Monday 21 January 2013

Rustic Charm

Simon Says Stamp and Show are asking what are you known for?  Are you like me and use texture in your arty creations; are your forever adding brown ink to the edges of your cards, are you mad for fabric, what is it that inspires you to start your creative piece, are you known for your inky backgrounds, whatever your style we would love to see what you dream up this week.

I created a collaged piece which I added to a frame showcasing all the things I am known for.
All my close friends and family know I love hearts, I collect anything heart related, jewellery, home decor pieces, garden ornaments you name it, I have it.  I am also a lover of rustic and natural pieces and my framed home decor piece showcases that perfectly. Hearts - check, cut using the Alterations Love Struck Die; texture - check, added using Wendy Vecchi's White Embossing Paste; I love the embellished look - check including buttons from Prima Flowers Nature Garden Wood Buttons to name but a few of my embellishments used in this piece. I had to remove the frame to take some photographs due to the glare from the glass, why do I always make pieces that are so difficult to photograph? I am also known for not thinking things through, I just create what is in my head without any thought about how I will photograph said piece - check, I had major problems taking a picture of this piece in the frame lol!
This is my piece added to the frame, very difficult to photograph without getting background glare and seeing me in the glass, sorry but I did my best lol!
This is how the frame looked before any decoration.  I began by painting the frame with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Paint Little Black Dress, applying two coats for a good thick coverage. Once my frame was completely dry I then dry brushed with a little gold Paint Dabber to add a little more interest to my frame. The mount inside my frame has been coloured with brushed corduroy and walnut stain Distress Inks to add to that rustic feel.
Once I had coloured my mount I then added some stamping using coffee and black Archival Inks, using Kaiser craft Vintage - Cherish clear stamp. I cut the two hearts from thick card from some old packaging (I love to recycle wherever I can) and covered in white Embossing Paste and once dry I painted with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint, adding highlights with a gold Paint Dabber to highlight all the wonderful texture.  I also added some gold coiled wire for added interest. The hearts have a backdrop of a piece of burlap to give that natural rustic charm to my piece along with some vintage lace.
To add a little more interest I also included "cherish" Chitchat stickers to each heart to echo the CHERISH in the stamped images around my mount.
For a liitle more texture and interest I stamped the swirls from Wendy Vecchi's My Kind Of Art stamp set embossing with Queen's Gold Embossing Powder, adding to each corner of the mount. I also embossed the edges of my mount with embossing powder.
My dear friend Terry sent me some wonderful wooden hearts which I thought were a perfect embellishment and also added to the rustic charm of my home decor piece.  I stamped each heart with the Kaiser Craft stamp and coloured with Distress Inks.
To complete, I added Prima Flowers Wood Buttons threaded with natural twine. The inspiration for this piece were the colours in the wallpaper in my office so this will be perfect to add to one of my walls in the office/craft room.

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp and Show blog and take a look at my fellow team members they have created some inspirational projects. Remember there is also the chance to win a $50 prize from Simon Says Stamp.  I always look forward to seeing your creations each week.


Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment, much appreciated.  Enjoy your week. Tracy x x 


Products Used:

Tim Holtz Alterations Dies - Love Struck
Tim Holtz Idea-Ology - Chitchat Stickers
Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 My Kind Of Art Stamp Set
Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste
Prima Flowers Nature Garden Wood Buttons
PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Paint Little Black Dress
Gold Paint Dabber
Distress Inks - Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain
Archival Inks - Coffee, Black
Kaiser Craft - Vintage - Cherish Clear Stamp

Twine
Queen's Gold Embossing Powder
VersaMark Stamp Pad



37 comments:

froebelsternchen said...

wondeful rustic flair! ADORABLE!

Inkypinkycraft said...

this is wonderful, like you I love brown and hearts ..oh and texture and you have used these beautifully here to create a really gorgeous piece! I love it! hugs trace x

Helen said...

This is beautiful - and very YOU!!

Alexandra said...

Beautiful, love the textures and wonderful rustic colours.
A wee tip for photographing glass to avoid reflection. If you drape a black or dark sheet or towel or use a large black card or dark flat surface in front of you then peak your camera over it, making sure the dark card or sheet is reflected only. The photo becomes clear, as light doesn't bounce off the dark colour. I hope this makes sense.
Alexandra

Sue said...

So very YOU:)

hazel said...

Wonderful.
xxx Hazel.

Sandy said...

