Kind Words Vignette Tray

Hello Friends,

Gosh, my week has gotten away from me. I had to have one of my wisdom teeth extracted (yes, I still had them all until Monday!) so Monday and Tuesday were all about taking it easy. I read a book I got for Christmas, organized a few drawers in my craft room and watched some episodes of Top Chef (like in the daytime!). For me, that's taking it slow and easy. But now I'm good and back to business (although still eating soft foods).

Another project today featuring the new Distress Color, Scorched Timber. I did not take photos of how I made this project so what are seeing today is me recreating the inked background I made for the project. I've also added some other information and a variation, just because wanted to try it. So lets get started!

I am using the small Vignette Tray which is about 9" tall and 4 1/2" wide.  I use Scorched Timber Distress paint to paint the entire Tray, except for the center of the tray that will be covered with paper. Once the paint was completely dry, I lightly sanded the edges, then added a coat of Collage Medium to give the wood a more finished look.

While the paint was drying, I cut a piece of Distress Watercolor cardstock just bigger than the opening of the tray (9 x 4 1/2") - I will trim to fit before adding to the tray.

I am using the Tim Holtz Crest Stencil and Distress Grit Paste Opaque for this project. I spread the paste over the crest image from the bottom to the top, because this stencil has tiny parts in the leaves that will bend the wrong direction if you pull the paste down. So just spread the paste upwards!

Wash the stencil and palette knife immediately or place in a water bath.  You will need let the Grit Paste dry (at least 20-30 minutes) then repeat the stencil on the right side.

Since I needed to wait for the paste to dry, I cut another piece of Watercolor cardstock and repeated the stenciling, but this time I used Texture Paste Opaque.

You really can see the difference in the two pastes in this close up. 

I wanted to try this comparison so I could see how the two pastes react to the ink that will be added once the paste is completely dry.

Gather the supplies you will need:

Distress Spray Stain: Antique Linen and Scorched Timber

Distress Sprayer full of water

Multiple Paper Towels

Heat Tool

*I will add my Media Surface Mat over my Glass Media Mat before I start.

I wanted to show you this image (It won't effect what I do when I start with the sprays). I just wanted you to see why sprays are important. If you use an ink pad, it's very difficult to get the ink around the paste Especially in this case, where there is a lot of tiny spaces to fill.  Just something to remember when using paste. Now on to the real deal...

This is really about layers so when you spray in the ink, don;t cover the entire surface of the Watercolor cardstock.  Much better to spray in layers!

1. Spray ink (I like to spray the ink, then spray with water to move the ink)
2. Dry with heat tool (don't cook the paper, just dry for 30 seconds or so between layers)
3. Blot of excess ink 
4. Repeat steps (probably 3 times)

Round One

Round One when dried and blotted.

*only Scorched Timber

Round Two

More of a splatter, rather than a spray (done by pushing down slowly)

Also spraying Antique Linen over any white areas.

Round Two when dried and blotted.

Round Three

Another splatter of Scorched Timber

Round Three when dried and blotted.

And just because they were there... I pressed the paper into some of those small ink droplets on the right. Then dried the paper again.

So here is the final layered paper.

I repeated the steps with the second Texture Paste card.  Scroll down to see the difference in the two pastes. Absolutely fascinating...

The Grit Paste works as a resist to the Distress Ink and the Texture Paste soaks it in.  Same exact steps leading up to this result. Both are great and either would work for the next step with the Foundry Wax.  I think you could use less Foundry Wax with the Texture Paste or at least more random. 

I'm going to continue this project with the Grit Paste background. 

*I will save the Texture Paste background for another project, since its way too grungy good to pass up. 

For the next step, you will need a thin brush, Foundry Wax (I'm using Statue, but Gilded will work too), a wet wipe and a bit of Isopropyl Alcohol to clean your brush.

Shake the Foundry Wax until you hear the mixing ball. Squeeze a small amount on the Media Mat (it will not damage your mat).  Foundry Wax dries quickly so it's important to work with a small amount at a time. Use the small brush to add the Foundry Wax over one area. As you are painting the paste, you will notice a build up of Wax on the brush. Just wipe it off the brush using a wet wipe, then continue painting.

Melt the Foundry Wax with an Embossing Tool. It melts very quickly so keep your eye on it. I like to tilt the paper to the light so I can see when it turns from dull to shiny. 

