Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Word of the day is MAGIC!

I decided the really big flower from my last post, needed a great surface to sit on.  So I'm going to make a custom chipboard frame.  Follow along and I will show you how I did it.

Here are the measurements of my frame all based on how big I wanted the center to be.
Back: 7 3/4 x 9 1/2"
Center: 5 3/4 x 7 1/2" (this piece will be covered in patterned paper)
Frame: Two - 7 3/4 x 1" and two - 9 1/2 x 1"- each corner mitered
I cut the miter joints of the frame following a hand drawn pencil line.  No real measuring.  I just laid one piece on top of the other and made a tick mark, then drew a line from the tick mark to the corner.  Cut.  It's that easy.
You can see that my frame is not perfect on one of my corners. I'm not really worried that my pieces don't match up because I have a plan that will make all that "rough" work (as my dad would say) fade away.  And if you're wondering, I secured the 4 frame pieces to the back with Multi Medium.  I used some binder clips to secure each corner for about 5 minutes while the glue dried.  The one thing I did not want, was for the corners to lift.
Once dry, I'm ready to start the finishing process.  I probably should have coated the chipboard with gesso (that would have been smart) but I didn't.  So lets pretend there is a coating of gesso here and then we'll just move on, okay?
I painted on a layer of Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste - gold.  This product is kinda like magic.  It is this very weird color in the jar...
But then when it dries (which is quick), it turns gold.  The transformation is nothing less than magic, I tell you!  Anyways, brush it on in a thin layer...remember, this is just the ground floor layer (okay, really gesso should be the ground floor but we're not going to talk about that).  Again, I'm not worried about brush stokes or the crack in the corner, just a nice thin coat.
Once the gold Embossing Paste is dry (I might have used a heat tool to speed things up), I added a coating of Wendy Vecchi Crackle Texture Paste over the gold.  I just spread it on with my plastic palette knife.  Super easy...not too much thinking.  Some places thin and some thicker.  I wanted to have some of the gold show through, so I wasn't worried about missing spots.  Once I had the Crackle Paste on the frame, I set it aside to dry, then washed my palette knife (don't skip the washing or you will be sorry).
And the result... 
Just like magic we have cracks!  Exactly what I was looking for.
I used my Sanding Grip to sand away any rough parts on the edges.  Because the Sanding Grip has a flat rigid surface, it worked perfectly to run right along the edge, leaving the top of the frame undisturbed.
I used Archival Ink in Watering Can and a Mini Blending Tool to add color to the Crackle Paste.
Then I took my Mini Distress Ink Blending pad in Vintage Photo a scuffed it over the first layer of Archival ink.
Back over the Distress ink, blending some of the heavy color into the frame...but just a bit.  I want the "rusted" appearance.
I decided to add a light coat of Multi Medium over the top of the cracks which I knew would make the Distress Ink come to life.  I was right, the color of the Vintage Photo ink  becomes rich.  Of course, because Multi Medium is wet, it can move the Distress ink around diluting the rich color too.  If this happens, just repeat the process (ink, mm, dry, ink mm, dry).
One thing you might note is how nicely the mitered corners turned out.  All the layers filled in my shoddy cutting job!
I added paper from the Lost and Found Paper Stash to the last chipboard piece with Multi Medium and adhered it to the center of the frame.
And there you go.
One frame with a really great Crackle Finish.  To be honest I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to create this kind of texture.  Both layers dried quite quickly... all in all, it probably took an 1 1/2 hours to create start to finish (it will take me longer to edit photos and write the post about creating it).
Just love the texture and color of the frame.
Okay, so we have a really big flower and now a fabulous crackled frame. The next step is to put the two together and make it look cohesive.  I think this calls for vintage ephemera, something I know I have.  Stay tuned for our next episode of "The one with the really Big Flower"....
now carry on,
paula

38 comments:

  1. Love the texture the crackle paste gives you!! Looks so old and weathered. Can't wait to try it!! Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Love this frame! I'm addicted to Wendy Vecchi embossing paste, but I haven't tried the gold. I might have to now!