Wow this is brilliant.
Stunning frame and design.
Love it so much.
xoxo

Artyjen said...

Gorgeous ;)
xoxo Sioux

Sarah said...

This is fabulous Tracy and you all over. I love the muted colours and composition...and all the different tones and textures. Love it. The frame is perfect and really sets it off and I like being able to catch a glimpse of you in that reflection! Now get some sleep crafty diva... Sarah.

Unknown said...

A beautiful project, I love the texture you have created on those hearts, they remind me of the bits of slate with the gold streaks of Fools Gold that I used to find in the rock pools when we lived in North Cornwall. Maddy x

Candy C said...

Tracy...I love this piece! It screams YOU! Love the soft subtle brown tones...I love those, too! Love the hearts...all of them! You found so many different ways to use them...textured, stamped, inked...just beautiful! I love the burlap background in the center and how everything seems to emerge from it. The embossing of flourishes looks amazing in the background. It's all just so lovely and the painted frame really sets it all off, doesn't it? Love it! <3 Candy

Marjie Kemper said...

Wow, Tracy, this is gorgeous! Love all your different hearts and the amazing variety of texture you've included.

Gráinne said...

What a very lovely piece to showcase all these treasures and all the layers. Great work.
Suzanne

May said...

all those little details and the texture and (of course) the hearts? Totally classic Tracy piece - and I love it!! You bring such thoughtful creativity to the team each week - I always look forward to seeing what will be next.

Kim Dellow said...

Wow! Gorgeous, all that texture, another Stunner Tracy :) Kim

ria gall said...

Wow this is a great textured piece of art and it is great that it showcases you and your style. I am still unsure as to what my style is
Ria

Brenda Brown said...

Tracy this is so YOU, wonderfully textured, beautiful muted colours, great layout and always original. A fabulous framed project.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Martina said...

How incredibly beautiful, dear Tracy! You are so inspiring!

pearshapedcrafting said...

Brilliant piece - love all the texture here - and very you! Chris

Alison said...

The neutral shades & wonderful texture in this piece are so 'you' Tracy! Fantastic artwork! Love it!
Alison xx

CraftLein* - enjoy creativity said...

I love your piece of art work and hearts are truly wonderful. I have a lot of hearts in my home to. I think the vintage style is also a good combination with the hearts.

Love from The Netherlands,
Leintje*

Claudine said...

What a beautiful piece, everything about it is just stunning! So much detail.. love this

Anonymous said...

Oh, I LOVE hearts too and I LOVE what you did here :)

email: Steph@SimonSaysStamp.com said...

Great project, Tracy!

Hearts a fantastic thing to be known for...it means you add love to everything you do :) Or at least that's how I would translate it!

The touches of burlap are wonderful!
*mwah*
Steph
Simon Says Stamp!

Chantal Vandenberg said...

Lovely rustic work!!

Gillian .... said...

So youuuuu Tracy, those neutral shades and hearts are always a winner, another fab project. x

Lisa Somerville said...

Beautiful framed piece! Love all the added texture!

Suzanne C said...

Gorgeous heart filled collage! Stunning monochromatic artwork! Lovely as always!

Redanne said...

Hi Tracy, this really is very YOU! The hearts are all gorgeous with their own treatments and they look beautiful against the hessian and love (and now want) that WV swirl stamp. Anne x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Love love love your hearts...perfect time for them as well! Beautiful vintage coloration and all monochromatic to boot really makes my eyes happy! So happy as well to be working with you!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Love love love your hearts...perfect time for them as well! Beautiful vintage coloration and all monochromatic to boot really makes my eyes happy! So happy as well to be working with you!

Sandra said...

Gorgeous piece, Tracy! I love your vintage hearts very much! They always are amazing and you're so good at making them the stars of your projects! Hugs, Sandra

Words and Pictures said...

Love, love, love this... the hearts are stunning, both the textured and the stamped ones - just wonderful! And I love the neutral tones and natural textures - signature Tracy in so many ways!
Alison x

Lynn Stevens said...

So YOU!!!!! another fabulous piece!

Terry said...

Hey there Tracy, some fabulous creation as allways, loving the hearts and the colors you have used wowwzersssss thanksss for sharing sweetie, your hearts are allways amazing wow Hugs Terry xxx

wendy vecchi said...

this looks...GREAT!

mark gould said...

wow, stunning, I am a big fan of the vintage and natural tones, I really love the little stamped hearts, a great detail. x