Sunday 1 May 2016

Stencil challenge for CVC and Blog Hop

Welcome to May and a new challenge at Country View Crafts which is to use a stencil, but before I get to the project May is a very special month.

This month alongside our Challenge, we are also running a Blog Hop with a Sizzix Big Shot Machine & Die Bundle as the prize. To enter, you must be a Follower of our Challenge Blog and Hop along to each of our Design Team Members Blogs and leave a comment. We will still be running our normal monthly challenge and those who link their Use A Stencil projects will also be entered into our £20 Voucher draw. The Winners will be picked at random in early June. So hop on over to Christine's 1st Project - Use A Stencil and follow the trail to all the blogs. If you have arrived from hazel and are following the links I have added a link for you to get to Corrie who follows me or you can get to any others on the list.
Brenda (me)


Right back to my project.
There is a story to these notebook covers - they began their life whilst I was demoing and teaching the gungy notebook (see post here) and I had a vision in my head of some shabby French design, pretty, feminine, with rusted elements on it. It's not often I have this sort of picture in my head but what a disaster, so much so I didn't even want to photograph the boards. I just left them till the next day and gave them a coat of gesso to see if I could transform them and I did.


These are the boards after the coat of gesso and they still look dirty and not at all what I wanted, the only good thing is that some of Andy's mega crackle still showed through almost like crocodile skin.


Out came the titanium white paint and I daubed, spritzed and dripped layers and soon the murky layer was fading into the background and I began to like the shabbier look. At this point I just gave it a coat of matte medium to seal it.


I added a very watery wash of cadmium red hue and raw umber mixed just around the edges and splattered with the red and brown separately.  I thought I had finished them by sanding the edges and blending on ground espresso DI but then decided to stamp one of Andy's texture stamps inked in blue violet archival and add some stenciling using Decoart's white crackle paste.


Now we've got more of that shabby look I was trying to achieve. The stencil with white cracks brought the boards to life and at last I felt I could add the embellishments.

 
The Eiffel tower and fleur de lys are wooden pieces and originally I gave them the painted rusted look but they that was too overpowering for the design and composition so I gave then a coat of white crackle paste which was too thin so when it was dry I painted on weathered wood, gave it a blast of the heat gun and then added the white crackle paste again. Yay, fabulous crackle and seen more clearly with a light wash of transparent red iron oxide, quinacridone red and paynes grey which has given it that mauve tinge.


The frame and wooden letter pieces were given my rusty paint layers and then I painted on some transparent crackle paint to the frame and when dry rubbed in some raw umber antiquing cream. I let that sit for a while then rubbed some of it off with a babywipe, sanded the edges and blended in ground espresso distress ink. 


I wanted something for inside the frame so I got out my vintage images box and found this printed French postcard which fitted perfectly.

 

I found the flower already made up from a spotty patterned paper and added white crackle paste to shabby it. The border was also in my bits box so I gave it the same painted layers as the spine and sanded it to distress it. The bow was made from a spare piece already coloured with distress inks.


These random pieces are from the chevron frameworks die cut in acrylic packaging, they were actually on the floor discarded from another 'playtime', once I had added red pepper alcohol ink they found a place on the front cover with the other embellishments.


The spine is made of dry wall tape, I painted it with a mix of  red cadmium hue and quinacridone magenta and then blended red iron oxide and raw umber over it. The texture is one of those texture stamps by Andy Skinner and the final layer was a random wash of paynes grey.


And so it came together ....


... I like the back cover just as it is with the stencilling providing texture, depth and interest ....


... and looks striking with the deep red spine.


These notebooks I am using are actually A5 sketchbooks from Hobbycraft and the quality of the paper is fabulous.


So the moral of the story is, when you have something you are ready to trash, keep hold for a while and have a go at altering it and don't forget your stencils, adding gorgeous crackled texture to my boards made them kook so much better - well I think so anyway.



Thanks for stopping by and taking a look. Perhaps you will join us at Country View Challenges but even if you don't I'd recommend you pop over to the blog to see what amazing inspiration has come from the rest of the team and also take your chance at winning the Sizzix bundle by joining in the Blog Hop. Good luck.

Take care and have a great weekend.

hugs Brenda xxx






59 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow Brenda, I love your covers, they are stunning. x

Doreen said...

This is gorgeous Brenda,love the background.xxx

Unknown said...

These covers are gorgeous, Love the the embellishments. xx

Craftyfield said...

It's fabulous! I enjoyed seeing the transformation step by step and I am inspired to try and rescue some of my (many) fails...
Love the crackled texture throughout and the finish you gave to your embellishments.

DeBe said...

This s just fabulous and the background sings to me! Love it and enjoying the blog hop! Love, Denyse x

Monika Gulyas said...

Again a beautiful notebook cover with an interesting background! Nice crackles!

Hazel Agnew said...

Fantastic salvage job Brenda. Love the splatters and colours around the edges. Great piece . X

Jane said...

I remember that day Brenda...LOL. Wow an amazing transformation...this is shabby chic gorgeousness ;0) It was lovely to see you on Friday....a brilliant day. Enjoy the bank holiday. Hugs xx

Gabrielle said...

Lovely cover showing some really beautiful ideas! So clever!

Jennie Atkinson said...

Ooo la la! Fabulous!! I love all those wonderful crackles and the bright colours against the board backgrounds. Just goes to show you should never throw anything in the bin! Have a great weekend. Jennie x

JJ said...

