Amazing Casting Products: An Asian Garden in Full Bloom! Mixed Media Book Box tutorial by Tracy Alden

Hello! Tracy here with a project showcasing wonderful supplies from Amazing Crafting Products and our "Partners in Crafting," FrogDogStudio.com. When I received my Frog Dog Studio kit in the mail I was so excited, the kit had some many wonderful goodies and it had a East Asian flair to it! It got me thinking about my trip through Asia and I was inspired to create a hidden story book.

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The Frog Dog Studio April Mixed Media Kit includes:

(1) **Alumidust Powder - Red Plum; (1) StazOn Midi Ink pad - Claret; (1) StazOn Midi Ink pad - Blue Hawaii; (1) iZink Pigment Ink bottle - Gold; (1) Stampendous Mica Fragments Jar, Pearlized; (1) Dusty Attic Chipboard set - Birds; (1) Stampendous Mini Clipboard Canvas pack; (1) Set Canvas Mini's - Canvas Corp; (3) Sheets of Decopatch Tissue Paper; and (16) Tim Holtz Clear Fragments (random sizes/shapes). ** Alumidust is one of the many additives from the Alumilite Corporation. Valued at over $45.

The Frog Dog Studio April Add-On Kit includes:

(1) Amazing Clear Cast Resin – 16 Fluid Oz Box; (1) Amazing Mold Putty – 2/3 lb Box; (25) 1 oz Measuring Cups; and (50) Wooden Stir Sticks. Valued at over $47.

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Additional Supplies:

Alumilite Metallic Powder
Soft bristle brush
Glu6 - Adhesive for Non-Porous surfaces
White Craft Glue
Liquitex Gloss Varnish
Printed image
Sharp Craft Scissors
Embossing powder
Embossing adhesive
Heat Gun
Hot Glue gun and glue sticks
Cream colored acrylic paint
StazOn Ink Pads Black and Brown
Mulberry Paper
Dried Moss
Silk Flowers
Cosmetic sponge
Paper Maché Book shaped box
1 - 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" blank card
Adhesive Foam Squares
Cotton Swabs

I started by brushing on a coat of Cream colored acrylic paint on the inside and outside of the paper mache box. This acts as a primer and helps any papers placed on it visually "pop" more.

To cover the outside of the box I used the classic decoupage technique of tearing up the mulberry paper and applying piece after piece with the white craft glue. I had wadded up and then flattened the mulberry paper ahead of time to create more texture. I was careful to overlap edges and go under the sides of the box to make sure no Cream paint was visible. I let the glue completely dry before going onto the next step.

Taking the StazOn Brown, Black and Claret ink pads I rubbed them on the surface of the front and back cover of the book box. The textured decoupage edges and corners picked up the color wonderfully.

Next I put drops of the Gold iZink Pigment ink on the front and back of the book box using a cosmetic sponge to move and distribute the ink. I painted a thin coat of Liquitex Gloss Varnish as a sealer to the front and back of the now inked surface.

I carefully cut to size one sheet of the Decopatch Tissue Paper to fit the inside of the box. Using the white glue and a paint brush I carefully applied the tissue paper to the inside of the box.

Using a soft bristle brush I applied Liquitex Gloss Varnish

to the inside of the box to seal and protect the paper.

I applied embossing powder adhesive to the chipboard birds,

applied two coats of golden colored embossing powder and heat to set.

Next I covered the 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card with Gold iZink Pigment ink

by blotting it on with a cosmetic sponge in layers.

I rubbed the black StazOn ink on the edges of the card stock to give it an aged look and glued it to the front cover of the book box. I then stamped a frame image on the upper portion of the card.

Using the techniques I discuss in my Button Molding post I created decorative elements by molding buttons and a snake pendant. Before pouring any Amazing Casting Resin into the molds, I used a soft bristle brush to dust the inside of a molds with Alumilite Metallic Powder.

Once all of the pieces were demolded, I painted on some Liquitex Gloss Varnish and reapplied the metallic powders. I sealed them with more Liquitex Gloss Varnish to give it a nice shine.

I attached one of the chipboard birds and the resin pieces to the front of the card using the Glu6 Adhesive. I applied the flower embellishments with hot glue, careful to overlap the flowers and leaves to cover any visible glue.

I applied some Gold iZink Pigment ink to the embellishments

with a cotton swab to add highlights and a slight shimmer.

I printed out a image of a Buddhist statue I had taken and attached it to golden card stock. I placed foam squares on the back and put it inside the book box.

Once again I applied the flower embellishments with hot glue, careful to overlap the flowers and leaves to cover any visible glue to the inside of the box. I applied the chipboard bird with Glu6 Adhesive and covered the bottom portion of the box with dried moss, using hot glue to set in place. I applied some Gold iZink Pigment ink to the embellishments with a cotton swab to add more highlights.