'Chess It Up Keepsake Wedding Box' by Leigh Snaith-Brunton - The Sharpie Domino Queen
Design Team Leader

Supplies:
Small oval paper mache box - craft store
White cardstock
Purple eyelash and ladder fiber - craft store
Lavender organza ribbon - craft store
King and Queen chess pieces
3 polymer clay flowers - http://www.craftingsandthings.com
Purple flower jewel - http://www.craftingsandthings.com
Alphabet beads - craft store
Pearl bead trim - craft store
Piece of lace - craft store
Micro beads - pink, blue, purple, silver mix - craft store
Purple Sharpie
Silver Sharpie
Silver metallic paint pen
Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue - craft store
Judikins Diamond Glaze Glue
Double-sided sticky tape - super strength (red-liner) - craft store
Paper Trimmer
Scanner and picture altering software (Adobe Photo Deluxe)
Scissors

Directions:
Start the project by colouring an oval paper mache box with a silver metallic paint pen.

Next scan a piece of lace and alter the image to create the background for the bridal couple. My lace was originally pink but I wanted lavender instead so I altered the colour until I was satisfied and then printed it out onto white cardstock.

TIP: Changing the colour of a scanned piece of lace is a great way to get any colour you want instead of trying to buy lace in many colours!

Trim the printed lace with a paper trimmer and round off the two top edges. Run glue all along the edge of the cardstock and adhere the pearl bead trim. Put it aside to dry.

Adhere micro beads to the polymer clay flowers with Diamond Glaze glue and do the same to chess pieces. Also edge the flower petals with a silver Sharpie. Put aside to dry.

Once the chess pieces are okay to handle add detail to them with a silver Sharpie. Dress both chess pieces up by wrapping a length of purple eyelash fiber around them and secure with a double knot at the back. Trim the eyelash so the strands aren't as long.

Then run a piece of the super strong double-sided sticky tape along the bottom edge of the lace cardstock. Adhere the background in place to just the lid of the box. Wrap a length of purple eyelash around the side of the lid and knot at the back. Add a dab of Diamond Glaze glue to the knot to hold the knot and keep the fiber from slipping. Trim the eyelash so the strands aren't as long here too. Make a bow from a length of purple ladder fiber and glue to the front of the lid.

Gather up a piece of lavender organza ribbon with a wired edge to form a fan shape and adhere in place to the lid with Fast Grab tacky glue.

Glue the chess pieces and the flowers to the lid of the box with Fast Grab tacky glue.

Once everything is dry and secure add the embellishments to the background. I chose to add a purple flower jewel and spelled out the word 'Love' with alphabet beads. I didn't have an 'O' so decided to replace it with a heart. To emphasize the heart I coloured it in with a purple Sharpie. I adhered the embellishments with my trusty Fast Grab glue too.

Viola! You now have an unusual but whimsical wedding keepsake box that can also perform double duty as the cake topper.

I hope you enjoyed this project. If you'd like to see more of my artwork then please visit the archived newsletters at The Stamper's Mall and my website at http://www.velvetpawcreations.com