The Queen's Court

My Favorite Brand

As a self proclaimed paperholic I do confess to having a favorite paper line/brand.  Every since I  discovered Graphic 45 and created my first successful project with their Christmas Past line, I've been hooked.  I am happy and fortunate to have designed so many great projects with their paper and loved every bit of it. However, with all the other things I've been doing I'm a little behind in the current paper lines.  My latest creation is this altered tool box using the French Country line.  The antique tool box is one I scrounged from my dad's workshop,.  It has been around for as long as I can remember and truly think it might have been 'acquired' by my granddad making it well over 60 years old.

I started the process by coating the wooden box with black paint.  A layer of white glue and antique white created the crackled look I wanted.  I turned the 14x18" box 90 degrees and decided to treat each of the compartments differently to create various vignettes.
Continuing with the antique theme, I used many pieces  that dad had saved, old, painted and crackled pieces of hardware.  Adding to the old, of course, is some new.  Keeping with the French Country theme, the bins are embellished with chickens, eggs and plenty of French ephemera, paper, bottles and labels.
Oddly enough, on closer examination, I found a metal number 45 on the bin. Seems like this was a predestined match.
I have had fun creating many project utilizing Graphic 45 papers.  Many of them can be seen on my Pinterest site.  Please visit.