Thursday, February 16, 2017

Words to Remember-Guest Designer at A Vintage Journey

Welcome friends and visitors! I'm super excited to be a Pinworthy Guest Designer at  A Vintage Journey today, where this month Jennie has chosen the theme 'Words That Are Special'! I've chosen several favorite quotes from my collection of Tim Holtz stamp sets and a not so pretty decorated wooden block for my project. If you scroll down you can see how this looked before. I've also written a tutorial on how this all came together.




Here's what I started with: a decorated wooden block,  a plastic pocket watch shaped frame (I broke off the bow), wooden "feet" (the one shown below is actually a different shape than the ones I used on my project), and a knob from my junk drawer,all of which I gave 2 coats of gesso. My hubby graciously drilled a hole in the block for the screw on the knob to fit down into.


To make the crackle background on the block, I first painted it with a DecoArt chalky finish paint followed by DecoArt Americana Decor Crackle medium. When the crackle dried, I painted on another chalky paint to reveal the cracks. The chalky paint colors I used are Relic and Primitive.


I repeated the same process on the knob before gluing it in place. The rusty ring around the knob is made by embossing a  Prima gauge image from the 'Rust and Dust' set on plain tissue wrap using Ground Espresso Distress ink and brown embossing puffs. I adhered it with DecoArt Matte Medium, adding the chain from my stash, DecoArt Sand Paste, glass bead gel, and Prima mini art stones. I colored it with Prima Alchemy paints in Metallique Steampunk Copper and Light Patina, Deco Art Burnt Umber and Quinacridone Gold media paints, and Patina Green Antiquing Cream.


While the Alchemy paint was out, I put a little on my craft mat and spritzed with water. I dipped the crackled block in the paint and allowed it to dry. I repeated using both colors listed above. I heat embossed  two of my quotes in Versamark embossing ink and black powder. The 'Simplicity' quote came in a set I got with Distress crayons, and the other two are from a set I won for one of Tim's tag challenges called 'Ponderings'. The ring (previously a pocket watch frame) was given the same rusty treatment as the topper minus the art stones.




I stamped the quote shown below in Ground Espresso Distress Archival ink, and shadowed it with a Sharpie pen, and highlighted 'create' and 'wish' with my white pen. I'll show some step out photos on the flowers later in the post. Since the surface is a little bumpy, this isn't the neatest work I've done, and the ink bled through the white pen, so that led me to decide on my 4th set of important words...



What I constantly need to remind myself is to embrace imperfection. Happily I had one more word band left in my stash to age with some Distress paint, Alchemy paint and some heat embossing. I twisted up some wire and sealed their sharp ends with gel medium and embossing powder heated to finish off the ends of the band and adhered it to my 'broken watch'. This was a stamped image I had in my leftovers box. It was imperfect to start with so I thought it was 'perfect'! I gave it a good coating of UTEE and cracked it, showing off the cracks with Distress stain. The outer rim of the watch was done in the same fashion as the topper. 



Here's a closer glimpse of those little wooden feet.  I was going for a tarnished brass look. What d'ya think? I used Distress paints in Tarnished Brass (Yeah, I know, right?!), Cracked Pistachio and Black Soot to get the patina.


To make the industrial flowers and greenery, I used a scrap of manila folder to which I had added contractor's foil tape. I used Tim Holtz Tattered Florals and my old Spring Greenery strip die, shaped them and colored with Tarnished Brass and Black Soot paints. I heat embossed with Distress powder and added touches of the Prima Metallique paints. I added tiny gears (Memory Box and Tim Holtz Thinlits) for the centers painted with Prima paint and heat embossed with Emerald Creek's Hammered Metal. The greenery is colored with Peeled Paint and Black Soot Distress paints.





Here's another look at the four sets of words that are special.








I'd like to thank the talented Creative Guides for having me as their Guest today. Please drop by A Vintage Journey for some incredible inspiration from the Creative Guides and the other Pinworthy Guests. I hope you will take some time to share what words are special to you!

