Saturday 22 June 2013

Got the blues



      Got the blues? - I haven't!

    I am a guest designer for Country View Crafts again this month after my Creative Collage got picked as one of their Top 3 last month! I was so happy to be asked to design for them again and really pleased when I heard the challenge was 'Die cuts' - Almost an 'Anything Goes'! - I could make anything I wanted as long as it featured die cuts - well, within reason! ;o)...

      I wanted to make a frame. While I was cutting a frame from balsa wood I thought "I have never made a triptych before" - I had seen them many times in blogland and really loved them. Perhaps it was time to make one myself? I cut out the three frames and chose two gorgeous printed photos. I decided to have a quote for the centre frame.

      I wanted the die cuts to look like they were part of the frame, not that they had been just stuck on. So I decided to do the technique of layering coloured paint with black and white dry brushed acrylic to make them meld in with the background but also POP!






     This creation is inspired by Wedgwood pottery which I have always loved. So I started by selecting various die cut flowers and attaching them to the frames along with some crochet lace. I also selected some buttons, metal charms and a wooden die cut key and safety pin.



  
















I applied some French Roast Fresco paint to the top of the frames followed by some crackle glaze. Then I applied some pale blue acrylic paint and watched as the crackles appeared.

     I then covered the frames with a layer of pale blue paint. I carefully made sure that none of the petals had become stuck to the frame as obviously the card will tend to do when wet. When the paint was dry the petals became tougher and less likely to be stuck down with each paint application. I followed this with dry brushing French Roast Fresco paint and then applying white acrylic paint. I then sprayed some Weathered Wood glimmer mist spray (homemade) and repeated this process twice more, finishing off with a final light brushing of white paint.


    I chose some ivory script print paper for the backgrounds in the frames - this was edged with a my favourite vintage colour Frayed Burlap DI. The quote was from a Tim Holtz stamp set and is one of my favourites to use.

    The frames were tied together with ivory hemp string.




















       To really bring in a Wedgwood style and make further use of die cuts, I cut a die cut segment and attached it to the top of each frame before painting on a heavy layer of Antique Linen DP. I find that just dabbing it on doesn't give a heavy enough cover sometimes, so when I need a very heavy coverage I use a heavily loaded fine brush and just run the very thin paint over the area. The chalky finish of the paint gave an almost porcelain effect to the die cuts and really looked gorgeous.





       So there is my 'Vintage Wedgwood inspired porcelain effect triptych' - I hope you like it! - I would love to hear what you think! Why not hop over to Country View Crafts   and have a peek at the other inspiring creations over there - and join in the challenge as well. There is still plenty of time to get your creation entered in the challenge - What will you create with the always versatile die cuts?

         See you soon!


I would like to enter this in the following challenge -

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Show us a new style/ Show us something new - This isn't a new style for me but I had never made a triptych before.



    Follow on Bloglovin

27 comments:

  1. Wow, that's amazing, just fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stunning work Laura. I love how it reflects Wedgewood pieces and still has that wonderful shabby vintage feel to it. Fabulous. Thanks for sharing it as guest designer at Country View Challenges.
    hugs Brenda xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Stunningly beautiful, Laura. I so love it ... Suzanne x

    ReplyDelete
  4. You've done it again Laura! LOVE the Wedgewood feel to this and the way you have used the paint to merge your flowers and other ephemera with the frames. Well done on this GD triumph. Hugs, Jenny x

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a beautiful creation Laura.
    Gr Elly

    ReplyDelete
  6. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaadorable :-))
    What a fantasic and stunning creations you made!!!
    I like all details!¨
    Hugs, Andreja

    ReplyDelete
  7. Stunning! I am a great fan of blues (this kind) and your make looks fabulous!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a gorgeous triptych Laura...great vintage blue, lovely in total!

    have a nice weekend, Alie :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful shabby chic paint effects and the photos are lovely - congrats on another great GD make!
    Alison x

    ReplyDelete
  10. A beautiful piece of art. Love how you brought all the blues together....very pretty.

    Happy Crafting
    Tracie
    http://homeofthepurskey.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh my creative word....so so gorgeous! I love the color of blue and the ivory is perfect with it! The images are wonderful as well! Sweet make Laura!

    ReplyDelete
  12. WOWWWWWWWWWWWWW this is so beautiful Laura.
    A really great piece of art.
    Great color and details.
    Greetings Janny

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ooh! My favourite colour. This is lovely Laura. Very inspirational
    Amy x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow, wow, wow! This triptych is stunning! I love the soft shades, the shabby vintageness and the beautiful flowers. Truly inspirational make! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is so pretty Laura - something that would sit really well on a dressing table so that it could be looked at every day! Love the treatment with the paints and the die cuts across the top too. Love, Margie xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Absolutely fabulous! Delightful images, pretty colours.... Stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  17. So beautiful, totally love these Laura, the colour, vintage images and die cuts are all gorgeous. XxxX

    ReplyDelete
  18. When I see a creation such as this it makes me wish I owned a die cutting machine.
    Gorgeous images but it is the way you created something inspired by Wedgewood that I personally find to be so inspirational.
    Wishes
    Lynne

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is so gorgeous, Laura. I love the colour and your crackle effect is beautiful
    Rosie x

    ReplyDelete
  20. WHAT you haven't made a tryptic, they are my favorites, well you have made a winning one here sweety,how you created those frames shesh they are sooooo gorgeous, yes wedgewood, they are,all that beautiful blue and white is stunning, I love how you attached them with the ivory hemp string,and yippee for you for making your own glimmer mist, love the lace on the sides, and the faint crackle, wow this is another brilliant make, it's soooo gorgeous, did I say that already, thanks for always inspiring us...

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow, a stunning project. Gorgeous colours and even more gorgeous details to look at.
    Thank you for joining us at FSC this time.
    Yvonne x

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love this! By sheer coincidence I've spent the last few days using exactly the same die to make a couple of screen cards, and that stamp you used is also one of my favourites. Fabulous colour and crackles. Maddy x

    ReplyDelete
  23. oh, this is really pretty! The first thing I thought when I saw it was "Wedgewood!"

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Laura...wow, your detail always amazes me! I love the softness you have created and the care you have taken with this. Most definitely a wedgewood feel.
    Thanks for joining in the fun at Fashionable Stamping Challenges.
    Dot x

    ReplyDelete
  25. Absolutely stunning Laura ! I love the blue and the way you've blended your die cuts in so beautifully. Sue C x

    ReplyDelete
  26. Stunning project Laura, Love the Wedgewood inspired frames, and such beautiful images.
    Thanks for sharing with us at FSC
    Avril x

    ReplyDelete
  27. Such a beautiful dreamy & romantic creation Laura, just love the vintage blue and the delicate diecuts. I need to start using my bigshot more as its been seriously neglected of late. xx

    ReplyDelete

It is always lovely to see people visiting so I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment for me - Thank you!