Friday 4 November 2016

Cracked Up

The fabulous Alison has chosen the theme for November and as the title says it's all about being 'Cracked Up'.
Share your crackled projects – whether your crackle is stamped, painted, texture paste or any other kind of crackle. To be a winner or Pinworthy mention your project must be in a vintage; shabby; mixed-media; art journaling; industrial or steampunk style (and I include timeworn in there too).


So following a visit to the new Ikea in Reading I bought some of these little frames and had fun using DecoArt media acrylics, weathered wood crackle medium and chalky finish paints to achieve this effect. Sadly or happily (whichever way you want to look at it) I got into the moment making several of these and didn't record the process in photos. But here goes with some explanation.


I began by giving the whole frame a coat of relic chalky finish paint. When it was dry I gave it a coat of weathered wood crackle medium and left that to dry.


Next came a coat of Everlasting chalky finish and when dry I finished with some brown and clear wax


Having decided I wanted to make this everlasting calendar for December I cut the pages to size, found some scrapbook rings and began creating collages on the pages.


The above one is the frontispiece and here are a few of the pages already made.


I painted up some leftover scraps of card with white crackle paint and used it to die-cut the larger snowflakes below, inking over with ground espresso and spritzing it with water.


I peeled a little of the crackle away to make the snowflakes look more distressed .......


..... and added remnant rub snowflakes over the top.


A small scrap of the crackled card was used as a mount for the 'traditions' below and also became something for the skate to sit on. Here in the UK lots of ice rinks open up for the festive period and have become very popular both before and after Christmas.


Here is how these pages look on the frame, each has the date of the month on.





Al paints and mediums are from the DecoArt range and can be found at Country View Crafts.

The prize this month is an Art Journal Kit from Tando Creative and it is all ready for you to have a go at adding crackle to it.


The incredible Creative Guides over at AVJ have posted some amazingly creative projects, so it would be lovely if you could pop over to leave them some love and we look forward to seeing your entries.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a 'cracking' weekend.
EEEEK it's only two weeks to Ministry of Mixology!!! Everyone is getting so excited, I know I am.

Take care.

hugs Brenda xxx

36 comments:

experiments in paper said...

Beautiful, Brenda! LOVE your crackles throughout....and the idea of a calendar that works from year to year!! So wish I could join you for the upcoming workshop - I know it will be fantabulous!!
xxx Lynn

S@ndy Diller said...

Great way to frame your lovely calendar Brenda. The crackle is so beautifully done. Hugs, S@ndy xx

Jane said...

Owww I really love this Brenda...it's like like an Advent Calandar, shabby chic style...gorgeous. You are the queen of wonderful textures and this is a brilliant piece. I love all those vintage elements you added. Hugs xxx

Redanne said...

Wow Brenda, this is a real stunner, the crackle on the frame looks fabulous and I just love the beautiful calendar pages you made - you have made me want to go and get stuck in to my Christmas cards now....

So looking forward to the MoM!!! Hugs, Anne xx

sarascloset said...

WOW! what a fabulous crackled transformation of this frame! I love your idea of the perpetual calendar, and the pages you've shown are lovely! I especially love the snowflake one--snowflakes are a favorite winter theme for me! The crackled flakes are shabby perfect; I had a good laugh at the fact you had to chip off some of the crackle--mine always just falls off! But it is so effective to give these extra shabbiness. Great Christmas project! Hugs!

Suzanne C said...

Brilliant! Love the soft shabby effect of the crackled paint on the frame and the gorgeous daily pages are wonderful!

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Another wonderful creation Brenda, the cracked effect is superb. I love all the frames from IKEA, such good value aren't they
Hugs
Donna xx

Patty O'Malley said...

Fantastic project!

Gina said...

That frame looks absolutely gorgeous!!! Did you make one for each month lol? I bet the thought crossed your mind several times :D XXX

Jenny Marples said...

Wonderful collaging and a brilliant upgrading of this flip frame Brenda! it all looks beautiful, particularly as the finished pages are displayed xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Gorgeous Gorgeous Gorgeous !!!! What a fabulous idea for a December countdown calendar and what gorgeous crackle and stamping and embellishments ......... just fabulous! Love it !!! Jennie x

P1nkNinja said...

