Friday 4 March 2016

Specimen 2b - AVJ March Challenge and Give Away

Today sees a 're-launch' of A Vintage Journey challenge blog. By re-launch we mean that there have been some significant changes to the focus of the challenges and additions to the genres acceptable for entry. Although we still love Tim Holtz the challenges are no longer restricted to his inspiration, we have opened it up to include all artists and products and within vintage –shabby – mixed-media – art journaling – industrial and steampunk genres and through making tags, cards, canvas, 3D projects, ATCs, journals, assemblages, layouts and any altered art.

So onto my project for the new look.


We thought it would be great fun to get everyone working with the contents of our Destination Inspiration travel bag and these are -
Product - something metal
For the technique- rusting paint or powders
Colour - pale purple/lavender/violet
Substrate - board

I began by mixing quinacridone magenta with some prussian blue to create a gorgeous mauve and painted it over my card substrate. I went on to create a weathered wooden board effect using more media paints and vaseline and a technique I taught at some of my DecoArt workshops last year and demonstrated at Mixology 2015 last October. (Come back Monday to learn more).

This shows the painted layers .....


... on Monday I will be sharing the full steps at AVJ if you want to learn how I created the effects

As always I gathered together some elements that I wanted to collage together ....


... the dress form and stand have been stamped and cut out using vintage photo distress embossing powder which immediately brigs in my rust element. You'll also see I swapped out the lifetime word for the specimen 2b title which got the same treatment except I used vintage photo distress ink rather than embossing ink, this gave it a much deeper look as you can see from the two examples below.


The bow on the dress form is a metal charm that has been painted and I also added a paperclip and rusty wire to hang the board up with completing all the elements required.


I added some cheesecloth dipped slightly in vintage photo distress ink behind the dress form to create more depth and interest and collaged the ephemera behind it all.


General products used -
DecoArt media fluid acrylics - quinacridone magenta, prussian blue, titanium white, titan buff
DecoArt mediums - matte medium, ultra matte varnish
Greyboard, manilla card, Tim Holtz ephemera and papers, Stampers Anonymous Haberdashery (Tim Holtz) and A Form of Art (Wendy Vecchi) stamps
vaseline, vintage photo distress embossing powder.



I hope you can pop over to A Vintage Journey to see the wonderful inspiration from the team and also find out about the changes we have made. The sponsor this month is Andy Skinner so some new goodies to be won if you are lucky.

I will be back on Monday with a Destination Inspiration post using exactly the same contents of the travel bag but a different project and there will be two tutorials one on my blog here and another over at AVJ.

And just before you go I have a give-away to celebrate both the birthday challenge and my 6th blogaversary which was back in January. If you would like to be part of the draw then please leave a comment below and I will add your name when I add the numbers to Random Org which will be on the 18th March and I will announce the winner here on another special birthday on the 19th March.


Thanks for being part of my creative journey.
Have a great weekend and listen to your heART.

hugs Brenda xxx



39 comments:

Julia Aston said...

What a wonderful woodgrain background Brenda! The colors are beautiful on it - also love the colors on your dressform and the pretty collage you created with your various ephemera! Julia xx

Jenny Marples said...

Superb layering and I LOVE that background Brenda!!! What an awesome way to start the new AVJ year. Jenny x

Ruth said...

What a wonderful piece, adore the weathered wood background and the pink and blue shabby effect, stunning! Ruth x

Jane said...

I'm so thrilled to see the challenge open up to a broader audience Brenda, it's such a great decision and I think a lot more people will be able to join the fun. I certainly will. Your piece is just gorgeous (as always!). Such pretty vintage colours. Congrats on the bloggerversary too. Hope to see you soon ( I sadly can't make the workshop but only 3 more weeks at work!) Hugs xx

Nikki Acton said...

Fabulous creation - adore how you have used the travel bag. Just love your wooden panels - looking forward to seeing the step by step as I need a reminder!!!! Have a lovely weekend xx

Monika Gulyas said...

Wow, wow, wow!!! Absolute fantastic background, Brenda! I definitely visit the AVJ on Monday for the tutorial! The collage is lovely too!

A Pink said...

A fabulous Project! Brenda offering inspiration of how to use the contents of the travel bag . As always your elements are selected and collaged perfectly. The weathered wooden board background is a real WOW and such a gorgeous blend of colours.
Congratulations on your 6th blogaversary and heres to a very Happy Birthday over at AVJ - its so good to be a part of the celebrations
have a lovely weekend
hugs Amanda x

Rita said...

love this project! that background rocks - can't wait to try it in my art journal. thanks for the great inspiration - happy birthday!

Patty O'Malley said...

Awesome project and details, Brenda! Happy Birthday to the challenge and to your blog. Thanks for a chance to win!

Astrid Maclean said...

I absolutely adore the background Brenda, so really look forward to your DI on Monday. The rest is beautifully put together too! It has such wonderful vintage appeal! A great birthday celebration piece, love it!!

Redanne said...

