mum as she was 34 when she had me.
I love the memory you shared of when you say the puppies for sale - dogs always tuck at my heartstrings!
Your parents would be brimming with pride at all you have achieved with your art.
This altered box is so heartfelt that it surely was bittersweet to create it.
Simply love all the details from the little May calendar piece of Tissue Tape to the T embellishment and so much more.
As a whole this project displays the never-ending love you have for your parents.
wishes
Lynne

Silvia(Barnie) said...

That's breathtaking.

Nikki Acton said...

Hi Terry. Finally had chance to look at your wonderful project in detail. It is fabulous. I love the way you have decorated it with such detail and precision, the picture wheel and pictures in the camera film. So much fine detail all making a beauty! Nikki xxx

Michele said...

wow this is so pretty! so many lovely parts to it and it is gorgeous. and so sweet about the puppies. take good care. xo

Sandra said...

What a wonderful fond memory! And the box has become one gorgeous memory box! Hugs, Sandra

Martina said...

Oh Terry, what a wonderful surprise for your dear Mum! Beautifully created! I'm excited!

Unknown said...

How beautifully made dear Terry... Oh, how your mum would have loved this... All these precious memories, something to be really cherished forever... Take care, hugs, Ira x
Ira’s Crea Corner

Karin said...

wow what a beautiful memory box!
Groetjes karin

Mrs.B said...

Hi Terry. A beautifully altered box with lots of beautiful details. A treasure of a place to keep photos and memories. Thanks for sharing you story of the shopping trip.
Avril xx

Brenda Brown said...

Terry this is the most wonderful nostalgic creation in which to keep those sentimental memories. I didn't know your mum was a Terry too, how lovely that you shared a name together and shopped together for your birthday presents. I adore the use of the picture wheel and the film strips, the gorgeous grunge flower in fact everything about your beautifully altered cigar box. Hugs xxx

barbarayaya62 said...

I'm very late, but here I am now to comment! A stunning work, great use of neutral colors and great details! Adorable both the outside and the inside! BArbarayaya

Barb Cady said...

This is a lovely challenge and your beautiful box has inspired me to use one I had stashed away for ages! It hasn't turned out as beautiful as your one though, it is awesome! Hugs Barb x

Becky said...

A beautiful box Terry and a lovely reminder of your Mum.
Becky x

Marjie Kemper said...

Inside and out = Beautiful!

Julia Aston said...

What a wonderful memory box Terry! love all the sweet details - I have to go back up and review it all again!

Hettie said...

This is gorgeous Terry. What a lovely tribute to your Mum. Love all the details.
Your Mum's birthday is the day before mine.
Those puppies look gorgeous.
Hugs
xx

Anwar Fazil said...
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