An Alice themed swap!

Hi - so as promised here's my second post this week.  Just before we went away I took part in another one of Zuzu's Petals Altered Art 'n' Stuff swaps - this time an Alice themed one - it could be from either Alice in Wonderland or Alice through the Looking Glass, and the item could be anything.  She's so good at arranging these swaps for us - now this one's finished she's arranging an altered bottle one for us & yes I've got my name down already!!  (This is a link to her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zuzus-Petals-Altered-Art-n-Stuff/250932564937553 and her blog too http://zuzuspetalsstuff.blogspot.co.uk/2014_02_01_archive.html )

 I decided on decorating a canvas box frame - the photos haven't come out as good as I would like but I thought I'd totally lost them when my 'phone broke last week - luckily I could still hook it up to the laptop and download them.  I'm now waiting to see if they can fix it or not.  Well that's another good reason to use my camera in future!

I started by sewing together some squares of Alice material that I had got in a mixed job lot a while ago and then folding it over the front of the frame (which would now be the back) and gluing it in place at the back (now the front!)

 

 I ordered some Alice themed chipboard pieces, which I painted with Decoart Metallics in Black Pearl, this actually looked nearly silver once it dried to a really nice metallic sheen.

I positioned these around the outside of the frame, together with a small Queen of Hearts playing card (see those Christmas cracker prizes come in useful sometimes!).  In the middle of the frame I stuck another piece of fabric (in colour this time) with Alice's head and shoulders showing beneath a silver frame.  It reminded me of the looking glass.  I drew a spiral circling from this and attached two metal embellishments, an old-fashioned pocket watch and a key.

To finish it off, I took a small bottle (from a Creative Expressions set) and filled it with a mixture of PVA glue and walnut stain, then attached a little ticket shaped label with 'Drink Me' on it with a piece of hessian string.

I also took two phrases from Alice in Wonderland - 'Curiouser & Curiouser' and 'What is the Hatter with me?' and glued them onto two of the chipboard figures.

In return I received a lovely little altered cabinet in a Cheshire Cat theme.  It was from the talented Hope at Wayside Cottage (https://www.facebook.com/PixiesHandmadeHome and her blog at https://www.facebook.com/PixiesHandmadeHome )  Here's a photo of the before (thanks Hope) and a few of the finished piece.  I've got it on the hearth on my fireplace now.

Thanks for reading.  Hope you all have a good week  :o)