Repeat the steps to paint the entire image:

1. Shake (always with the cap on)
2. Pour out a small amount
3. Paint quickly
4. Wipe off brush when there is build up
5. Use Embossing Gun to melt

Squeeze out another puddle of Foundry Wax. You will also need your Splatter Brush.

Use the Splatter Brush to add splatter over all dark areas of Scorched Timber. It's hard to see here since it has not been embossed yet.

But once it has, it's like magic. Dull to glowing gold!

Use Isopropyl to clean the brush. So EASY!!

*You can see under the yellow cap that my Media Mat has soaked up the isopropyl.  Don't worry, as soon as the area dries, it will be gone.

Next, I used Scorched Earth Distress Crayon to scribble over the image. 

I have just scribbled over the leaves on the right.

On the left, I have scribbled and rubbed it into the image. If you get to much, just pounce with a wet wipe. 

Just as a comparison, you can see the image on the left is done and the image on the right has no crayon added (yet). Both work, it just depends on what kind of depth you want.

At this point, the paper was trimmed to size and added to the center of the Vignette Tray with Collage Medium.

Next step, the collage.

These are some of the pieces that are found in the collage I created.  You will be able to spot them when looking at the final photos.

NOTES: 

• I cut the clouds out and placed behind the Quote Chip Label. You could use as is but since I was highlighting the background, it made since to fussy cut the clouds.
• In the final piece, the Quote Chip is underneath the transparency.
• I also fussy cut the bird to get rid of the white edge.
• The Etcetera Trim was painted with Scorched Timber before being added to the bottom of the Window Frame with Scor-tape.
• To color the Mummy Cloth, I made a Scorched Timber ink puddle. I shredded the Mummy Cloth and lightly set it in the ink for a second or two before drying. My goal was to only get the ink in random places.

I added the transparency to the frame.  Then added the Etcetera Trim piece at the bottom of the frame (you can see this in later photos).

The fussy-cut clouds have two thin foam squares to raise it just a bit from the background. I also peeled off a bit of the chipboard backing of the Quote Chip, so it would fit between the Transparency and the clouds.

The frame was raised from the back with multiple sets of double stacked standard 3D foam squares.

The cluster with the bird is very loose, meaning anything goes. I wrapped the vintage lace around the stick, then added the stick to the frame with Collage Medium. Once secure, I added the Mummy Cloth, then the dyed flowers, more lace bits and the pearls. The bird and another Curator label were added next.

The vintage button was added with hot glue.

I stitched the tiny Curator labels, leaving the strings long. I used Collage Medium to add them to the background, then hammered a nail right into the wood tray.

This is a special piece. I love the depth that Scorched Timber gave to the overall feel! It will be fun to think about what I want to do with the Texture Paste sample I have leftover from the experiment. Time will tell!

Now carry on,

paula

Salvaged Patina Fabric Journal

Hello friends,

I am sharing a project from the Salvaged Patina release today, my mixed media Fabric Book.  This was such a fun project to create!  Lots of Collage Paper, Spray Stain and Distress Paint in the mix, along with Paper Dolls (both Solos and Groups)!  The Fabric Book is compact...or rather, it is just the right amount of space for Paper Dolls and ephemera and not so much space to be overwhelming.  Just my kind of substrate.

Lets start with the book itself...

The idea-ology Fabric Journal is made up of Cover and two, 4 page signatures. In the picture below, you can see the cover on the left and I am folding over one of the signatures.

To make the book I will be showing you today, I am only using the cover and one signature. Can you use the whole book and never take it apart? Of course you can. I just found it easier to unstitch each signature seam, work on the book using only the pages that I wanted.  The second signature will be use at a later time, so there really is no waste.
In the picture below, I have removed one signature from the Fabric Book and laid the two pieces I will use at the bottom of the picture.  I still need to remove the second signature so I can free up the cover.

And here we are...a cover + a large page + a small page, leaving one signature leftover. When I sew the book back together, I am going to switch the pages, placing the small page in between the cover and the large page. No real reason, other than I thought it looked better when turning the pages.

COVER

To begin, I quickly painted the INSIDE of the front cover with a layer of Collage Medium.  This will serve two purposes, it seals the fabric so the Spray Stain (next step) does not soak through and it will make the cover stronger once dry and cured.  

Spray Salvaged Patina Spray Stain right over the wet glue.  NOTE: I tactually urned my surface to spray from the left side to create a fade to the right or center of the book.

I also added Rustic Wilderness and more Salvaged Patina to the page. I did a much better job at spraying slowly/dribbling the Rustic Wilderness ink than I did in my original sample.  I guess 'practice makes perfect' rings true.  You can dry the surface with a heat tool to speed things up.

