By Judi Kauffman

I’d like to say thank you to Erin Sparler for inviting me to be EyeConnect Crafts’ first guest designer.

I’ve been a fan of the Totem Poppets ever since I first laid eyes on them and that’s what I chose for my Seaside Mini Crate project.It’s easy to make, and lots of fun to change and customize. You can feature a single Poppet on each side, the way I did, or just one on the side you designate as the front. Switch from sea creatures to whatever you like best. Add a row of ducks or let some cats climb around the crate. Go for elephants or wolves. Leave the ends unadorned or fill every possible inch of space on all sides! You get the idea – there are endless possibilities. The crate measures 4” high x 5” deep x 6” long, a handy size that doesn’t take up much space. Once you’ve finished your crate, use it to hold cards, markers, or fill it with paper shreds and bars of soap, candies, or other treats to present as a gift.

 

Ocean Themed DIY Crate

INSTRUCTIONS – POPPETS

1. Before removing the pieces from the surrounding chipboard: Paint the Jellyfish with Snow (Titanium) White paint, and with a dry brush add touches of Bahama Blue to the edges of the pieces. Paint the Octopus with Antique Rose and add touches of Bahama Blue to the edges of the pieces. Paint the Crab with Bahama Blue and add touches of Antique Rose to the edges of the pieces. Use a Gold Metallic Paint Pen to paint the Starfish pieces. When the paint is dry, remove the pieces and trim or sand away the little nubs that connected the shapes to the chipboard. Keep the chipboard for the BONUS project!

(*Optional: Paint both sides of the Poppets if you’d like the back of each one to look the same as the front – Because they extend past the top and sides of the crate, the backs will be visible when the crate is empty.)

PoppetCrate4 PoppetCrate3
2. Assemble each Poppet using brads or eyelets to connect the pieces. Note: I chose 3/8” brads so that the connecting points are prominent decorative elements (and easy to see in the photos). The Brads on the Jellyfish are glittery! If you prefer to have connections less prominent, use 1/16” eyelets from EyeConnect Crafts or go for some itty bitty brads.

3. Use Yellow 7mm Cat’s Eye stickers for the Octopus’s eyes; use Yellow 7mm Lure Eye stickers for the eyes on the Jellyfish, Crab and Starfish. (*Stickers are available in other colors – your sea creatures can have blue, green, gray or brown eyes if you prefer.)

Totem Octopus on the Crate

INSTRUCTIONS – CRATE

1. Basecoat the crate with French Gray Blue acrylic paint. Allow the paint to dry, sand, and apply a second coat.

2. From Light Blue Iridescent Shimmer Sheetz, cut two 4” x 5” pieces and two 5” x 6” pieces. Alter the pieces with Baja Blue and Rich Gold alcohol inks, using an ink applicator to daub on the color to create a mottled effect.

3. Put double-sided adhesive sheet on the back of the altered Shimmer Sheetz. Cut one 5” x 6” piece into five 1” x 6” strips. Cut two more 1” x 6” strips from the second 5” x 6” piece. (Save the scraps for other projects). Trace the end of the crate onto paper. Use this template to cut the two pieces for the end of the crate.

4. Remove the backing from the adhesive sheet and adhere the strips to the slats and ends of the crate.

5. Add glittery 1.5” wide mesh ribbon around the bottom of the crate. Refer to photos for placement.

Ocean Themed DIY Crate

FINISHING THE PROJECT
Position the Poppets with the Crab and Starfish on the short ends of the crate, the Octopus and Jellyfish on the slatted sides. When you’re pleased with the arrangement, use strong hold Power Tabs to permanently adhere the Poppets.

 
BONUS PROJECT
PoppetCrate6
Layer the painted scraps, use a Tiny Attacher to staple the pieces, and create an abstract collage*! Back with heavy black cardstock or matte finish board. Trim the piece to a standard size if you want to frame your creation or use an easel-back and omit the frame. Options: Keep going – Add more paint, journaling, found objects, and other elements. (*For my collage: The leftovers from the Crab are the bottom layer, topped  with the scraps from the Jellyfish. I cut a section of the leftovers from the Octopus to use for the top layer, and once everything was stapled I trimmed it down to 5.25” x 6”.)
Abstract Layered Bonus Project

 

SUPPLIES

  • EyeConnect Crafts – Totem Poppets Octopus, Jellyfish, Crab, Starfish
  • Elizabeth Craft Designs – Shimmer Sheetz in Light Blue Iridescent, Double-sided Adhesive sheets in 5” x 12” (Adhesive sheets match the size of the Shimmer Sheetz),
  • Walnut Hollow – Rustic Pallet Mini Crate #23873, www.walnuthollow.com
  • DecoArt – Americana Acrylics in French Blue Gray, Bahama Blue, Antique Rose, Snow (Titanium) White
  • Sakura of American – Pen-Touch Opaque Paint pen in Gold
  • Jacquard Products – Pinata Color Alcohol Inks in Baja Blue and Rich Gold
  • Stanislaus Imports – 7mm Lure Eye and 7mm Cat’s Eye Stickers in Yellow (or color of choice) www.lasioux.com
  • Other – Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher (idea-ology); Tim Holtz ink applicator (Ranger Industries); Power Tabs (Tombow); Craft knife, straight edge and cutting mat (of choice)