The one that took forevvvvver.....

Happy Monday, Everyone!

I hope you all had as much fun this weekend as I did.  I am brimming with excitement to share photos of a project I finally finished this weekend.  I started it way back in January, after picking up a few Tim Holtz Alterations Configuration Trays on clearance.  I think I even posted a sneak peek way back when.  I started out filling it with items from a junk box that I had rescued during a previous trip to my parents' attic.  It never came together quite the way I wanted it to, and is part of what prompted my recent trip North. 

With the bits and pieces I collected this time, as well as vintage newsprint for the backgrounds, I was finally able to make it match my vision.  So without further delay:

 



Here is the completed tray, in all of its vintage glory.  Most of the items are from my family, although some were picked up at local antique stores.  There are three items that are not vintage.  I'll let you play I-Spy to see if you can find them.

Here are some close ups.  I love all of the pieces so much it was very difficult to choose which ones to highlight.

I love this original tin type!  No idea who these guys are, or what uniforms they are wearing.  Rail Road, possibly?  The little silver buckle was an antique store purchase. 

Here is the bird that is proof that I am not the original paper crafter in my family.

I thought I needed a bit more apple green, so I used a vintage card in this

box.  I'm not sure I like it.  The  brooches belonged to my Grammie.  I KNOW I like them!

 

I love this little copper hat and tag from Perry's Nut House, a classic Maine Tourist Trap.
 



This may be my favorite.  I found this ring box with the note behind it folded it up inside.  It says "To Marm, from the Boys".  I believe that "Marm" was my Great Grandmother.

 



 



I was very careful not to harm any of my precious family pieces during assembly.  With the exception of the newsprint, which was on its way into the trash bag, all of the paper items are photo copies.  I tried to fold the copies exactly as the originals, and added a bit of Distress Ink to the edges as necessary.  Many of the pieces are attached with wire through the back of the boxes.  For anything that couldn't be wired, I used Alene's Tack it Over and Over glue dots.  (made by leaving dots of the glue to dry overnight on nonstick paper.)  I used yards and yards of tissue tape and washi tape to cover the raw edges of all of the boxes.  The name brand tapes work so much better than the ones from the dollar bin at the craft store.  I guess this shouldn't be a surprise!
I have another fun project to post, as well as some art journal pages, so I hope to be seeing you here later in the week.  Thanks for stopping by!

Elizabeth