Marion Smith

For my designers choice January kit I think I probably surprised everyone by not picking Graphic 45! Instead I went with a paper designer I have never used before - Marion Smith.
She has three new paper ranges out at the moment, Garment District, Mad Tea Party and Nirvana which are available in the shop.
I decided to go for the Nirvana papers, I was attracted by the colour palette and the vintage feel of the artwork then when the papers arrived I really liked the quality and feel of the paper.

 

 

To me the papers had a bit of a steampunk feel to them and I was inspired by the hot air balloon on the up and away paper, so I altered a box from some chocolates I had at Christmas...step one, buy and eat a box of these - they are delicious!!

For the balloon I used a polystyrene ball which I covered in distressed Nirvana papers. I used some 'rusty wire' to join the balloon to the top of a champagne cork which was my 'balloon basket' and I added an old cog from my metal bits and pieces collection to make the 'burner'.
I covered the box with Up and Away paper and Decorated with Typography paper and elements from the Documented paper as well as some Prima flowers, Tim Holtz film and butterflies punched from the Marion Smith Papers and some scraps of Authentique paper. The wooden clock and the brass cog were from my stash (not sure of the manufacturers). I finished off by distressing with lots of walnut stain ink and added the 'dare to be original' phrase which was made from left over stickers from Mel's Authentique retreat class.
Here is my finished altered box...