My amazing challenge buds at Anything But Cute went for a Secret Santa this Christmas and I had the great honor of creating a project for my crafty friend Sara Emily. In so many ways Sara Emily's and my style line up, well maybe I can be more shabby/feminine sometimes, but we are so much alike! Now, everybody else made Christmas art for one another. But I went for a grungy rusty project that I knew would push Sara Emily's buttons. Would you like to see what Niki made for me?! Yes, you would! Here's a sneak peek!
To start, I reversed an 8x8" wooden canvas to create a frame. I used the new Star Border Stamp by Darkroom Door to emboss the design around the perimeter of my canvas. I used Burnt Copper Leaves. Next, I began to spray with Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays over the panel. I did not gesso the panel because I wanted to see the wood absorb the spray for a different effect.
I tried to create a lot of color variation. I added some DIY rust paste randomly because Sara Emily is the queen of grunge and loves rust, thus the project inspiration.
I stamped partially with several designs to give the background more interest.
I used Prima background stamps in script and dots.
My friend Mimi sent me this awesome thick adhesive corkboard so I used it for the base, which gave amazing visual interest and also bumped up my focal point. I layered several sheets of my own nky papers with chipboard between.
I added torn crocheted lace, metal filigree, bundled string, and my favorite new Tutti Designs die, Flower Orchestra Corner.
I painted and randomly embossed Tim's ornate frame die and then layered over more corkboard, which I cut by hand using the castoff of the center of the oval. The floral die and IndigoBlu's Flutterby Butterfly stamp are both a nod to Sara Emily's love for plants and nature. The butterfly was stamped on Prima patterned paper.
Look at that gorgeous die!!! I hope you can see the dimension in the pic below. I embossed the Darkroom Door border stamp along the edges of the panel to keep the flow. A little time consuming, but oh so worth it.
So her she is, my grungy rusty mixed media panel, made with much love for my dear friend. I hope she will like it. I thought, "What would Sara Emily do?" all along the way. :)
I'd like to share with these challenges:
Altered Eclectics: Anything Mixed Media/Altered Art Goes
Creative Artiste: Anything Mixed Media Goes
Happy Little Stampers: Anything Goes Mixed Media
Retro Kraft Shop: Anything Retro/Mixed Media
Rhedd's Creative Spirit: Anything Mixed Media Goes
Simon Says Stamp: Christmas Gifts
Scrappy Land: Anything Goes w/Dies (Tutti Designs)
Altered Eclectics: Anything Mixed Media/Altered Art Goes
Creative Artiste: Anything Mixed Media Goes
Happy Little Stampers: Anything Goes Mixed Media
Retro Kraft Shop: Anything Retro/Mixed Media
Simon Says Stamp: Christmas Gifts
Scrappy Land: Anything Goes w/Dies (Tutti Designs)
This is just lovely Autumn, really like all the lovely texture and dimension and most of all the gorgeous rich colours.
ReplyDeleteB x
Love the warm, rich colours which are enhanced with the embossing and layering. Absolutely stunning :D
ReplyDeleteWell, my friend, it is so exciting to see how this beautiful framed art came to be! Thank you for taking us through your steps--it's ALMOST like being a butterfly on your craft room wall. Hopefully, someday I will be able to do that in person!
ReplyDeleteI love, love, LOVE this beautiful work of art, and it looks simply gorgeous in my sunny breakfast room. I am so honored to know you were thinking of me every step of the way during it's creation. Yes, I love nature including flowers and butterflies, so your choices of a focal point were perfect. And the rust, well you know I love rust, and I'm thrilled to see you came up with your own rust paste! Woo Hoo! I still think I smell cinnamon!
I adore the embossed frame and it is extra special that you used Burnt Copper Leaves--my favorite embossing powder! No one does 3 dimensional collage like you, my friend! All these inky layers are a delight to behold, and I'm so blessed that I get to look at this every day and never see the same thing twice!
