An Up-cycled Puzzle Box Art Canvas

 Happy Weekend!

I am am super excited to share this little project with you today. Super excited. (Cheesy grin) I have another canvas to show you made from something that would have otherwise ended up in our recycle bin. In the past I have transformed shoes boxes into pieces of art to hang on our walls, but today I used an old dollar store puzzle box. Yipppeee! Since everything in the store cost a buck this little bit of happiness was practically free. I don't know about you, BUT I love finding good deals on home decor and this is a steal. It is so super easy!  Even if you have never painted before - you can do this!

So let's get started...

Wait. Hold on. Before I start...I was a bit confused about Recycling vs. Up-cycling. The concept of up-cycling is not a new one, but the term is. Now I am NO expert but basically up-cycling is taking something headed for some land fill and creating something with equal or greater value/purpose. For example; glass bottles into a chandelier, cheese grater into earring holder (seriously), old tires into planters, etc. You get the picture. Recycling is when an item is taken and through chemical process changed back into it's initial form or something with sometimes lesser value. For example; plastics into sleeping bag filling, cardboard boxes into recycled paper, aluminum cans into new cans, etc. See the slight difference. Like I mentioned, "up-cycling" is a fairly new term. But artists, renovators, and crafters have been doing it 

for a long time!

OK. Now, let's get started! :)

First, find any box you want to save from the recycle bin.

 Use old book pages to cover the surface.

Glue down the pages using matte medium or Mod Podge. I used Mod Podge for this one. To avoid bubbles try using an old credit card or something flat to burnish it to the surface. The paper not only creates fab texture for the background, but it also reinforcing the box to make it more sturdy. It did come from a dollar store...so it's not the strongest. :)

Don't forget the edges!

 

Here it is just waiting for some gesso.

I covered the surface with Liquitex gesso. I put down a pretty think layer in places so I could doodle and mark into it. I love the added texture that it creates.

 

Now, choose a color palette. Hmmmm, I think I see some turquoise. Lol. It is still my absolute favorite. 

Add some color using your fingers and an occasional paintbrush. :) I can't tell you how much I love painting with my fingers. The placement of the color can be so random and plus it is just way too much fun! Welcome back to Kindergarten. 

I painted some butterfly chipboard pieces I had in my stash using a contrasting color to make them pop. After they dried, I attached them using some foam adhesive squares from Recollections. I knew I wanted some dimension and these worked perfectly. 

I doodled some more with a white Gelly Roll and added some white rub-ons.

There you have it! 

I love how this little puzzle box turned out. It will look perfect on my wall and I can't beat the one dollar price tag. So, the next time you are about to throw something out...take a second look at it. Maybe it is just waiting to be turned into something fabulous! :)

Linking up with Paint Party Friday and Studio JRU.