Sunday 7 March 2021

Entomology Box


     John Next Door has some new dies out this weekend, this project is made with the Deco Butterfly collection. I am fascinated by these insect displays but don't like the idea of harming anything for the sake of art, so why not make it with paper.
     The large rectangular die has no outer cutting edge so it can be used to make a window, as luck would have it I already had a die for a shallow box that was just the right size. It's easy enough to make a box but using a ready made die is so much faster.
     The box was cut from dark brown pearl card, there is also a stand on the back cut from the same brown card. Each butterfly has a solid die cut gold shape stuck underneath to accent them.
     Adding the acetate to the inside of the lid proved interesting, I had to use very narrow redline tape on the 'bars' of the design to stop them bowing.
     
     The inside of the box was too dark without a backing paper, so I used a digi paper and printed it to be very pale, just enough to give a hint of a pattern.
     I cut three of the filigree butterflies in brown card and the three corresponding solids from ombre paper. Each butterfly has a stamen folded in half and stuck to the back to create the antenna. These insects were then added to the backing paper on thin foam tape, making sure they would appear in the centre window of the lid.
     For the added information about the butterflies I used a small ticket die, each one cut in kraft card and edged with brown ink to age it.
     The words on the tickets are from a script stamp in my stash, it's an acrylic stamp so I was able to ink just the word I wanted and carefully bend the stamp so only that word was in contact with the card.     
     The foliage is die cut using some of John's past dies, shaped and coloured before being added to the tickets. The other items are whole cloves, which give the box a great aroma, and two chopped down cotton buds to look like chrysalis.
     There is a ticket just below the largest butterfly with a greeting stamped on it. This was partly because the wording was right and partly because the script matched the other tickets.
     All the tickets were mounted on foam tape to give them a little lift inside the box.
     I now plan to trawl through my stash and find any insect stamps and dies I have, then I will make a larger project including a variety of bugs because I enjoyed making this one so much.
     These boxes appeal to both sexes, by changing the colours it can be tailored to suit it's recipient, imagine a box full of beetles for a young boy.


Materials used 
JND210 - Butterfly collection Dec Frame die
JND211 - Butterfly collection Deco Butterflies dies
JND120 - Foil Rose Leaves dies
JNDAD016 - Elderflower dies
S57320 - Thick Acetate
S57262 - 3D PVA glue
   Other items from stash


I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:
The Male Room - #148 Not A Card
Creative Uncles - #14 Wildlife
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything With a Critter
Day Of The Month Card Club - #25 Learn About Butterflies
Crafty Catz - #541 Anything Goes/ Dies or Punch
Mod Squad - Beautiful Butterflies

12 comments:

  1. How FABULOUS! I love your idea of making an insect display box, only using paper instead of the real thing. I would have to agree with you, don't like the idea of killing bugs just to look at them. Your design is perfect, and so creative. Great take on the challenge, thank you so much for participating with us over at the Mod Squad!!
    Judy~ Mod Squad Challenge Designer
    {Judy's Happy Place} Stop by and see me!!!


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  2. A fabulous project, I would much rather look at your beautiful paper butterflies in a case than real ones! Thank you for joining us at Crafty Catz this week.
    xx

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  3. Hi Rocky this is a stunning project. John liked it so much he had a go at making one. Enjoy the rest of the day. Take care. Hugs Jackie

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  4. What a clever idea! And how lucky to have the right shaped box die. The window looks fabulous adorned with butterflies and a peek inside to see the lovely ombré ones too. Thanks for playing along with The Male Room. X

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  5. This is so cool! It takes me back to when I was in school and had to do an insect box. Yours is much prettier! Thanks for sharing with us at 2CCC, and good luck! :)

    ~Marie B -DT

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  6. Fantastic project! You thought of everything, including the inscriptions, the sensors, the look of the antique window !!!!! Thanks for playing at TMR

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  7. WOW, fantastic project ! Thanks for playing with us at The Male Room Challenge.
    Goga

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  8. Wonderful creation. Love your butterflies!
    Thanks for playing along with us at our present challenge at Creative Crafting Uncles and good luck. Hope you will join us next challenge again.

    Crafty greetings
    Alex

    *Owner* Creative Crafting Uncles
    *DT + Admin* Do-Al(l) Kreatives
    *DT* Kreativ-Tanten Challenge
    Alex' Kreative Seite

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  9. This is an amazing project and beautifully made and your butterflies are gorgeous. Thank you so much for joining us in our challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies this week. Good Luck and I’m looking forward to seeing you again in our next challenge.
    Faith A DT

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  10. WOW!!! What a fabulous and brilliant idea!!! Absolutely love this great display case and the beautiful Butterfly collection you made. A really really fantastic project!!! Thank you so much for playing along at DotMCC. Rosi x

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  11. What a beautiful project you made :-)) I like all embelishments you use! Great job!
    Thanks for joining us at The Male Room ❤️

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  12. What a great idea and a great piece of home decor too.

    Thanks for sharing it with us at The Male Room Challenge.

    Helen x

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