Monday 25 January 2016

Love, love, love by Astrid

Hello Calico friends, long time no see..... I've been away and so this is my very first post in the new year and it's nearly February....

Anyway, that being so, I thought I would share my first Valentines project with you:


Have you seen some of the new Valentines Craft parts? You can find them right on the home page at the moment.

I used the Mini Valentines Wood Shapes set 3, some amazing new corners
Baroque Floral MDF Wood Corner Embellishment - Style 35, and the word Love from the Create you own Word craft parts in the Coventry Garden Font, but that is a story by itself that I will tell you in a moment.

I started with one of the Shaped Profile Grey Board mixed media boards and started by adding some texture with the help of a couple of stencils and texture paste. I then gave it all a good coat of gesso.

Next I selected my chosen craft parts and arranged them on the board. I also used a metal embellishment from my stash to complete my composition.

Next everything was covered in a further layer of gesso.

And then followed my favourite bit, adding colour with the help of various paints and sprays from my stash.. However, before showing you some detail about that, as you can see, there is quite a gap on the left, and I felt it really needed a sentiment. Now I had a complete phrase "Love is in the Air" cut from the Coventry font, but...... I had not been careful when ordering, and it was huge and far to big for my project. I'm telling you that, because I know I am not the first one who has made that mistake, so beware and be careful, take out that ruler before ordering!!

Anyway, all I have space for was the word Love, but as it turns out, the good thing was that the shape of the word mimics the shape of the arch on the grey board, thus balancing the design quite well I think.

Here you can see what it looked like after I altered it, to give it a worn rusty look.

This was achieved by adding some Decoart Crackle paint and when dry colouring with various sprays and paints. I then added some Antiquing cream in Burnt Umber, and then when I buffed it and rubbed it off, also peeling some of the crackle paint away again. In order to stop more crackle peeling off, you then need to seal it.


Here is the centre part, while adding colour I had also added some glitter that was then covered over again to take away the sheen but just leave some texture. As that unfortunately obliterated the text on the heart (cut into the actual craft part), I then added a wood sticker to give it more of a focal point..
Below are a few further details still:


Shadows around the craft parts, to create more depth to the colouring.

In my world no project is complete without at least a bit of background stamping.

I love how the metal embellishment and Craft Parts seamlessly work together once altered in the same way with gesso and paints.

And here a bit a closer look at the final project once more....

Thank you for visiting

18 comments:

  1. Fabulous textures and layers as always....those Craft Parts look wonderful

    Tfs and best wishes

    Annie x

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  2. Beautiful Astrid, the addition of the Coventry font 'love' was the perfect touch! Deb xo

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  3. WAUW what an amazing project here too Astrid. You just always deliver beauty in some way and this nis aabsolut amazing and sooo beautioful. Love how you´ve mixed the embellisments with the word and made it all fit perfect together. Sooo beautiful.

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  4. So, so pretty - I love all the texture, of course, and the subtle shimmering colours are so lovely. What a great combination of Craft Parts and metal adornments. Love it!
    Alison xx

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  5. stunning work astrid. amazing colours and 3 dimensionality! beautiful display of the craft parts. fabulous xx

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  6. Wonderful , love the colors and gorgeous texture, and the Craft Parts are so beautiful, - a gorgeous love-piece Astrid !!
    Dorthe xx

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  7. Your art work always blows me way. This piece is no exception. Beautiful.

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  8. Beautifully done, Astrid! I agree that the metal and wood work so well together with the alterations you made. I really love it and wish I could get my hands on some of that laser cut wood. Will have to check for some in the U.S.

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    1. Hi Barbara - we do ship to the USA now, all details are on the website. HTH :) Helen

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  9. Beautiful composition and I love the texture! xx

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  10. Oh my! What amazing texture and colours! Fabulous! Hugs, Chrisx

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  11. That baroque ornament is so beautiful, and put to such good use here, along with the metal.....WOW!! And glad to see that we over the pond can shop here as well! xxx Lynn

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  12. I just love all the textures and that gorgeous aged 'love' word. Anne xx

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  13. Fabulous work of artwork! Love that aged look you have given everything, and how that LOVE works so well with the shaped panel and Baroque embellishment. Astrid, you spoil us with your beautiful, rich artwork!

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  14. A wonderful artwork. I like the baroque ornaments and the soft ice blue color.
    Greetings
    Sabine

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  15. A stunning piece Astrid!! Love the soft colour, the textures and the subtle touch of shimmer. So beautifully put together!! Love this!! xx

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  16. Beautiful! They textures and layers are beautiful and I love the subtle colour palette - so, so pretty. The word LOVE balances it perfectly.

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  17. So Baroque Astrid! I love this! Elegant! xoxo
    Love Calico Craft Parts!!

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