Craft Your Own Enchanting DIY Mixed Media French Chocolate Shrine

Greetings, fellow craft enthusiasts and chocolate lovers! Rebecca from The Bookery is thrilled to share an absolutely delightful and uniquely charming DIY project with you today: a Mixed Media Shrine dedicated to the irresistible allure of French Chocolat. This project isn’t just a craft; it’s a celebration, a homage to the rich history and exquisite taste of fine chocolate, all while creatively utilizing the beautiful vintage images from The Graphics Fairy. I truly believe I delved deep into every single Black and White Advertising graphic within the French Typography category for this particular creation – and it was pure joy! This makes for a perfect, heartfelt gift for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or any special occasion for the devoted chocolate aficionado in your life. Best of all, it’s an accessible and incredibly fun project to bring to life. Let’s create something truly special!

Essential Materials for Your French Chocolate Shrine Project

Gathering your supplies is the first exciting step in any creative endeavor. For this elegant mixed media shrine, we’ll be combining various textures and elements to evoke an antique, luxurious feel, reminiscent of an old-world French chocolaterie. Many of these items you might already have in your crafting stash, making this a budget-friendly project as well.

• **Graphics Fairy Images:** Printed on quality paper, ready to be cut or torn to size. These vintage illustrations are the soul of our French Chocolate Shrine.
• **House Shaped Shadow Box:** This forms the foundational structure of your shrine, providing depth and a charming architectural element. The “house” shape adds to the whimsical nature of the project.
• **Burnt Sienna Acrylic Paint:** A rich, earthy tone perfect for creating an aged, warm base for your shrine. This color helps set the vintage mood.
• **Dark Brown Folk Art Acrylic Paint:** Essential for depth, shading, and simulating the decadent color of chocolate itself.
• **1″ Artist Brush:** A versatile brush for applying paint and glazes smoothly and efficiently.
• **White Glue (PVA Glue):** Your primary adhesive for paper and wood. School glue is usually perfect for this.
• **Old Credit Card or Loyalty Card:** An indispensable tool for smoothing out papers, removing air bubbles, and ensuring a pristine, wrinkle-free finish on your collage work.
• **Distress Ink (e.g., “Old Paper” shade):** Crucial for adding an authentic, aged look to the edges of your cut or torn images, mimicking the patina of time.
• **Golden Fluid Matte Medium (for glazing):** This medium will be used to create a subtle, antique glaze over your finished paper elements, blending everything together beautifully.
• **Old Lint-Free Rag:** A well-worn washcloth or soft cloth is ideal for gently buffing and manipulating glazes without leaving fibers.
• **Optional: Distress Ink Spray (e.g., “Wild Honey”):** For an even more pronounced antique effect, especially on larger paper surfaces or to achieve a uniform aged tint.
• **Hand-Dyed Antique Lace:** Adds a touch of delicate elegance and vintage charm. Use what you have or tea-dye some new lace for an aged look.
• **Stickers, Beads, Baubles from Your Stash:** This is where your personal creativity shines! Raid your craft supplies for small decorative elements that complement the French chocolate theme. Think tiny hearts, pearls, or metallic accents.
• **4 x 3/4″ Wooden Balls:** These will serve as the charming “feet” for your shrine, elevating it and adding a decorative touch. Adjust size if your box is larger.
• **Copper Gilding Wax:** To give your wooden feet a luxurious, metallic sheen, making them resemble gourmet bonbons. Gold wax would also be stunning.
• **E6000 Industrial Strength Adhesive:** A robust glue essential for securely attaching the wooden feet and any heavier embellishments.

DIY Mixed Media Shrine Craft Project Tutorial: Step-by-Step Indulgence

Ahhh, chocolate! Please bear with me as I fully immerse myself in my chocolate obsession by crafting this beautiful piece. I sincerely hope that many of you share this delightful affliction and will thoroughly enjoy creating this charming and relatively easy mixed media shrine. We’ll embark on a journey of artistic expression, encompassing paper tearing and cutting, strategic gluing, deliberate aging of papers, intricate embellishing, subtle stenciling, and the application of glazes to impart a timeless, antique character to the entire project. Let’s dive in and bring this yummy vision to life!

Step 1: Preparing Your Vintage Graphics and Printable Images

The foundation of our shrine lies in the captivating imagery. Begin by printing your chosen images from The Graphics Fairy. I’ve carefully curated a printable sheet specifically for chocolate lovers, designed to fit a standard shadow box. You have the flexibility to enlarge or reduce these images as needed to perfectly suit the dimensions of your specific shrine box. Of course, while these instructions guide you through creating a French chocolate-themed shrine, feel free to adapt the theme to honor anything your heart desires! You can download the exclusive TGF Shrine Printable HERE to get started!

