Treasures of the Sea - Mixed Media Treasure Chest

Hi my lovelies

Thank you for stopping by to take a look. I have a special little project to share, that I have finally finished... Yay!! It's a great feeling!!!

This ended up sitting in my sons room for ages as storage as I was too afraid to do something with it.

After seeing the current challenge over at Finnabair's blog, I set to work straight away (sparkle and shine just seemed to fit for this) and I just had a vision...  however, it didn't come out at all how I thought. :)

I'm still pleased with the finished result:




I kept imagining a very glamorous, but worn and old, mystical sea-weathered chest. Something that would have been truly beautiful, back in the day. 

In my head this has a whole story behind it... it's travels, owners, contents... I could go on, but this is going to be long as it is...

I used Prima Art Basics Black Gesso to prime the whole thing first, then applied Art Basics Texture Paste Crackle in White. Then I applied some fibres, dry wall tape, then I went in with home-made texture paste (see Gabrielle Pollacco's recipe) and applied it thickly to the areas where the metal embellishments were going to be and stuck those into the paste, and used the 'Bubbles' Stencil by Tim Holtz with it.

I used Glass Beads Texture Gel by Galleria all over for extra bubbly texture too. After that had dried I then gave it all a coat of Art Basics Heavy Gesso in White apart from the metal. 


With the crackle I want to go for a faux cracked mother of pearl effect, and built up from this with colours and distressing. Hopefully you can see this in the photos, but clicking and expanding the photo will give you so much more juicy detail in here.

I used Lindy Sprays in:

Long John's Silver
Cosmo Pink
Wild Honeysuckle Coral
Down the Rabbit Hole


Then some Luminarte Silks in:


  • Chestnut
  • Coral Berry
But kept these mainly to the edges, dragging the colour in.



I went over and hit the raised areas with Treasure Gold White Fire. Then I used Vivo Ferro Paste in Graphite and then hit the edges for a more distressed look and to define the edges, but it also has a beautiful silver sparkle.


After that I used Prima Art Ingredients Glitter Glass in Frosted and Sterling. Then Prima Art Ingredients Art Sugar in Light Pink for extra sparkly goodness. All mixed up in their Soft Matte Gel.


I went over again very lightly with Treasure Gold on the metal embellishments, just bring back a little glint through all the shimmer and glitters. Trying to capture all the shimmery goodness is a little difficult with the camera but promise it is there!! One light (or angle) gives me silver, the other gives me the pinky golds tones, I couldn't quite get my camera to completely play ball. Wherever I moved this too the colours changed (I think because of the shimmer) or if the flash was on. The truest in colour is the top photo :)


If you have stayed with me this far then well done and thank you :), I know this has been a long post, and I try not to write them this long, but there was so much to squeeze in ;)


Thanks for stopping by and as always thank you for your lovely comments, I read all of them and they always mean so much to me.

Take care,
Georgie xx

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:

Finnabair Blog - Sparkle and Shine Challenge
The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog - Think Pink (Lindy Sprays)
PaperArtsy - Shiny Stuff Challenge

53 comments

  1. WOWZA, Georgie, I'm blown away by this work of art!! I am dying to see it in person because I feel like the photos just aren't doing it justice. We get a hint of the opalescent colors and the shimmer and the magnificent texture, but it just leaves us wanting to see the real thing. Huge high tens to you for finishing! You should be very proud of yourself!! Thank you for sharing!! Hugs, Darnell

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    1. Hi Darnell!! Thank you for your very sweet comment :) It's a shame my photography skills are't up there (in practice) as I'm sure there has to be away to see the detail better - I have a new camera, so we're still getting to know each other - lol. xx

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  2. Love what you have done with this treasure box! Taking photos that show the true color sure is hard to do and it always looks better IRL but you did a wonderful job because I can see the sparkle and shimmer. Awesome! ~Niki

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    1. Thanks Niki for your wonderful comment xx

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  3. Ha Harrr! 'tis a splendid chest!!!! Seriously - this is fabulous! It looks as though it really could have a history! Truly Brilliant!!! Chrisxx

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    1. Hi Chris!!! This certainly has been on a very imaginative journey in the process of being made. I'm sure my imagination needs to calm down sometimes xx

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  4. What fabulous treasure box! Love the texture and your great technique. Well done Georgie!
    Mar x

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    1. Hiya Marjik!! Thank you for popping over this way and following... and for your lovely comment! Can't wait to see what you come up with next, you did amazing with your win over at Tim's blog xx

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  5. Wow, this is just beautiful! I love the shimmer and shine! Gorgeous texture!

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  6. Thank you Kitty for your sweet comment :) x

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  7. Oh, that's gorgeous, Georgie!!!! It certainly looks like a sea-weathered. Beautiful. My ,,Sparkle & Shine Project,, is still cooking!!!:D:D

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  8. Oh my, this came out absolutely stunning! I can picture it now being salvaged from the depths of the sea from one of those galleons that valiantly fought the pirates, but alas, to no avail! :-) Love it, Georgie!
    Hugs,
    Lena
    Lena’s Creations

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    1. HI Lena, Thank you for your lovely comment. I think this is the beauty of mixed media, you can really wander into the realms of the impossible xx

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  9. WOW, amazing, you have created a stunning work of art. Hugs Lori xx

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  10. OK, just so you know, this is my third time here! I had to really take it all in before I commented. I wasn't really sure what to say except HOLY COCONUT CREAM PIE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP - ON CHRISTMAS MORNING IN THE SUMMER SUN WITH MY DOGS!!!!!! (those are all of favourite things) Best treasure chest EVER!!! I zoomed in on every picture so I could ooh and aah at every little detail! I love the small things you added here and there, like the starfish and seahorse and boat steering wheel (whatever the heck they are called)!

