A Toxic Plaque

Good afternoon and a Happy Easter to those that celebrate it.
Crafting is not only enjoyable for me, it also forms part of my own pain management. Drying time can be made to fall into those periods when I need to lie down so I have a win win situation most of the time. For those out there, and I know there are many, BIG gentle hugs to you all.

It's been a week since my last visit. I've been busy but can't share my makes just yet as they have not been received by the people they are intended for.
The piece I am going to share with you came about by chance really. I was searching for a particular roll of ribbon that I need for another project and came across a little package of MDF and grey board that was in a goody bag at one of the Ministry of Mixology retreats that I love going on. This bit donated by Tando Creative. It seemed to good an opportunity to put it to some use as this ribbon has still not come to light.


I started off by damping the edges of the greyboard and distressing thoroughly. Then left to dry.
All four pieces were painted with Decoart black chalk paint and when dry some crackle medium applied to some areas. Lighter coloured chalk paint in different colours applied to all pieces.
Rust effect - more paints. The stamp set I used is from Andy Skinner's stampendous range - "Toxic". It felt good to go back to some older stamps for a change. Why buy stamps if they are going to be used a few times then put away, never to be seen again, just because newer toys are at hand?
Some close ups of those distressed edges - they are solid now because I've sealed with ultra matt varnish.

The scratch and "toxic" stamps used here can be clearly seen.

The rivets are just aged brads. 

The finished plaque can be hung up with the rusted wire. The smallest piece is going to hang funny because it's already lost two rivets so no - I didn't mis-stamp.

Thanks for looking 

Gone Rusty

OMGoodness! So long since I visited this little corner of my life!!! Let's see if I can remember how to work this platform.

I have been making the odd bit here and there for friends but forgetting to take photos before hurrying them out of the door. Seems there have been more demands on my time outside my little cubbyhole since we moved house and adopted a gorgeous little Staffie - Nala.

All that is, hopefully, going to change slightly and I'll be back in my inner sanctum playing with the stamps, inks, paints etc more often.
Today's offering was inspired by the challenge over at Country View Challenges - Rust. I love the different ways that the illusion of rust can be created with paints and powders and have used two ways here on my little Tando mini printer tray.
The kit pieces were all sealed with Decoart tinting base after gluing the aperture pieces together. Then the cover was edge painted with Decoart Quin gold.

The front cover

Paper from Prima, Epiphany pad, stamped with a Stampendous bird gears stamp in sepia archival.
Then using Stampendous' gorgeous aged ochre embossing enamel, heat set this to frame the image.
The words were computer generated and wild honey distress ink added, edged with black pencil before being stuck down with matte medium (decoart again)

Inside Left

 More Prima paper from the same pad. I have acquired so many papers that I really ought to use some up! The remaining words from the computer adhered after distressing the edges of the paper with both scissors and ink. Two Tando hearts, One coloured gold with ink the other, paint.

Inside right

More Prima paper and more distress ink on the base.
The frame, after the gluing and priming was given a coat of Decoart Yellow oxide mixed with a touch of gold. Then given a coat of Decoart Patina antiquing cream, wiped back slightly before stamping with an Andy Skinner crackle stamp using sepia archival. Then sealed with satin varnish.
The birdcage and hearts are also from Tando.
The painted rust effect here was created by mixing burnt umber paint with texturizing medium before painting with red oxide, yellow oxide and quin gold paints.

My head says this needs more but I can't quite put my finger on what that is just yet. Oh well! I'll just keep looking at it until inspiration strikes.

I'd like to enter this into the challenge at
Country View - Rust