Tuesday 14 February 2017

From the HeArt Shadowbox

Happy Valentine's Day

How about this for a present to a loved one on this special day?



Cut some patterned paper the size of the back of the frame and using a stencil and modeling paste create a textured pattern.


Scrape through some white gesso, heat dry and then random stamp with permanent ink. I used vermillion with black over the top to get a two tone effect.


Take a greyboard square and scrape some gesso lightly over the top to create a little texture.


 When the gesso is dry paint it with a coat of cadmium red and quinacridone magenta, dry it and give a coat of transparent red iron oxide mixed with raw umber and before it dries flick some water over the surface let it stand for half a minute or so and then gently roll over some kitchen towel to remove the water and some of the paint underneath it. This technique gives you that mottled effect.


Take a small wooden heart (did Elvis pop into your head then? It did mine lol). Daub a little white gesso onto it, turn it over and press the gessoed side onto your craft mat (or something similar). This gives you a very quick way to create a different texture.


Daub a little paynes grey over the heart, dab most of it off and then repeat in a couple of random areas so you get contrasting depths of the colour.


I painted on the reds and raw umber dabbing off with kitchen roll to continue the mixed colour effects ....


..... and dry-brushed white gesso over it to reveal the texture again.


I then swiped over the vermillion red ink pad to bring the reds to life more.


Again I added some white dry-brushing but this time nearer to the edges.


I painted the edge of the heart with white gesso and sanded it back when it was dry, finishing with blended ground espresso distress ink.


To finish the square I sanded over it and around the edges and blended that with the distress ink too.


I took a cheap craft metal frame painted it with a mix of the reds and raw umber paints, let it dry and then blended over some iced espresso metallic lustre.


All I needed to do to complete the shadowbox was to make my own sentient for the metal frame .....


.... and put it together.


No embellishments, no collage just a simple design with lots of technique.


I dipped the white frame into a few watery washes of the colours I had been using but was not happy with the overall finished result ...


.... so that's when it got sanded and grunged up a bit with the sanding block and ground espresso distress ink.


That's better!


Now I'm happier with it.

Enjoy your Valentine's day with special people in your life and listen to your own HeArt.

hugs Brenda xxx




26 comments:

Shilpa Nagaonkar said...

Beautiful shadow box, Brenda! Lovely and elegant!

Glennis F said...

A beautiful project Brenda

Valerija said...

A beauty again. Love your project.
Valerija xx

Gina said...

Is it bad that this makes me think of Poe, Vampires and "Fatal" loves...and smile...gorgeous piece :D XXX

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Gorgeous Brenda, I mean the shadow box but you're gorgeous too Lol! Love the way you've used the patterned paper, great way to use up the stuff that's been around too long. Have a great Valentine's Day and happy crafty week, Angela xXx

Pamellia said...

Absolutely brilliant Brenda! All the amazing textures and layer upon layer of mixed media products to create such depth in your pieces, wow!!! Just blown away with every part of this project! I adore the little framed sentiment, how perfect for a handmade gift. A Valentine's work of art for sure!! Sending wishes to you for a Happy Valentine's Day! :)

Meggymay said...

A gorgeous project and wonderful techniques. Some one special will be pleased when they receive this.
Just been catching up as well on your posts that I missed recently and they are all inspirational.
Yvonne xx

Patty O'Malley said...

Awesome shadowbox, Brenda! Happy Valentine's Day!

froebelsternchen said...

A brilliant piece - utterly beautiful and so much work with all the photos of the progress! Thank you Brenda!
Happy Valentine's Day to you!
♥♥♥
Susi

catherine said...

Fabulous project Brenda and everything goes so well together
catherine

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Gorgeous Brenda, love the rich warm reds and the fabulous texture in the background. Gorgeous textural heart too. Tracy x

Crafty Humphreys said...

Fab project, and love the detailed steps and pics. Suz (Humphreys)xxx

Astrid Maclean said...

Fabulous shadow box Brenda and a super step out! Love the finished result!

Redanne said...

Oh wow Brenda, who could fail to be impressed with this gorgeous creation, love, love all the texture you created, the background is beautiful and the heart is stunning! Hugs, Anne xx

Susanne said...

I'm sure the one who receives this piece will be happy! Like all the textures you have made. Brilliant!

A Pink said...

Gorgeous! Brenda. I ♥ your ♥-such fab texture and great technique . Thx for sharing . hugs x

Jenny Marples said...

Quite simply stunning Brenda! That lace effect background looks superb. You'll definitely have takers for it!!! xx

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous project Brenda, so many wonderful textures, loved seeing the process pics.
A fabulous gift for someone special indeed.
Avril xx

SewPaperPaint said...

What a lovely shadow box and so many lovely details! I love the stenciled striped paper and gorgeous thickly textured heart! Happy belated Valentine's, Autumn

Barbara said...

Love your shadow box, beautiful idea to use texture paste on patterned paper, the heart is fabtastic! Barbara

Hazel Agnew said...

This is certainly a masterclass in texture Brenda. Love it all! Xx

Words and Pictures said...

A gift full of love, thought and detail - amazing textures and layers - beautifully done.
Alison x

maria's knutselplezier said...

Your project is fantastic, I love it a lot!!
Have fun!!
Maria

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Oh the texture and the deep red...gorgeous...love it!

Barbara Rankin said...

Beautiful box, Brenda. Love the textures!!

Jackie PN said...

WOWS! Absolutely stunning heArt piece!
I really do appreciate that you take the time to share your techniques- thank you so much!
xo