Memories

Some years ago I started my first Memory Box , an idea given to me by my Mum. As I rooted around for an Upcycle project to make for The Altered Element, a wooden box was what I laid my hands on. This particular box contained a gift set of perfume, body lotion, etc, a perfect size for a Memory Box. What I really wanted to do with this project was to use Decoupaint Patina. Although I have used this several times before, I’d never tried it out on wood and I also wanted to use it in conjunction with a Tim Holtz mask.
Finished Box As I wanted an overall aged look I built up various layers of acrylic paint but first of all several layers of Gesso as this box was a deep blue which I obviously did not want, then antique brown, copper and cream paints. It’s really a personal choice but for me, I like to sponge on the paint and then rub away some colour with baby wipes.
This shows the lid with antique brown, copper and cream paint.
Now copper paint and some Old White Patina sponged on.
This photo shows the box lid with partial masking. Once dry I added Distress Crackle Paint in Tarnished Brass to edges of the box.
To embellish I printed out an image of the Eiffel Tower and used cold contact Image Transfer (my preference is for Golden Soft Gel Matt Medium ) and adhered image to French text (painted with copper acrylic). Laid a chipboard frame over the image and embellished with a Prima flower with a brown, fabric brad and cut a piece of stamped twill to add to the frame.

The Altered Element has a wide range of  acrylic paints available.

Thanks for visiting. Lynne x

Breaking Free

I’m youth, I’m joy, I’m a little bird that has broken out of the egg.  (James Matthew Barrie)

On opening June’s DT package from The Altered Element and seeing that my Upcycle Challenge item was a box with three glass panels (see photo below)

it brought to mind memories of when a family friend collected birds’ eggs (legally) – one big hurdle, how do I  obtain eggs?  That is when free vintage images come into their own.

Supplies – Upcycle Item is a box with three glass panels from Ikea. The dimensions of the box 8″ x4″. Chipboard inchie (1), Glass tiles (2) *, Crackle paint in Picket Fence, archival Sepia ink, Distress Ink in Crushed Olive, Camisole Pink Emulsion paint, Walnut ink solution, Feathers, Decor twigs and artificial stem, Nest  and Clip Art images. Stamp – Character Construction French Laundry (for bird stamp)

Instructions – 1. Sand the box  and lid. 2. Sponge Camisole Pink paint. Remove some of the paint with baby wipes – aim for some of the original green paint to show through 3. Drip walnut ink solution to form a faux style wood grain. 4. Repeat all steps. 5. Add Picket Fence Crackle Paint 6. Print out clip art and adhere behind glass panels  6. Paint chipboard inchie with emulsion paint. Stamp bird. Sponge edges with Distress Ink and add Picket Fence crackle paint on edges 7. Use Glossy Accents to adhere glass tiles over images of eggs. 8. Fill nest with broken twigs, feathers, stamped inchie and glass tiles. 9. Bend Pussy Willow stem and adhere with strong glue to lid. Add nest. Scatter twigs and feathers onto lid.

Two of the glass panels have the images of eggs and the third is a collage of bird related images.

Photo below shows close up of the painted wood.

*The chipboard inchies and glass tiles ( included in the DT package for June) are available from The Altered Element. The Altered Element also stocks the nest I used in this project.

Throughout the month of June there will be more DT artwork using products from The Altered Element.

Pin Up

It is time for another Upcycle Challenge. Lynne from The Altered Element purchases an item(s) from a charity shop, sends to the DT members for The Altered Element and we are then required to upcycle the item. As the item is a surprise I cannot tell you how much fun it is receiving the parcel from the Postman and opening to see what will be revealed.

