Friday 26 August 2016

Altering embellishments

I made the background for this tag at Dare to Create with Andy Skinner at the same time as making my altered box (if you missed it you can find it here). That was grungy and this is much more shabby and feminine.


So I had the idea I would add something to it (it is far too pretty and textured to just discard) and to give the post more interest (because I can't share the process steps for the background as it was part of the workshop) I thought I would create a collage with embellishments and give you some ideas for altering them using DecoArt products.


Tinting photos.
The media paints have a number of translucent colours that I used to colour just some parts of this photo, not all of it.


Wikipedia says -
Typically, watercolours, oils, crayons or pastels, and other paints or dyes are applied to the image surface using brushes, fingers, cotton swabs or airbrushes. Hand-coloured photographs were most popular in the mid- to late-19th century before the invention of colour photography and some firms specialized in producing hand-coloured photographs

Coloured gems.
Glass stars and clear gems look fabulous with translucent media paints, like cobalt teal, and some white gesso over them.


Metal embellishment with a shabby appeal.
A light coat of gesso with some gently dabbed off using kitchen roll. When dry spritz with water and drop some quinacridone magenta and titan buff onto it, the colours mix on the embellishment itself creating tones of different pinks. Finish with metallic lustres rubbed gently over - I used  orange flicker and champagne ice.


Chipboard pieces with metallic effects.
(I left out rust ones as I have covered these on numerous occasions)
Give a light dry brush of gesso over the surface (note you are not looking to seal the wood). Spritz with water and dab on paynes grey and silver with your finger, again this produces an uneven coverage rather than a painted one. When dry ink the edges with ground espresso distress ink.


Plastic number.
This is not my technique it belongs to Tim Holtz, he uses distress paint but the process and results can be achieved with the media acrylics. You can find the steps on P.45 of Compendium of Curiosities 3.


Coloured shabby seam binding.
Spritz, dip and dry using the media acrylics. If you are using more than one colour dry between each of them. 





Textured background
Here you can see the colours and textures on the tag and because I kept to the lighter, brighter colours it has more of a shabby feel to it.


When putting it together I added some florals to give that feminine touch.


Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend.



hugs Brenda xxx

18 comments:

experiments in paper said...

Brenda - this is exquisite! I love the colors, and all of the techniques that show up in the details! I am so thrilled to be in Andy's and Tracey's Chicago class here in November - wish you were there as well but one of these days I will cross the pond to study with you as well!!
xxx Lynn

Jane said...

This is stunning Brenda...such gorgeous colours. I love the tinted photo...it really looks vintage. Happy Friday my friend xx

Gina said...

This is beautiful Brenda. I am lucky enough to have a hand coloured photo of my grandparents from the 1930's...and your colouring looks just like it :D XXX

Redanne said...

You had me at the Cobalt Teal - lol! This tag is utterly gorgeous Brenda, I love the colours and textures in the background and you enhanced it further by adding your embellishments - love the heart and wings, the wonderfully coloured photo and the delicate flowers - beautiful! Hugs, Anne xx

SewPaperPaint said...

What an awesome array of techniques! Thanks so much for these tips. Beautiful tag!

Juls said...

Beautiful, love the soft colours xx

A Pink said...

Wonderful! Brenda. Gorgeous texture tag and lovely altered embellies x

Scrapintheattic.com said...

This is beautiful Brenda, the colours are gorgeous. Now I should go and find my tag from that workshop! X

Kaz Hall said...

Oh my.... The texture is just gorgeous!! A really beautiful make, love the embellishments too xx hope you are having a lovely summer xx

Sue said...

Wow Brenda this is a real stunner! I love how you've altered the photograph, and the soft gentle colours xx

Suzanne C said...

Simply gorgeous! Wonderful embellishments and how you altered them is beautiful .

Patty O'Malley said...

I love this beautiful tag, Brenda! It has to be my favorite project of your's!

Corrie Herriman said...

Stunning Brenda !
Corrie x

Karin said...

Wow this looks great!
Groetjes Karin

Astrid Maclean said...

Fabulous tag Brenda, love the soft colours and super ideas for altering the embellishment! The end result looks just wonderful!

Sorry for my lack of commenting lately, but I am now back in blog land so you can expect me to be around more once more... :o)

Paper Profusion said...

Very beautiful indeed Brenda! Thanku for sharing all the fantastic ideas, love all the new looks on your embellishments. Nicola x

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous tag Brenda, love the colours and textured background. Gorgeous embellishments too.
Avril xx

Evelyn Walter said...

wonderful tag, Brenda! All these fab steps you made comes perfect together here, love it!
xxx Evelyn