Garden Keepers: by Tracy Evans

Welcome to my second Guest Designer post, thank you again Louise and Helen for inviting me along, I have really enjoyed altering these pieces!

This time around I have altered one of the fabulous Calico Craft Parts Arch Shrine Kits, these are a fabulous size and I have so many plans to alter more! I began by painting the Arch with a coat of Gesso and then I applied two coats of DecoArt Dark Grey Value 3 Fluid Acrylic.

Once the layers of paint were completely dry I then added a coat of DecoArt Weathered Wood and once that was completely dry I then added a coat of DecoArt Crackle Paint (Andy Skinner's Mega Crackle Technique); the crackles are amazing. Once everything was completely dry I then applied a coat of Matte Medium to protect the layers.

To add further interest to the inside I also added some stencilling using Graphite Texture paste through a stencil.

This is a flower keepers garden so obviously I added some flowers; these flowers have resin faces for the centre which I coloured with touches of Dark Grey Fluid Acrylic, applying with my finger. I also added touches of Crackle Glaze to the petals.

I added a Remnant Rub to the back wall along with a further resin flower, again adding touches of Fluid Acrylic to colour. I also added lettering to the top of the shrine "Garden Keepers".

I also included another one of my favourite Calico Craft Parts the ATB Cube Kits, these come in three sizes and are absolutely fantastic (I have lots of plans for more of these!). I did not add the top to this ATB Cube as I wanted to use it as a pot to add my flower. I painted the Cube with Fluid Acrylics, added the flower and also included a Prima Doll, along with Remnant Rubs to the body and touches of Fluid Acrylic, applied with my finger.

Two further flowers and a further doll have been added to the opposite side along with some dry moss.

From this angle you can see the depth of the shrine.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy Evans x x

Arched Shrine Kit

ATB Cube Kit