Tutorial: Autumn flower in a rustic frame

Hi Sizzix friends!!!

It’s Friday again and Raquel is here. I continue in autumn mode so the project I show today is again inspired by this season.

To make this rustic frame I’ve used some leaves from Sizzix dies, of course! And this beautiful new flower die, some acrylic paint, candle, felt and cardstock.

Here is the video where I explain how to make this rustic frame and all the complete project process.

I have used the following Sizzix products:

660020 Sizzix Big Shot Plus Machine Only (White & Gray)
656499 Sizzix Accessory - Standard Magnetic Platform for Wafer-Thin Dies
660522 Sizzix Accessory - Cutting Pads, Standard, 1 Pair (Mint)
660821 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 3PK - Back to Nature
660822 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 3PK - Back to Nature #2
660869 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 5PK - Intricate Garden Flowers


Other supplies:
Wooden frame
Candle
Net chicken
Cardstock in dark brown, blue and Kraft.
Felt in blue, cream and mustard
Acrylic paint in dark blue and dark brown
Gel medium
Straw scrubber (in Spanish it is called “estropajo de esparto” in case you want to search for pictures)

I hope you have enjoyed this flower in a rustic frame, the video and that it has given you a bit of inspiration .Thanks for your visit!


Have a creative and a happy Friday!
Raquel

------------------------♥------------------------♥--------------------------♥------------------------

Hola a todos!

De nuevo es viernes así que aquí estoy. Y como sigo en modo otoño, el proyecto que os enseño hoy está de nuevo inspirado en esta estación.

Para realizar este cuadro rústico he utilizado algunas troqueles de hojas de Sizzix, por supuesto!!! Y este precioso troquel de flor, pintura acrílica, vela, fieltro y cartulina.

En este vídeo os explico cómo crear este efecto rústico en el marco y el proceso completo de todo el proyecto:

He utilizado los siguientes productos Sizzix:

660020 Sizzix Big Shot Plus Machine Only (White & Gray)
656499 Sizzix Accessory - Standard Magnetic Platform for Wafer-Thin Dies
660522 Sizzix Accessory - Cutting Pads, Standard, 1 Pair (Mint)
660821 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 3PK - Back to Nature
660822 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 3PK - Back to Nature #2
660869 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 5PK - Intricate Garden Flowers


Otros materiales:
Marco de madera
Vela
Red de gallinero
Cartulinas en marrón, azul y Kraft.
Fieltro en azul, crema y mostaza.
Pintura acrílica en azul y marrón oscuro.
Gel medium
Estropajo de esparto



Espero que os haya gustado este cuadro rústico y el vídeo del proceso. ¡Muchas gracias por la visita!


Feliz y creativo viernes.
Raquel

upstencilling!

I know it's not a real word but I'm a busy man and I have got time to go around talking about upcycling using die-cut stencils!

Last week we looked at using shop bought stencils and I thought 'Why not make your own Pete, after all, we do have some dies just crying out to be used in this way'.

I decided to take my own advice for once, especially as I have a cool idea for a house warming gift. On Saturday morning I shall be helping my good friend Wayne move house which is going to be a gradual process for Wayne and his family so on Saturday we are tackling the big stuff! 

Some of the dies I have used today are among the most popular releases this year alongside some timeless classics....

• Bigz XL Alphabet Die - Word Play by Tim Holtz (657837)
• Bigz Die w/Texture Fades - Butterfly Duo by Tim Holtz (660236)
• Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Spring Greenery by Tim Holtz (659573)
• Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Scribbles & Splat by Tim Holtz (660222)
• Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Mixed Media by Tim Holtz (660220)
• Sizzix Paper Punch - Butterfly, Large (660159)

I have also used an assortment of Stampers Anonymous stamps and three different Americana acrylic paints...let the fun begin!

Whilst on holiday recently I was trawling the shops for items which might benefit from a bit of Sizzix bling when I came across these lovely sentiments screen printed onto wooden backgrounds, they were a bargain at £3 each so I bought four of them. Next, I took a sanding pad and removed the sentiment giving me a blank canvas to work on.

I used the Word Play die to die-cut the legend 'august 2015' from thin kraft card and applied them to the wood using a thin layer of spray adhesive, just enough to hold them in place but easy to remove afterwards.

Next, I cut apertures in some thin kraft card to use as stencils. The reason I use kraft card is because it is not as absorbent as normal card making it ideal for disposable stencils. Time to choose my colours and I've decided to use Americana acrylics by Decoart.  My base colour will be Pistachio Mint and I will use Bahamas Blue and Taffy Cream to add detail.

I am applying the paint using a round sponge applicator, it's more controllable than a stencil brush and it's both quick and easy to wash up after. I worked over the die-cut letters in applying the main body of the paint.

Now it's time to add the detail around the edges using my home made die-cut stencils

I lightened the green colour with some white chalky paint to add a little contrast, I then rolled out the paint with a brayer and applied it using various stamps it gives a wicked effect.

Now it's time to add the blue and cream, it's important to get a nice balance so think carefully before adding new elements, believe me I've learnt this through experience!

