Jul 3, 2023

Fly Away Butterfly Box

 Hello friends. Today I am posting for the FunkieJunkie Boutique! Our DT challenge was to use your favorite Tim Holtz product. Soooo how do you choose? After giving it some thought, I decided to focus on my favorite inks. Yes I am a full set syndrome girl. Here is my rainbow Butterfly Box. Can't wait to display in my studio!

The video showing the process is HERE: 



Here is my distress ink collection in my happy place. Full set syndrome on full display!

Create the Base

Start with a Square vignette box. Decide is you want to embellish the inside or the outside. Use Picket Fence Distress Paint to soften the color on the box, adding water to dilute and cover. Set aside to dry.


You can see between the butterflies that the background has patterned paper and bright color specs on it. The patterned background is Collage Paper. I used an older black and white floral set from my very large stash TH93705 (Botanical Collage). Use collage medium to adhere the collage paper to the base. Ater drying, use THS 167 Brush Mark on the base. Angle the stencil and apply Collage Medium Texture Paste with a pallet knife. Do not smooth completely and allow some ridges and dips to show up. Allow to dry completely. Do not forget to clean the stencil off immediately! I have a "lasagne water bin" like Tim has and just dumped the stencil in there

Here is where the fun begins. I was so excited to receive the newest Distress Paints from the Vault! Clean and dry the stencil and lay over the dry Collage Medium. I taped the sides down with a low tack adhesive. 

Shake and add drops of paint one at a time in rainbow order on your glass mat. Dilute with a little water and start with purple in the lower right corner. Color a couple of the brush marks. Add the next rainbow color to the glass and mix a little in with the purple and paint the next couple of brush marks. Proceed in this fashion moving in rainbow order, painted the brush marks.

Set the base aside to dry.

Don't waste all those gorgeous paint drops. Spritz with water and dip into the color. Drag watercolor cardstock on the glass mat and add water to enhance wicking. You may be able to get a couple of prints before the paints turn to mud.

Create the Butterflies and Other Embellishments

Cut several butterflies from Distress Watercolor Paper using the Impresslit Butterfly (no longer available). This is where the fun begins!

Choose a color family and squish the ink pads on your craft mat. Spritz with water and smoosh a butterfly in the mix dipping, drying and dipping again until you are happy with the color.


Before cleaning your mat, grab a piece of watercolor paper and do the same thing as above creating another distress piece to use in makes.

Repeat for all the butterflies. I made seven total.

Once dry, add drps of Sterling Foundry wax and rub onto the embossed areas of the butterflies. You will need to refresh the drops often as it dries pretty quickly. I use my fingers. You could use a glove if you wish.  Use your heat tool to brighten the wax. What a cool look.


Last up is the butterfly bodies. I decided they needed some texture, so I cut with black woodgrain cardstock. Trim the body section - I found it easier to trim from the backside. Use Collage Medium to attach to the butterflies and allow to dry.

Select two quotes and use Embossing Glaze to add color. I used Quote Chip Label and Theories for mine.

Recipes for the colors:
Pink - Picked Raspberry, Kitch Flamingo, Worn Lipstick
Orange - Crackin Campfire, Carved Pumpkin
Yellow- Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed
Green- Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Bundled Sage\
Teal- Salvaged Patina, Peacock Feathers
Blue - Prize Ribbon, Faded Jeans, Uncharted Mariner
Purple - Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion, Wilted Lilac

Assemble the Project

Whew now for the fun part. Let's put this box together! Decide how you want to arrange the butterflies. I love purple, so I decided to let the purple butterfly rest on the lip of the box.  Before you glue them in place, use a pencil, pin or another round object to shape the wings. It adds so much dimension!


I elected to use a hot glue gun as I knew this would become a permanent display piece. Staring with pink in the lower right corner, tuck it right into the corner at an angle. Add the remaining butterflies in rainbow order, moving towards the top left corner of the box. Add the purple butterfly to the top left lip of the box as if he is escaping!


Add the quote chips at the top right and lower left.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I'd love to have you follow/subscribe on my social media sites Instagram, Facebook, Blogger and YouTube.  Be well. Be creative!

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