A Vintage Journey - July 2015 Challenge - Destinations

It's time for another inspiring challenge from A Vintage Journey -  Jenny is our hostess this month and her challenge to us is Destinations: in Jenny's words -  "We would love to see creations based on a destination or place of your choice. Tim has provided stamps themed around the United States, Great Britain and Paris but don't let this restrict you! Let your favourite destination inspire you."

I went a bit off the path of the challenge description - choosing to make a Train Case that I would use going to my destination, wherever that may be! 

The Train Case die is Eileen Hull/Sizzix and I am IN LOVE with it!!

I have quite a few photos to show how I created this.   

I die cut the pieces out of white Little Sizzles Mat Board  from Sizzix and assembled the bottom and top.  Then I cut the pieces again out of a piece of patterned paper from Paper Stash/Crowded Attic to use on the sides.  I trimmed off all the edges that would be folded over to make the box so they all became rectangles. ( I could have just measured the sides and cut pieces to fit, but thought this would be easier!)

 I stenciled all the patterned paper pieces using the Crackle Stencil and Vintage Photo Ink.

 Then I used the same stencil and went over each piece again using Wendy Vecchi Translucent Embossing Paste. (you don't have to match it up to the inked pattern)

 I put all the pieces on top of a pizza box I keep in my craft room for spraying etc - because if I put the pieces on my work table to dry  - I invariably put something else on top of them and ruin it!  The paste turns translucent when dry - and it feels just like an alligator or snake skin purse - very leathery - so cool!

 I die cut the plane from Movers and Shapers Small Cloud and Plane out of the matboard and embossed it with Pumice Stone Distress Embossing Powder.

I mixed Pumice Stone and Vintage Photo Distress Embossing powders together to emboss the handle and hinges for the Train Case - the mix gives the pieces a nice slightly rusted metal look!  I used Wendy Vecchi Archival Watering Can ink instead of Versamark to ink the pieces - it stays wet enough to hold the embossing powder and gives a black background for spots the powder doesn't adhere to.

I painted the edges of both the inside and the outside of the Train Case with Walnut Stain Distress Paint.

I lined the bottom and inside cover with paper from Crowded Attic and pierced the holes for the hinges and front lock piece.

I made straps for the case using Idea-ology Trimmings Black/Cream and Buckles -  I added glue to the ends to help prevent fraying.  Here you also see the embossed plane with an added Remnant Rub (embrace the journey).

To cover the ends of the Long Fasteners used to attach the hinges - I put some Commute Tissue Tape around the inside edges.

I colored some Mirrored Stars with Adirondack Butterscotch Alcohol Ink to use on the top of the case.  I just dropped a few drops onto each star and blew on them a bit to dry them.

I also added a Word Band (enjoy the journey) that I embossed with my mix of Pumice Stone and Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powders and a Remnant Rub (own your dreams).

I realized after I put the hinges on that I really  needed to cover all the edges with something - as the paper was a little uneven  here and there - so I found some really thin black tape (from my father's art supplies) that worked perfectly - it would  have been easier to put this all on before I added the hinges and lock piece - next time I'll know better! (the color looks kind of orangey in this photo as I took the pic on my work table at night)

So - from here I started adding a lot of Remnant Rubs on all sides.  They are from Special Delivery, Words, Botanicals and Elements.  The straps are not attached to the Train Case - they just slip right off to open the case (or unbuckle!)

I added a Photobooth photo to the inside cover along with another Remnant Rub/Special Delivery.

So now - whenever I choose my Destination -  I am ready to travel!  

My Train Case measures approx. 4 1/2" wide x 3 5/8" tall x 2 1/2" deep.

Our challenge is a monthly one and a randomly chosen winner will receive a £20 gift voucher from our very generous sponsor, Country View Crafts. We will have our Pinworthy blog badges awarded to the Top 3, who will be chosen by the Creative Guides.  Don't forget that we are a Tim Holtz inspired challenge but you do not have to use his products, just let us know how you have been inspired by one of his techniques or colors.

I hope you'll join us this month -  you'll find all the details - more inspiring projects from the other Creative Guides and Mr. Linky -  over at A Vintage Journey.