EASTER IN A SHADOW BOX :FILLING THE BOX

FILLING THE BOX

SECTION TWO:

DELIVERING THE EGGS

Did you ever wonder how the Bunnies got the eggs they needed for Easter?  Well now you know and what a perfect subject to fill the 2^nd section in our Shadow Box.

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The Rabbit:

Make a copy of the rabbit image onto matte presentation paper using best printer settings.  Carefully cut the image out that is facing right.  Cut the rabbit’s right arm from the front edge of the image to up past the elbow, following the black line.  Using the edge of a black permanent marker pen, color the very cut edges of the image.  Set aside

SET TO PRINT AT 3.27"W X 3.02"H

PRINT ONTO MATTE PRESENTATION PAPER

USING BEST SETTINGS

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The Background:

SET TO PRINT AT 10" W X 3.8" H

PRINT ONTO MATTE PRESENTATION PAPER

USING BEST SETTINGS

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In my shadow box this section is 5 ½” w x 2 ½” deep.  A matte presentation paper copy of a vintage landscape was used as the background.  If you choose to use the same one this is what I did: I trimmed the sky area from the printie; around the trees I made slightly jagged cuts. I tried the cutout out in box with the left edge of the printie even with the left front edge of the section being decorated and clipped it in place to hold.  The printie in the back left corner curves around it rather than being glued in the corner, adding dimension.  With the curve in place I smoothed the printie to the right corner and marked where it would be creased to fit in that corner.  I then smoothed the printie to the right front edge and marked it with a crease.  I removed the printie and made a sharp crease for the right corner and trimmed the right side to the marked size.  If you hold the right side of the printie to the right side of the section it will be placed in, you will notice that it would extend out over the edge of the shelf and does not look quite right.  To solve this I trimmed the lower right corner of the printie back from the edge (see photo).

Looking at the left side of the printie, about a third of the way up from the bottom you will see a black line-like image.  Slice a slit across this line; this will be where the rabbit will be inserted.  Insert the rabbit so his hand is outside of the background and hold with a clip, trim off the bottom of rabbit that extends beyond the bottom of the background.  Place the background in the box; hold with a clip for a try-on. The rabbit should look somewhat like he is standing behind a hedge with his right hand extending out a bit so he can hold a basket. Adjust as necessary.  

Remove background printie.  Glue lower half of rabbit in place on back of printie. 

Cut a piece of adhesive-backed moss (this product is available in craft ((Michaels)), model railroad and floral stores, although it is not a must ((model railroad landscaping sheets or foam   http://www.amazon.com/Woodland-scenics-green-grass may also be used)) but the adhesive backed moss is so easy to work with)  to fit on the area of the background in front of the rabbit to  enhance the hedge look.

When your background is prepared glue it into the box by the left front edge, the right corner and right side.  Use a quality glue stick.   Lay the box on its back and dab tacky glue over the foliage on the trees in the center of the back ground.  Sprinkle model railroad, blended green turf  

http://www.amazon.com/Blended-Turf-Shaker   over the glue and pat it lightly.  Before the glue has set use a toothpick to slightly open up some of the areas.  This will add more dimension to the scene.  Tap the back of the box slightly to shake off any excess turf and clean box of any excess.

Cut a piece of the adhesive moss to fit the shelf and press on place.  Adhere some bits and pieces to the shelf’s front edge.

You may choose to add some tiny decorative flowers in front of the “hedge” for a bit of color and added interest.  For ease, I purchased mine ready made but one could easily make them using railroad flower landscaping material http://www.amazon.com/Scene-A-Rama-Scenery-Bags-Flowers  and fine wire.  

Glue a tiny woven basket into the rabbit’s hand.

The Cart:

You may choose to cut your own wood for the cart or do as I did and use Woodsies, pre-cut pieces…they come in oh so handy for fast little wood projects.

If you cut your own wood pieces use the measurements given on the photo. 

Glue the face of the ends to the edges of the bottom.  Glue the face of the sides to the edges of the bottom and ends.  Make sure all is squared-up and set aside until glue has set.  Sand all surfaces smooth. 

Cut a 1/16” wide strip of matte presentation paper (a good way to use up scraps left over from printies) and glue it around the top and bottom outside face of the cart.

Paint inside and out with 2 light coats of acrylic paint in color of your choice…I used a barn red.  When the paint has dried antique with a medium wash of brown acrylic and Delta’s Gel Stain Medium http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=delta+gel+stain+medium.  Paint on the wash and wipe back off while it is still wet, in the direction wood grain would go.  When all is dry you may sand a bit here and there for an aged look.

Make cart sign printies on matte presentation paper using best printer settings.  Cut out.  Color the edges with a black permanent marking pen.  Glue signs to sides of cart, just under the top trim and centered side to side.

To make the two wheels, punch eight, ½” rounds for each wheel from a scrap of matte presentation paper.  Stack together, evenly, using a quality glue stick.  From the same paper, punch out a decorative spoke the same as or similar to the one shown and 1/8” rounds.  Center the spoke on the front of the wheel, and the round centered on it.  Centered on the back side of each wheel, drill or file out a hole, wide enough to take the blunt end of a round toothpick and deep enough to hold it in place a bit.   Paint the wheels a deep green and antique with the same wash used for the cart.  Color the edges of the wheels and the center round with black permanent marker pen.  You may also choose to Very lightly rub on some silver Rub ‘n Buff.

For the axle, measure across the bottom of your cart, side to side, and cut a round toothpick (points cut off)1/8” longer than this measurement .  Paint it black and when dry glue the ends into the recesses in the back of the wheels.  Glue the completed wheel assembly across the underside of the cart, centered evenly each way

Fill the cart with eggs following egg instructions given in filling section one of the shadow box.  You may use a fill in the bottom of the cart and just top with a layer or eggs.

The Rooster:

The rooster I used is from Safari LTD Toob Down ON THE FARM  http://www.amazon.com/Safari-LTD-Down-Farm-Toob .This comes with a variety of animals and  the nicest rooster I could find for the price.  Note: the Safari roosters sold separately are too large and the Farm animal Toob rooster is not as nice.  I painted his comb and feet and antiqued his white feathers a bit.

For the harness, cut a strip of very thin leather, suede, cording or ribbon 1/16” to 3/32” wide.  Glue a piece around the chest from side to side.  Glue another piece from the ends of the first piece, up and over the rooster’s back, just below the neck area.    Cut two lengths of very thin bamboo sticks ( look for bamboo runner, etc. at 2^nd hand store…the wood is great because of its strength when cut very thin).  If you can’t find the bamboo you may choose to use lengths of wire.  

Cut lengths that will reach from the side of your rooster where the two parts of the harness touch to the side of the cart…the length will depend on how far you want your rooster from your cart.  Tie a knot of your harness material on one end of each of the sticks approx. 1/16” from the front end.  Hold the knot with glue and cut off all excess, leaving just the knot.  Glue the knot over the area on the rooster where the two harness parts meet, to cover it…use tacky glue so there is some flex in it and attach the other end to the side of the cart, as shown in photo.  You can adjust where the stick touches the cart if needed to make sure the rooster and cart line up. Should you use a different rooster.

For fun, add a few chicks (follow directions given in section one of filling the cart) on the cart who have hitched a ride with their dad.

Add the cart to you scene so the rooster and rabbit are looking at each other.

Now that the Easter Bunny has his eggs he is getting ready to prepare them for Easter…which will be the subject of Section 3 of the Shadow Box.

See you soon,

Joann