The background you created is fabulous Brenda!! Your finished piece is quite simply stunning. Happy Blogaversary to you and this is a wonderful way to celebrate our 2 years at AVJ too. I love being part of your team! Big hugs, Anne xxx

Dagmar said...

wow - such a great work of art!!!!
Happy Blogaversary to you - i love to look what you have done ;o)
Hugs, Dagmar

Julia S-W said...

I really love that background you've created Brenda and will certainly be back to see how you did it!! The colours are gorgeous on your project and the little touches of rust work so perfectly. Feminine but grungy all in one go - love it! Julia S-W xx

SewPaperPaint said...

I just LOVE your project Brenda! This celebration is such a fabulous idea and every single project from the DT is amazing!!! Thanks so much for the sweet giveaway. Hugs, Autumn

Corrie Herriman said...

Beautiful Brenda! I especially love all the painted layers !
Corrie x

rachel said...

brilliant piece brenda - love the new style to the challenge - sounds fun! Hugs rachel x

Glennis F said...

I love this project Brenda, and hope to give it a try. We are travelling this month, so something to look forward to when we get home.
Thanks for the chance to win this lovely prize

Meggymay said...

Awesome project Brenda, love the textures paint of the background as well as the super added details.
Yvonne xx

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Gorgeous Brenda, I adore your backdrop it's so eye catching and perfect for your collages elements. Love this. Tracy x

Deborah Wainwright said...

I'm so pleased to hear about the changes to AVJ and hope to play along (if I ever get time lol) and I adore your project today. These are really the colours I love to surround myself with, and how you have used them is wonderful. Love it! Hugs Debs xx

Susanne said...

You are such an inspiration! I like your projects a lot. And you are so talented with all the teqniques and details! Thanks for the chance to win!

Lynne Gilbert said...

Love everything about this. Beautiful colours and design. A lovely vintage feel. Happy birthday. Lynne

Sophie said...

WOW!!!
Brenda, das ist für mich schon hohe Kunst.
Das ist ein tolles und fantastisches Werk, großartig zusammengestellt.
Ein Traum.

Herzlichst Sophie x

Tonje said...

I would love to win those awesome dies! Fingers crossed and have wonderful weekend :)

april dawn said...

I love this tag. It would look great in my sewing room. Thanks for sharing.

SueC said...

Fabulous piece Brenda, the backgorund really steals the show ! Sue C x

Deb said...

Gorgeous Brenda, love the background (and can't wait to find out how you did it!) and the rust effects using the vintage photo are spot on. Amazing details and the perfect choices for your layered ephemera as always, thank you for sharing it. Congratulations as well on your 6th blogaversary and thank you for the opportunity to win your generous giveaway! Deb xo

Scrapintheattic.com said...

Amazing background Brenda, love all the techniques you used to pull it together. Hugs Jan x

Bobbi Smith said...

Absolutely gorgeous Brenda, I love everything about this project! Bobbi xx

S@ndy Diller said...

This is so lovely Brenda. I love how you used the dress form with the wood. So creative and so well done (as always). Sandy xx

Terry said...

Oh that wood-grain background is quite unique and stunning! What a great effect to go with all the other layers. Gorgeous hanging, Brenda! Hope you are having a great weekend! Hugs!

Words and Pictures said...

Great collaging over your glorious weathered wood background - what an amazing mauve you created with the paint mixing. Fabulous as always and a great way to celebrate the birthday and the new look.
Alison x

pearshapedcrafting said...

Been away so just catching up now. Brenda, this is fabulous - I love the rust effects you got with the Vintage photo distress powder. Now, because it's Monday I can go immediately to your next post! Hugs, Chrisx

CreativSpirit said...

I really love this gorgeous rustic little work of art. The background is just perfect.

Sue Kosec said...

Thank you so much, Barb, for the inspiration! I have Tim's dressform die but it's just a tad too tall for cards. I'll now cut off the bottom and use it that way. I love this card! It's just beautiful.

Happy day to you!
xo
SuZeQ

DeBe said...

Fabulous work Brenda and I am fired up by the workshop today! Denyse x

sarascloset said...

Oh, my goodness! I've been oggling this lovely piece every time I visit AVJ, ad have been wanting to comment, but each time I do, I lose my Internet and have to be off to work.

Anyhoo, this is an amazing work of art--love, love, LOVE that chipped wood background! I tried saving it to Pinterest at AVJ, so I could be sure to get back to it, but this durn computer won't let me do that either!

And what a lovely gift you offer for your 6th blogaversary!!!! Huge congratulations on reaching that milestone! It is us who should be gifting YOU. You have been a huge inspiration to me, Brenda! Hugs!

Nan G said...

Happy Blogaversary! Love your piece today! Especially the wood background. I'll be by to see how you've made it so I can try to do similar. Have a wonderful day! Hugs

Suzanne C said...

Gorgeous! Love the soft feminine feel with the rustic elements blended beautifully! Happy Blogaversary!