Fabulous creation Brenda, love all the crackle paint, so effective and you have kept the colour tone just right.

Love & hUgs

Jacquie J xxx
http://jewelscardcraft.blogspot.co.uk/

craftimamma said...

Absolutely gorgeous covers Brenda! Wonderful colours and texture and love the contrast of the spine and dark rusted embellishments. Fabulous!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

KandA said...

Fabulous cover and such super details xx

New Creations said...

Stunning piece of art with such great textures, so crisp nd clean, love it!

Evelyn Walter said...

Your notebook covers are beautiful, Brenda! Good, that you did keep them and gave them a new life!
xx Evelyn

rachel said...

Beautiful colour and crackle brenda.. love this. Hugs rachel x

Corrie Herriman said...

This is gorgeous, Brenda! But everything you make is gorgeous ! :o)
Corrie x

Maggie said...

Fabulous transformation love this look
MaggieH

suzieq23 said...

Love the topic for this hop. Stencils are my obsession. Your artwork today is great.

Arty Beginnings said...

I really love what you have done to this canvas - gorgeous

Redanne said...

It was certainly worth persevering with the boards, the end result is beautifully shabby and totally CHIC!! Love the red spine too. Hugs, Anne xx

Meggymay said...

Awesome textures, the boards have made fantastic covers.
Yvonne xx

Julie Lee said...

Lovely colour combo and texture! Wonderful end result. xx

Sue said...

This is brilliant Brenda, those reds look stunning xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Stunning Brenda!! The background is to die for and great effects on the other elements, fabulous project!!

Terry said...

Astrid is so right with that "to die for" background! Brenda, I love this project with all that crackle and texture! Always a treat to visit you and check out your artwork! Still going crazy here! The next couple of days the CA house should be finished with updates and repairs and then to tidy up and put it up for sale! The craft room is next to impossible to pack! Hope all is well and sending you hugs!

ellyscard creatief said...

Beautiful creation. Love the crackle and texture.
Gr, Elly

samantha wade said...

Great project, love the background and the crackle.xx

SewPaperPaint said...

What a beautiful red and white combo, Brenda! This is perfect!

Nikki Acton said...

As usual a wonderful artistic creation with amazing depth and stunning tones xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Brenda, loving your project. The background paper is awesome! Happy crafting, Angela x

experiments in paper said...

Fabulous step-outs, Brenda - for an equally fabulous project!! I love how you recovered some parts to become so beautiful - great reminder to not abandon ship when things don't work the first time! xxx Lynn

Jackie PN said...

Good thing you held onto these and tried again- success!! The overall book is just gorgeous! And i agree about the red spine- striking!!Well done!
Jackie ")

Gio said...

Wow, I love how it turned out! The bit of red is so striking, well done Brenda!

Pamellia said...

What a beautiful piece Brenda! I love the pops of red amid all the neutrals, fabulous contrast and works so well with the Paris theme! Amazing textures as always! hugs :)

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow! Fantastic crackle! I love the colour you have used...and of course...Paris....love it. ...of course! Hugs, Chrisx

Kristiina said...

The texture and details are great, glad you retried !

Irena Stefanova said...

This is fabulous,love all the texture.xxx
Irena

Caz said...

Wow, what a fabulous transformation! Some really good ideas to try! Great texture and love the red!

Debbie said...

Its good to know we all have those projects! Great recovery!

A Pink said...

Fabulous! Brenda In every way and a great example of artistic transformation . hugs x

Paper Profusion said...

This sure has come together beautifully Brenda. Glorious crackling and yes it does look gorgeously chic and French! Love your artistry! Nicola x

Words and Pictures said...

It may have taken some perseverance but those notebook covers are stunning. Love the chic look - the bold red is amazing, and the rusted frame around the vintage postcard is a wonderful touch.
Alison x

Janis said...

Awesome save!! This is just fabulous. LOVE the beautiful textures and French look.
<3 J

jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

Karthikha said...

A wonderful project with a lot of textures! Very pretty :)

Unknown said...

YOU - dear girl - just blow me away with your creativity. What an intriguing post and a FABULOUS outcome. Your project is just STUNNING. Wow. That background is just LUSCIOUS. I'm awed. What an inspiration you are. Xj.

SandyD said...

Lots of techniques. Super outcome.

Ginger said...

I love the red on this, it really pops.
Carol x

CraftingMum said...

beautiful work, love the effects, it is amazing what you can salvage isn't it? x

Tee said...

Superb textures! I love the bold and shabby feel t has. Gorgeous!

sarascloset said...

Brenda, oh yes, I'm late, but better late than never, especially for me, because I get to see this beautiful journal cover with fabulous texture and awesome colors! I agree with hanging on to your discards--you never know when they will come in handy and when their second life is much better than their first! Great up cycle! Hugs!

Liz said...

What a stunning transformation. Proof that we should never put 'failures' in the bin. :-) xx

Unknown said...

What a lovely MM it is!

Unknown said...

Isn't it great that you can start with something you are not really keen on and end up with such stunning results. I love love love this. xx

SemSee said...

Oh WOW! This is breathtaking! I love the pops of red. Gorgeous work. x

Craft drama said...

Fabulous ... love ly colors

Sandma's Handmade Cards said...

This is an amazing piece Brenda and I love the French postcard with it's wonderful, vintage look. It makes a such a fabulous focal point :)x

ionabunny said...

Love your shabby chic project. Hugz

Unknown said...

Love, love, love! The touches of red really pop against the background