Craft Warehouse: Tim Holtz Configurations with K&Co

I just can't get enough of K and Company's Flora Fauna!  I have what I call a birds and nest fetish.  My home is decorated here and there with them.  This line is filled with things I adore.  Vintage, eggs, birds, butterflies, newsprint, a natural botanical look...

Birds and Butterflies Shadow Box by Rebecca Grinder

Tim's configuration boxes come with endless possibilities.  So, this challenge spurred my imagination in so many directions!  I had to tame my ideas to a handful of techniques so the project wouldn't look wild!  I painted my configuration black.  Once dry I added Ranger's Rock Candy and then filled the cracks with some silver paint in spots.

The chipboard letters and elements are classy and the chipboard butterfly bent perfectly.  I added a bit of Stickles for some shimmer and shine.  I loved the typewriter key stickers.  The one above says "Wonder".

 

I tied some broken twigs together with some twine and broke off one of K&Co's straight pins for the decorative tip.  It was easy to use wire to help steady my bird exactly where I wanted him.

 

One of my favorite techniques I wanted to accomplish in my design was to create a variety of layers.  Each of my configuration boxes has different depths.  The above box is layers of chipboard and cardboard almost an inch thick.  Using my craft knife, I created a shadow box.  The plastic packaging from K&Co's chipboard letters worked perfectly for the acetate to hold my pinned butterfly and glitter.  I had so many layers of cardboard, I needed a hammer to put my pins in place! 

I separated a typewriter key epoxy sticker to set a picture of my husband and I, taken on our honeymoon, under the layers of the sticker. 

I wanted the butterflies to look like they were in flight so I have each one attached to some coiled wire.  I coated each sticker with some Glossy Accents so they would be easier to dust and stay clean.

 

I used packaging foam for some of my boxes and layers.  I found the foam used for packaging brads worked the best.  I coated the foam using an Embellishment Glue Stick and covered it with paper.

I wrapped some twine around a chipboard letter "H" and layered some buttons together with wire.  I filled the boxes with some things around the house like a clothespin, thimble, a teabag, a paper measuring tape, buttons...

My favorite part of this challenge was creating a drawer using cardboard.  I decoupaged pieces of a paper bag to the cardboard to help keep the drawer stay firm.  Then, once dry and painted black, I covered the outside of the drawer with patterned paper.  I let some K&Co fabric flowers flow out of the box along with a feather.

This project was one of my favorites and can be seen in person displayed at the Salem Craft Warehouse.  Be sure to check out all of the Design Team's spin on this assignment by going to their galleries here!  Check them out!