Saturday, November 2, 2013

Religious Cross Altar Box


After spending days and days dreamily floating through Rachel Ashwell's new book,
immersed in beautiful bedrooms, enchanting entryways, fabulous flowers,
and luscious living rooms,
needless to say ~ I was in heaven.

As I slowly turned each page, my eyes landed on a beautiful vintage cross altar box.
I remembered that my friends, Tausha and Stephanie had created their own.




I decided to try my hand at making one, too. 
Although I am not Catholic, but a Protestant (brought up in the reformed church),
I loved the vintage look this small altar box had
and knew that it would add a serene, inspiring feeling to Heaven's Walk.

While perusing the aisles at Michael's,
I found a small wooden trinket box,
wood pieces to make a cross.
a thick wood piece for the bottom,
and a thin one for the back.




I glued the thick base onto the box and let it dry for a couple hours.




Next, I glued the thin piece of wood onto the back,
resting on the hinges.
I also used tiny brads to nail it in place to make it sturdier.




I measured out the cross,
cutting off any extra inches for the horizontal piece.
Using tiny brads and nailing in from the back, I secured the two pieces together.




Then, centering the cross on top of the box,
I nailed it from the back to the back piece.




A quick swish of stain, some drying time, 
a splash of white chalk paint,
a bit of distressing ~
and it was completed.




It quietly reminds me of the cross we have up in the front of my church.
During Lent, it is always draped with a swath of white silk.










A gentle reminder that I have so much to be thankful for...




Whispering eucharisteo...


~  Blessings ~


[And in gratitude to all of you, I'm planning a sweet giveaway very soon.
Stay tuned!]



39 comments:

  1. That turned out beautiful. A wonderful daily reminder of the blessing we have in Him.
    Hugs
    Becky

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  2. Beautiful...just like you and your spirit!
    Blessings~

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  3. It's just beautiful Laurie! You did a wonderful job creating it! Love the Inspirational print!
    Hugs to you my friend!!

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  4. Laurie, it is just beautiful! You did such a good job. I love seeing the transformation of simple craft store items to something stunning with so much meaning. You are an inspiration in so many ways!!
    Love and hugs,
    Amy

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  5. That altar box is beautiful! Your work speaks to me. The little box? What do you keep in there, if you don't mind saying? I was wondering about written prayers, photos of loved ones to pray for.. Memories to treasure. Anyway... It is beautiful.

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  6. It's beautiful and inspiring! I use to have a box that I kept written prayers and request in. Time went by and once I opened it and read all of the old prayers and request...it was amazing how many things I asked of God that came to be. Almost everything in the box. God hears our prayers.

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  7. Laurie,
    I adore your cross, dear friend. . .
    and the visual to remind us all to "Give Thanks" everyday!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  8. Laurie, this is so beautiful, and it really does look vintage. what a lovely remembrance, you did a wonderful job creating this!

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  9. Hi Laurie, i am not Catholic but Christian, I have been making altars as scripture read to pray at the altar.
    I made one for Kerrie, and have made many custom orders for my shop and etsy. My altars are of paper mâché, heavy, very heavy constructed, and then a technique I developed that bonds like nothing else of plaster type so I can get this rustic old relic look out of it, my last one was all of paper mâché and much of Kerrie's is of the same, then old paper book ephemera art I use, I love the vintage molds Used to make the Madonna, and the angels, I run beads of old and make them as well, much like my crosses that are all hand molded and sculpted by me that are in my sold etsy.

    Sold 4 pieces in my etsy listed yesterday and sold the same day, this shows you why your altar is a hit, everyone seems to love them.

    Enjoy your peace and calm, love your altars aged feel.

    Working on crosses this week, first I am steam cleaning floors from our new Italian GreyHound Puppy, yikes! What a hand full she is :)

    Lots of lové,
    Xx
    Dore

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  10. You did a fabulous job recreating the vintage altar cross. I too think it's perfect for Heaven's Walk.

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  11. Laurie, I love your new project, you're so talented! (& productive!)
    Thank you for the beautiful dream catchers :) The girls will love them. God bless you! xo

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  12. You are amazing !!! You did a fabulous job and it looks like it belongs together.Thanks for sharing :)

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  13. What a gread idea! Very great job, my dear! I love her vintage altar too, but just a pure love is in what I believe. So have something like that would be weird for me... Maybe I can try to use heart instead of the cross :) Thank you for idea! Have a great autumn days sweetie! xoxo

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  14. This is so beautiful, Laurie. You turned that wood into something inspiring and lovely!

    XO,
    Jane

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  15. oh, laurie, this fits in beautifully with your style--love it! thanks for sharing the how-to's--wouldn't these make great xmas gifts?:)

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  16. So very beautiful Laurie... where does it sit in your home?... I am happy you are creating beautiful things that bring you so much happiness and so many blessings... much love, xoxo Julie Marie

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  17. this serenely beautiful. truly. and does the box portion still open? would make for a lovely prayer box too.....soulfully gorgeous. sigh...

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  18. Beautiful. It has taken me years but so thankful that I can normally see something and feel like I can do my best at trying to make one. You did a great job.

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  19. Great great, you are amazing and soo talented Laurie!!!♥

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  20. You have eyes that can see what others cannot. Beautiful job on the cross and combining all those wood pieces in a way that would have never occurred to me.

    Judith

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  21. Your cross altar box is lovely! I just wanted to point out that a crucifix is a cross with the image of the crucified Christ on it. I am Catholic, and I know that many Protestants do not like to wear Crucifxes, although of course they do wear crosses. It is a beautiful, and holy altar either way, but I just wanted to clarify the difference between the two things. Thanks for sharing it with us.

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  22. Hi Laurie
    I'm a roman catholic and i think it;s great that you enjoy many of our traditions and all the beauty that reminds us of our love for Jesus, rosaries, statues, crosses ect...Thought i would mention it that a crucifix is called a "crucifix" when it has Jesus on it other wise just a cross...Jesus on the cross helps us to remember what he sacrificed for each & every one of us...Always love visiting your inspirational blog...Blessings Lori ~

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  23. Oh Laurie I am LOVING that ..it's just so pretty !
    Gail x

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  24. So pretty, Laurie - that was a wonderful idea to create one inspired by an original one! Thanks so much for sharing it at the Knick of Time Vintage Inspiration party.

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  25. That turned out so beautiful--I love it!

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  27. beautiful beautiful piece you created Laurie. Italian Catholic school girl here...I grew up with my grandmother having a very special altar in her bedroom & I as well have my own little sacred altar next to my bedside. I use to hide underneath the draped fabric that cover her altar & would play for hours there..those are the moments I will always cherish. I love seeing all the religious items I grew up with recreated and loved by so many..I don't think you have to be Catholic to love beautiful things. thanks for sharing..xoxooLaura

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  28. its beautiful and you displayed it so elegantly too. God Bless and Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. You help to make it so much fun.♥

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  29. Simply beautiful! Thank you for always being such an inspiration. I've mentioned you as my Favorite Blog of the Week on my sidebar. Huge blessings to you, Patti

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  30. Laurie this is perfect for Heaven's Walk! Looks beautiful in your home. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  31. What a beautiful addition to your home or to any home.

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  32. Opening your blog is like opening a present. Your words and your pictures are beautiful. Thank you so much.

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  33. Oh Laurie! This is incredibly beautiful! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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Bless you and thank you for visiting! I read each of your comments and treasure them all. So, please make sure your settings will accept emails, or leave your email address so that I can reply! ♥ Laurie