Pastel Shades

Hi everyone,

I would like to show you a photo collage I did...

 I have always loved these kind of creations, but lacked the confidence in doing them. One day I had some spare time, I had nothing planned to do and so I decided to sit and play. I had just printed out loads of vintage portraits and I loved this one in particular - I adored the very muted pastel shades and decided to let that lead the colour scheme

I began with two bottles of Distress stain.... Frayed Burlap and Weathered Wood. I pressed them onto the craft mat until there was a puddle of ink emerging. Then I slammed them down onto a piece of card to create a splatter effect. I dabbed the excess ink with a tissue as I wanted the ink splatter to be pale.

Then I began to arrange some tissue tape strips in horizontal and vertical lines. I knew where the picture would be placed so I just tried to place these around it. I then covered a doily with Iced Spruce and Frayed Burlap DI and stuck it onto the collage...

I dabbed some Iced Spruce and Vintage Photo DI's around the tape strips

I added some script and text stamps...dabbing them around the picture using Potting Soil Archival ink

Then I added together a collection of embellishments, roses, clock, metal filigree flower, buttons, a key, chit chat sticker, butterfly, lace and hemp string. I arranged them all beneath the photo

I decided to layer the picture. So I got some Frayed Burlap and Pumice Stone DI and wiped them onto the craft mat and spritzed with water. I swirled some card into the ink and left to dry. When dry I sanded the edges down to reveal the pale card underneath and add a distressed aged effect

This needs a frame!!! I did the usual thing - four pieces of balsa wood stuck onto card in the size frame I wanted. I painted it with French Roast Fresco paint and then covered it with Crackle glaze. I waited for this to dry then applied a thick layer of Nougat Fresco Paint.

After this had crackled I sanded the paint down to strip back some patches to look even more weather worn. I then added a layer of Raw Umber Antiquing cream which I wiped away with a damp cloth when dry.

The frame was finished off with a coat of Matt Varnish

 Brass Hinge Fasteners were used with hemp string as a hanger

And there is my Victorian Pastel collage.....it may not be a perfect example of this collage style but practice makes perfect..I had so much fun doing this I will definitely do more! ;o)

Happy Crafting!

Love from Laura xxx