Once printed, it’s time to carefully cut and/or tear out all your images. For this project, I opted for a combination of techniques: I only “fussy cut” the intricate crown element for a precise outline, while everything else was artfully torn using my favorite Paper Tearing Techniques. I previously shared a detailed tutorial on these techniques HERE, which can provide excellent guidance for achieving beautiful, soft edges. The printable kit thoughtfully includes:

• **Focal Images and Crown:** These are the central pieces that will draw the eye within your shrine.
• **A background image with subtle drop shadows:** Sized to complement the specific shadow box I am using, but easily adjustable to fit your unique box. This provides immediate depth.
• **Long strips, approximately 11″ wide:** Perfect for wrapping around the edges or creating layered textures. (Note: actual print size may be slightly smaller due to printer margins.)
• **Three columns of elegant French Handwriting:** These add an authentic Parisian touch and are ideal for covering the roof and outer sides of your shrine.
• **Random decorative images:** A collection of versatile images ready for collage, allowing you to adorn and personalize your shrine in any way you envision. Let your creativity flow and have fun with the arrangement!

Decorating Your Mixed Media Shrine: Bringing the Vision to Life

Before we begin applying our beautiful papers, let’s prepare the shadow box itself. If your shadow box comes with a hanger on the back, carefully remove it. Make sure to place those tiny screws and the hanger in a safe, designated spot – you might want to reattach them later, or use them for another project! (Refer to the left image for visual guidance). Next, we’ll establish a rich, warm base for the interior. Paint the entire inside of your shadow box with the burnt sienna acrylic paint (as shown in the center image).

PRO TIP for Clean Edges: To maintain impeccably clean edges, always pull your loaded brush from the inside of the box *towards* the edge. As you approach the edge, gently lift your brush, allowing only the very tips of the bristles to remain in contact with the surface. This technique prevents paint from bleeding over. (See the right image for the desired outcome). Should you accidentally get any paint on the outside edge, wipe it away immediately with a damp cloth or, once dry, gently sand it off. Remember, you’ll be applying light-colored papers over these edges, and any dark smudges could potentially show through. Allow the paint to dry completely before proceeding.

When it comes to covering the exterior of the box with paper, there’s a deliberate and highly effective process to follow. Each step is designed to flow sequentially, ensuring that the edges of a previous wrap are neatly concealed by the subsequent layer. This methodical approach will result in a seamless and polished finish. Don’t worry, it will all make perfect sense as we progress through the steps. Of course, if you’re a fan of freestyle collage and prefer a more organic, layered look, feel absolutely free to improvise! The final result will be beautiful regardless of your approach.

Step 2: Covering the Back of Your Shrine

Begin by collaging the entire back surface of your shadow box using any of the printable images that inspire you. I recommend using a good quality white glue that is suitable for both wood and paper, ensuring a strong and lasting bond. (See the left image for reference.)

PRO TIP for a Professional Finish: As you apply each image to the back, extend and wrap a small portion of the paper, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch, onto the sides of the box. This simple technique creates a beautifully finished edge, giving your shrine a professional, wrapped appearance rather than a stark, cut edge. (Observe the center image for illustration.)

Once your images are in place, gently smooth and burnish the entire back surface with an old credit card or a similar firm, flat object. This crucial step ensures there are no loose areas, unsightly wrinkles, or trapped air bubbles beneath the paper, resulting in a perfectly adhered and smooth finish. (The right image demonstrates this smoothing action.)

NOTE: The pre-designed strips included in your printable kit are an excellent choice for covering the back, offering a cohesive and stylish look if you prefer a more uniform background.

Step 3: Covering the Roof and Sides with Vintage French Script

The roof of your shrine offers another wonderful opportunity to showcase the elegant French handwritten script. For a truly integrated look, the roof images will wrap seamlessly to the inside of the shadow box. Cut the French Handwritten Script paper about 1/2 inch larger than the actual roof dimensions at both the top and bottom. This extra margin is vital, as it allows the paper to wrap gracefully over the peak of the roof and down the side of the box. Carefully trim the side of the script paper to fit flush against the back of the roof; there’s no need to wrap it to the back of the box, as that area is already beautifully decorated. Remember to leave approximately a 1/2 inch or so of overlap to wrap over the front edge of the roof, creating a clean finish. (Refer to the left image for visual guidance).

To ensure a smooth, crisp wrap around corners, cut a small notch out of the paper at the corners. This prevents bulkiness and allows the paper to fold cleanly to the front. Now, apply glue to the first roof piece and carefully position it. Wrap the excess edges at the top peak and down the side, securing it firmly. (See the center image for the wrapping process). For the second roof piece, follow the same cutting instructions as above, but in reverse, mirroring the first side. Ensure the top edge of this second script image aligns perfectly with the top peak line of the roof; this side will not wrap over the very top. Again, remember to notch the corners for an easy, smooth wrap. (The right image illustrates the cutting and alignment.)

Finally, cover the side panels of your shrine with any complementary images you love from the printable collection. Use the side of the box as a precise template to cut your chosen images to the exact size for the top, bottom, and back edges. Just like with the roof, leave a slight overlap – typically about 1/2 inch – to extend and neatly fold over the front edge of the box. Once all your papers are glued in place, allow ample time for all the adhesive to dry completely, ensuring a strong and lasting bond.