I'm sharing this with the following challenges:
Scrapy Land Challenge #60-Add Texture I used 3 Sizzix dies and one from Memory Box.
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-Use Your Favorite Tool Well, that's easy--my heat tool; can't live without it for embossing, special effects and even to speed up the drying process. Next in line would be my Big Kick, although sometimes it hates me.
SanDee and amelie's Steampunk Challenge-New Stash/Forgotten Stash  My new stash is DecoArt products: Chalky Finish paints and crackle medium and Tim's Ponderings stamps. Old stash is practically everything else.
Happy Little Stampers February Mixed Media Challenge-Tear/Rip Please read: I checked for "tear" synonyms and included in them were "Crack, hole, break, damage, fissure, imperfection and tatter", all of which I have on this one block.



 Thank you to my friends and visitors for stopping by and for all your fabulous comments! They mean so much to me!
Hugs and Blessings!
Sara Emily

38 comments:

  1. Sara, a cool old thing turned out! these cracks ... mmm ... and rust - Super !!!

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  2. Sara I'm so impressed with this project. What a clever idea. Love all the cracks and the patina you created looks so genuine. You are so talented.
    Thank you so much for sharing and the tutorial..
    Hugs from Monica
    Spain

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  3. This is such a wonderful project Sara, I love the colours on the base block and your rusting is superb! I also love how the cracked UTEE turned out! Great step by step too! Hugs, Anne xx

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  4. This is such a brilliant project Sara, the background on the block almost looks like granite, and the first effects look fantastic! Great inspiration, thank you!!!

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  5. This is just so cool! You did a great job focusing in on these inspiring words and truly transformed that wood block! The crackle and UTEE are just amazing details and the rust is true perfection. Yum, yum, yum my friend! Biggest congrats on this feature. <3 Hugs, Autumn

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  6. You are such a master of rust Sara Emily! Love all of it on your wonderful quotes block - and your flowers look just like metal! well done!! Julia xx

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  7. What a FANTASTIC Guest Design creation Sara. I loved seeing the picture of all the bits you added before you redid them. WHAT a change - amazing. Your crackle is ASTOUNDING - even to the tip of the top! My favorite side is the one that says: Create The Things You Wished Existed. Your grungy "orangish" flowers are total eye candy to me and I'm thrilled that you created them because they are something I would wish existed! WONDERFUL treat to see this today Sara. Xj.

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  8. Oh my gosh, Sara Emily, this is amazing!! Wow!! What a transformation!! The textures and the techniques you used are spectacular!! I love the quotes and how you highlighted them!! The grungy flowers are a perfect touch!! This is so stunning!! I love, love it!! Huge congrats on your so-deserved guest design spot!! And thanks so much for playing along at Scrapy Land!! Have a great weekend, my dear friend!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  9. Such a great work on textures! I love the block how it looks like granit, and the rust and the quotes... such an original creation!

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  10. oooo Sara - this is absolutely gorgeous - beautiful words and fabulous crackle - brilliant - and thanks for joining us at stamps and stencils too! Hugs rachel x

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  11. Very cool make Sara Emily! WOW!!!! Digging on your rusty rings! they looks absolutely grungily delicious! Great make my friend!
    Jackie xo

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  12. Long time, no see! This is very unique-- I've never seen anything like it. Your rust is AMAZING, Sara! I mean, really incredible! This will be a neat piece to turn as you need inspiring words :)

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  13. Utterly gorgeous Sara, love, love, love it all. Have a great weekend xxx

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  14. this is absolutely gorgeous - i love the textures and just the overall piece is wonderful!! hugs x

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  15. WoW! a fabulous project Sara Emily and what fabulous rust you have created. Fabulous inspiring words too. Yes I see what you mean about us both going down the same route this month! So glad you have enjoyed the challenge theme. Have a great weekend x

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  16. Amazing textures and details Sara Emily, adore all of those wonderful words and the rust is to die for, thanks for sharing this wonderful project! Deb xo

