Altered Art-Memory Box

Every since I saw Lisa V (aka Lvalent3) do a gorgeous altered shelf,  I made a promise that I would do an altered project this year. I finally decided on a keepsake box of my Granny, who meant the world to me and passed away last summer. I included lot's of butterflies and the color green, because they were her favorites.

I started with a paper mache box I found at a local craft store (on sale of course). I first painted the whole outside and inside of the box with a creamy gold acrylic paint. I stamped the bottom part of the box using a Prima stamp and Tim Holtz Vintage Distress Ink. Next I painted the top part of the box with Tim Holtz Crackle Antique Linen Paint-heated it up with a heat gun to get those deep distressed crackles that I love, then went over it with Tim Holtz Rusy Hinge Distress Ink. I cut some Glitz PP to fit the top of the box, deep distressed it with my Zutter and inked it with the TH Vintage Photo Ink. The next layer was some layering paper made by Glitz that I cut to size distress, inked and machine sewed. I then cut one of my favorite photos of my Granny into an oval distressed and inked the edges and positioned it on the layering paper.

I created a bow using one of Lisa G's (starsailor's) incredible techniques of dying seam binding, and then placing a Bo Bunny Gabrielle cameo onto the center. I then gussied up a piece of Dusty Attic with some T.A. Glitter Glam, made a flower layer using it, along with the bow and some Petaloo Flowers.

I rubbed some glitter butterfly rubons onto cardstock cut them out, applied Stickles and some bling and for the large butterfly, made a butterfly trail from a piece of leftover Prima Pearls Swirl.

I cut out some journaling that I printed onto cardstock, distressed and inked. The journaling reads:
"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly."

On the inside I printed out a poem I had given to my Granny for her birthday that year, and that she had requested that I read at her funeral. The following are the words:

I Want To Be Like Her
To My Grandmother
Love, Renea  

The world they may not think so, but to me she is a queen
Whether in her youth or old age, true beauty through her I have seen
I hear her talk of her Jesus with such love in her voice
Between the things of this world and His ways, she has made her choice

She does not wear her faith around her neck like a talisman
Instead she covers her life in the blood of the Lamb, according to His plan
Oh, I want a heart like hers where love it has no bounds
One that beats for joy over the relationship with her Jesus she has found

The world, it may not think so, but to me she is the greatest soldier on Earth
Whether in her youth or old age, through her true strength I have observed
She has known some hard times, some so tough others would have given up
But she knew for her character to grow she must take from Him her cup

No, she is not perfect, not without sin
But she knows that face down on the floor is where true forgiveness begins
Oh, I want to have strength like hers that doesn’t come from muscle or bone
The kind that comes from the knowledge, that through surrender she will find her way home

The world it may not think so, but to me she is a star
Whether in her youth or old age, no truer faith have I seen so far
She has known great sorrow more than some could bear
But she knew that help would come, when before her King she went on her knees in prayer

Even when things did not go her way and life seemed so unfair
She would just bow her head and turn her troubles over to her Savior’s care
Oh, I want a faith like hers that radiates through her life
The kind that comes from knowing that she has a Savior who shelters her,
no matter what her strife

I distressed the edges and inked them, stamped with some Prima Clear Stamps and T.H. Vintage Photo ink-added some bling. I popped on some flowers for color and stamped to accent them.

For the bottom of the inside, I printed out my Granny's obituary onto cardstock, distressed and inked the edges and then stamped the corners and added bling. For the final step I painted some T.H. Foundations Metal Feet with T.A. Glitter Glam and glued them to the bottom corners.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my first attempt at altering. I think it turned out to be a beautiful tribute to my Granny. I really enjoyed creating something different, and I urge each of you to do the same!  ~Renea