Going Round In Circles

Welcome to our first challenge of the year for A Vintage Journey, our theme for January is "Going Round In Circles".

Whether large or small, 2d or 3d, clock face embellishments, buttons, eyelets or created with paint pot lids, stamped, stencilled, doodled or finger painted let’s see what gets you going round in circles. This challenge theme particularly fits with the art journaling style we love to see but can also be incorporated into a vintage; shabby; mixed-media; industrial or steampunk project.

I opted to use Eileen Hull's Sizzix Passport Die for my creative piece. I die cut the pieces and then painted the front, back covers and pages with Raw Umber DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic, dried with a heat tool and then painted each with DecoArt Media Crackle Paint.

My focal piece is a Sandra Evertson Prima Relic Piece which again has Crackle Paint applied and aged with touches of more Raw Umber Fluid Acrylic applied with my finger. I also sanded a few of the edges and then added further layers of paint to darken and age further.

I used a pocket watch wooden piece to add depth to my design and to add the circular element needed for the challenge along with some circles of rusty tin wire, which I adore using.

I sanded the edges of the pocket watch and added further layers of Raw Umber paint. I also added a life pin to the bottom for further interest. The pages were bound together with natural twine.

The back cover of the book has a further Relic Piece which has again been aged with Raw Umber Paint which I applied as a wash. I also added book pages from an old Alice in Wonderland book and added some painty circles added with lids from paint pots.

I adore the text 'Be Brave' and how all the layers are visible. The numbers are Label Letters from Tim Holtz and I have also included some Remnant Rubs for further interest.

I added further layers of paint to the edges to add to the worn aged feel.

The crackle really makes this such a tactile piece.

Continuing with the circle theme inside my book.

I applied Raw Umber paint to the edges of a lid using my finger and then pressed the lid onto each of the pages and then dried with my  heat tool.

To add shading to each of the circles I applied DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Titan Buff to the inside of the circle, applying with my finger and whilst the paint was still wet I then added touches of Raw Umber, blending both paints with my finger.

To add further definition to the edges I also applied Walnut Stain Distress Crayon to the edges of each circle and then smudged with my finger.

Each of the circles had numbers added using one of the mini Layering Stencils from Tim Holtz, applying Raw Umber paint over the stencil with a piece of Cut 'n' Dry Foam. I also added delicate splatters of Titanium White Paint to each of the pages to add highlights.

Our sponsor this month is The Funkie Junkie Boutique who are offering $25 to our randomly drawn winner. Good Luck.

Thanks so much for stopping by and all the very best for 2017. Tracy x x