ATB Summer Topiary

Hello!  You've probably seen a lot of projects made with these little boxes, more fondly known as an ATB or artist trading block, since they've been popping up all over social media lately!  They are very versatile and also addictive!  I created my first ATB when I joined Frilly and Funkie as a guest designer back in May when I created this Mermaid ATB for their Vintage Seaside challenge.

The theme for the current challenge at Frilly and Funkie is Hip to be Square and we are tasked with creating a 3D vintage or shabby chic project based on a cube shape.  The challenge is being sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  Sizzix designer, Eileen Hull, has a monthly Art From the Heart challenge on her blog and this month it's Anything Goes.  Eileen is offering the winner of her challenge their choice of a die from her new release, Vintage Kitchen, when it comes out in December!

So I'm here to weigh in at both of those challenges with my ATB Summer Topiary!  The graduated sizes of the boxes on Eileen's Sizzix Scoreboards XL die-Blocks/Cubes, 3D just scream topiary to me!  But I added a little twist by turning the boxes corner to corner!  It took me all weekend to put it together but it was so worth it!  I had a blast and really felt my creative mojo creeping back!  As always I have trouble with the picture-taking part!  I tried both inside and outside and these were the best of the bunch.

 

The boxes are covered with Tim's Wallflower paper.  I used three of the sheets that have large floral images on them.  The boxes were inked and I added peeled paint distress embossing powder to give them a mossy look.  They are mounted on a thin wooden dowel that was stained with Walnut distress stain.  After I ran the dowel through the boxes I embossed the exposed sections of the dowel with brushed corduroy distress embossing powder.

 

The topiary is decorated with flowers, butterflies and greenery created with Tim's Sizzix Alterations Tattered Flower Garland, Butterfly Frenzy and Spring Greenery decorative strip dies.  Of course, Tim's new Layered Dragonfly die needed to make an appearance!  I cut one dragonfly from grungeboard and then another from watercolor cardstock.  I painted the bottom side and edges of the grungeboard die cut with distress paint.  I embossed the watercolor cardstock die cut with the accompanying embossing folder and then added color using distress markers and a water brush.  Then I sprayed Sunflower Sparkle perfect pearls onto my craft mat and painted that over the watercolors to add some shimmer!  I glued the cardstock dragonfly onto the grungeboard dragonfly for stability and then mounted it on a floral wire that I shaped by curling it around a pencil.

 

The base started as a 3" terra cotta pot which I painted with various colors distress paint and then embossed with peeled paint distress embossing powder to give it a mossy look.



For this challenge the team at Frilly and Funkie has joined forces with The Artists on the Block who are also showcasing 3D cube projects.  Make sure you check out their projects for more inspiration!  The ATB team comes up with some out-of-this-world art!!

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog is also running an Anything Goes challenge so I'm entering this piece there.  A randomly chosen winner can receive $50 to spend at Simon Says Stamp!

Over at Inspiration Journal the August Monthly Challenge is Everything Goes so I might as well join in that one, too!  The August Monthly Challenge is sponsored by Inspiration Emporium and they are offering the winner a $50 to spend in the emporium!

I hope you like my project and maybe you'll be inspired to create a 3D cube project of your own and join in the fun!  I've included links below for the many products I used in my project.  These products are available at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  If you haven't visited Linda's store you're missing out!!

Thanks so much for stopping by my little corner of the world!

Eileen Hull Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Blocks/Cubes, 3-D	Sizzix Alternations Tim Holtz Bigz Die with Texture Fade - Layered Dragonfly	*Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations Butterfly Frenzy Decorative Strip Die	Sizzix Alterations Decorative Strip Tim Holtz Spring Greenery	Sizzix Alterations Decorative Strip Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers Die
Sizzix Alterations Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers Die - Mini Butterflies	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Peacock Feathers	Ranger Tim Holtz Seasonal Distress Ink Pad - Gathered Twigs	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Forest Moss	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Antique Linen
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Tumbled Glass	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Milled Lavender	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Tattered Rose	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Bundled Sage	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Ink Pad
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Walnut Stain	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Markers - Full Set - $129	PRE-ORDER Tim Holtz Ranger Metallic Distress Paint - Antique Bronze	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Antique Linen	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Black Soot
Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists - Sunflower Sparkle	Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists - Biscotti	Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black Pad #3	Ranger Multi Medium Matte 4 oz.	Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents
Ranger Inkssentials Non-Stick Craft Sheet	Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool-With 2 Blending Foams	Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Foam	Tim Holtz Ranger Idea-ology Sanding Grip	Tim Holtz idea-ology Refill Pack for Sanding Grip (4 sheets)
Tim Holtz Water Brush, Detailer Brush Nib	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Fasteners	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Long Fasteners	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Stash Wildflower	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Grungeboard Basics Plain
$6.39 Core′dinations Kraft Core By Tim Holtz - 4.25x5.5" Paper Pad	$6.39 Core′dinations Kraft Core By Tim Holtz - 2.5x12" Strips	$11.99 Core′dinations Kraft Core By Tim Holtz - Shattered Collection 12 x 12	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Watercolor Cardstock	Ranger Inkssentials Manila Card Stock 8.5x11