What Was Old Is New Again!

Valerie is the hostess this week at Stampotique Designer's Challenges. Her challenge theme What is old is new again.  Here's what she has to say about her challenge:

"Re-purpose, re-use, recycle, and alter - words that are music to my ears! Is there something destined for the trash heap that you can give a new art-filled life? Or perhaps you're tired of that old wall hanging - can you give it a make-over? My challenge for you this week is to take something old and make it new again! :)."

If you'd like the chance to win your choice of $30 worth of Stampotique stamps, you should play along with this challenge. Visit Stampotique Designers Challenge blog and be sure to read the rules so that you'll have the chance to win that great prize!!! Remember to check to see the deadline for all of this month's Stampotique Designers Challenges!

My upcycled First Aid Kit, 

using Stampotique's Nerd Cat (Kira Nichols), who makes a fabulous doctor:

From this:

Like many other crafters, I collect old tins, wooden boxes, and other items that have the potential to be useful or upcycled one day. I found this old Minnie Mouse Band-Aid tin in my collection. It had rust spots and price stickers on it, plus it was clearly outdated for my use, so I redecorated it to be kept in my car's glove box.

My first step was to clean the tin using a citrus de-greasing product and sand paper. When the stickers were removed, I sanded the tin to remove any residual adhesive and add some "tooth" to the tin's surface. Two layers of White Media Gesso (DecoArt) were sponged onto the tin and allowed to dry.

While the tin was drying,  Nerd Cat was stamped onto white cardstock with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Imagine Crafts). Nerd Cat was colored with Copic markers, fussy-cut, then edged with a Black Multi-liner pen. The rims of Nerd Cat's glasses, his buttons, and the pens in his pockets received several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen (Sakura) to add dimension. Nerd Cat was set aside while I returned my attention to the tin.

Titanium White Media Fluid Acrylic (MFA) paint (DecoArt) was sponged onto the tin and allowed to dry. Old Ledger stencil (Wendy Vecchi/Studio 490) was placed over the front of the tin and Titan Buff MFA paint was stenciled over it. This was repeated on the back of the tin. When the paint was dry, Geranium Red Archival ink (Wendy Vecchi/Ranger) was sponged over the Positive Times Two stencil (Green Pepper Press). The larger plus signs were sponged on the front and back of the tin. The smaller plus signs were sponged onto the sides. 

Geranium Red Archival ink was sponged onto the top of the tin, allowed to dry, then the edges were sanded a bit to reveal the white paint underneath. Sticker letters were adhered to label the tin.

The tin was coated with a layer of Multi Matte Medium (Ranger). Gauze tape was adhered to the bottom of the tin, then coated with a layer of Multi Matte Medium.  Nerd Cat was positioned on the tin, then coated with several layers of Multi Matte Medium. When the tin was completely dry, several layers of Clear Gelly Glaze pen was added to Nerd Cat's glasses, buttons, and pens. 

Here's a photo of the tilted tin so you can see a bit of the dimension and shine on Nerd Cat's glasses, buttons, and pens.

Here's a photo of the tin with some of its contents, though I likely will add a few more of our personal necessities, like aspirin, antacids, antiseptic cream, and a wee bottle of tequila.

Thanks for visiting today!

I shall enter this tin into the following challenges:

• City Crafter Challenges: White Wash

• Rhedd's Creative Spirit Challenges: Anything Goes with Mixed Media
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenges: Anything Goes