Tin foil it ain't

This started out as something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Underneath this thing of beauty is some texture paste, layers of a paint, two layers of PaperArtsy tissue paper and quite a few coats of Satin Glaze!

It just didn't work so I painted all over it.

 
As you can see I'm still on a it of a neutral vibe. Again I used Moonlight Fresco paint and scraped some Pewter Fresco paint over that in the middle and French Roast on the edges.

I'd seen Lin Brown use foil and Sticky Embossing Powder at Stevenage and really liked the subtle burnished metal look it gave. So both of those went in the basket along with some of the new Eclectica Sara Naumann stamps.

Using the words from plate No. 8 I stamped in embossing ink, put the sticky embossing powder on let that melt and put the brown / copper foil on top (first time round I put the foil down the wrong way and it lifted the sticky powder, a quick check on Youtube got me sorted!).

Next I used the little line stamp from plate 1 around the edges of the words and used a dull gold foil sheet.  I really love how the embossing powder stays sticky and you can just keep laying the foil, rubbing it down and lifting off (I imagine it's a bit like leg waxing, but I'm too chicken to try).  You can't really see the images as they are on canvas, you just don't get a "clean" impression, but I love how they provide a good worn, shabby base for the foil.

I was really happy with it so far and had to leave it for the weekend as I has the most fantastic birthday weekend treat thanks to my husband (luxury hotel, fantastic food,rather a lot of bubbly thanks to the waitress on our table and England v Italy rugby at Twickenham). Today I had a day off to recover and of course, have some craft time.

My neutrals textiles box has been sat on my craft desk for ages so I jut pulled out some random bits of fabric sewed them together. glued this on and then glued the flowers on.  I emptied my whole button jar out trying to find some buttons small enough for the centres but no luck, but then remembered my  bejeweller and crystals. I'd forgotten how addictive it is to stick crystals on but managed I hope, to restrain myself (there are some lovely blues ones in the box so I think something blue will be next!). 

The remember is stamped in Coffee Archival on a bit of driftwood and I think it just anchors it all (you'll let me know if it doesn't won't you?).

hugs
jo
xx

Deeds not words

Sometimes it's nice not to have to think too hard, to just follow a view instructions (use PaperArtsy products) look at a few photographs for inspiration (Suzanne Czosek) and of you go.
 
So I did.

I still really wanted to use the London Nights, Mushroom Fresco paints, the grey lilac colours are beautiful, deep in tone but so soft.  So I found a frame and gave it a good couple of coats of London Night. 

Before I stamped any text I wanted to add another layer so I used Mushroom to stamp the lovely leaves from the new Lin Brown Eclectica stamps (ELB01).  Once stamped I rubbed them back a bit and then went over the top of the whole frame with a couple of light washes of London Night.  I didn't want then massively visible (and they aren't) but there is another layer.

For the text stamping I used one of favourite large text stamps from PaperArtsy Blackie's Children's Annual  and Moonlight Fresco paint. Finally I used my favourite "when I want add a suggestion of grime" paint French Roast (with a touch of Chocolate Pudding) to just go round the edges.  On top of this a smidge of Aquamarine Treasure Gold. 

For the recess I used some purple metal and ran it through an embossing folder (love those trees). I put some Hey Pesto with a little bit of Moonlight over the top, let it dry for a bit and then gently wiped back to reveal the purple trees. 

The wreath was a very gaudy bright gold Christmas decoration that I painted in Mushroom, then stippled on some French Roast and gently dabbed a bit of Aquamarine Treasure Gold in places. The bow is some sari silk and a pretty button with some hemp string threaded through and knotted. 

Once I'd finished I realised the colours were the colours of the Women's Social and Political Union who had a high profile (if somewhat controversial and highly militant) role in getting women the vote (the First World War also had a big role to play in women getting the vote as well if I'm honest). Those women in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century did indeed use actions (and so did many other women in the latter part of the twentieth century) that allow me today to vote, to work whilst married, to get equal pay for the work I do, to be recognised as an individual and not as a chattel of the man that sired me or the man I married.

Not every woman in our modern world can live the same way as me, there are still many situations where women are not seen as individuals and treated appallingly. So in this week when we celebrate International Women's Day I give thanks to all those women (and men) before me who used deeds (and still use deeds) to change the world they live in.

hugs
jo

Metal Petals

I had an idea for this for AGES (that might be a slight exaggeration, I've been away for a week with a 4 year old and some of his behaviour may have rubbed off).  A big canvas with a flower made of metal embossed hearts on a grungy background - simple right?

No.

Well the metal petals were to be honest. I just cut out loads of PaperArtsy hearts and leaves from some sheets of metal sandwiched on black card with that red humungo adhesive. Ran them through an embossing folder and then put Onyxite and Pewter Treasure Gold on top.

The stamen was made from heavy guage metal wire twisted and then coloured with alcohol inks.  I folded up the wire put it in a plastic bag and then squirted alcohol inks in the bag and just sort of squished the metal around in the bag in the inks - think Nigella Lawson when she's marinating chicken!

What caused me the most problems was the canvas.  What you see is the third colour I tried on it.  I first started out with PaperArtsy Fresco in Mushroom with some London Night and then Hey Pesto with texture paste ands text.  It just ended up muddy looking - twice. I think I was too impatient in terms of adding colour, didn't let it dry in between layers and  just added "too much".

So on this final layer I used Kaiser colours (because the new natural colours from PaperArtsy hadn't been launched) in Sand Slate and Eggshell. First was a layer of Sand to cover up the previous layers.  Then I added some thin layers of texture paste in the middle of the canvas and through a stencil at the edges. Once this had dried I added some layers of Slate and Eggshell, just sort of splodged about to give that aged look. 

To continue with the aged look, I used my favourite French Roast Fresco paint to add some dry brushed grime marks at the edges of the canvas and dragged down it. 

Some text stamping in Olive Archival in the middle (it needed a bit of contrast colour).  For a bit more texture and contrast I glued on some little bits of lace and cotton.   The edge of the canvas was stained using Walnut Distress Stain. Finally some Onyxite and White Fire Treasure Gold was added the raised texture parts -  a bit more grime!

I was after a sort of old wall kind of effect with bits of faded wallpaper, crumbling plaster and a layer of aged grime, finally I think I got it!

Right, off for a cup of tea now as not only did the 4 year old share his behaviour he also shared his germs so both John and I have got stinking colds and coughs!

hugs
jo
xx