Saturday 29 October 2016

Mystery Box - Finnabair Inspired


The techniques & creations of Anna Dabrowska (Finnabair) are so inspiring.
Her workshops were a wonderful experience, totally recommended.
I created this 'Mystery Box' using techniques 
learned during these workshops 
for the HobbySew Echuca Creative Team with wonderful Prima supplies.

This gift box with an acetate window has been in my stash for a long time.
The lid was firstly decorated using (Iron Orchid Designs) Paper Clay pieces I molded.
My previous blog post "Antiqued Candle Stick Holders" shares this technique.

The difference on this lid being the use of Black Gesso & Crackle Medium.
Dry brush techniques highlighted the texture. I used Prima Art Alchemy Paints.



The interior of the box was lined with various textured lace.
Held in place with Prima Art Basics 3D Matte Gel.


The lacy interior was painted with Black Gesso & embellishments collected to display.


 The chipboard horse was propped forward on a small lace covered canvas frame.
This really defined it from the background in such a deep box.
White Sand Texture Paste was applied to the horses body.
All the embellishments including Prima Art Stones were applied with 3D Matte Gel
& left overnight to dry properly.


A coat of Black Gesso was applied to cover all surfaces.


A dry brush technique was used to highlight all the beautiful textures.
Prima Art Alchemy Paints & Silks Acrylic Glazes were used for this.
They provided such a rich sheen. I used lots of colours, they blended really well. 
To lighten the background I used Pure Sunshine, Emperor's Gold & Fresh Orange.


The horse was dry brushed with Metallique Black Berry & Steampunk Copper, which really highlighted the Sand Textue Paste.
The leaves & Rocker were painted with Emerald Green, Olive Green, Rich Turquoise & highlighted with Gold & Copper.  Roses in Metallique Royal Red & Gold.

Here are some close up photos:



 It was difficult to take a photo of the closed box due to reflection on the window.
It is much clearer & brighter in real life.


This was quite a whimsical project, just made for fun.


Hope you like it too.
Deb Adams

Wednesday 26 October 2016

Altered Vintage Collections Frame


Hi All,
I wanted to share my Halloween inspired montage of oddities gathered & displayed on a double frame salvaged from the sales bin of my local department store.  
I saw loads of potential in the beautiful ornate patterning of the frame.


We do not celebrate Halloween officially in Australia.  This piece has that spooky feel due to the actual antique memorial notice from 1908 displayed in the centre of the frame.  
The vintage gold text & design on the black background as well as the photo of Matilda match the style of this piece perfectly. 


It looks great displayed amongst our antique decor.

I firstly gave the frame a coat of Black Gesso. 
I let this dry while I collected a range of ephemera for my 3D display.
Most of the pieces are from Tim Holtz Idea-ology (eg. adornments, pulley wheels, bird cage, corked vials, corners, fractured doll, keyhole, letterpress, light bulb, pocket watch, tiny vials, wishbones, file tabs, typed token etc) & Prima embellishments such as mini roses, light bulb, pearls, Apothecary vials & labels, papers, as well as Finnabair mechanicals.  Wow! Too many to list!


I added texture to the background with gauze soaked in black gesso & Prima Sculpture Medium. Prima Art Stones & Mini Art Stones were applied with 3D matte gel medium.  
Drips down the frame were made with a hot glue gun. All the textures were highlighted by dry brushing with Prima Art Alchemy paints in Metallique Steampunk copper & Light Patina.  It created the perfect vintage gold brassy effect.




The Letterpress & other brighter metal objects were distressed with Tarnished Brass & Black Soot Distress Paint.  Crackle finish achieved with Distress Collage Medium (Crazing) & Crackle Accents.


 My favourite piece is the pocket watch with the red dragon's eye. 
See it has a Finnabair Mechanical spring inside which resembles a vortex trying to suck you in. 


Thanks for taking the time to read & look at all the photos.  I am sure you can tell I had lots of fun making this project. 


I am entering this piece in the Frilly & Funkie Challenge 'A Very Vintage Halloween' over at the Frilly & Funkie Challenge Blog sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique.



Cheers for now.  Can't wait to see all the entries in this fun challenge.
Deb xo

Saturday 13 August 2016

'BOXES OF LOVELY NOTES'

ARTIST TRADING BLOCKS  (ATB)


For a long time I have admired the popular craze of making ATB's (ie. Artist's Trading Blocks) especially the lovely creations of  Shelly Hickox (StampTramp) & Anna-Karin (Layers of Ink) 
& Red Lead.  I recommend searching for examples of these on Pinterest.

