Two Mad Dahlias: Leo and Shelly- love at first sight

This month over at the Emerald Creek Dare blog we are having a Surf and Turf challenge. Here is my quirky take. Meet Leo and Shelly. As soon as they saw one another they knew it was love.

A little while back I created this stage.

It made me think of old circus sideshows. I created the project I am sharing today to add to the cast of characters.

I started with my Tim Holtz vignette box and gave it a quick wash of watered down white acrylic paint.

I added a layer of Fractured Ice embossing powder.

Doesn't it look like wood that has been exposed to the elements for too long?

The front edges of the box got a layer of Charred Gold.

For the inside of the box I used Distress Mixed Media Heavy stock paper. I stamped my Fresh Picked Rose Stamp using Hydrangea Archival Ink.

Using my Distress Oxides I colored the Roses(Worn Lipstick, Mowed Lawn, Broken China) and then added a bunch of Vintage Photo to make it look weathered.

I wanted the background to look like water stained old wallpaper.

The rest came down to details.

Shelly's shell head is the Cerith Seashell Stamp. I stamped it on shrink plastic and colored it using my Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks.

I have no idea where this image came from, but I love it! I added a little resin rose for the added touch of dapper.

The finials are covered with Charred Gold and Distress Crayon to take some of the shine off. The big charm is the Handmade charm just turned around with a clipping sticker on it. The same Oxide inks I used on the background are on the sticker. A teeny key and lock charm are tied on with blue twine.