Wednesday 20 May 2009

Something a bit different........

There is a burgeoning Altered Art section over on the Docrafts forum, and varous challenges have been issued ... the latest from Nicks is to alter a frame. Well I have had a very simple frame for some time - in its previous life it was pink and silver and in my daighters bedroom - well we have moved on from the days of everything must be barbie pink to 'Shabby Chic' (clpothes are still all over the fllor though, but I digress...) and I've been hanging on to this thinking I might just do something with it. Last year I saw a project like this in Craft Stamper magazine and so Nicks' challenge spurred me on to dig out the article, check my stampboard stocks and have a go. This is what I've done..



The reason I didn't do this last year was the article actually stated they used 1.5" x 1.5" stampboard for the project - a size which does not appear to be actually manufactured. It would have fit perfectly on my frame at that size, but obviously that was not to be so the whole thing got put on the back burner. Having decided to go ahead, I needed to take stock of what sizes stampboard I had and design a sort of balanced random layout!! In the end I used 2 x 2s, 2 x 1s and stuck in a couple of other playing tiles I had for good measure cos I ran out of other stuff!! It's basically coloured up with dye inks, then stamped, sometim4es in layers. I started off using stazon for the 'black' bits but kept smudging, so went on to an archival ink which seemed to work better. To finish off, before I added the embellishments to the tiles I followed the suggestion in the article to coat it with beeswax. I have n ever done this before, I am not exactly sur how you are supposed to 'rub' hardwax on to a surface (in the end I used the heat gun!! and after I buffed it up I wasn't entirely sure I hadn't just rubbed it off again. However, it looks OK, I think it works, it's certainly the kind of thing that would catch my eye if I was looking for something. I am wondering whether to add some metal, or perhaps have some dangly charms to the bottom right.... will let that idea ferment for a while and see what I come up with lol.



Had some good news yesterday as a friend of mine had her first baby - yay, way to go Michelle!! At the time I got the text I was looking at a new challenge site called 'Tuesday Taggers'. As Tuesday is a day I am often around, and I'm starting to get in to tags, I thought it might be worth giving them some support - as the theme was 'New Beginning' it seemed appropriate to make a new baby tag. Until I realised I don't really have any baby stuff...... well, it's not too bad, but maybe I should look out for the odd teddy bear stamp or something, you never know when they'll come in useful lol.

Don't forget to enter the May giveaway if you haven't already done so - details on the side bar - just a few days left!!

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Cindy what a fab excuse to make a tag, which I have to say is fantastic. Thanks for joining in with the challenge and I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future. Ema xx

Mooneybeams said...

This is great - some metal might be nice, I think - add some dimension (although it is already lovely as it is).

Unknown said...

Wow what a gorgeous tag :0) and a perfect excuse to join in congratulations to your friend on the birth of her baby boy. I really like how you have used part of a photo image - its really arty! the soft baby blues are soo cute too. Thanks for joining us on a debut challenge at Tuesday Taggers xx Janet

Unknown said...

Have to say Im loving your photo frame too! I saw the article in craft stamper and thought wow have to try that and think its a project we are going to do at the craft club I run with a square ikea mirror - Think I shall have to do that next month!Really like this and Im sure Nicks will too!

jo-in-oz said...

Hi Cindy, Love your tag the colours are gorgeous. Thanks for joining Tuesday Taggers. Jo x

katy said...

Hi Cindy, what a lovely tag ! Thanks for joining us at TT, Katy xx

Michelle said...

Hi Cindy, love your tag and thats a very clever idea to use part of the photo, it's a great look! Thanks for Joining in oour very first challenge.
x Michelleicati

Yvonne said...

oh I love this tag,such a beautiful image.

Stacy said...

Cindy, your photo frame is incredible. I have been sitting here minutely going over it in the enlarged state trying to learn from it. But I've concluded you can't learn creative genius! Too bad for me! You should have this entered in a magazine for more people to share. It's really wonderul! I bet your daughter wants it back!

Creative Chaos said...

Wowwwwww Cindy , That mirror frame is just fabulous !!! Perfect !!
Patti xx

Carol said...

Hi Cindy, I too was inspired by the article for the frame in Craft Stamper and have made two and given them away as presents. BTW the 1.5" squares are available, but in the mixed bag, but you don't get enough of them in one bag to complete the frame like they have in the magazine....anyway here is the link to mine, hope you like.

http://carolands007.blogspot.com/2009/02/headache.html

and... the other one is down the side of my blog.



Carol x

Jan said...

I saw that article too Cindy and still have it - meaning to do it sometime (along with all sorts of other ideas floating around in my head!) Love your variation on it - really great result.
Re: your question on my blog.....yes, it is just that! On a roll and you wet it and form it into whatever you want!

Lynn said...

Wow, what an alteration Cindy, would have loved to see what it looked like before, but this looks, well , soooooo Artsy, something my 25 year old daughter might like if that makes any sense.
Your friend will absolutely love this tag too, it is awesome, forget the teddy bear stamps, this is more original :)

PatR said...

Lovely tag cindy, your friend will love it.

Artyjen said...

Love how you added a photo in there....lovely.
xoxo

Lynn said...

Cindy, I just stumbled into your blog and I must say I enjoyed my visit. I like to make tags, too. Yours are fantastic!

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