Autumn Treasure Box

Autumn Treasure Box
By Judi Kauffman

I thought it would be fun to create an Autumn Treasure Box to hold a few acorns and some interesting seed pods. I think I’ll keep going and make a box for each season. It’s a good way to use all of the dies in the Four Seasons set. I can decorate Winter with snowflakes, Spring with flowers, and Summer with seashells.

I chose a 6-sided box measuring 3.5” across. I knew this would mean I’d have to angle the word Autumn and crop off the flourishes at both ends to make it fit but it’s a look that I love! If you don’t want to crop the die cut word you’ll need a box measuring at least 5” long. Any sturdy box with a lid will do.

Instructions

1. Paint the exterior and interior of the box with acrylic paints. Use a flat color that coordinates with the palette you’ve picked or sponge on and mix several colors for a mottled effect as shown. Option: Paint the interior only; cover the sides of the box and sides of the lid with patterned paper.

2. Die cut the word Autumn twice – once from adhesive-backed cork and once from Black Velvet Adhesive Sheet.

3. Alter a piece of White Iridescent Shimmer Sheetz with Alcohol Inks in fall colors as well as touches of Metallic Gold Mixatives.

4. Die cut 8 or more leaves from the ink-altered Shimmer Sheetz. The number of leaves needed depends on which leaf die(s) you pick as well as the size and shape of the box you’ve selected. There are many different leaf dies available from Elizabeth Craft Designs. I used oak leaves from the Pumpkin die set (#764). Reminder: You MUST use a metal adaptor plate inside your machine’s standard cutting plate ‘sandwich’ when die cutting Shimmer Sheetz. (Or use a Sizzix Big Shot with the Precision Base Plate.) Review the video tutorial if you are new to this technique.

5. Cover the top of the lid with Clear Double Sided Adhesive Sheet. IMPORTANT: Use the release sheet from the adhesive when handling the lid in the remaining steps so you won’t touch the exposed adhesive with your fingers!

6. Position the Black Velvet die cut Autumn at an angle on the adhesive. Add the adhesive-backed cork die cut Autumn at the same angle, offset over the black die cut to create the drop shadow effect. Trim away the ends of the word that extend past the lid if needed. (No trimming needed on larger boxes.)

7. Add all but one of the leaves. Press firmly into position. Trim away any part of the leaves that extends past the lid.

8. Working over a tray or the lid of a large box, pour Berry Nice Prills onto the lid and rub them onto the exposed adhesive. Use the tip of a pin to remove any Prills that are temporarily stuck to the word Autumn. Pour excess Prills back into the jar. Option: For added durability, coat the lid with one or more coats of a spray-on matte finish sealant. Dry between coats and after final coat.

9. For the finishing touch, position the last leaf over the flourish below the word Autumn using a sliver of a Tombow Power Adhesive Tab to hold it in place and add dimension.

Options

Customize your treasure box by changing some or all of the colors. Choose different paints, Alcohol Inks, Prills, Velvet Adhesive Sheets. Instead of cork, use Through the Lens patterned cardstock.

Die cut acorns instead of leaves.

Instead of Prills, surround the die cut leaves and layered words with Silk Microfine Glitter. Use a fingertip to polish the glitter into the surface of the exposed adhesive to ensure maximum sparkle.

Instead of covering the lid with adhesive, simply adhere the die cut word and leaves onto the painted surface.

Supplies

Elizabeth Craft Designs –

A Way With Words Four Seasons die set
Els van de Burgt studio Pumpkin die set (2 oak leaves)
Clear Double Sided Adhesive Sheet
Shimmer Sheetz in White Iridescent
Prills in Berry Nice (from Secret Garden set)

Other –

Metal adaptor plate
Alcohol Inks in fall colors (Ranger)
Metallic Mixatives in Gold (Ranger)
Ink applicator tool
Small box with lid (6-sided or other shape of choice)
Acrylic paints in fall colors (DecoArt Americana); Paintbrush

Tombow Power Adhesive Tabs