Mixed Media Box Tutorial

Mixed Media Box

          Hi friends, sharing a box I recycled and altered using simple mixed media techniques.The Taj Mahal is such a beautiful monument  and universal symbol of love that I think it's only fitting I use this box for memorabilia !

          Here is the  toy packaging box I altered by giving a nice coating of gesso and decoupaging a DCWV Mariposa paper onto it leaving a white border all around.

Box Recycling 

Used a Taj Mahal Stencil I had picked up from the local market way back in 2011 and featured in one of my early Tutorials : Stencil Art Tutorial and in this Taj Mahal Pop Up Card 

Stencil Tutorial 

Used a wonderful black embossing paste from Dreamweaver and spread a thick uniform layer over the stencil taped in place over the DCWV mariposa pattern paper

Stencil Tutorial 

Tip : Do not scrape off excess embossing paste while the stencil is taped on your project but do so only after lifting it off and placing it on another surface.

Stencil Tutorial 

You get a nice crisp embossing even with the rather thin delicate Taj Mahal stencil that I used [ This stencil is made of rather flimsy material and I think this may very well be its last crafty outing!]

Stencil Tutorial 

Once the central design is dry, use a contrasting white texture paste  to stencil patterns on the corners of the box. I used a gorgeous Carabelle Studio Geometry stencil .

Stencil Tutorial 

Love the beautiful texture the stencilled pattern gave to the already beautiful paper.

Stencil Tutorial

And here is the closeup of the lovely stencilled Taj Mahal.

Mixed Media Box

And here is the side profile of the box showing the stencilling with borders made using  paper flowers,die cut leaves, crystal flowers[ the same ones I used in the Crystal Flower bouquet Tutorial ] and a few pearls and sequins.

Mixed Media Box

My altered box is rather simple but then something as beautiful as the Taj Mahal needs few embellishments!

Mixed Media Box

I hope you liked my simple Mixed Media Box...do tell me how it is

Supplies : Almost everything is from Crafters Corner

Stencils :Carabelle Studio Geometry, Taj Mahal Stencil

Ranger Texture Paste

Dreamweaver's Matt Black Embossing Paste

Dies : Creative Expressions Sue Wilson Faux Quilled Leaves ,Cheery Lynn  Rose Leaf Strip,Heartfelt Creations Botanical Wings die and stamp

Origamic Architecture -Tajmahal Kirigami Pop up Card

Taj Mahal Pop up Card

I find Origamic Architecture so fascinating - it is almost magical to find how a single sheet of paper can be transformed into a 3 Dimensional beautiful structure!It is one of my favorite paper crafts. It is cheap [ you just need a craft knife ,sturdy paper and good hands!], interesting and oh so rewarding!

Origamic Architecture- Taj Mahal

Among Origamic Architecture  patterns the Taj Mahal is one of my all time favorites--It is not all that complicated to make [but dont attempt this as your first kirigami pattern as the folds can be tricky!]

In keeping with my Taj Mahal theme I stamped a Taj Mahal on the front of my card using pearl white acrylic paint and a locally bought stencil.

Taj Mahal Card

Here is the closeup of the stencil art Taj Mahal.I actually got the Taj Mahal stencil for my little daughter as she has been fascinated with the Taj Mahal ever since we did a school project on it.

Stamped Taj Mahal

For my friends who would like to know a little bit of the Taj Mahal [Let me do my bit for Indian Tourism!]
The Taj Mahal is such a fascinating building as its a symbol of love --it is beauty and elegance personified!
-The Taj Mahal is a monument of eternal love located in Agra in North India. It was built by the Mugal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who died shortly after giving birth to their 14th Child. The Taj Mahal was built out of marble and precious stones from different parts of India and the world. It took 20000 workers 22 years to complete the exquisite structure.

Kirigami Pop up card- Tajmahal 

The pop up kirigami Taj Mahal is a pattern I love to make again and again for special occasions and a special someone!Its such a fitting card for an anniversary ,valentines day,a wedding and for the special male in your life [ as I said in an earlier post guys seem to love Origamic architecture!- This is one craft which is guaranteed to get a "wow" from my hubby!].It looks so good displayed on your showcase too!
Here are the links to the Taj Mahal Pattern if you want to make it and other Origamic Architecture Patterns which you can practice on to gain confidence.
Here are links to some of our other Taj Mahal Projects:
Taj Mahal finger painting and glitter art- Finger painting and "what not "painting of the Taj Mahal by my little one!

Taj Mahal finger painting and glitter art

Taj Mahal Stencil Art -My kiddo proud of her stencil art Taj Mahal!

Taj Mahal Stencil Art

Taj Mahal Paper Model- that's our huge Paper Taj Mahal Model atop my electric Reva car!

Taj Mahal Paper Model

Stencil Art Tutorial - Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal Stencil Art Tutorial

We went craft material shopping yesterday to Commercial Street Bangalore and discovered a new craft supply shop [Devi and Co]- Details in my post on Craft Material supply stores in India. My daughter found a Taj Mahal Stencil which looked so delicate and intricate that in my mind I thought she would be disappointed when she tried it herself but I was the one in for a big surprise!

My daughter has been fascinated with the Taj Mahal ever since we made a Taj Mahal Model as part of a school project!