    A blanket WHOOP WHOOP for an amazing project! The textures, the colours, the shimmer! This is a work of art Georgie, every inch of it!! big hugs, your biggest fan :)

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    1. Hi Pamellia, ...you do make me laugh, really LMAO @ Holy Coconut Cream :) Thank you so much for your really encouraging comments. I love these projects, I'm so in my element when I'm getting messy with paints xx

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  11. My Goodness, Georgie! I'm going to have my kids save this as my screen saver, so I can see it every day! I am totally floored by your creativity and your mixed media prowess with this trunk! I'm so happy you saved it for when you were ready to do this really something special to it! Our visions never seem to come out as we hope, but the end result is always something far better -- that is the beauty of art! Georgie, you have really hit a home run and then some with this amazing work of art. Any treasure you put in this could never outweigh the treasure you have made on the outside! And if you think your post was long, you must think I am the most windy person created on Earth! Ha! Ha! Big warm hugs to you!

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    1. You're just one of the sweetest people I know Sara! You always have such lovely things to say and I always love reading your comments. I've not done something like for a very long time, so I'm sooo pleased it turned out okay. Hugs, Georgie xx

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    2. OKAY????? This doesn't even belong in the same language as "okay"! Girl, you were on creative fire when you put this little chest together! And please you should be! I would be dancing all over the house if I could create something a great as this!

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    3. Sara you create gorgeous things on a daily basis, I wish I could keep up with the beauties you produce xx

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Jan and for your lovely comment xx

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  13. NOT a long post Georgie just the perfect length because each and every word and image is a journey, your journey from finding the treasure box to finally finding a place for it and all those wonderful pastes, embellishments ad sparkle to get it looking just how you imagined. A captivating post with a wonderful ending :-) xxx

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    1. Hehe thank you, I do worry I just blurb on about nonsense, but there was soo much used in making this, I'm sure I haven't even listed half of it lol Thank you for such a lovely comment xx

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  14. You might want to look at my reply to your reply:)! Hugs!

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  15. You might want to look at my reply to your reply:)! Hugs!

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  16. Oops, you would think you were having a draw if you comment, right??? I meant to write in my reply to your reply "And PLEASED you should be!" I don't know how that extra comment got made!

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  17. Oh, my Heavens, it's ME again! Get your entry over to Paper Artsy "Shiny Stuff" Here's the link:

    http://blog.paperartsy.co.uk/2015/01/2015-topic-2-shiny-stuff-challenge.html

    I hope you get to join in!

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    1. Oh you gem!! It's linked up, thanks millions for pointing me there!! Not sure how that one escaped me.... And boy are you making me giggle with all those comments... it's exactly the same thing I would do. :) Hugs, Georgie xx

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  18. Your absolutely fabulous treasure chest really does have a sea weathered and vintage look about it, I love the way you used the scrim and the Treasure Gold to give it such an aged quality and really has worked. I love this! Hugs, Anne xx

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    1. Thank you Anne! I always love it when you stop by :) thank you for your very lovely comment xx

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  19. Holy schmoly... Just when I think you've created the most beautiful thing, you go and create something even more beautiful to top it! Gah! I can't get over this and all I want to do is go be a mermaid and find some buried treasure now. Unfortunately, I wouldn't look all that splendorous in a seashell bikini, I fear... So I'll just settle for admiring your magical treasure chest!

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    1. Lol Becca, you always make me laugh!! And you're ever so kind with your sweet (and very amusing) comment. I now extending the fairy tale in my head to mermaids!! Time to find the psych ward, I'll never leave the fantasy...!!!!! xx

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  20. Wow, this is spectacular piece. Yummy textures everywher !!!!! The colours so calm and shine... Absolutely beyond amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your art work with us. Thank you for taking part in Finnabair 'Sparkle & Shine' challenge. Best of luck. Hugs, Marta xx

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    1. Thank you Marta for such a lovely comment. Hugs, Georgie x

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  21. This came out so beautifully! I love all the different textures, and the colors.I love the sea-weathered look too! Goodness gracious you are one talented lady!
    Hugs,
    Samantha xx
    Designs by Sammy

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    1. Thanks Samantha, you are so kind and making my head inflate... big grin here xx

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  22. This is just magnificent, Georgie - like something out of a fairytale. All the texture, the delicate shimmer - it's simply magical - bravo!
    Alison xx

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    1. Thanks Alison, I think the fairytale for this piece is still on going in my head... I keep thinking what can I make next to go with it :) xx

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  23. Love your altered chest. All the texture and colors are beautiful! Thanks so much for joining us at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge.

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  25. This is absolutely gorgeous. The time taken for all the layers has really paid off in a fabulous finished effect. Love it xx

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  26. Stunning project! Lovely textures! Thank you for joining the Finnabair "Sparkle and Shine" challenge!

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  27. Absolutely gorgeous box...beautiful texture and colors!!
    Loving your work I am your new happy follower!

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  28. wow this is a stunning piece!!! so glad you recovered it from your son's room. The texture and sparkle is dreamy! Thank you so much for playing with the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!
    -Rachel
    rwkrafts.com

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  29. Wow, such a gorgeous textural shiny beauty! Loving all those layers creating something that is probably even more spectacular in real life. Stunning work Georgie. Hugs Ruth x

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  30. Gorgeous altered chest! Love all the yummy texture and details! Thanks for joining us in this month's Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!

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  31. Amazing details in your altered chest! Love all of the textures. Thanks for playing along with us at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!

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  32. Beautiful! Thanks for playing along with the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge!

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