Friday, 2 March 2018

Treasured birthday at AVJ

AVJ is celebrating it's 4th birthday with a fabulous theme simply called 'Treasure'. I am hosting this milestone and have set the brief.
Treasure can be described as wealth or riches we store or accumulate, a collection of valuable, interesting or useful things, bits and pieces we highly value, articles that we hang onto that we’ve bought or found and might never be able to purchase again. What is in your crafty or artsy treasure trove - those items we squirrel away to keep for something special? Maybe some elegant embellishments, that hoard of ephemera or memorabilia found in a junk shop, a tin of old buttons, rusty keys or diamanté jewels, a paper pad you get out and stroke then put away again, some beautiful fabric or lace you can’t bear to part with. We invite you in this challenge to share a project that includes a part of your treasure trove, just let us know what it is so we can see it and comment on it and remember our focus styles and genres to work in (which can be seen under out blog banner) if you would like to be considered for being chosen as one of our top 3 Pinworthy mentions.


I have lots of crafty treasures, some of which get used occasionally but I have a slowly growing collection of old photographs (not of my family) that I pick up when I see them at car boot sales, antique fairs etc. I have scanned some of them onto the PC and printed out the images to use at times but I have never been brave enough to take one of the cabinet cards and actually mount it on a project so here goes.


I wanted to make a new visual journal using an old book and bought three of them for £1 each. I prepared a couple of them by painting the outside covers with gesso and added some texture.


I altered my chosen cabinet card - you can probably see which one I chose from my treasured collection above.


On the background I created lots of layers with gesso, texture paste, painty overlays and stamping before varnishing to help make the cover more sturdy before it gets thumbed and used when creating the new pages inside.


My collaged embellishments have all been altered in some way with paint and inks to age and distress them to fit the vintage appeal I was trying to establish.


They also got more distressing when I was adding the final details.


I will have the process steps for this project here on the 16th March so do keep a look out if you are interested in how this all came together.

I hope you will be able to pop over to the AVJ challenge blog to see some more fabulous samples to fit with our theme and maybe you will be able to join us.

I hope the snow hasn't hit you too hard, we've had a covering and I had to postpone a workshop I was supposed to be teaching yesterday, I expect it will all disappear very soon.

Have a great weekend.

hugs Brenda xxx

18 comments:

Annie said...

Happy Birthday Brenda x Your challenge theme is fabulous and your project is wonderful too. Love the layers you have created and look forward to seeing how it all came together later this month xx

Keep cosy and warm

Huge hugs
Annie x

Gina said...

OMG!...I don't know how you did it? You are so brave lol....looks absolutely amazing. I bought an old album from a junk pie a few years ago...shared the photos on FB as there were clues to the family. Put them somewhere safe and haven't seen them since lol. I do have the tatty album still though so maybe I can do something with that XXX

Redanne said...

This really does look like a wonderful treasure, as do all those beautiful photos! I love the gorgeous background you created and your layering, as always, is superb. I look forward to seeing the detail! Huge Happy Birthday wishes to AVJ, I feel so honoured to have been a part of it since the beginning, it has been an amazing journey - thank you!!

We have had about 6 inches of snow here for the last four days but it is the Siberian winds (gale force last night) that are making it feel so cold - hard to believe it is the second day of Spring and it looks set in until next Wednesday.... boo!! Stay warm and safe! Hugs, Anne xx

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Wow Brenda 4 years, where has that time gone? Love all your vintage photos, they are wonderful to use in artwork, love your artwork, the touches of pink work beautifully with the vintage imagery and tones. Love all the layers you incorporated . I am delighted to have played a small part in A Vintage Journey creative travels. Tracy ❤️❤️

Tristan Robin said...

This is knock-your-socks-off terrific...beautiful, intriguing, romantic, and it tells a lovely story.
I love all the layers and textures you've combined to create a unified single composition.
Brava!

suzyb said...

I really like this Brenda, your work just is simply amazing. Love your collection of photo's. I am trying to get a collection going but it's difficult when the wee fairs are so few here. Keep up the great work. Love this piece.

Julia Aston said...

What a wonderful altered book you have created here Brenda! love the muted colors, the layers of interesting ephemera and all the rusted bits! looking forward to see your step out later this month! Julia xx

Meggymay said...

A fabulous project, I love the layers and the details.
Your collection of photos looked amazing.
Yvonne xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

What a beautiful way to use one of your treasured photos! I haven't been able to use the ones I have collected - maybe I should use one of my treasures and join in! Hugs,Chrisx

Kate Yetter said...

This is stunning! Way to go using the treasure itself. I love the idea of scanning the images first. I love what you have created with this book and photograph. Can't wait to see what you do with the rest of your treasures.
Kate

Astrid Maclean said...

Oh wow Brenda, - first of all, what an amazing collection of vintage photos! And you are brave to use one on this projects, - but it's so worth it for something like this! Wonderful embellishing and collage too! The background peeping out behind it all looks super and I am now looking forward to the 16th to see the process steps, and also to further posts when we get to see what goes inside the book!! xxx

sally said...

That's quite a collection of found relatives you've got happening there Brenda! Lovely to see you being all brave and using one of them for the cover of the book.

Sally xx

A Pink said...

Your collection of vintage photos is so impressive, Brenda. They look fantastic all grouped together -quite a gallery and most certainly 'treasure' .
I love how you have used your chosen photo to cover an old book enhancing the vintage with your use colour, texture, ephemera and embellishments.
A really fabulous project that fits the Challenge theme perfectly .

Hope you have a lovely weekend
hugs x

sarascloset said...

Holy smokes, Brenda! What an amazing make using your treasures of the book and that fabulous photo/cabinet card! I love the heart, the little lavender snippet of fabric and every last single detail! Fabulous work of art; can't wait for the 16th for the details! Hugs!
PS Your photo collection fills me with envy! :)

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Brenda, this is a great idea for a theme and what a brilliant piece you've created for it. Have a lovely crafty week, Angela xXx

Unknown said...

Gorgeous piece of art! I had to laugh because I’m the same way... I make copies of the originals especially if they are hard to find or discontinued.. I can’t bring myself to use the original so I can totally relate! It has created a bit of a hoarding issue? Lol but hey.. Least I have a copy right? Lol - thanks for the laugh and the inspiration

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous project Brenda and a beautiful way to use the photo. Love all the layered effects and I look forward to seeing the process. Congratulations on 4yrs at AVJ.
Avril xx

Let's Art Journal said...

What a beautiful card! The layers and details you created to showcase your lovely vintage photo is amazing 😁. Thanks for the inspiration and wishing you a wonderful week! J 😊