The Blocks can be die cut from thick cardstock using the 3D Block Die from Eileen Hull & Sizzix. 
I don't have that die, so I have recycled some boxes from my work 
as they are just the right cube shape & size.  
I do love transforming items normally discarded into beautiful artwork to treasure.
This piece will be used to store some precious handwritten letters from my Mother to me.

I am entering my creation in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  The Challenge theme is
 'Try to Contain Yourself' which suits this piece perfectly.


Read on for more information on my Creative Process:

The Boxes were closed & reinforced with masking tape & then given 2 coats of White Gesso each.
Prima Chalkboard Paint (Charcoal) was sponged on all sides & let dry.
Turquoise Iridescent Creative Medium was applied through the Tim Holtz Flourish Stencil 
to each side of the blocks.


 The two blocks were stacked & offset before being attached to each other with hot glue.
Embellishments such as Flowers, butterflies, buttons, beads & pearls 
were applied with 3D matte gel from Prima Art Basics. 
Most of the flowers are from Prima. 
Some flowers & leaves were die cut & formed using the Tim Holtz Pinecone & Garden Greens die.
The Sentiments are from a Chipboard set (I think from Prima)

 The embellishments were clustered to flow from one box to the other. 
When you look at the piece you are compelled to keep turning it to look at every angle.
Highlighting & blending of the embellishments was achieved by dry brushing & splattering
with Prima Art Alchemy Paints in Metallique Rich Turquoise, Steampunk Copper 
& finally with White Gesso. 




     
          I love the way the flowers wrap around the piece.  I am not sure which angle is my favourite.

Happy Creating     Deb Adams




Wednesday 27 July 2016

Fortune Teller Travel Collection Folio


'NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST'


This Travel Album was designed using the beautiful Papers, Ephemera & Chipboard Shapes from 7 Dots Studio Fortune Teller Collection.
The foundation of the Album is the Large Collection Folio from Tim Holtz.



The Mixed Media Cover was created in layers & is quite textured & dimensional.

I am entering this project in the Monday Challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp Blog
"Add Some Texture" as it really covers the Challenge Topic both inside & out.

 Here are the steps of my creative process for the cover of the Folio:-

 I firstly applied the desired papers from the collection to the front & insides of the kraft Folio
with wide double sided tape. 


I applied Tim Holtz Tissue Tape randomly to the edges of the Folio before shading
with Ground Espresso Distress Paint & Deco Art Antiquing Cream in Patina Green.


The edges of the Folio were roughened with the Prima Distress Tool, swiped with the 
Embossing Dabber & heat embossed with a mixture of Clear & Platinum UTEE. 


This same UTEE mixture was heat embossed on the Turquoise Cover using the Ranger Embossing Dabber & the matching Fortune Teller Stamp Set.

A Tim Holtz word band was coloured with Distress Crayons in blue & white highlighting the words.

All of the rest of the layers were designed around the cluster under the lovely Gypsy Image.
This included torn and cut papers from the collection, Tim Holtz Sizzix die cuts 
(writing desk feather, mini labels, pediments), Chipboard Trellis & Swirls from 7 dots Studio, 
Prima Art Stones & Mini Art Stones, a badge from the Collection, & sequin buttons from my stash.


The Chipboard Trellis was coloured with Lumiere Pewter Paint, the Swirls with 
Prima Art Alchemy Metallique Paint Steampunk Copper.  
Extra Texture added to the layers with text stamping with Black Archival Ink. 
Fine splatters of these paints & Goosebumps spray finish off the cover.


The inside of the Folio was decorated to be a Travel Album of time spent in New Zealand.
 I have made a video that gives peeks of the many Album pages and pockets formed within the Folio.



Not sure if my video will work or not so I have included some photos of the inside pages of the Folio.



Turquoise & Steampunk Copper Art Alchemy Metallique Paint was also used to highlight the Chipboard, Frames & Die Cuts used within the Album.


Acetate Windows & lots of Tabs & Tickets create extra interest.





Stamping & Stencilling add interest to the Kraft pages.




Same colours & Vintage feel throughout.

 


The Album actually looks really cool displayed on the side table at home 
& so has become a piece of Home Decor.


Thanks for taking the time to read through this long blog post.
Happy Creating
Deb xx