Showing posts with label shabby chic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shabby chic. Show all posts

Rusty Laugh

These chipboard wall hangings are so amazing to work with. They are tedious in their process because you have to get in the grooves, and don't forget to do the back too! They are made of layered chipboard, which I found at Hobby Lobby on sale for about $3. They make really great gifts because they don't take up space, and who doesn't love a positive subliminal message to plant in their mind every day? My house is filled with handmade subliminal persuasion. That's how I stay positive in the midst of all my personal hardships.








This is a quick view of part of the rusting process. You seal your substrate with the primer, then paint on one coat of the black iron paint and let dry. Then you paint on another coat, and while that is still wet, you strategically dampen it with the activator solution. I get my results from a pooling effect. Some kits come with spray bottles, but I find that doesn't give me what I want. I want it to look a thousand years old! After that dries, I cheat and wet it with water, and add a spotty layer of black iron paint again, then soak that with more solution. I usually do multiple pieces at once so I can stack them on top of each other. That is how I get the added texture. The process takes a few days if you want it to have this level of erosion. Once the rust is taken hold, I start to add the bronze and gold paint for the patina to show through. If you don't have the patina, the piece looks really orange and pure rust. Personal choice!




Memory Box

This is a paper mache box that I bought several years ago. I gave it a crackle finish using acrylic paint, then it sat for a very long time until I needed somewhere clever to put little trinkets in my living room. The top is a bit dainty and fragile, but the entire piece inspires me, despite it being decorated with paper. It has been several years now, and it held up. The legs make it feel like a wonderful piece of decor, and somehow reduces dust. 


I made the rosettes out of double faced satin ribbon that I had dyed. The feet are by Tim Holtz and applied with basic craft glue. The red rose trim is a purchase from a scrapbook convention.


I used graphic 45 paper, Cheery Lynn Designs dies, and made the flowers are Tim Holtz dies, and Spellbinders dies.


I used Sizzix, Spellbinders, Cheery Lynn, and Memory Box dies.


Graphic 45 papers


The individual pieces are all hand or die cut, hand painted, or dyed.


Grunge calendar hanging




 

I painted the chipboard using basic acrylic paint, and then used mica powder and glimmer mist to add a subtle sheen and variation in base color.


The flowers were made over the course of a year as I tested new ways to mangle paper. There are various links to flower tutorials for similar projects listed at the right. A few vintage finds were added for fun. This was a “use what you have” type project inspired by a sample I saw at CKU from Crafty Secrets.

 
  • Vintage images from Crafty Secrets
  • Chipboard pages from Michaels in the dollar section
  • Rosettes hand made by me
  • Calendar designed by me
  • Ranger Distress inks
  • Glimmer Mist (on everything!)
  • Die Cuts: Sizzix and Tim Holtz Alterations dies
  • Fabri-Tac adhesive. Zip dry would also work perfectly on this type of project.

Photobucket