Thursday, January 29, 2015

Alice in Wonderland ATB

If you are a fan of Alice in Wonderland, I think this project is going to be your cup of tea! I created a whimsical Artist Trading Block tower using the fabulous Artistic Outpost stamp set Wonderland Collage. This is also a project for the ongoing Compendium of Curiosities 3 challenges over at the Studio L3 blog. On page 40 of Tim Holtz's book A Compendium of Curiosities Vol. 3 he outlines the Distress Watercoloring technique that is the focus of Challenge 20. Now, let's get on with the photos! (Lots of them! You have been warned. ;-) )

Lisa Hoel - Artistic Outpost Alice in Wonderland Collage ATB
side 1

Lisa Hoel - Artistic Outpost Alice in Wonderland Collage ATB
side 2 (more details on inset shadowbox later)
On the table is the mysterious potion Alice drank to get herself small enough to get through the tiny door into Wonderland. If only she hadn't left the key on the table before she drank it!

Lisa Hoel - Artistic Outpost Alice in Wonderland Collage ATB
side 3

Lisa Hoel - Artistic Outpost Alice in Wonderland Collage ATB
side 4
The playing card here is actually a scan of a real card printed out in black and white on cardstock. I then used the watercoloring technique to add color back in. I tried using a real card but it just looked too "slick" and didn't match the feel of the rest of the project. Also, by happy coincidence, the clock face stamp from the AO set fits the pocketwatch die perfectly!

Top detail:

Lisa Hoel - Artistic Outpost Alice in Wonderland Collage ATB

I wanted to pick things that were symbolic of the stories to put on the top. I had everything in my stash! On the other side is a chess piece and a crown.

Lisa Hoel - Artistic Outpost Alice in Wonderland Collage ATB

To make the garden in the top cube, I carefully cut out the sides of the flat panels with a craft knife. I had to be very careful when assembling the cube so I didn't bend the thin side pieces. I really wanted Alice talking to the caterpillar in there so I scanned the original illustration from my book and sized it to fit the space. I then flipped a copy of it so I would have a mirror image. That way I could glue the printouts back to back and then fussy cut it out. I'm glad I have a light table! It was tricky lining them up.

You might be wondering how I made the shadowbox in side 2. It is really easy! I used a rectangle die from the Movers & Shapers Rectangle set to cut a window in the cube. The shadowbox is cut using the Matchbox die. It makes it really easy to assemble. I glued the box behind the window cut out. Details (pardon the photo quality please ack!):

Matchbox glued to the back of the cube panel

It fits just right!

Thanks for sticking with me this far! I encourage you to check out The Artists on the Block for more ATB inspiration. Also be sure to go take a look at the Studio L3 blog - there is a ton of inspiration there too! And thanks to The Funkie Junkie Boutique for sponsoring Challenge #20!

For yet MORE inspiration, head on over to the Mixed Media Monthly "New to You Challenge". I'm entering this in the challenge because I used my brand spanking new Wonderland Collage stamp set all over this project. =)

Hold the phone, there is more fun to be had! The Artistic Outpost blog is also having a Show Us Your AO Art challenge. Good thing this project is covered in AO stamps lol.

Most of the supplies I used for this ATB can be found at Inspiration Emporium. Follow the links below and use my code JUICE to save 10% if you go shopping. I will also point out that US shipping is always $5 and international shipping is just $10. ;-)



24 comments:

  1. This is so fabulous Lisa, so many wonderful details. I love it!

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  2. Super project! Beautifully made, fabulous water colouring ! X

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  3. Lisa, I LOVE Alice in Wonderland and I think this has to be one of my most favourite ATBs ever! I love that it tells a story, the shadow box element is fantastic and I just love all of the elements on top of and under the table. Fabulous work! Anne xx

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  4. Lisa, your ATBs are awesome! Thanks for sharing this gorgeous project with us at CC3C!

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  5. Gorgeous ATB Lisa, love the Alison in Wonderland theme and the shadow box element too. Gorgeous. Tracy x x

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  6. I can see so much work in your creation, tis fabulous. Thanks for joining in with the CC3C x

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  7. This is absolutely amazing, one of the best projects I've ever seen.

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  8. So creative...love, love, love your ATB and plan on sharing it on my wall...totally gorgeous.

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  9. WOW, this is stunning, pinned and bookmarked, LOVE.

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  10. WOW, this is stunning, pinned and bookmarked, LOVE.

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  11. Fabulous ATB, Lisa! Wonderful attention to detail! Be sure to play along with the Show us your AO Art challenge on the Artistic Outpost Blog. You can also post this to the AO FB wall by tagging @Artistic Outpost on FB, or posting directly on the AO FB wall. Thank you for sharing!

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  12. I have to say that I LOVE Alice in Wonderland as well! You have done such a beautiful job with this ATB and the watercolor technique. Thanks so much for participating in this challenge!

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  13. Lisa, I so LOVE how you put the AO Wonderland Collage to such wonderful use! This is just so creative, inspiring and looks amazing. Love this ATB!

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  14. Another gorgeous project! I love the theme and those cute stamps. Amazing details as usual. Thanks so much for joining us at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge.

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  15. How fun is each side...love it, and the topper! Your images are perfectly colored! Thanks so much for watercoloring with us this time at CC3Challenge!

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  16. Lisa...this is so adorable. I love very side. Being able to see completely through this also adds such a neat new dimension. Beautiful coloring. Thanks so much for sharing your art with us at CC3C. <3 Candy

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  17. Another FABULOUS ATB! You rock these! Love all the details and products you used! Thanks for joining us in this month's Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!

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  18. This is beautiful. Thanks for joining the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!

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  19. oh Lisa... yet another fabulous project! i love the alice theme and how you captured the story. amazing piece! Thank you so much for playing with the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!
    -Rachel
    rwkrafts.com

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  20. Very interesting, fantastic job! really like)

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  21. Alice is timeless, isn't she! You've brought her up to date here, great project! Thanks for joining us for CC3C!

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  22. VERY COOL, indeed!! Your project not only included the original technique of the Challenge, but I absolutely LOVE knowing another crafter out there who is willing to use their computer to scan, lightbox to double-up sides, and to think in 3D in combining dies to achieve a really UNIQUE project!!! I think I use my computers, tablets, cams, printers, scanners, as much as my inks, scissors, stamps, dies, and paper!!! (& yes, I made those plural intentionally, because...well, let's just say I have at least 2 printers up and going all the time, 2 tablets, 2 desktops, and ...?4 cameras? at last count. lol! I'm actually retired as a photographer. ;) I bet you have made some really wonderful altered books...just taking a wild guess on Alice in Wonderland. Again: VERY COOL project!!!

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