Happy Birthday, Punkin'!

Hello friends and visitors! Today I have a rusty crusty card to share with you.  I have to say I'm a bit rusty (no, I did not intend to make that pun) on my grunge. As of late it's been mostly frills and flowers in the Closet.

The crackled background was made (quite some time ago) by first painting thinnish chipboard with black gesso. Next up, a good thick coat of DecoArt Weathered Wood Crackling Medium, left to dry overnight. Then another thick coat of DecoArt Media Crackle Paint--the cracks show up almost as soon as you get it painted on, but I left it to dry to a couple more days. Lastly I gave it a quick watercolor wash of  thinned DecoArt Media Prussian Blue.

To make the rust behind the nail heads, I wiped on Golden Bead Gel medium, dried, then dripped with Caramel alcohol ink and spritzed with water. More drying, then another watery wash of DecoArt Media paint--this time Quinacridone Gold, followed by a smudge of DecoArt Patina Green Antiquing Cream. While I had the Q-Gold out on my craft mat, I watered it down further and added random washes and splatters over the panel. I let everything dry overnight (or so) and gave it all a coat of DecoArt Ultra Matte varnish. I pressed the finished panel under some heavy weights for days, because with all that product, there was a good deal of warping.

For the nail heads I started with half pearls, and followed the incredibly talented Jenny Marples (Pushing the Right Buttons) steps here to give them the aged metal look. I don't have the rust alcohol ink, so I substituted with Caramel again. I also went back in with neat Q-Gold in the end.

I (tried using) the same technique on the Happy Birthday chippie but had already wiped on some DecoArt Texture Sand Paste and glass bead gel. I think there may also be some Paynes Grey on there, and Q-Gold as well as Patina Green Antiquing cream.

The wooden cogs and Tim's birdcage (modified at the tip to make it fit) die cut all got rusted with a variety of products including sand and grit pastes, DecoArt Everlasting chalk paint, Q-Gold, and Patina Green. I even tried making my own rust pastes with a combination of gel medium and Distress paint (Mustard Seed) and alcohol inks. I really think I need to invest in the stuff that everyone is using; it would be so much easier, and more effective. You do, however, get lots of great bubbling with the heat gun and gel medium, so not a bad substitute.

I've tucked in a few pieces of Tim's ephemera aged after a fashion like my talented friend and blog boss Brenda Brown (Bumblebees and Butterflies) did here on her giant altered tag. If you ever need rust inspiration, Brenda's your go-to girl!

I've made this card for my good friend, Niki (Pawsitively Creative) because I know she loves grungy rust as much as I do. And because Niki likes growing flowers, I tucked in a little flower from my stash, altered with Wilted Violet and Rusty Hinge Distress inks and another tiny cog for it's center.

Niki's birthday is not until April 28th, so I hope you will take minute to drop by her blog and wish her a happy birthday on Friday! A little birdie told me she's going to be 29 (again)! Wink, Wink!

I've made this card especially for Niki, but with these challenge in mind:

Country View Challenges-April 2017 - Rust

Sandee and amelie's Steampunk April 2017 Challenge - Anything Goes - Steampunk/Industrial

Love to Create-Challenge #7 - Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes

Creatalicious Challenges113-Anything Goes With Optional Birthday-Yup! I went with the birthday this time!

Mixed Media World-MMW#24: Anything Mixed Media Goes with a Twist I gave my background a watercolor washed look with watered down acrylic paints.

Happy Little Stamp[ers-HLS April Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Mix It Up-MIUCB Just for Fun Challenge

Thank you for stopping by today! I really appreciate your lovely comments!

Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily