Thursday 5 March 2009

Make a Wish

Over on the Bubbly Funk forum, Karen has decided we need to be challenged out of our pure papercraft zone! The first challenge is to alter a tin. I scratched my head for a while as I didn't fancy tackling the great big tin that had amaretti biscuits in it last Christmas and then remembered I'd bought a little candle in a tin in Poundstretcher a while ago, intending to turn it into a little Christmas gift but didn't get round to it.

I'm going to start here with "things I have learned about tomato paste". I made a card last week using a tomato paste tube and uploaded it to Splitcoaststampers. I was feeling quite pleased with myself as I remembered to call in "tomato paste" rather than the more typically British term "tomato puree". Little did I realise that its name was the least of the differences!

Tomato paste in the US typically comes in cans so most people had no clue what I'd used. I did a little research and apparently some Italian grocery stores stock it in tubes and I even tracked it down on Amazon.com in the "gourmet foods" section - so, if you're reading this in North America and want to get your hands on this stuff, you now know where to try! It's much less wasteful than a can if you're cooking for small numbers, BTW - just pop the top back on and put it in the fridge for next time.

So, all that was by way of telling you that I used a tomato paste tube here! Just snip the top and bottom off your empty tube with kitchen scissors then slit up one side. Flatten it out and wash it and you're ready to go. I have yet to meet a tube that was not a rich gold colour inside - the acid from the tomatoes apparently oxidises the metal and turns it that colour. The circle for the lid here is cut with a Nestie and the whole lot is embossed and then sponged with Stazon which is then polished off the high spots. It's all glued down with Bostick.

I stamped a plain Prima hydrangea with a script stamp and sponged the edges with Vintage Photo ink.

Stamps (Cornish Heritage Farms):
Spanish Script backgrounder
Birthday Centers

Ink:
Stazon by Tsukineko (Timber Brown)
Tim Holtz Distress by Ranger (Vintage Photo)

Other:
Candle tin
Tomato paste tube

Cuttlebug Embossing folder (Textile Texture)
Hydrangea by Prima Marketing
Vintage button
Classic Circle Nestabilities by Spellbinder
Linen thread


If you're blowing out a candle today, don't forget to make a wish! Thanks for stopping by!

11 comments:

Karen said...

Its just so pretty Joanne! Interesting about the tube not being readily available in the U.S. tho. X

Hazel said...

Superb! x

Morti said...

Excellent! Lovely work... I've used Tomato puree tubes too, they're a fab source of metal, especially if you get through a lot of puree in your cooking!

Darlene said...

You are amazingly talented Joanne ... I would have NEVER thought to use these products and make something so Beautiful!! Great job ... thanks for the info!!

Hazel said...

It looks brilliant! Interesting that the tube metal is gold, my problem with the drinks cans is that they are always silver. Off to check how low our tubes are in the fridge :)

Kathy said...

oh wow! what a fab post, Joanne - the things you learn in blogworld! I think my current tube of tomatoe puree is almost finished so maybe I should have a try - though I know my results would never be anything like as fabulous as yours. This tin looks amazing

Anonymous said...

Your tin looks gorgeous Joanne!

Traceyr said...

Brilliant, so classy. :)

Sue said...

What a lovely rich colour you have on this Joanne.
Sue x

Kaz said...

I love this tin Joanne, it's so classy.

Carol Ann said...

Beautiful tin Joanne. I have never heard of using a tomato paste tube it is a really good idea and works so well.