But tin sounds so much better, doesn't it? In fact, it's precisely because this container is a metallicized cardboard box that I started with it: I could easily glue my bits and pieces to the surface. Metal is a little more demanding of its adhesives.
3-3/8" x 5-5/16. 2008. paper—stamps, teabag wrappers, plastic rice cracker wrapper, glue, candy foils, marker.[1]
After tearing off the surface advertising, (well, and cleaning the interior) I used a glue stick to glue assorted visually interesting things, then calligraphed the words coffee/tea/chocolate (3 popular hot beverages that I do in fact drink, and two of which, at least, I figured could be stored inside) to give a more unified all-over surface. I didn't really consider it finished, exactly —I wanted to do some gold stamping, and mebbe some painting—but then I had some cocoa I needed to store, and voila, it was done.
I have bagsful of cocoa and tea boxes I've saved to make cool things out of. I've wanted to do this for years. And, I figure I can sell ’em on etsy (since I don't really need twenty cocoa tins, though tea is another story...I myself pretty much drink genmaicha exclusively, but other members of the household prefer some variation, and of course, there are always guests;)
In effect, I suppose it's a cross between giftwrapping and drawing/painting...
photo 12nov, file 13nov08. added mixedmedia & 2008 tags, 30jun23
red, black, gold and white envelope with callig & doodles 06dec2023
Michigan cherry mixed media
notecard envelope back decoration featuring ten of rods tarot card 26jul2023
real time sympathy note featuring mixed media 13oct2023
mixed media card and letter, april 2023 21jul2023
Mixed media notecard in red featuring vintage b&w photo 19jul2023
red, black and gold mixed media envelope back with some Japanese iconography 18jul2023
mixed media featuring designs with a end-of-the-19ca feel. 22apr2023
spring collage featuring Fran clippings 22mar2023
collage to celebrate spring, flowers and tea (& match a pretty envelope.) 21mar2023
mixed media in aqua with Fran skull... 30jan2023
XX stands for woman. Or mebbe dead(line). Or failure. 11nov2022
mixed media bunny too... 09nov2022
vote themed mixed media envelope (back) 07nov2022
June 3 is World Bicycle Day 03jun2022
art cards for friends. With bunnies! 20mar2022
Sketchbook page: Golden Monkey Tea 12oct2020
Inktober, day 1: mixed media fish 01oct2020
Vote! 03sep2020
cover of a Japanese appointment diary used as a sketchbook 20aug2020
mixed media sketchbook entry. 18aug2020
Playing with Fran gifts 05mar2020
Art supplies go on the paper, not in your mouth 04mar2020
Day 1, coffee shop 2. 03mar2020
The Australian mudhound makes pretty mixed media with silk bits and found objects. 16may2018
I made a journal for NYC. 16may2018
Many years ago I decorated this box with costume jewelry components, going for a rich, encrusted look . Originally posted 03dec08. 03dec2008
With this cocoa tin, I've started on collages, what we now call mixed media, . Originally posted 13nov08. 13nov2008
[1]Since this was so tall, I ganged the photos together. They looked mediocre (and this was the third attempt) before, and now they look even worse, but it's beginner photography to go with beginner collage. Both will improve with time, I'm sure.
Unless otherwise noted, text, image and objects depicted therein copyright 1996--present sylvus tarn.