I should add to your readers that you also included a beautiful card with a lovely handwritten note and a stack of wrapped gifts still to be opened during the 12 days leading up to Christmas! I've got them in a little basket here, and I'm just itching to open them!
You totally floored me with your thoughtful and oh, so creative and beautiful gift, Autumn! I'm so proud to call you my friend! Sending the biggest hugs!
Such a fabulous project. Love the colours, the grunge effect and all the attention to detail. Lots to see and admire and love how you've finished the edging with the stamping. Glorious reversed canvas, thank you for the inspiration. I am sure Sara will love it.....in the vain hope she doesn't then I am up for first refusal....he he xxxx
ReplyDeleteOh my, this is truly stunning Autumn, you really have Sara Emily down to a 'T' with this beautiful reverse canvas, with the gorgeous rusty tones and the beautiful butterfly! I really enjoyed hearing how you created this wonderful piece of home decor. I can see from her comment above that she loved everything about your creation - it really is stunning! It has been such fun doing the Secret Santa exchange! Hugs, Anne xx
ReplyDeleteWow Autumn, you have really knocked my socks off with this project, holy smokes! So much time, tlc and technique went into this amazing piece and boy oh boy, the end result is magical!! I just love all the amazing colours and textures, you went above and beyond and created the most wonderful Christmas gift for Sara Emily. She must have been drooling over this!! Well done Autumn! hugs :)
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, Autumn, this is a work of art!! The rust effects are amazing!! I love the layering and the details and every single thing!! Sara Emily is so luck to have received this treasure from you!! I love, love it!! Thank you so much for playing along at Scrapy Land!! Have a great weekend my sweet friend!! Big hugs :)
ReplyDeleteLisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
Wow, this is totally my kind of thing! Love rust and grunge! Cool and beautiful in equal measure!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic grungy rusted canvas - right up Sara Emily's street, I would think - and with all your trademark fantastic dimensional layering. A fabulous creation.
ReplyDeleteAlison x
wow wow wow autumn - this is so amazing - love it to bits xx
ReplyDeletewow, I love it! This victorian look is stunning!
ReplyDeleteWOW absolutely stunning brilliant grunge rust effect fabulous detailed textured layers
ReplyDeleteCarol x
What an amazing gift you created Autumn, the layers, colour and detail are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Maxine
A work of Art....it looks amazing Autumn, love the texture the cork board adds!
ReplyDeleteWowzer. This is one beautifully designed canvas made with so much attention to detail and put together with love. I adore everything about it and seeing how you brought this beauty together Autumn and with the finished results you achieved. From the gorgeous frame to the wonderfully dimensional focal point this is an incredible work of art and a piece which Sara Emily luckily has in her possession and anyone would be proud to receive as a gift. Love it xxx
ReplyDeleteOh boy, Autumn, I am sure Sara must have been drooling over this absolutely stunning piece of art! What a perfect personal gift for her this is! So grungy, so rusted, so brilliantly layered! I so enjoyed reading your wonderful step by step in creating this really spectacular home decoration! Sending all my hugs to you, my sweet friend! Branka xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful project, Autumn, and I know you did Sara Emily proud with your rusty grunge combined with your feminine touches. It is truly a beautiful piece of art and I can't even decide what my favorite part is, although that is a gorgeous border stamp you used. I love the layering of your focal point, and I can only imagine how glorious this is in person. You nailed it (a rusty nail, of course)! Hugs :-)
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!! Stunning! Breathtaking! Simply Marvelous!
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up this beauty with Scrapy Land Challenge.
