This is a unique challenge blog where we are inspired by and focus on the Vintage; shabby; mixed-media; art journaling; industrial, timeworn and steampunk genres and encompass the talent, flair, expertise and ideas of many artists that we are inspired by. We welcome all types of projects - cards, journaling, assemblage, layouts, albums, atcs, altered art in fact whatever you want to share (as long as it is in good taste).

Monday 10 October 2016

Destination Inspiration - Arriving at Terminal 1

Hello friends and visitors, it's Astrid here inviting you to come along on the ride for our next round of Destination Inspiration posts, where the creative guides hope to inspire you with step by steps using 4 specific items in our travel bag. So this month, this is what we have:
1. Product: Crackle Paste
2. Technique: Layering colour through a stencil
3. Colour: Green & Gold
4. Substrate: Some kind of a box
So, first of all, let me show you where I landed up, and of course I will then share with you some of the stations in between.
It's a box I plan to use to store my various die-cuts. I tend to die-cut in badged.
The box I used was  the empty box in which my mobile phone came, this is what it looked like:
It's a nice and sturdy box, strong enough to hold all of the product I was planning to use on it.
First up a layer of Decoart crackle paste and in places some Wendy Vecchi Gold Embossing Paste, I wanted to make sure I got some of those gold tones in from the start. Once dry and nicely crackled, colour was added with the help of Decoart Media Green Gold and Sap Green, and also some Golden brand Iridescent Gold, to bring the gold tones out more.
Here you can hopefully see how the darker green sinks nicely into the cracks.
I wanted more of a vintage look however, so next I adding Decoart Antiquing Cream in Raw Umber, wiping it away with a baby wipe from the central bits when it was dry.
Now I had decided to cover the top of the box with a separate paper panel (just in case I messed it up), so while things were drying on the box, I started to work on that.
I used Paper Artsy infusions, Lemoncello, Golden Sands and The Sage for this piece, partly straight on to the watercolour paper I was using, and partly on my craft mat, dipping my paper to pick up more paint. Of course everything was blended with plenty of water. Now this piece was not used for the background, but to cut my main embellishment, Tim's wonderful layered leaf.
Some of the raised bits were highlighted with Treasure Gold in a mix of Renaissance Gold and White Fire.
Next I cut a piece of card to the size of the top of the box and coloured it with the help of Distress Inks, stencils and stamps:
The stencils were all Tim Holtz, the stamps by Gabrielle Polacco and Finnabair. The colours I used were Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Rusty Hinge and Aged Mahogany.

Now all that was left to do was put it all together.
I adhered the leaf to the background panel, cut a filigree metal embellishment into quarters for the corner and added a little key to the center of the leaf.

A few more finishing touches, adding some shadows around the leaf for more depth, and a die cut word, using gold mirri card, - just looked as if it needed something still.
Another filigree embellishment on one of the sides, to show where the box opens. I added a little pearl in the centre of it, using a pearl pen.
And here is the finished box, small enough to fit on my craft desk, yet big enough to hold my prepped die cuts ready to go.

Well, that's it for today, thank you for travelling along on this first leg of the journey, and be sure to come back next Monday to see what the next Creative Guide has in store for you. I am sure you will not be disappointed!
xxx
Astrid

29 comments:

  1. This is absolutely gorgeous, congratulations and thank you for sharing it.

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  2. What a beautiful box, and I love the repurposing!

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  3. Wow, this looks great! I love how crusty the crackles came out! Thanks for sharing it!
    Tamara
    https://herzkoeniginspapertales.com/

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  4. Oh my Astrid this is beautiful, love all the textures and the most gorgeous colours and what a perfect place to put your die-cuts xxx

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  5. What a treasure you have created Astrid x I adore the amazing textures and rich autumnal tones. The leaf and key are just perfect as is the word explore.
    A great step by step x thank you for sharing x it's certainly got me gee'd up for the week ahead. Huge hugs xx

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  6. As usual you´ve just done such an awesome job here Astrid, and the box turned out sooo wonderful. I have one of those boxes laying here too, so I might try and do you after on this one. I really love it.