I love how the Spray Stain looks over the glue, you can still see the fabric and really, once the glue is dry you will be able to feel the texture of the book again.  So cool.

Once the inside of the cover is sprayed, move on to the Collage Paper that will be used to cover the outside of the cover and some of the pages.

Using different techniques to alter Collage Paper

Rip varying sizes of Collage Paper Entomolgy

Use Salvaged Patina Distress Paint to paint the BACKSIDE of any image.  Keep the paint thin, you do not want to overwork the thin Collage Paper.

This is what it will look like on the right side of the paper once dry.  Very cool, right?

Lightly spray with Salvaged Patina Distress Spray Stain. Practice pushing the nozzle down with a scrap paper to test out the spray/splatter pattern before moving to the Collage Paper. Keep some of the papers light (not too much spray) so once you adhere it to the Fabric Journal, you will see the fabric texture through the paper.

On other pieces, add more colors to the mix. If you leave the colors as you sprayed them and dry with a heat tool they will stay dark/deep. For lighter color, pounce over paper with a paper towel before drying.

For the cover and one of the pages, I went heavy on the color. I did pounce to get lighter shades, but added more spray. One thing to take note, was that I sprayed Salvage Patina at the start, then added the other colors and dried with a heat tool. Then I went back and added more Salvaged Patina to a few bare spots. This really brought back the bright blue. So leaving a little white space is good!

Once the Collage Paper is complete, you can start to adhere it to the book. Using the large piece as an example, I covered the entire canvas with Collage Medium making sure to work quickly so it stays wet enough to adhere the ALL the Collage Paper.  Press the paper into the fabric (you must have clean hands) until you can feel that it is adhered to the surface.  Add a layer of Collage Medium over the top - this will seal the paper and make it transparent. Collage paper can be dried with a heat tool so you can move through the book quickly, but it will not be fully dry or "cured" till the next day.  In fact it is always surprising how it changes overnight. The Collage paper portions will feel like oil cloth.

You might notice that I added paper from Backdrops 1 to the back of the large page. I like that the eye has a break from all the sprayed pages. 

Once you are to this stage, get the pages in the order you want and stitch them up the center. Now you are ready to embellish the pages with what ever you wish!

I have kept the inside simple to really show off the Collage Paper, adding just Paper Dolls, Backdrop paper, Clipping stickers (all words) and ephemera from both Field Notes (standard and snippets size), as well as a few cards/tickets from the Ephemera pack, Keepsakes.

The gold paint behind his head is Dina Wakley Acrylic paint in Gilt. This thick body paint is my go-to gold for all my projects. The white dots were made with a POSCA paint pen.

I could have left the alphabet card in the background alone but I decided to add the POSCA pen work to add more visual texture.

I created the pattern on her yellow colored dress - all with Distress Crayons and a Detailer Water brush. The clothing here was colored directly on the surface with the crayon, then rubbed till I got the right transparency of color.  The pattern was added by dotting the surface with the end of the Detailer Water Brush dipped into the crayon color.  If you want to know more about working with Distress Crayons, please refer to this blog post HERE.

The dots made with the POSCA pen add such detail to the clothes!  The faux tweed on his pants was all done with the damp bristles of the water brush and crayon.

Here is where you can see the mix of the two Field Note SKU's. The bird is from the standard size Field Notes and the small pieces, the rose and blue circle are from the Snippets pack.  

I also used crayon to color the bird and the grass - this is most successful if you coat the ephemera with collage medium first, giving the card a slick surface.

The journal cover embellishment is again a mix of small and large.  Large label from Field Notes and small blue label from the Snippets pack.  The button is from the Mini Flair pack and the words from the Clippings Sticker book.  

The twill tie comes with the Fabric Journal.  I sprayed it with Salvaged Patina Spray Stain and water, then dried it with the heat tool.  Once dry, I was able to use Archival ink to stamp the words, "tell your story" on one side of the ribbon, from the Stampers Anonymous Simple Sayings stamp set.

I had already added the Paper Doll on the inside so I could not sew the label directly to the book.  My solution was to stitch the label then glue it to the book with Collage Medium at the top and bottom, allowing the tie to move freely.

I love making little books and this is no exception.  From the spraying, adding the paper, to coloring the Paper Dolls I just love it.  I guess I like the fact that anything goes!  I'm ready to make another one!

Now carry on,

paula

PRODUCTS USED IN PROJECT