Samra DT
Paper Talk with Samra
Love your beautiful creation! The texture and all the details you created are amazing! Thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. :)
ReplyDeleteI bet Sara is still drooling over this and more. Haha! Such a lovely design and all of that rust is absolutely gorgeous and wonderous! Love the details around the frame. Is it the DR stamp? Delicious layers and so many wonderful colors that all blend seamlessly together to create a truly Wowzers reverse canvas! So thoughtful and creative of you to include the 12 gifts as well. A lot of time and love went into this and it speaks volumes through the pictures you have shared. Merry Christmas dearie! Hugz to you muffin! ~Niki
ReplyDeleteI am still drooling, and it is filled to the brim with LOVE!
DeleteThis is gorgeous, Autumn. All the beautiful layers and the fact that you used the reverse side of the canvas. I may have to try that! :) I bet Sara Emily will love it! Thanks for playing along at HLS' MM Challenge.
ReplyDeleteThe textures are so beautiful, I really wish I could run my fingertips over this!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful gift that will be treasured.
Wishes
Lynne
(apologies for not managing to visit you as often as I would like to)
This is so gorgeous..love the layers,textures and colour choice...
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining in with our challenge this month at Rhedd's Creative Spirit...x
Hi Autumn..I am back again,this time for Altered Eclectics...I can only echo my earlier comment.. a truly fab project,love everything about it...xx
ReplyDeletewow loving the rust effect - well done - Thank you for sharing with us over at Rhedd's Creative Spirit this month and hope to see you again in future challenges.
ReplyDeleteHandcrafted by Ellapu
Mother Hen for Altered Eclectics
Mother Hen for Eclectic Ellapu
DT Rhedd's Creative Spirit
What a cool idea to do a Secret Santa exchange amongst a blog family! Love your piece, here. Reverse canvas is "on my list"-- you just inspire me more! SE is going to cherish this forever! The layers are delicious to the crafter's eye!!!👀
ReplyDeleteYes, I do cherish it!
DeleteLike it!? I'll eat my entire collection of hats if she doesn't completely adore this stunning piece of art! Just... WOW!
ReplyDeleteThank you for entering your project at Rhedd’s Creative Spirit. Sammy-x
Sammy, you will be happy to know you do NOT have to eat your hats, because I more than love this-I cherish it!
DeleteStunning layers and colours in this project. I love reversing canvases having done a Brenda Brown workshop using the technique.Thank you for joining us at the Creative Artiste Mixed Media Anything Goes December Challenge. Good luck! Love Denyse (DT)
ReplyDeletevery beautiful, love the colors, texture and depth of the design Thanks for joining us at Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media challenge.
ReplyDeleteBarb Housner (DT)
gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us at Scrapyland Challenge blog and Good Luck !
Maryvonne – DT member
This is fab fab...I love the textures and the splat of rust on this frame. Total ally grungy and vintage and what a thoughtful gift to Sara...so lucky! Thanks for sharing this with us at Rhedd's Creative Spirit this month. Good Luck, Rupa.
ReplyDeleteBig congrats on your win at Scrapy Land, Autumn! It's so well deserved! Your creation is really stunning, my friend! Bravo! Christmas hugs! Branka xx
ReplyDeleteWow this is fantastic! Congrats on your win at Scrapy Land - very well deserved!!
ReplyDeleteYippee! Congratulations on your win at Scrapy Land! They sure do know how to pick a winner!
ReplyDeleteThis is great work! I find the combination of black and red to be quite hard to work with myself, so I'm amazed - you made it work so well! Thank you for joining our Retromania challenge!
ReplyDeleteOh... This is a great idea! I feel the dast in my nose hihi ;)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Thank you for joining our Retromania challenge!
Greetings, Paulina
Love this piece, it rustic, industrial like.
ReplyDeleteOMG stuning work absoutley love colors and compostion !!! Thank you for sharing it in Retro Kraft Shop challange
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing with Happy Little Stampers!
Susan
Calling All Crafters! – My personal Blog!
Congrats on your win at Happy Little Stampers' Mixed Media Challenge, Autumn. Please look for an email from me regarding Guest designing for us. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your win at Happy Little Stampers! So well deserved, because this is awesome!
ReplyDelete