Use a Portrait is the new theme at AVJ

My CG sample for the new challenge at AVJ uses several portraits in it, but how would you define a portrait?

A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. 


Wikipedia


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I used a Tim worn cover and had great fun changing it into a place to keep photos of current and past generations of immediate family.

I dipped it in distress inks (still one of my most favourite techniques) to achieve an aged look to it.

I love the way the colours have blended and dried achieving some fabulous water damage results.

I didn't add too much to the front cover, I just like it simple as there is already quite a lot of decoration on it. (This photo was taken before I added the ribbon to tie it up). The photo is my grandmother when she was a young woman and married to my grandpa. You can see I added two small pieces of collage, some inked layers using Tim's stencils, remnant rubs and label letters.

Let's open the book and see what is inside.

Family portraits, in fact 5 generations of us girls. The large cabinet card photo is one of my grandmother when she was small and in fact I captured all of us as children. On the left hand side is my Mum at the top, Chris and I, then my daughter Maddie and my two grandchildren at the bottom.

So having decided that rather than make a journal I would add a configurations box, I lined it with Tim paper and edged it with tissue tape.

I wanted to add two corners and for them to look aged too. So I layered distress paints, drying them between coats until I was happy with the look.

My intention was to get a rusted look by using tea dye distress embossing powders (the only orangey one I have), but I was disappointed with the soft effects.

So I dripped sunshine yellow and butterscotch alcohol inks over the top.

The photograph of my grandmother was mounted onto craft card and then I adhered these two pieces of wood to the back to raise it up. Beneath the photo I added some collage pieces and  more patterned paper and elements in various places.

I dipped the inside covers in the distress inks the same as the front cover and dried them adding some random stamped text.

The circular portraits were made using Tim's reflective imagery technique, although I changed it slightly, but you can see on the girls photos the metal showing through the distressed areas, (Don't forget - embrace your imperfections).

The background is the back of a cabinet card, I had used the front previously on a project and kept this piece, so it came in very handy here.

Some additional collage pieces, chit-chat stickers and two linen ribbons to tie it up ......

..... a decorated back cover with a stamped image from Artistic Outpost.

I have enjoyed making my portrait book and I know the girls will love looking at it.

Most of the supplies I used can be bought at Country View Crafts who are the wonderful sponsor for AVJ donating a great £10 voucher for each fortnightly winner. Why don't you transport yourself over to the challenge blog to see all the wonderful inspiration from the other.Creative Guides, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks for joining me today, for taking a look at my piece and for leaving a comment if you have time.

Have a great weekend.

hugs Brenda xxx