All Squared Up for A Vintage Journey

Hello Friends

It is time for a new challenge over at A Vintage Journey and this month the talented Tracy is our host.  Here is what Tracy has to say:

Whether a frame, embellishments, or die cuts, drawn squares, doodles or windows, lets see where inspiration takes you, lets get all squared up and show how creative those right angles can look!  Show us your squared up pieces in a vintage; shabby; mixed media; art journalling; industrial; timeworn or steampunk style.

I have only used these Seth Apter square dies once before, HERE, so I wanted to give them another airing!  I used a square wooden seed pot that I found in a sale, to create a timeworn tea light holder.

I have a few photo step by steps to share with you.

I started with a bargain square shaped seed planter.

I die cut four sets of square shapes using Seth Apter's Robo Square die set and some heavy black cardstock.

The squares were coated randomly with DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste.

The shapes were all coloured with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic paints in Paynes Grey, Diarylide Yellow, Quinacridone Gold and Cobalt Teal Hue - all quite randomly.

The square block was painted first with Indigo Blu's Artists Matt Acrylic Paint in Leather Corset and let it dry before stippling over with  Imagination Craft's Texture Patina paint.  I wanted to leave quite a lot of the gorgeous brown colour showing underneath.

Here is a view from the top with a night light inside.  There were a couple of squares left over, so I made a little lid to go on top.

Finally I added some square feet made from beads and painted in Leather Corset.

So, do you feel inspired to join us at A Vintage Journey for Tracy's 'All Squared Up' challenge?  I hope you are!

Our sponsor this month is Tando Creative who are offering a package of MDF and mini shapes to one lucky winner.

If you would like to see what my talented teamies have made for the challenge, you can check them out HERE.

I would like to join in That's Crafty's Anything Goes Challenge.

As always, thanks for looking, I hope to see you again soon!

Hugs, Anne xx

Cracking Up at A Vintage Journey

Hello Friends

This month at A Vintage Journey the fabulous Alison is our host and Alison's challenge is 'Cracking Up'.  Here is what Alison had to say:

'Share your crackled projects - whether your crackle is stamped, painted, texture paste or any other kind of crackle.  To be a winner or Pinworthy mention, your project must be in a vintage, shabby, mixed-media, art journalling, industrial or steampunk style.'

I was so totally inspired by my talented friend and team-mate Jenny Marples' September project, using Seth Apter's dies, that I bought one of the sets to make my 'Cracking Up' project for Alison's wonderful challenge.  Here is my project...

To create the crackle background I used DecoArt Media Crackle Paint and when it was dry
I made a very light wash using Cobalt Teal Hue Media Fluid Acrylic mixed with water.

I cut the square using Seth Apter's Robo Square die by Spellbinders.  I painted the squares with Viva Decor Rusty Paper. 

 Once dry I gave them a coat of Quinacridone Gold Media Fluid Acrylic and touched up here and there with Cobalt Teal Hue.

To create the backing for the piece, I did this in the same way as the squares.  I also went around the edges of the piece with Vintage Photo Distress Ink to give a more 'aged' appearance.

To create the 'wrapped' piece I followed a tutorial by Seth Apter and Julie Fei Fan Balzar HERE.  It is such fun using bits of wood, wire and scraps of  wool, thread and charms.

Here's another look at the final project, I added a Tim Holtz die cut dragonfly.  The wings were cut twice, one in card and once in acetate.  The acetate was coloured with alcohol inks.  The body and lower wings were coloured with Distress Inks and then the body was coated with Ranger Crackle Accents.  The words are Tim Holtz Idea-ology chit chat.

This month at A Vintage Journey we are sponsored by Tando Creative who have a prize for a randomly drawn winner.  We will also choose three Pinworthies who will be offered a Guest appearance for a later challenge - so we hope you will join in!

Take care, hope to see you again soon!

Hugs, Anne xx