From box to fruit bowl

I have been busy trying to create something for the challenges at *Out of a Hat Creations* and *Recycle, Re-purpose and Re-invent*. At out of a hat creations the ladies wanted to see something made out of packaging, and it's anything goes at Recycle, re-Purpose and Re-Invent, so I decided to alter a small wooden box which was filled with yummy biscuits last Xmas. The tray is made out of untreated wood. I sanded it down a bit, as the edges were rough, and then gave it a first coat of gesso.

The second coat was acrylic paint 'Champagne'

Then I added the images, which I downloaded from 'The Graphics Fairy', fussy cut, and then clear varnished. I could have stopped here, but I prefer to give it a worn and battered look.

Then the messy part started - the part I like best. I aged and crackled it, using a 2-component varnish from LeFranc and Bourgeois, and polished over the cracks with some black ink and Inka Gold.

Then it got a coat of matte clear varnish.

And now it's a nice, 'antique' fruit bowl. I suppose I should have photographed it with pears, but the grapes were all I had.

It was fun doing the transformation, and the grapes tasted great. Have a good day you all, and thanks for visiting!