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  7. What a transformation!! To see a something which would normally be discarded, into a piece of art is just extraordinary. Love the rich colours, the deep texture and that gorgeous leaf. So inspiring. TFS

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  8. Absolutely stunning! Astrid A makeover to die for! Such rich warm colour tones and superb texture with the most beautifully embellishments. Thank you so much for sharing the creative stages and for the inspiration.
    xx

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  9. Beautiful alteration. ..love the green popping out and textures so yummm! Great make Astrid.

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  10. Astrid, What a lovely make!! Your colors are gorgeous!!and the textures? Just yummy!! xx

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  11. WOW Astrid this is stunning!
    Hugs
    Linda xxx

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  12. What a fantastic project, great Automn colours and structure, and beautiful leaf and key, I just love your work, so beautiful !!

    Have fun and inspire us!!
    Greetings
    Maria

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  13. Astrid you know I love your amazing crackle, and the way you added the colors to your box,- and the top of it, OH MY !! that leave is stunning, -the gold on the embossed areas, and the key makes magic and beauty !! You will have so much joy, every time you are opening it up, to reach for a diecut, dear. xoxox

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  14. What a wonderful place to store your stencils Astrid! Love how you used the colors in your travel bag and all that beautiful crackle! The leaf is a gorgeous adornment for your pretty cover! Julia xx

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  15. My jaw hit the floor when I opened this up! You will not believe that I worked on this EXACT SAME PROJECT yesterday just before your post went live. Only mine was a galexy 3 and didn't have the big five on the cover. You project is quite different than mine of course, but still - what are the odds?! I just love your gorgeous grungy layers and the leaf as the focal point, with that gorgeous "frame work." Truly exquisite design and such an inspiration. Hugs, Autumn

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  16. So beautiful!!!

    An amazing boxe, I'm in love with it !!!

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  17. Stunning Autumnal project Astrid, great to see all the different stages on this fabulous box.
    Julie x

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  19. This is positively fabulous, Astrid! Love all the step-out photos and of course the big finale.

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  20. What a brilliant make-over!! Absolutely fabulous!! Love the rich autumn colours and the textures are to die for. A truly amazing transformation Astrid .. pure magic!!

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  21. Amazing transformation Astrid, the texture on the box is wonderful and love the layered leaf on top, gorgeous texture and shimmer! Thanks so much for sharing it, Deb xo

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  22. Utterly beautiful, Astrid - what an incredible start to the month. The autumnal tones are glorious, glowing with the last of the sunshine; the textures around the edge are fabulous, and the leaf is a stunning centrepiece. Wonderful!
    Alison x

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  23. Gorgeous altered box Astrid, fantastic transformation. There is a real richness to the colour palette and great warmth. Fantastic texture and I adore the leaf. The leaf is a gorgeous centrepiece to your design. Tracy x

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  24. An absolute stunner Astrid, I love that you recycled the box and I really enjoyed seeing your step by steps too. The crackle is fantastic and the leaf is just gorgeous. The other embellishments are beautiful - perfect finishing touches! Anne xx

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  25. Fabulous Astrid, great tutorial and wonderful project. Love everything about it. S@ndy xx

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  26. Wow, Astrid! Never has a phone box looked so fabulous! I loved what you did to this and how you created such a masterpiece from something so ordinary. You have the true eye of an artist and it was such a treat to be able to see the steps of your creative process. STUNNING!

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  27. Oh Astrid I always feel like I could melt into the beauty of your creations and this is another absolute stunner! Have to say I'm mighty glad it wasn't the box for a Note 7 or you'd be returning it!!! This way you've transformed a useful box into a gorgeous container xx

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  28. Wow! Incredibly beautiful! I love that texture and colour on the box and the leaf is fabulous! Chrisx

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