Here is what I received to Upcycle

Immediately I knew what I would make -

PIN BOARD

and a

MOOD BOARD

For the sake of photographing the board I have not completely obscured the board so you can see the paint and hopefully the Deko Ice.  In the evening, I switched on a nearby lamp, causing the Deko Ice to twinkle in a beautiful way.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. There is a lot of prep and several coats of paint but I wanted to achieve a distress look and it really is worthwhile taking the time to work through the stages. Also, it helps to have a heat gun to hand if you are slightly impatient like myself! Thoroughly prep the board with sandpaper. Apply 2 coats of Gesso. Sand in-between coats of Gesso and the emulsion (latex) paint.  Sponge heritage colour emulsion (latex) paint in Camisole Pink applying two coats. Then one coat of Tapestry Green paint. Finally dry brush a coat of Camisole Pink, aiming for some green to show through, especially on the edges.

2. Using a clear drying glue adhere Deko Ice in Crystal around the edges. Deko Ice is available from The Altered Element in a variety of colours. Now I am not a fan of glitter BUT this is an exception and quite unlike other glitters I own.

3. Mark out a grid and use ric rac to form a lattice shape. Use a staple gun to attach at the rear.

4. Hammer in 5 upholstery tacks.

5. Attach lace and fabric blossom to top of board.

6. At the rear create a hanging. I used two eye screws and wire.

EXTRAS -

Pin Board – The stamp set is Anna Corba French Labels which is available from The Altered Element

Art For Art’s Sake

I received 6 children’s building blocks for the Upcycle Challenge set by Lynne for The Altered Element DT. The previous artwork using the blocks can be viewed in the posts:- Bird Brain, Time To Move Forward and Sirens.  Lynne, thank you for the challenge I had such fun working with the building blocks.

The theme for my final block is Art.

To prepare the block I sanded and then a layer of Gesso. Now the fun commences. Using baby wipes I applied a heritage green emulsion paint. Wiping away some of the paint allowed the original base to show through ever so slightly. Before applying various Distress Crackle Paints I stamped directly onto the cube using art related stamps. 

Side One -I stamped a ruler onto watercolour paper and glued it around the cube. For each face of the cube I stamped brushes and pencils tucking them behind the main images. Stamped Girl With A Pearl Earring (another favourite painting of mine and also a favourite book) onto watercolour paper to give it an aged and distressed appearance to the image.

Side Two – After stamping the paint tube and applying watercolours I then applied acrylic paint to imitate paint oozing from the tube.   Also dipping the ends of the stamped brushes into acrylic paint.

Side Three – Stamp word onto watercolour paper. I used silicone glue for any images that I wanted to pop  out more.

Side Four – Again elements are  repeated but using different colours.

On top I squeezed a mini tube of watercolour paint and allowed the paint to harden. After applying to the top I added more acrylic paint, once again mimicking the appearance of it dripping down the sides.

Supplies

Gesso, Emulsion paint, Various Crackle Paint (Ranger), Stamp Credits – The Artistic Stamper and Chapel Road Art Stamps (Girl With A Pearl Earring), Staz-on Timber Brown, Vintage Photo Distress Ink, silicone glue, acrylic paints, Koh-I-Noor watercolour pencils, watercolour paper and  mini tube of watercolour paint (use as an embellishment).

Several of the above products are available from The Altered Element

Sirens

As a DT member for  The Altered Element , each month there is an Upcycle Challenge (Lynne sends each DT member an item from a charity shop and we are then required to upcycle by altering it in any manner we choose). For the first Upcycle Challenge I received 6 children’s buildings blocks. Previous Upcycle artwork can be viewed on the posts:- Bird Brain and Time To Move Forward.  I challenged myself to alter at least one of the blocks without using any stamping. Rooting through my supplies I stumbled across a small sheet of Bathing Beauty images which was ideal.

As with Time To Move Forward I decorated five faces of the cube.

.Prime cube by sanding and then a layer of Gesso.

.On all sides sponge Silver Lumiere paint and Golden Glass Bead Gel.

.Use silicone glue to add the Bathing Beauty images on the four sides add small shells and “coral”. Add a little bit more of the Glass Bead Gel.

