{Turtle Box + Moss Sheet = Spring}

I am so happy to have a new project to share with y'all!  I normally would have posted something Friday, but I was busy creating my project for round two of Creative Bloggers Got Talent.  Round two voting starts tomorrow.  The projects are anonymous, so I can't tell you which project is mine, but I hope you will take a moment to go vote for your favorite(s).   Anyway, back to this project!  My mom and dad gave me a box of Turtles for Valentine's Day--you know, the chocolate kind that is just to die for!  The box was really sturdy, and I hated to throw it away.  So I combined it and a sheet of moss from the dollar store (and a few other supplies) to create a piece of art in honor of spring.

As soon as I finished eating my yummy Turtles, I cleaned any chocolate crumbs from it and got out my $1 sheet of moss.

I painted the bottom of the box with gesso, a primer.  Then I coated the bottom and sides of the box with antique white paint.

After it dried, I rubbed my black and brown ink pads over the box.  Because I applied a thick coat of gesso to the box, there were brush strokes that were raised and attracted the ink, creating this neat wood-grain-looking effect.  When the outside of the box was to my liking, I covered it in a layer of Mod Podge to protect it.  Then it was time to decorate the inside.

I layered half circle book page cutouts on the inside of the box.  I coated the pages with a layer of Mod Podge, lightly inked them, and then coated them with another layer of Mod Podge.  I wanted spring or Easter decorations for the inside, so I used my Silhouette to cut a bunny pattern from card stock.

I used the card stock bunny as a template to cut a bunny out of the sheet of moss.  I attached a bit of lace to the bunny's neck with hot glue and attached the bunny to the box with more hot glue.

I further embellished the bunny with fabric and felt flowers and a button in pretty spring colors.  And since I believe that more is more, I wanted to add one more embellishment to the box.

I used my Silhouette to cut out a fancy label with the word spring on it.  I inked the edges of the label and put a piece of pattered scrapbook paper behind the cutout.  I embellished this with felt and flower roses as well.  Now I have a piece of art to welcome spring!

Since seasonal decor can only stay up for so long, I love that this project cost me next to nothing.  I only paid for the sheet of moss; I had the other supplies on hand.

The art has a vintage look because of the distressed box and the book pages.

It's just the touch of spring I was looking for.  :)