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

"Believe" Count Down Calendar

Hi everyone!  Glad to be back here on the blog with an easy Count Down Calendar for the Tim Holtz Holiday Inspiration series.  Follow along and I'll show you what I made!

Start with the small size Vignette Tray (they come two in a pack - one large one small).  Turn it over and paint the sides and up onto the back with black soot Distress Paint.  Let dry.

Adhere paper from the idea-ology Mini Paper Stash Christmas (8 x 8") with Collage Medium.  The paper is cut smaller than the wood front because I wanted the black edge to create a faux "frame" for the pretty paper.  A brayer ALWAYS helps to smooth out the paper on a hard surface.

I used a stencil from the Stampers Anonymous Mini Set #31 and Distress Grit-Paste to create a great pattern for the background. 

I also wanted to give the Grit-Paste a little shine, so while it was still wet I poured Distress Glitter Dust over the top.  You have to work fast since the paste dries rather quickly!

It leaves a bit of shine over each star which I thought was fun.  Remember to leave it to dry for at least 30 minutes (and do not use a heat tool).

While the Grit-Paste is drying I thought I'd work on the numbers for the count down calendar.  I'm using the Transparent Tiles Christmas for this project.  They come in a pack of 48 pieces - alpha and numeric.  The pack has two sets of numbers, which is perfect since you need two of the number 1 and 2 for a calendar.  The pack also has a star card I thought could used on single digit days (you will see later). 
To turn them gold, I pounced gold Mixative Alcohol Ink over the BACK of each card and let it dry.  Again, do not use a heat tool as it is VERY easy to overheat the plastic card, which in turn will curl up like a Pringle potato chip...and we don't want that to happen!  Just walk away for 10 minutes to let completely them dry!

You may not of seen this great little pack of hardware that was released in the summer.  It is called the Vignette Hardware pack and it's like one stop shopping for the hardware we all need when working with Vignette Boxes or Trays.  The pack comes with screw eyes, hooks, nails, and long screws (long screws are used to convert idea-ology wheels and knobs so they can be used with Vignette Trays and Boxes).

I decided the small hooks would work perfectly for this project.

I placed the numbers on the tray to get the spacing needed, then used a nail to start the hole (I just tapped it a couple times with a small hammer).  I pulled out the nail and inserted the hook, screwing it into place.  Super simple.

 This is how it looks from the side.

To hang the numbers they need to have a hole.  Just mark the center point (easy to do with Tim's ruler) and punch a small hole.  I made sure I kept the hole near the edge since my hooks are small.

I guess you could hang all the numbers on the hooks, but realistically if you are going to count down, I'd rather keep them in dish nearby or in a envelope on the back of the tray.

To build the focal point of the tray, I started with the Quote Chip "Believe", adding it to the bottom of the green Baseboard.  Foam squares were added to the back and it was added to the tray front.

I thought a Small Woodland Tree would be cute in the center of the Baseboard, but before you can add the tree... you need to give it a haircut so it can sit flat against the surface.

Using your fingertip, tap Collage Medium on all the bristles.  Sprinkle Clear Rock Candy over the tree to create faux snow.  Let dry.

My tree needs some ornaments!  I picked the smallest beads from the Baubles pack, coloring them with Mushroom Alcohol ink.  Using a Blending Tool with felt allows you to pounce over the bead to get different tones of brown and thereby creating a great vintage look.  Quite the difference in the before and after!

I like to squirt a little Glossy Accents directly into the tree, then push the bead into the glue.

I also wanted to add some color and texture to the Baseboard so I cut a few pieces using the Festive Greens Thinlit and the new little Sidekick machine.  These are the perfect kind of dies for this machine - thin and small in scale!  I can set the small machine on my work surface, lower the lever that creates suction to my table top and I'm ready to die cut these tiny pieces.  Just that simple.

 I added Clear Rock Candy over the bow and the tips of the berries for a little sparkle.

NOTE: I cut the bow twice and glued it together to give it a bit more weight before adding the Clear Rock Candy.

I used hot glue to add the tree to the Baseboard.  I also tucked a bit of Warm and Natural batting right above the Quote Chip to mimic as snow below the tree.  I added one of my favorite Christmas embellishments, a Fluted Star to the top of the tree (it's really right behind the tree - glued to the Baseboard).

I wiped some red paint onto the Mini Hardware knob and let it dry.  I took out the screw that comes with the knob and replaced it with the longer one from the Hardware pack.   I used a drill to create a hole at the top of the tray and add the knob.

I love the way it turned out!  Definitely a project that could be done in just a few hours once all the supplies are at hand.

I think my favorite part is the way the Transparent Tiles turned out with the gold Alcohol Ink.  The gold really did transform them into something special.

Hope you will give this project a go! 

Carry on,
paula