Moldy Mildew Texture Technique

This is an amazing technique that I discovered visiting my local hardware and having an open creative mind. It is a simple but effective at aging ordinary surfaces into tattered and torn and weathered and worn objects. 

supplies: black gesso, board, wall texture spray, distress inks, sealer, gloves, glimmer mists
1.    Paint desired surface with black gesso working quickly as randomness is the desired outcome.

2.    Allow to dry fully.
3.    In a well ventilated area preferably outside on a sunny day cover the area you will be working on with plastic or tarp.
4.    Following directions on a wall texture  spray cover the entire gesso painted surface allowing some of the black gesso to show through. Homex Wall Texture is our go-to spray purchased at the local hardware store.

 

5.    Dry as instructed on the spay texture container.
6.    Spray with distress inks of your liking. I prefer Tim Holtz tones of brown, green, yellow and blue.

 

7.    I like to add a touch of shine using a sparse spraying of a product like Tattered Angels: Glimmer Mist.

8.    Allow to fully air dry,  in the sun is my preference.
9.    Once dried you can add depth and details by adding other inks and paints of your choosing.

10.Set surface using a matt gel or glossy gel  medium of your choosing. I have used Mod-Podge, Golden, Liquitex and even Americana DuraClear.

Worth Noting: This was a magical mistake. Hardware Stores are filled with unsuspecting art supplies. The desired effect is to have some of the black gesso showing through. This is a messy process and best to be done when you can do it outside. Use disposable nitrile gloves to protect your hands and also if you do not like being messy. We prefer Grease Monkey brand and buy them at our local hardware stores.

Peek-A-Boo Project-Queen of HeARTs

Today I said goodbye to my sweet orange Tabby named Ruby. She like the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland were both gingers and knew what they wanted. Ruby was short for Rhubarb because she was so sassy. This is my way of honoring her in a in a ruby inspired piece.

Supplies:  Reliquary - Arch Top from Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts, decorative paper, sand sponge, distress stains of your choosing,  permanent ink of your choosing, stamp to add details, ink blending tool, iced enamel medium, embossing enamel or powder, heat tool, Weldbond glue, clamps, small stiff bristle brush, focal point I used a polymer clay piece I created using molds and metal angel wings and mica powders,  Ziploc baggie of kitty litter, heavy gel medium,  assortment of metal and plastic embellishments, microbeads

1.  Take the Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Reliquary Arch Top apart.

2.  Use back panel to trace a stencil on a piece of decorative paper you will use for back panel.

3.  Cut out decorative paper panel and adhere to back panel using Weldbond.

4.  Allow to dry fully.

5.  Use a sandpaper sponge to lightly distress the edges.

6. Apply Tim Holtz  Distress Stain Ripe Persimmon to the edges.

7.  Next use a stamp of your choosing to apply so interesting layers to your background. I used Wendy Vecchi Cactus Flower Archival Ink.

8.  Use a blending tool to add depth and interest to your background and to darken the edges.

9.  On top portion of Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Reliquary Arch I added Iced Enamel Medium.

10.                Sprinkle with embossing enamel or powder. I used Susan Lenhart Kazmer Iced Enamels Garnet

11.                Cure with your heating tool.

12.                I added more age by apply some Susan Lenhart Kazmer Iced Enamels Torched Coppers in random areas.

13.                Cure with a heating tool.

 

 

 

14.   Glue the two pieces of the Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Reliquary Arch together using Weldbond glue and clamps. I used a small stiff bristle brush to remove any Weldbond that squeezed through the frames.

15.                Gather central focal point. I used a polymer clay piece I made using molds and following instructions on package.

 

 

 

 

16.                Glue focal point using Weldbond I left room at the bottom to add smaller details.

17.                I use a bag of kitty litter to press securely on to background and allow to dry overnight.

18.                Assemble your project by building layers securing embellishments with heavy gel medium and a small stiff bristle brush.

 

19.                Before everything dries sprinkle with microbeads, I used copper and black.

20.                Allow to dry for 24 hours so heavy gel medium will cure clear.

 

This makes a great stand alone piece or 3-D Mother's Day gift.  I will be using it as panel for one of my Classic Combo Limited Edition Alice in Wonderland Treasure Books.

 

Peek-a-Boo Project-Branch Bouquets

Growing up in Pennsylvania, where February can be the longest month of winter, my mom used to make branch bouquets from cutting branches in our yard. We'd trick the forsythia, crab apple, dogwood, and sometimes lilac into blooming to remind us that Spring was on its way. This Peek-a-Boo project is a  tribute to those fond memories. 

Supplies:  Reliquary - Arch Top from Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts, black embossing paste and crackle paste, plastic palette knife, alcohol inks, ink blending tool, versa mark, embossing enamel or powder, heat tool, Weldbond glue, clamps, small stiff bristle brush, floral embellishments, leaf embellishments, tiny twigs, heavy gel medium, microbeads, flat back rhinestones, and matte gel varnish

1.  Take the Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Reliquary Arch Top apart

2.  On the back panel apply a thin layer of black embossing paste I use a thin plastic palette knife and prefer Wendy Vecchi products.

3.  Allow to dry fully.

4.  Now apply a thin layer of crackle paste. I use a thin plastic palette knife and prefer Wendy Vecchi products. The thinner the layer the smaller the crackle effect, the thicker the layer the deeper more pronounced crackle effect.

5. Allow to dry overnight for best results.

6.  While crackle paste is drying place versa mark on top portion of Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Reliquary Arch.

7.  Sprinkle with embossing enamel or powder. I used Stampendous Frantage Aged Hunter Embossing Enamel.

8.  Cure with your heating tool.

9.  Next day once the crackle paste is dry I add desired alcohol inks to ink blending tool and add this to the dried crackle paste. To lighten sections spray with rubbing alcohol and dry with heat gun. I used tones of grey, tan, and blue.(Ranger pebble, mushroom, sailboat blue to be specific)

10.                Glue the two pieces of the Gypsy Souls Laser Cuts Reliquary Arch together using Weldbond glue and clamps. I used a small stiff bristle brush to remove any Weldbond that squeezed through the frames.

11.                Gather your floral and leaf embellishments. I used polymer clay ones using molds and instructions on product and metal embellishments collected from various art suppliers.

12.                Gather a few interesting twigs from your yard or from a walk in the park.

13.                Assemble your project by building layers securing embellishments with heavy gel medium and a small stiff bristle brush.

14.                I started with the polymer clay embellishments.

15.                Next I added the metal embellishments.

16.                For final step of assemblage I carefully added tiny pieces of twigs.

17.                Before everything dries sprinkle with microbeads, I used copper and black. Carefully remove excess beads by tapping gently.

18.                Two flat back gemstones were added using heavy gel medium and a small stiff bristle brush.

19.                Allow to dry for 24 hours so heavy gel medium will cure clear.

20.                Lastly I stabilized the twigs using a brush and a matt gel varnish.

This makes a great stand alone piece or 3-D Mother's Day gift.  I will be using it as panel for one of my Treasure Books or on a Houdini-Hideaway Box.

I have made a companion piece for this project. I like how they compliment each other.