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  3. thanks for a great tutorial Paula...it looks so vintage...as though it's been weather beaten for years...can't wait for the next exciting instalment...hugs xxx

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  4. Paula-you did a fabulous job! Love Wendy's pastes! The cracle is the best!
    I just adore your project, can't wait to see the flower!

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  5. Awesome frame!! I can't wait to see the next part........

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  6. I LOVE this! I can't wait to try it.

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  7. Ooooo! I can see this project is developing beautifully looking forward to the next instalment ,happy to say I've just bought Wendy's gold, silver and crackle pastes ! Just couldn't stop myself xx

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  8. After taking classes with Tim this pass week, I can't get enough of the wonderful designs that pop up using his products. Great frame and tutorial.

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  9. Looks awesome! Can't wait to see you pull it all together! :D

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  10. Dying to see how this turns out! The distressed crackle looks fabulous. I can highly recommend colouring your crackle paste with the Archival reinkers as it 'holds' the colour really well. Jenny x

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  11. Your frame looks like one you picked up on one of your junking journeys! And I mean that in the best way. If this Tim gig doesn't work out, you could have a whole new career making vintage cracked paint frames!! (And I'll only charge you 35% for giving you the idea!!) ;)

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  12. spectacular! Your frame is fantastic! Great inspirations as always and wonderful tutorial! BArbarayaya

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  13. Great frame, nice to know how to make. This is like a TV series, keeping us hanging on the edge. :-))

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  14. I especially am taken with the corners.... And throwing out my gesso! Who needs it? This rocks!

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  15. The crackle on your frame is amazing and looks all the better for the distressing and 'rusting'. Looking forward to seeing the next stage. Anne x

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  16. Love the look you achieved using these products. I can't wait to see how you will incorporate the big flower.

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  17. Such a cool look........love love love the cracked look xx

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  18. i can't wait to get my hands on some of this crackle!!

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  19. I have been wanting to purchase the embossing pastes...these are now definitely must-haves! thank you for sharing?

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  20. WOOOOOOOOO ... that frame is so cool ... love the texture... you rocked that crackle!
    What an amazing color combo with the watering can and vintage photo... can't wait to see the "marriage" :)

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  21. AWESOME!!!!! love the frame!! gotta try this...thanks!

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  22. Awesome frame Paula! Love the size of the crackles!

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  23. This frame is fabulous! I love the gold/crackle combo!

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  24. Fantastic Frame!!!

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  25. I love the homemade frame! I bought that crackle paste--just couldn't resist. Now to use it!

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  26. I can't believe I have not added these wonderful paste to my stash. Every time I see them used, I fall more in love. I think your frame turned out perfectly beautiful. Do you think you would have had different results, if you had first laid down some gesso? Maybe you would have had to use less paste? Can't wait for Part 3! Thanks so much, Paula.

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    1. Laura, I'm not sure the gesso would have changed the final result (I guess I better try it out to be sure though). My only thought is that it may have given the gold paste a smoother finish.

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  27. Nice! It is magic! Thanks for the tutorial on the frame. Looking forward to seeing the flower and the frame together. Thanks.

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  28. Great frame Paula thanks for showing us how.

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  29. I'm loving this step by step tease of your project! :)

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  30. Paula, I'm working my way backwards here. Started with the finished piece and after reading this now, I just realized you MADE that frame. Genius! Now I'll go see about that giant flower. (then add some embossing pastes to my next order)

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    1. Annette, you will love the Embossing Paste - it dries really fast which is great when you have a deadline!

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  31. I at first also didn't realize that you made that frame from scratch. What a brilliant idea! Thanks for the tut as well. Is that grunge board or something similar to that? I need embossing paste badly NOW!

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    1. it is just plain ole chipboard. I could have used Grungeboard but I needed a bigger background.

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  32. Love how you created the frame. Thank you for the inspiration.

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  33. Great layers of medium on your sweet crackled frame. It is perfect for the cool paper you framed. Thx for the tutorial. :)

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