Step 4: Placing Your Shrine’s Focal Images and Delicate Details

With the exterior of your shrine beautifully covered, it’s time to focus on the interior and the captivating focal points. To achieve that coveted vintage aesthetic, begin by gently aging the edges of your primary focal image and the smaller side images using distress ink. The “Old Paper” shade works wonders for imparting a subtle, time-worn patina. (See the left image for how this adds character to the paper edges.)

Next, carefully position your main focal image within the shrine’s interior and securely glue it into place. Repeat this process for the smaller images designated for the side panels, ensuring they are perfectly aligned and smoothed. Then, with precision, glue the elegant crown element into its desired position, usually above the main focal image, to add a regal touch. (The center image shows the placement of these key elements.)

To further enhance the antique charm and frame your central image beautifully, add delicate hand-dyed lace or even lace-patterned stickers around its edges. This not only provides a soft, elegant border but also integrates various textures, enriching the mixed media aspect of your shrine. (Observe the right image for the graceful addition of lace.) These thoughtful details will make your shrine truly unique and visually captivating.

Step 5: Antiquing the Outside with a Custom Glaze

Now, let’s give the exterior of your shrine a beautifully aged, time-worn appearance. In a small container, mix approximately 1 tablespoon of Golden Fluid Matte Medium (our liquid gel) with just a few drops of real brown acrylic paint. Stir this mixture thoroughly until the color is evenly blended. To achieve a workable, slightly runny consistency perfect for glazing, add about 5 drops of water to the mixture. (The left image illustrates the preparation of this antiquing glaze.)

Apply this custom glaze evenly to the back and sides of your shrine using your artist brush. Work in manageable sections. Immediately after applying, take your lint-free rag and quickly rub and dab the glaze to soften it. This technique allows you to control the intensity of the aging effect. You can choose to leave as much glaze as you like for a deeper antique look, or gently remove more for a subtle hint of age. The artistic choice is entirely yours! My goal was to give the bright white of the paper a slightly warmer, older appearance. (The center image demonstrates the application and dabbing process.) You can clearly see how this glaze subtly transforms the pristine white of the paper, imparting a beautiful, aged quality in the right image below. We’re aiming for just a whisper of history here, not an overwhelming darkness. Feel empowered to be creative with this step! If you happen to have Distress Sprays, such as “Wild Honey,” you can use them to further enhance and deepen this antiquing effect, adding layers of rich, vintage color.

Step 6: Final Touches and Embellishing Your Mixed Media Shrine

This is arguably the most enjoyable part of the entire project – the embellishing! Let’s start with those adorable wooden ball feet. Paint your 3/4″ wooden balls to resemble delectable chocolate truffles. I recommend using the Burnt Sienna acrylic paint as a rich basecoat, allowing the warmth of the color to shine through. While these “bon bon” feet are drying, turn your attention to the shrine itself and unleash your creativity with embellishments. Is there such a thing as too much embellishment? Absolutely not! More is often more in mixed media art.

Once the feet are completely dry, take a small amount of copper gilding wax (or gold, for an equally luxurious look) and gently rub it onto strategic areas of the wooden balls. This metallic luster will transform them, making them truly sparkle like gourmet chocolate bonbons. Finally, using the strong E6000 glue, securely attach these charming feet to the bottom corners of your shadow box, giving your shrine a solid and elegant foundation.

Embellishing is genuinely where the magic happens and your unique artistic voice comes through. Here’s a glimpse into how I completed my shrine, offering inspiration for your own creation. First, I added a subtle layer of dimension to the roof by stenciling tiny diamond patterns. Once the paint dried, I carefully applied small gold heart stickers, which perfectly mimic the luxurious appearance of gold leaf chocolates. I then scoured my stash for a variety of French-themed stickers and delicate jewels – these additions fit seamlessly onto and within my shrine, enhancing its thematic coherence. For an extra element of whimsical deliciousness, I crafted miniature chocolate candies and bonbons using polymer clay and strategically placed them inside. To add a final touch of sparkle and allure, I sprinkled a touch of rusty-colored glitter inside the shrine, creating a beautiful shimmer. My best advice for this stage: shop your existing craft stash! You’ll be amazed at what treasures you can find to accentuate your piece, adding personal flair and unique character.

Conclusion: Your Beautiful French Chocolate Shrine Awaits!

I sincerely hope you’ve had as much fun and creative satisfaction as I did bringing this enchanting DIY Mixed Media Shrine to French Chocolate to life. Oh La La au Chocolat! This project is more than just a craft; it’s a delightful journey into mixed media art, a chance to express your love for vintage aesthetics and the irresistible charm of fine French chocolate. Remember, the beauty of mixed media lies in its versatility and the opportunity to infuse your unique personality into every detail.

For those eager to expand their crafting and digital art skills, I also create engaging Photoshop Elements tutorials and a variety of craft project videos, all available over on The Graphics Fairy Premium Membership site. There, you’ll discover a wealth of resources to fuel your creative passions. And for even more of my art, inventive DIYs, and whimsical shenanigans, be sure to visit The Bookery, which launched in Summer 2019! We’re always exploring new ways to inspire and create.

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