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