Summer Bag Charm ~ by Lotte Kristensen

Hey everyone!

I've had a fun time playing around with the Dinky Art Shrines, and initially thought of making one into a necklace, but decided it was going to be bit too big -  then it struck me that it would be perfect for a bag charm instead!  Now, you may ask if this bag charm can only be used on summer bags - it's up to you, it's just that I wouldn't guarantee it could withstand rain, even once having been varnished (unless you perhaps varnished it with something  Powertex'y?? - hmmm.....)  But let's get started!

Materials Used: 

That's Crafty! Dinky Art Shrine with Round Top
PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic Paint: Mermaid
Ranger Archival Ink Pad: Garden Patina
Ranger Archival Ink Pad: Vivid Chartreuse
Versafine Pigment Ink Pad: Onyx Black
Carabelle Studio Stamp: French Lily Background
PaperArtsy Stamp Set: Lynne Perrella 001
Glue Stick
Super Glue
Gold Krylon pen
Matte Spray Varnish
Scrap Piece of White Cardstock
Pop Rivet Tool and Rivet
Small Clock Embellishment
Carabiner Hook

First, assemble the box of the art shrine, and paint everything in Fresco Finish Mermaid paint (no need to undercoat this time). Once dry, stamp all surfaces with the French Lily background stamp in Ranger Archival Vivid Chartreuse. Stamp the face with Versafine Onyx Black on both sides of the front panel (let dry in between to avoid smudging)and colour the inside edge with a gold Krylon pen. Stamp image on the back and sides of the box, again drying in between. On the scrap piece of cardstock, use a foam tool or stippling brush to smoosh Garden Patina ink pad all over, and once again stamp the French Lily in Vivid Chartreuse, and the PaperArtsy face stamp in Versafine Onyx Black:

(My Dinky Shrine looks so pale because I stamped with an ordinary black ink pad, and once it dried it just turned pale grey on top of the paint :(  I usually use Versafine Onyx for everything black, and should've just stayed with that - lesson learned!!)

Now for the fun bit - position the front panel over the stamped paper so that the images align.  Use a bone folder to mark the inside of the aperture -

- fold, and cut away the corners to make a little paper box that fits inside the shrine box:

You will need to use a small pair of very sharp scissors to trim away the excess from the edges.

Next, with the pop rivet tool, carefully punch a hole at the top of the front panel, and attach a rivet:

Glue front panel to the box, spray with matte spray varnish all over (do this outside, preferably!) - let dry, and then superglue the clock embellishment:

Lastly, carefully attach the carabiner hook keyring:

And there we are! - I think I've just decided what I'm making for all the birthday girls in my family LOL!  You can obviously go for any colour combo that you like or fits with your colour scheme, as long as it's a lighter shade or the stamping won't show up as well ;)

Hope you have a great week, and see you next Saturday!

Lotte x