Spring is a Butterflies First Love – Altered Matchbox

match up logo for Canvas Corp Brands and The Crafter's Workshop

I am so excited to share this “mini” mixed media project! I created it using a brand new TCW stencil, new TCW paints along with some new fabulous products from Canvas Corp. Brands! There is also details on a giveaway at the end of my post so be sure to check it out and enter for a chance to win!!

So lets get to it! I have been wanting to do an altered “mini” match box for so long and when I was sorting through all of my supplies and I ran across spring flowers, shimmering glimmer mist paints and the texture of red burlap and canvas I knew it was time!!!

First up, below are the amazing supplies I used! I took pictures of each group so you can see everything before I started to paint, cut, layer, glue and create! 😉

I love these Canvas Corp. Brands papers! Using black and red together creates such a nice high contrast look plus I love that you can add our own color to the black and white images! For this project I used the following Canvas Corp. Brands supplies:
Red & Ivory Mini Dot Reverse CCP2638
Spring Flowers Reverse on Ivory CCP2961
Black and Ivory Plaid CCP2945
Natural Stretched Canvas
Natural Red Burlap
Glimmer Glam – Tanzanite
Glimmer Mist – Blue Bubbles
Glimmer Mist – Vancouver

I am also in love with The Crafters Workshop new heavy body paints and stencils! You can see my paint color selection for this project above. TCW has a whole new range of paints and mixed media supplies that are so versatile! I had a hard time choosing the stencil I wanted to use for this project because there were so many amazing options! I decided on TCW673 Geo Landscape by Carmen Medlin because it gave me the perfect balance between image and texture. I love that you can get 2 looks out of this stencil as well!

Bits and pieces from my creative stash!

Bits and pieces from my creative stash!

Above you can see the extra supplies I used from my stash. I collect vintage photos and other ephemera and I love to use them for mixed media. I also save scraps of paper from other projects and this slice of 140 lb watercolor paper is perfect for a little accordion book for my matchbox. I also have tons of bits and scraps of torn and painted paper so I grabbed some in case I wanted a little added color or texture.

To start this project I used my color printer to photocopy and reduce my vintage photo down to a match box size. This was a 40% reduction from a 5×7 to get it to fit the way I wanted in this project. I made 2 copies one in card stock and one on copy paper.

Vintage Image Reduced by 40% to fit on my Match Box

Vintage Image Reduced by 40% to fit on my Match Box

Next I applied TCW White Gesso to the match box. It took about 2 coats to cover the whole box inside and out.

2 Coats of TCW White Gesso

2 Coats of TCW White Gesso

I let the gesso dry between each coat this not only gives me a great white surface that can take mediums more easily it also strengthens the box a bit for gluing and drawing on.

TCW White Gesso gives me a great white base and helps to make my box a bit stronger.

TCW White Gesso gives me a great white base and helps to make my box a bit stronger.

Next I used the extra scrap of watercolor paper to make a mini accordion book. I measured the inside of the box height and width and then used my mini metal ruler and my X-acto to cut my little book and to score and fold the pages.

Measured, Cut and Folded little pages

Measured, Cut and Folded little pages

Next I used the Glimmer Mist – Blue Bubbles and Glimmer Mist – Vancouver to spray a layer of shimmy goodness on my matchbox and mini book.

Tattered Angels Shimmer Mist Spray

Tattered Angels Shimmer Mist Spray

While I waited for the glimmer mist to dry I used a combo of scissors and an X-acto knife to cut out my little images. I also cut out a few little bees, a flower and a butterfly from the Spring Flowers Reverse on Ivory CCP2961 sheet and then I used the wings from one of the extra bees for the little boy I cut from my second mini vintage family image.

Getting my little family images cut and ready to go

Getting my little family images cut and ready to go.

Next I added a touch of TCW Raspberry Sorbet paint to my book and then I used the TCW673 Geo Landscape by Carmen Medlin, a ballpoint pen and a Tri-Tone colored pencil to stencil on some background texture to my accordion book.

Stencil textured background

Stencil textured background

Next I added a layer of gesso with a small brayer to add texture and to push the color and stenciled lines back a bit. This adds depth and interest to the book.

A Layer of Gesso

A Layer of Gesso

I then added some muted pink ink and a layer of Glimmer Glam – Tanzanite paint. I loved the added pieces of glitter in this paint plus it dried quickly and with a beautiful shine!

Tattered Angels Glitter Glam Paint

Tattered Angels Glitter Glam Paint

Next I added another layer of gesso and some bits of coffee dyed paper to mimmic the vintage look of the photos. While I waited for everything to dryI  cut some hearts from the Natural Stretched Canvas and the Natural Red Burlap plus a few hearts from scraps of pink and red paper.

A Layer of ephemera

A Layer of ephemera

Another layer of Glimmer Mist – Vancouver went down next to add a little bit more shimmer.