Add a little more stamped detail with the blue and cream acrylic before removing the die-cut letters using the tip of a craft knife.

And here is the finished piece, pretty cool and super easy to do, in fact, it's hard to go wrong using this technique as long as you are careful with your initial colour selection. I think I will try to give stencilling a rest for a little while but it's just so much fun!!!

Sunshine!

Didn't see too much sunshine on the Llyn Peninsula last week but that's OK because we didn't see too much rain either!

I'm back from holiday refreshed and raring to go and this week...... I'm bringing my own sunshine!

A couple of weeks ago I used a Bigz heart die as both a stamp and a stencil. This week I am using die-cut letters as stencils but in a completely different way.

I am using an old favourite in the form of the Bigz XL Word Play Alphabet Die which is not the cheapest die on earth but it is an investment that you won't regret. I am also using one of the Bigz dies from the recent Echo Park collection namely the Sun and Clouds die.

I found a wooden plaque in a local charity shop and sanded off the sentiment which was printed on the front, if that proves too much of a challenge you can always paint over it. Next, I die-cut the word 'sunshine' from textured paper. I chose textured paper because I wanted to apply it to the plaque as shown using a thin mist of adhesive spray, having a slight texture makes it easier to remove when I'm finished with the die-cuts as you will see.

I took a rectangle of card and die-cut the sun stencil. I used Acrylic Distress Paint but any acrylic paint will work just fine for this project, the colours I have chosen are Wild Honey, Mustard Seed and Antique Linen. I placed my die-cut sun stencil just above the letter 'N' and used a sponge applicator to apply the colour.

 After removing the stencil I applied move colour to cover the letters. Now it's time to dig deep into my box of goodies and reach for some of my favourite Tim Holtz Layering Stencils, I chose Speckles, Splatters and Dot Fade, they should do the trick.

I was quite happy how this turned out so far but now it's time to remove the die-cut letters using the tip of my craft knife. Once the paint is completely dry I'm taking a fine line marker and drawing around the inside of each letter. Hand lettering is all the rage at the moment and it's not as easy as it looks but this technique is so simple because it's the imperfections that make it special!

Once I had finished the letters it was time to complete the sentiment using a typewriter alphabet stamp set to spell the word 'You are my...' and again the imperfect placement of the letters is..... Perfect!!!

Ahoy shipmates!

It's almost impossible to even read the title of this blog without effecting a cod Hollywood Cornish accent in a 'Long John Silver' Style  with it's accompanying facial contortions and for that I apologise.

Everywhere you look on the high street these days whether it be fashion, home décor, gift wrap Kids clothes the nautical theme is everywhere. I wanted to pay homage to that using my trusty Framelits circle dies and a couple of products from Tim Holtz' May releases.

For the record the dies/folders used are:

• Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Boardwalk by Tim Holtz (659427)
• Texture Fades Embossing Folders - Drapery & Woodgrain Set by Tim Holtz (659450)
• Sizzix Framelits Die Set 8PK - Circles#2 (658604)

I started by embossing two rectangles of Kraft card using the woodgrain folder, next I cut them into strips (or planks if you prefer?) of varying length and width. I coloured the planks using pale green acrylic, I used a dry brush technique allowing the base colour to show through. 

Once dry, I used a brayer to apply magnolia emulsion and yes folks, that is a match pot paint sample from a DIY shop in the background, handy stuff and very cost effective too. 

Finally, to add a little weathered effect I watered down some brown acrylic and gently splattered the paint onto the planks.

If you have never used acrylic paints then a great place to start is with Tim Holtz' Disterss Paint daubers, they are a fabulous range of colours and really easy to use.

Next, I needed a Lifebuoy so I turned to my old faithful Framelits Circles and placed them face up onto my cutting mat placed over my magnetic platform which is a brilliant piece of kit if you need to get perfect registration with your wafer thin dies. I cut through two layers of kraft card at the same time ensuring I got two identical rings.

I used my brayer to thinly apply the magnolia emulsion allowing the base colour to show through slightly. I then used the same technique to apply red acrylic closely followed by orange. 

The great thing about these techniques is that they are completely random and always look great even if you have little experience you will get great results every time.

Once dry, I cut the red/orange ring in quarters attaching two of them to the white ring. Next I wrapped a length of hemp string four times around the ring where the red and white quarters meet and repeated at each junction . Finally, I attached another length of string to the rear with my glue gun.

I attached the planks to an ivory base card (17 x 13cm) using double sided tape and 3D foam pads as shown below.

Firstly, I have to say how much I LOVE this alphabet die, it's hitting the shops as we speak so get them while they're hot! I die cut the letters from kraft card and coloured them with the brayer using the magnolia acrylic in a really thin layer. I darkened the edges using the Walnut Stain Distress Ink pad applied with a foam blending tool and attached them to the base card using tiny pieces of 3D foam pad.

Here is the finished card, you can almost smell the sea!

I love using the wood texture folders in this way, and it's just one of many ways of getting the best from your embossing folders, a theme which I'm sure I will be returning to time and again!