Easter DIORAMA for the Magnolia-licious Easter-Spring Extravaganza Contest

I am FINALLY finished with my Easter Diorama for the Magnolia-licious Easter-Spring Extravaganza Contest-Category 3 Anything but a Card (click on the link to see the different categories and rules). It's been in the making for several weeks now. I've actually had a DIORAMA idea in my head for a while (since Christmas) and have wanted to make one. Did you ever have to make one in elementary school?? Apparently, it's a popular project that teachers assign, and you can find some really awesome ideas on-line. They even have kits at various craft stores. I bought a Diorama kit, but ended up not using it. I was going to try to make some realistic-looking foliage, bushes, trees, etc., but the colors didn't really match. I'll save it for a future project. I'm sure I'll use it for something. :)

I started my Diorama project with a white Coach shoe box and painted the outside with FolkArt Fresh Foliage Acrylic Paint. Then I covered the outside with Easter Polka Dot dp from The Paper Studio. Let me tell you.....to save time, it's probably a better idea to start with a photo box/shoe box that is already nicely decorated on the outside. I don't know why I didn't think of that before I started my project, LOL! It took me forever to paint and cover the outside of that box!

On the inside of the shoe box, I painted the top half with FolkArt Deep Ocean Blue Acrylic Paint and the bottom half with FolkArt Fresh Foliage Acrylic Paint. I used the Sheep dp from American Traditional Designs Welcome Baby Boy paper pack and created the background scene. I cut the clouds out from a sheet of paper in the same pack. The grass dp is Creative Imaginations John Deere that I got from my local scrapbook store.

Creating the scene for the Diorama was pretty easy. The hard part was coloring all those Tilda and Edwin images.....22 TOTAL!! (pic only shows 20) It took me forever to color and embellish each one! Since I used stickles, flower soft, and glossy accents on pretty much everything, I also had to factor in drying time. You can purchase these cutie patootie images from Diana at Magnolia-licious.

To further complicate things, I decided to make some of my images into standing paper dolls. I cut thin aluminum siding into strips and glue them to the back of my images. Everything on the inside of the box is glued down. All the images on the top of the box and on the outside of the box are movable. There is a magnet sheet under the dp on the top of the box and under the grass dp on the box lid, and there are little magnets on the bottom of each movable image.

Here's a picture of the entire Easter Diorama put together:

I hope you enjoy viewing the tons of pictures that are about to follow....grab a cup of coffee/tea first because you may be here for a little while, LOL! When I finally finished it, my little boy said, "Oooooh Momma, it's booootiful! Can I have it?" Ummmmm........(thinking of good excuse)....well baby, this is for someone else, but I'll make you something to play with that has Batman and Robin....haha! (Now, I've got to get that Cricut cartridge!) It did make my heart feel good that he and the hubby loved it!

Here we go! You can click on the pictures for a larger view.
Inside of shoe box:

Close up of left inside:

I glued little mini eggs to the inside of the wooden wheelbarrow. All the wooden chairs/benches came from the miniature doll area of Hobby Lobby. The yellow fuzzy chicks came from the Easter craft section of Hobby Lobby. The little mini chick & green grass are Easter buttons. I clipped of the back of the button loop and glued the little mini chick to the grass. The tulips and watering can are also buttons.

Closeup of right inside:

There is a basket of larger, glittered eggs behind Dreamy Tilda. The bunnies also came from the miniature doll area of Hobby Lobby. The yellow butterfly on the basket handle is a button as well as the little purple flowers at Edwin's feet.

Scene on top of the shoe box:

The metal flower sign came from the Easter section of Hobby Lobby. I added a Happy Easter sticker to the sign and glued Tilda to the front. The bench on the left is made up of two smaller benches glued together. The bent aluminum siding strips behind the Tildas and Edwins allow them to stand up. The magnets underneath the siding strips just offer more stability.

Close-up of paper doll Tilda's on left side of shoe box:

Close-up of paper doll Tilda's on right side of shoe box:

Top angle view of Diorama:

Voting will start April 20th and go until April 27th. I've seen some of the projects already linked and man, oh man, are they fabulous!! I know this is going to be a really tough contest to vote on. I do pray though, that some of you will vote for me. :)

Sending big hugs your way and good luck to everyone! Thanks Diana for this awesome contest!

Rosie :)