Hi Brenda, I totally love what you've done here it's so stunning... I've been looking for a project to do and I've just found one....Thanks heaps for sharing your amazing talent wish us!! Love it!!! Joan

SewPaperPaint said...

What an awesome project Brenda! I just love the gorgeous neutrals and amazing crackle texture. Each page is fabulous. Hugs, Autumn

Astrid Maclean said...

Oh wow, I am not surprised you bought several of those frames Brenda (I can feel a trip to my local Ikea coming on).... Brilliant idea and of course I completely adore what you did with each of the pages! Wonderful crackle and great neutral tones. Shabby vintage perfection!!

rachel said...

wow wow wow brenda - this is totally amazing - love what you have done! Hugs rachel x

Unknown said...

Just the PERFECT December colors... and such a yummy crackled frame. You just amaze my Brenda with all your innovative and marvelous ideas. Each page is just so ENCHANTING. Truly WONDERFUL. Xj.

Mrs.B said...

This is fabulous, love the shabby crackled frame and I love the neutral shades on each calendar page with their crackle embellishments.
Avril xx

Deb said...

Absolutely gorgeous Brenda, the crackled finish on the frame is perfection and then all of those gorgeous pages! Love each and every one of them and can't wait to see your beautiful count down calendar as it progresses throughout the month. Stunning as always, thanks so much for sharing it! Deb xo

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Oh, love your December frame...yummy crackle and wonderful pages and images. LOVE the calendar too, and this could so easily be change out month to month. Great idea!

sally said...

Lovely aged traditions! Will seriously try & join as Bill is away & I can send housework to hell!

Sallyxx

Words and Pictures said...

Stunning crackle on the frame and I just love all your pages. Fabulous stamping and wintry colour tones - a beautiful way to count down the December days every year.
Alison x

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh My Brenda! This is the most gorgeous creation! The crackle is great and then you have all those fabulous pages too ! Brilliant! Chrisx

Corrie Herriman said...

Love your crackle ! It is a lovely project !
Corrie x

Juliz Design Post said...

Stunning vintage project Brenda full of wonderful crackles and soft tones. Beautifully designed.
Julie x

Julia Aston said...

Wow - love that frame/stand and the wonderful crackle on it - and your lovely calendar cards too! Julia xx

Barbara said...

Genius! love the crackle effect, it's wonderful over this Ikea frame! Love every detail, each page is fantastic! Barbara

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Brenda, another gorgeous project! Love the texture and the subjects, it's vintage/shabby but very stylish. Happy crafting, Angela x

froebelsternchen said...

What an AMAZING extraspecial and BEAUTIFUL Dezember project this is - I am thrille about it!
Just brilliant Brenda!
oxo Susi

Kaz Hall said...

Just simply stunning xx totally love that crackle another lovely make xxx

Monika Gulyas said...

What a beautiful vintage style calendar, Brenda!!! A perfect home decoration for December!!! I love it!!! Hugs

Pamellia said...

Wow Brenda, this is really incredible! Your crackle texture on the base is amazing, the dark showing through almost looks like ice crackling over deep waters! The panels are just lovely! I especially adore the one with the skate, the flow you created with the three strips in the background really caught my eye! Wonderful! :)

Paper Profusion said...

Golly!! This has stopped me in my tracks! A fantastic artwork as well as being useful!! I so wish I could collage like you! Excceptional crackle throughout too. Nicola x

Annie said...

Delicious crackle and wonderful details on your beautiful challenge project Brenda

Tfs Annie x

Annie said...

This is totally fantastic Brenda xx love the wonderful details but especially the amazing crackle x TFS Annie xx

A Pink said...

Wonderful idea , fabulous creativity - amazing crackle - love how delicate it looks and every page is just gorgeous! Brenda
Really love this
hugs x

Jackie PN said...

This is absolutely stunningly beautiful Brenda!! Now I want to create one as well!!
I love the monochromatic scheme you chose=lovely for winter!
hugs,Jackie