I am sure you will have worked out what the “coral” is but if not, let me divulge. I like to purchase fabric flowers that are on stems and dismantle them as it is an inexpensive way of building a stash of fabric flowers in various styles. So whilst dismantling the stem I was left with blue/green plastic “things” which to my eye resembled coral and just knew that one day it would come in handy.

.Finally add a larger shell to the top adding crushed shell, caviar beads and another piece of “coral”. Once all the elements are in place drip a little touch of Bottle Alcohol Ink on all sides.

SUPPLIES

Gesso, Lumiere Silver Paint, Golden Glass Bead Gel, Bottle Alcohol Ink, Queens Dresser Drawer Bathing Beauties Clip Art, Shells, Blue Dewdrops, Silicone Glue.

Time To Move Forward

Today in the U.K. it’s the start of British Summertime and the clocks move forward. This inspired me to alter one of the children’s building blocks (The Altered Element Upcycle Challenge) with a time theme.

My starting point was to prep the cube by sanding and then a layer of Gesso. Then Lumiere Metallic Rust and Golden Glass Bead Gel.

 

 

For “T” I stamped Temptress onto a glass circle, dripped Alcohol Inks on the rear and adhered the image to a piece of cardstock sprayed with Adirondack Colourwash spray. German Scrap, dressmakers snaps and watch parts (dismantled a watch myself) were coloured with Alcohol Inks.

Again you can see repeats of the snaps and German Scrap. I noticed, after colouring German Scrap with caramel and terracotta Alcohol Inks, turn over and it gives a rusty look – perfect.

“M” is Temptress stamped in the same manner as for “T”. This time I distorted her image slightly by smudging. This was in homage to Dali and his melting clocks!

I smudged Alcohol Ink onto the watch face and added pieces of mica.

This is the view looking down. By using silicone glue it enabled me to build layers and have pieces suspended.

Supplies

Children’s Building Block

Adirondack Colourwash Sprays – Espresso and Butterscotch

Alcohol Inks – Caramel, Espresso and Terracotta

Golden Glass Bead Gel

Gold marker pen

Vintage key

Watch (dismantle or purchase watch parts)

Mica

Gesso

Lumiere Metallic Rust

Epoxy alphabet stickers

2 glass circles

Dressmakers Snaps

German Scrap

“Temptress” Stampington & co

Staz-on Timber Brown

Glues – silicone glue, UHU.

Two more altered blocks will follow over the coming weeks.

Bird Brain

There was great excitement and anticipation on opening the first DT package to arrive from The Altered Element.  For the Upcycle Challenge Lynne supplied me with 6 children’s building blocks. My eyes zoomed into FLY and so Bird Brain was born. Also hidden in the package were 3 Adirondack Colourwashes. As I knew that I had to supply Bird Brain with a dress I was able to incorporate the Colourwashes into the Upcycle project.

I now introduce you to Bird Brain

Supplies -

Character Construction – French Laundry

Butterscotch Adirondack Colourwash

Watercolour paper

Archival Sepia Ink (Ranger)

Koh-I-Noor Watercolour Pencils

Feathers, Gauze Squares, artificial ivy leaf, 3 children’s building blocks.

Instructions

Stamp top part of female onto watercolour paper with Sepia ink. You need to do this twice. Colour with watercolour pencils. Cut around image and leave a tab. Build the blocks to spell “FLY”, glue together. Adhere the two images together (creates more solid structure). Bend tab and glue onto block. Spray Butterscotch onto craft mat. I diluted with water to create yellow. Soak up solution with gauze swabs (I used 3). Drape to create a dress.  Add smallest feather to her head, two feathers to create wings and feathers randomly scattered in her dress. Stamp and cut out little bird image and glue one in her hand, one on her head and randomly in her dress.  Add decorative ivy leaf to her waist. 

She is now ready to go to any Woodland Ball.

Over the next few weeks there will be some more upcycle projects using the remaining 3 blocks and projects using the Adirondack Colourwash sprays.