Boxes, paper, clay and paint = amazing

Good morning folks.
Today I thought I'd share with you the trio of boxes that I've recently done as a two part class with a lovely group of ladies. I'll warn you now that this is a marathon post with plenty of visual inspiration so settle in with a cuppa........There are a couple of before and during pics just to give you an idea of where we started then the pics of my finished boxes.
Just to give you an idea. This is where the transformation began; just playing with, paper, card, clay and die cuts.

Stage one kind of ended up looking rather hmmmmmm, not sure..... but just keep on playing and adding.

I love the way that the pediments make great corner details

Then, out come the DecoArt Americana acrylics and layers of base colours go on, mixed and blended to create a rather scary effect.

I can hear you now, your're thinking yuck, looks like something my kid does at kindergarten........ persevere folks, it does get better. These are the finished boxes

They look a bit different now don't they? Everything transformed by adding layers of scrubbed and drybrushed warm white which fades and blends the bright undercolours into something much more subtle

 By varying the amount of white paint you can change the intensity of the colour. The smaller box has the most white and the larger box the least.

 The Dry brushing gives a lovely look to the surface, it brings out the details beautifully, I love it.

 Everything has been covered in layers of colourwash using DecoArt Traditions, Transparent Red Iron Oxide and Blue Green Light which further ties everything together and adds shadowed areas where it dries darker.

 Top box.

 Centre box

Detail from the bottom box.
Most of the flowers, leaves and other shapes have been made just from copier paper but the addition of all the paint makes them robust and hardwearing.
Are you still awake there;  hopefully I've inspired you to see what you can create with a box, paper and paint...........