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  17. I saw this over on Facebook and just loved it ~ there is so much wonderful detail and I love all the texture! Gorgeous work and thank you so much for sharing and for joining us over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog... :)

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  18. Wow this is stunning! Love the rust effect and all the texture. Thanks so much for joining us at We Love 2 Create this time
    Claire xx

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  19. I saw this a couple of days ago on FB and knew I had to pop over for a closer look at this beauty. It's outstanding Sara, fabulous project.
    Julie x

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  20. Great project and techniques! May I borrow your idea for using metal tape on a manila folder to make your flowers? Such an awesome idea...

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  21. I am always amazed at how you re-purpose stuff, Sara Emily! I still can't believe the before and after pics are the same wooden block! Love all of your rust and your crackle is awesome! I really love those little feet, they turned our perfect! Love the quotes you chose - so appropriate. Congrats to you on your guest post and this piece of awesomeness - hugs :-)

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  22. Wow! First I want to say how much I loved your rusting technique! I love the cracked UTEE and the little feet do look like tarnished brass.
    Wouldn't something like this be great for Halloween - instead of words use images!!
    Sandy xx

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  23. Wow! What a totally fabulous make, Sara Emily - a Pinworthy triumph! Love the rust everywhere, the fantastic crackle, and so many wonderful words. Just brilliant.
    Alison x

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  24. OMG! This is fabulicious! IA fantastic transformation, great tutorial and so inspirational when you see what you started with.Thank you for joining us at the Creative Artiste Mixed Media, Anything Goes, #23 February Challenge. Good luck! Love Denyse (DT)

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  25. Totally love this fabulous and inspirational make Sara x so lovely to have you guest at AVJ too

    Huge hugs Annie x

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  26. WOW! One word: AMAZING! Thank you so much for playing along Simon Says Stamp Fantastic Floral Challenge. Gayatri xx

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  27. Love love love the cracked UTEE, Sara,

    but of course also all the other beautiful crackle and rust elements on your beautiful altered wooden block! A brilliant guest piece for your visit at AVJ!
    Thank you so much for also sharing your wonderful make with us at SanDee&amelie's Steampunk Challenges!

    Hugs,
    Claudia x

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  28. So, so cool! Love how you created the weathered wood effect and the wonderful rusty elements! Thanks for sharing it with us at SASPC! hugs, Maura

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  29. What a fabulous and creative piece of art, Sara. Thanks so much for stopping by to share your talents with us, and please join us again soon. Have a blessed week.
    Karen L
    Word Art Wednesday

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  30. This is fantastic. An yes it got a lot teared space on it.
    Thanks for playing with us at HLS Mixed Media Challenge Good luck!! Michelle(DT)

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  31. Stunning !
    Thanks for joining us at Scrapyland challenges blog and good luck !
    Maryvonne DT Member

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  32. Woooow, what a brilliant transformation, Sara! Congrats on your so well desrved GDT spot at AVJ! I could stare at this marvelous piece of art for hours! The textures and techniques are simply spectacular, my friend! Ooooooh, I am totally in love with this fantastic make! Bravo! Lots of love to you! Branka xx

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  33. STUNNING mixed media project. LOVE every texture and detail on your art.
    Thank you for playing along with HLS February Mixed Media Challenge.

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  34. Truly transformed spectacularly! The crackle, the texture of the rusty circles, that clever cracked clock, your choice of words, I love it all!!! Thank you for sharing with us at A Vintage Journey xx

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  35. I am back, my friend, to thank you so much for joining us at Stamps and Stencils with this fantastic piece of art! Hugs! Branka xx

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  36. I lurveeee lurve lurve this! Rusty bits and bobs and your DH helping and the texture and the rust. Did I mention the rust!?! Yeppers, you are a sublime artist dearie and huge congrats on your guest spot as well. The crackle is gorgeous, the knob is splendid the quotes are stupendous! What more could a girl ask for? Hugz to you muffin! ~Punkin

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