Since its a Taj Mahal she tells me " Mama I have to paint it white only" So we chose a black chart paper  for the white Taj Mahal.

Materials for Stencil Art

1. Stencil- store bought or home made- believe me you can make one at home too!
2. Poster colors of good quality- should not be too lumpy or runny
3. Paint palette or surface to apply and mix your paint
4. Sponge - chose the size depending on the intricacy of the pattern you want stenciled
5. Sticky tape or cellotape
6. Chart paper or card 
7. Clean Hands!

Steps in Stencil Art

• Lay down the stencil on the chart paper.
• Tape down the stencil firmly on the paper. This is so that it does not move and also so that its absolutely flat and your paint wont seep through the gaps. 
• If you are using sticky tape let some of the stickiness wear off my sticking it on cloth twice before you stick it on your paper otherwise when you peel off the tap at the end of the project a little bit of the paper surface remains on the tape!



Stencil Art Tutorial

• Apply thick poster paint on to the palette.Mix well to see that there are no lumps and it is not runny



How to do Stencil Art

• Dip the sponge gently in the paint
• Dab off excess paint on another clean area of the palette 



Stencil Art Tutorial

• Gently dab on to the taped stencil.Avoid sweeping movements as stencils withe delicate parts can let the paint seep under the design if you do a sweeping motion.It should be a gentle dab and lift technique which my daughter mastered perfectly that even I was amazed!
• Once the stencil has been completely covered with paint remove the sticking tape
• Voila your Stencil Art is ready.

Taj Mahal Stencil Art Tutorial

My little one was quite pleased with her achievement!

Taj Mahal Stencil Art 

Please Do check out our Taj Mahal Model and Taj Mahal Painting also

Taj Mahal Paper Model

We made a  Taj Mahal Paper Modelas part of my daughter's school exhibition .Several themes were there , she chose monuments of India and we had a choice of a chart, model or scrap book. My daughter loves it if it is spectacular so I really went all out and spent a week making this Taj Mahal paper model.

Taj Mahal Model

For my friends who would like to know a little bit of the Taj Mahal -The Taj Mahal is a monument of eternal love located in Agra in North India. It was built by the Mugal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who died shortly after giving birth to their 14th Child. The Taj Mahal was built out of marble and precious stones from different parts of India and the world. It took 20000 workers 22 years to complete the exquisite structure.

Taj Mahal Paper Model

Our Taj Mahal Paper Model is made from thick chart paper and has a thermocol base for sturdiness.

Taj Mahal Model

The Taj Mahal is so beautifully proportioned the view is the same from all sides and the marble reflects light so magically that at various times of the day the  reflecting sun light or moon light gives the Taj Mahal different colors!

Taj Mahal Paper Model

The Making of our Taj Mahal Paper Model illustrates the Octgonal base and Domes.The Base was of the Taj Mahal Paper Model was too weak so we Strengthened it with a thermo col Base

Taj Mahal Paper Model

This is the half of the base of the Taj Mahal Paper craft model with  two minarets.

Taj Mahal Paper Model

The base of the domed top showing the octagon base of each dome .Since we made it at home my daughter could easily understand the shapes.

The model is from Canon. I printed it out as a poster 3x 3, made the template by cutting and pasting the printouts then traced out the actual Taj Mahal Model parts on chart paper and photo-paper. My daughter enjoyed painting the marble texture and helping me join the parts with glue drops!She learnt about the Story behind the Taj Mahal and also about the true structure including the symmetry, the octagonal base , minarets, domes as the model is a true miniature !

Taj Mahal Paper Model

The base with the minarets and the main archway. Here is our dining table where we worked and my little one in the background!

Taj Mahal Paper Model

Here is my little one measuring the dome!

Taj Mahal Paper Model

The Canon Paper model is so amazingly detailed and here are the construction of the archways and balconies of the Taj Mahal Central Tomb

Taj Mahal Paper Model

This is how the Taj Mahal Minarets and Central Structure look without the domes. My daughter could really learn about the structure as she was involved quite a bit in the construction.

Taj Mahal Model

Here is the Taj Mahal Model Central structure

Taj Mahal Model

This is the top view of the Taj Mahal domes showing the  " filial".

Taj Mahal Papercraft

Upside down view of the Taj Mahal Central tomb Domes showing the octagons

Taj Mahal Model

Taj Mahal School Project

It was indeed an ambitious project and as I neared the date of the exhibition there were many panicky moments whether I could pull it off. Fortunately we could complete it and it was a big hit in my daughters school!

Taj Mahal Painting

Taj Mahal Art

There is an exhibition going on in my daughters school and we have been working on it for over a week now.There was a selection of themes such as life under ocean, electronic gadget, insects,national symbols, my daughter chose monuments of India. So we decided to do the Taj Mahal. We made a Taj Mahal Paper Model.Here is the link to our Taj Mahal Paper model. Making the paper model of the Taj was so time consuming and Just to get my 4 year old  interested in the Taj Mahal I printed a Taj from the net and gave it to her to colour.

Taj Mahal Painting

She did it so well that I decided to frame it and sent it on the actual school exhibition along with the Taj Model we made. She helped frame the Taj Mahal Painting and also to decorate it with the spiral roses.
She was so proud of it!