The Muse by Lynne Moncrieff

Today it is my turn to share the storage unit I received to alter. I will be completely honest with you, this was a daunting task but once underway, it was great fun and quite rewarding. 

The unit is such high quality, no snags, smooth edges and easy to assemble. With good handles to grip, essential if you need to carry it from room to room, the ability to stack other units (view the other styles at That’s Crafty) and the unit I received to alter has a capacity for 18 paints. This is a well considered piece of design.  

(Thank You to Laura for photographing the unit for me.  Foolishly, I sent it to Laura without photographing it, so Laura definitely saved the day for me!)

Supplies

That’s Crafty! Surfaces MDF Stackable Storage Box 1 

That’s Crafty! Surfaces Mini MDF Tag and MDF ATC Frame (only the frame required)

That's Crafty! Dinky Stencils:– Quatrefoil 2, Distressed Harlequin, Create Art

Prima Finnabair Cling Stamps:- Don’t Forget To Fly, Dream On, Now Is The Right Time

Sam Poole Art Sayings

Distress Stain:- Antique Linen, Tattered Rose

Distress Stain Sprays:- Ground Espresso, Antique Linen, Hickory Smoke

Distress Ink:- Black Soot, Walnut Stain

Ranger Archival Watering Can Ink

Ranger Translucent Embossing Paste

PaperArtsy Crackle Glaze

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish:- Toffee, Chalk and London Fog

Gesso – White

Gel Medium

Staz-on Jet Black

DecoArt Liquid Glass

DecoArt Media Ultra Matte Varnish

Idea-ology Ball Chain

Foam Sponge

Heat Gun

Palette Knife

Instructions

We all have different spaces for creating but for most of us, when we set eyes on our supplies, that is when the Muse appears. This was the springboard for the idea I had for altering the unit, featuring a Finnabair stamp as the Muse with sentiments relating to art and creating. 

Unit:-

It is easiest to paint and stamp before assembling the unit.

After preparing all panels of the unit, a mini MDF tag and the MDF frame, with Gesso, I then applied Distress Stains and Distress Stain Sprays BUT I have to add that after application of the varnish, I noticed a difference in the colours, Tattered Rose all but disappeared! In between the layers of stains, I randomly applied stencilling with Dinky Stencils and embossing paste. 

The next step, stamping. I stamped onto all panels, including the bottom panel, which isn’t necessary but I liked that the design appears through the holes for the paint bottles.

The female from Dream On is the “Muse”, which I stamped alongside sentiments relating to art and creating. 

At this stage I added more stencilling, this time some of the words from the Create Art stencil.

Before assembling, I inked the edges of the panels then applied a varnish, two thin coats, leaving them to dry.

To assemble, I used Gel Medium, leaving it to dry before continuing with the final stages.

MDF Frame:-

I applied London Fog with Toffee, followed by Crackle Glaze and Chalk. Once ready, I adhered it onto the front panel, bringing the eye into one of the images of the Muse.

Tag:-

I applied Distress Stain Sprays and a touch of Chalk to a mini tag before stamping Artist at Work and Create Magic. Liquid Glass gives it a lovely shiny appearance. The tag was simply attached to one of the handles with ball chain.

There we have it, one completed storage unit, ready and waiting to be filled with fabulous paints!

Until next time,

Lynne