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and Gesso

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and Gesso

Once the mist dried I watered down a bit of Lemon Custard paint and painted it across the match box cover and across the accordion book to add brightness and unity to the piece. I also collected all of my bits and pieces so I could start assembling my project into a finished piece. You can see each of the papers I used below Red & Ivory Mini Dot Reverse CCP2638Spring Flowers Reverse on Ivory CCP2961 and Black and Ivory Plaid CCP2945. I also pulled an old calendar that I cut from a day planner from 1949.

Bits and Pieces plus some Lemon Custard Acrylic Paint

Bits and Pieces plus some Lemon Custard Acrylic Paint

I glued a strip of Black and Ivory Plaid CCP2945 to the front of my Match Box and then used a ballpoint pen to hand draw out the lines from the paper to the edge of the matchbox. This adds interest and a little whimsy to the background of my cover.

Match Box Cover

Match Box Cover

I glued down my tiny vintage family and used a bit of watered down TCW Raspberry Sorbet and Lemon Custard to paint some color highlights on the flower, you see below and to add color to the butterfly wings that I glued on to the mother in the image. I added a bit of Glimmer Glam to her wings as well for some extra contrast and glitter! I also used Beacon 3 in 1 Advanced Graft Glue to assemble the burlap and canvas and to glue on the flower and butterfly wings. I found some words (Butterfly Love) that I thought were perfect for the cover of my matchbox story.

Images with a touch of paint.

Images with a touch of paint.

I then glued down all of my bits and pieces across my accordion book and I used a vintage book to find the words for the inside of my little story.

I love found word stories there is always a bit of mystery in how your story comes together because you never know what you will find!

Laying images and text into my little book.

Laying images and text into my little book.

Once everything dried I carefully folded up my book and inserted it into my box and closed everything up. Below you can see a closed picture, the box open with the book cover peeking out plus a final picture with the book pulled out plus a little extra bonus love inside the bottom on the matchbox. 😉

Finished Piece Outside

Finished Piece Outside

Open box below. I used the Beacon Advanced Craft Glue to adhere the canvas and burlap heart to my little book cover.

Little book inside my altered matchbox.

Little book inside my altered matchbox.

My finished book is below! Here is the full story:

Butterfly Love – Love is BEE-utiful
She kissed me, the March evening sparkled, and I grew wings!
Wishes come true!

Full Completed Altered Matchbox!

Finished Altered Matchbox Story by Tori Weyers!

This mini matchbox project was so much fun! I would love to see your matchbox or any mini projects you create so be sure to share your creations or thoughts on The Crafter’s Workshop Facebook page or by tagging The Crafter’s Workshop on InstagramTwitter or Pinterest! Also tag me @Drawriot if you share your creations on Instagram!

This project was a super fun match up and a match up isn’t complete without a GIVEAWAY! See below for all the details!

Over $50 worth of CCB and TCW goodies to one lucky winner.
What would a match up be without a fun prize!!!! Here is your chance to get your hands on a wonderful collection of products from The Crafter’s Workshop and Canvas Corp Brands. Here is all you need to do….

1. leave a comment here on any or all of the Match Up Posts during the month of February with The Crafter’s Workshop and CCB. You can leave one on each post for more chances to win. Don’t forget to include #tcwccbmatchup so we can find you!!!

2. and/or leave a comment on the TCW Facebook page and the CCB Facebook page. Don’t forget to include #tcwccbmatchup so we can find you!!!

3. and/or leave a comment on any of the TCW Instragrms posts and the CCB Instagram posts where you see any of the projects from the CCB team or the TCW team. Don’t forget to include #tcwccbmatchup so we can find you!!!
You can follow along by searching #tcwccbmatchup too. If you love what you see and would like to join our Facebook group the CCB Collective – ask to join today.
match up logo for Canvas Corp Brands and The Crafter's Workshop

Until next time, keep creating! ?

The Crafter’s Workshop provided me with some product to create this project. This post also contains affiliate links. The opinions I share are solely my own.

Tori Weyers
The Crafter’s Workshop Design Team Member

12 thoughts on “Spring is a Butterflies First Love – Altered Matchbox

  1. Wow…this is an amazing matchbox project. I love using these little boxes to make art. I think I’ll try something like this later today! Thanks for sharing.

  2. Oh my goodness! This tiny mm matchbox is a dream!!! I can’t stop gazing upon each and every fabulous detail! It’s SO super creative and I am super inspired by it!! I’ve never tried the TCW acrylic paints but I sure do want to get my hands on them now!! Thanks for more awesomeness!! #tcwccbmatchup

  3. Wow I’m impressed! Such great attention to detail in such a cute tiny project! Adorable, love it!! #tcwccbmatchup

  4. I love upcycling matchboxes – so many adorable mini things you can add to them. This one is spectacular – I’m going to steal some of your techniques! #tcwccbmatchup

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