Monday 1 February 2016

Make your own background for CVC

I love to make my own backgrounds for projects and card making and I'm also loving making little media boards, experimenting with layers, textures and colours. Today though for my background I am playing safe by repeating one I did before Christmas on a much larger board that went to my friend Alison for her Secret Santa gift - which can be seen here, you will see the similarities on my small one.

I began by sanding the edges of the board and stamping using Tim's classics #13 set. Postmarks always make me think of trips and holidays so I chose that as my theme.

 
I added some crackle paste through a stencil and let it dry.


Once dry and beautifully and finely crackled I dipped it in tea dye and iced spruce distress stain and then just played with layers using white acrylic paint, white linen ink spray, gathered twigs splattered using a new splatter tool I just got hold of in hobbycraft and spritzes of water......


.... and finally dried it and distressed the edges blending in ground espresso DI. So although I started off by thinking I was going to repeat a background I had already done, in fact, like always, I went off piste and mixed things up a bit - but that's what following your muse is all about isn't it?


The embellishment trail started by making some rusty looking signs using an embossing folder, decoart media fluid acrylics and some metallic lustres. I didn't record the steps because I was just having fun with the products and the layers until I was happy with the overall effects but I know I used quinacridone gold, raw umber, paynes grey, prussian blue, sap green and titan buff paints with champagne ice and iced espresso lustres.


I chose this guy as my focal image because he looks as though he is dressed ready to embark on a long journey, perhaps on one of those huge ocean going liners or even an aeroplane that was becoming more popular. He was excited to be off to explore foreign lands, perhaps as an archaeologist dreaming of finding a new pyramid in Egypt or maybe dreaming of starting work at the British Museum, hoping to assist, organise or even take part in excavating expeditions.


 I had this green metal frame sitting on my desk so decided it would add tremendously to the masculine feel and set about altering it.
I covered the frame in a light coat of gesso and then random patches of white crackle paste (I think I kept it a bit too thin as not much crackling went on - but something to learn from). You can see the final results below.



 When the crackle hadn't worked for me I decided to add some sand teture paste and used the media acrylics when it was dry to create this very textured rusty look.


I set about making the rest of the collage elements ....


.... and creating the collage itself.


The rusty adventure sign worked really well....


... as did the background.



Once assembled all I needed to do was add a rusty wire hanger and hey presto another vintage, weathered mixed media board was born.


So this is my sample for the newest challenge for Country View Challenges - just click the highlighted words and you will be transported there.

Have a fabulous month.

hugs Brenda xxx

23 comments:

Monika Gulyas said...

Fabulous collage board, Brenda! The blue, brown and white are just perfect together! And of course, your green frame looks much better after the alteration :-) Beautiful creation!

Words and Pictures said...

Fabulous! Love the rusted frame and great inky effects over the crackled stencilling. I love that embossed panel too - brilliant!
Alison xx

Nicole Wright Designs said...

I love how grungy this is Brenda! I agree... I love making my own backgrounds too.

Jennie Atkinson said...

Such a stunning board Brenda! Gorgeous colours and crackle textures in your background but ooh I just LOVE the wonderful rusty embossed metal and the fabulous frame. Always such an array of fabulous inspiration in all your pieces. Jennie xxx

sally said...

Beauty! I wish I could run my fingers over this one Brenda!

Sally

Unknown said...

Absolutely in love with your background Brenda - it just really pushes ever button for me. And I love your story... it really does seem like this is a journal being kept by a man on an adventure. Every piece is just so perfectly placed and that frame is incredible. Sooooooooooooooooo enjoyed this post and your incredibly wonderful creation. j.

Doreen said...

This is fabulous, love the texture. Xxx

Lys said...

Fantastic panel! Thanks for the step by step, beautiful inspiration!

Astrid Maclean said...

Fabulous, - this smaller version is just as stunning as the larger one was! The rusted frame looks super, the whole piece looks wonderful and yes, a brilliant background!

Meggymay said...

Fabulous project, the textures look so touchable.
Yvonne xx

Elizabeth said...

I loved seeing your process for this terrific project, Jenny! Thanks for the detailed "how to". I especially love the altered frame with its grungy gorgeousness!

Patty O'Malley said...

Awesome project!

Elizabeth said...

Sorry, Brenda! Clearly I lost track of just where I was on the internet. Chalk it up to Monday!?

Deborah Wainwright said...

Wow Brenda this is stunning! Such a scrummy crackle background and all that rust make a fabulous creation which I love. Hugs Debs xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

LOVE your background, and what a transformation on that film frame! Awesome!

Redanne said...

The background was almost too nice to cover up but - with your usual style, you did it beautifully! And that frame - wow Brenda, it is stunning! What a beautiful piece of art. Hugs, Anne xx

Deb said...

So gorgeous Brenda, I loved the background on it's own but the completed layout with all those wonderfully textured embellishments made it even more special! Deb xo

Corrie Herriman said...

So beautiful !
Corrie x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

That's a wonderful hanger, really an eye catcher.

A Pink said...

Such a fabulous mixed media board ! Brenda Watching your background develop has been a real treat - love all the crackle through the stencil enhanced by the gorgeous blend of colours . Love all your collage elements - your rusty frame is WOW! x

experiments in paper said...

Oh, this is fantastic, Brenda! That background is stunning, and I LOVE your rusting....fabulous! I need to go revisit your past tutorials on the different rusting technique! xxx Lynn

Unknown said...

Hi Brenda, I think this is a wonderful collage full of thought, texture and the placements are perfect! Cxx

Maggie said...

Stunning collage love all the textures and vintage look you have achieved.
MaggieH