Thursday, April 6, 2017

A Vintage Journey -The Magic of Three

Hello friends and visitors! It's time for another challenge at A Vintage Journey! This month's theme is 'Magic of Three' and is hosted by the talented and lovely Annie.

Here is what Annie has to say about her challenge theme:  It is said that using three of something adds more interest and power whether it is a conversation, art or numbers. Let us see you use three of something in your challenge project (numbers, techniques, stamps, colours, words, products - the list is endless!)  Let us know your magic 3 components and ensure your project is in our vintage; shabby; mixed media; art journaling; industrial; timeworn or steampunk styles that we favour. 

Well, if three is magic, then I have one magical wall hanging for you today!


The back panel is corrugated board from a box cut to size and stripped of some of it's paper. An easy way to do this is to spritz it with water and after letting it soak in for a minute, strip off the paper and allow to dry. When it's just about done drying I press it with some heavy books so it doesn't warp. I painted it with DecoArt Everlasting chalky finish paint, dried and then painted with watered down Silks. In the end, I glued another layer of chipboard to the back to give it more rigidity.

These house shaped wooden chippies are three of many that I picked up for pennies at a yard sale just a few weeks ago. To get that crackle, I first painted with DecoArt Relic chalky paint, then gave it a coat of DecoArt Crackle medium. When that thoroughly dried, I gave it a light coat of Everlasting chalk paint. Lastly, I gave it some color by brushing on Distress Wilted Violet stain.


My embellishments were given a coat of  black gesso after smearing on glass bead gel randomly. I went back in with Everlasting chalk paint with my finger and then wiped some off.


On each wooden chippie I've done some stamping and added torn Lemoncraft paper, a gift from my dear friend Lisa of A Mermaids Crafts. Thank you, again, Lisa! These papers are beautiful! You can barely see the original design, but not the beautiful pink color below the watery gesso and Distress stain wash. Stamping with a musical stanza (Heidi Swapp)and text/script (BoBunny) add more depth. I've tucked in a tiny tag given it's vintage look with none other than Vintage Photo Distress ink.



There's that number 23 token tucked in at the top, stamped and fussy cut butterflies (Prima, Tim Holtz, and Kaisercraft), a pair of flowers (Tim Holtz Tattered Florals) and a tiny key. The art stones are mixed up with soft gel medium and Distress stain in Tumbled Glass.



And there's half of my die cut frame--one of three frames (Tim Holtz Tag and Bookplates).



Here's panel number two with it's three types of crackle--there's that on the wood background, smears of Decoart crackle paint on the torn paper top and bottom, and within the second frame covering the second double digit number that includes the number 3 in it. Can you tell I was having fun using multiples of three?



I can't get enough of that Rock Candy crackle in the frame and splatters of watered down black gesso.! There's a second musical stanza (My Sentiments Exactly) and a second key  .



You can see the stamped typepad numerals 1, 2, and 3 (BoBunny)  more clearly in the photo below.

 

On to the third panel which features three words as my title--'Free to Fly', the third key, the third double digit numeral with the number 3 in it, the third musical stanza, the third frame (no, not the other half of the bookplate). This one is stamped (Heidi Swapp) and contains the Remnant Rub title.

 

If you guessed there are three types of butterflies you would be wrong; there are four. But there are three of each kind, so you're close. (Prima, Tim Holtz, Martha Stewart, and Rubber Stampede)


I love  the sweet little flower tucked in there with the third tag. It's got just a hint of color on it's petal edges. There are three types of flowers on my wall hanging--Tattered Florals die cuts, which make up the bulk of them, Tattered Flower Garland represented by one single tiny die cut flower just above the key in the photo above, and the three big silk flower blossoms I altered with gesso and watercolor washes of Distress stain and Silks paint.





 I know it's a lot to look at--almost too busy--but I had fun making it, and looking at it makes me feel happy! Here's another look at my wall hanging in it's entirety, this time photographed outside in the bright morning sun. I think this shows it's true colors, but there are lots of shadows.



And this one taken on a very dark day outdoors without any filters or photo altering. It almost has a soft dreamlike quality to it.



 Please visit the other talented Creative Guides at A Vintage Journey to see where the 'Magic of Three' has taken them. And then it's your turn! We have a generous gift voucher from our wonderful sponsor, Emerald Creek Craft Supplies for a very lucky winner!



I would like to enter these inspiring challenges:
Thank you for visiting today and for all your lovely comments! I read and appreciate each one and eventually return the visit!
Hugs and Blessings!
Sara Emily

27 comments:

  1. what a lovely project of three's Sara Emily! The beautiful pastel colors give me hope that spring is in fact coming to the Northeast USA!! Wonderful crackle on the tags behind the pretty blooms and the corrugated cardboard gives great texture to it all! Julia xx

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  2. Oh wow, what a mixed media masterpiece, Sara Emily!! I love the layers and design!! Those cracked panels look amazing!! I love the gorgeous butterflies fluttering about!! The details you added are just perfect!! Love, love this!! So stunning!! Have a great evening!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  3. That frenzy of butterflies works wonderfully on the triple panel background and I love those soft, fresh Spring colours xx

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  4. Beautiful project! I love the colors and all the attention to details...

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  5. This triple panel is a WOWSER! So soft and delicate - brilliant!

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  6. What a wonderful panel Sara Emily full of gorgeous shabbiness and lots of amazing elements and details. There is a wonderful feel of early morning in the garden when the sun has just risen and the butterflies are enjoying the quiet before the business of the day. Love it. xxx

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  7. Such a gorgeous and happy piece Sarah,those three panels work so well against that background, love all those butterflies fluttering right off the page, - it has a real spring time feel to it with those soft colours, - wonderful work!!

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  8. Always love the crackle and all the other great elements you have added. There really is a magic in threes. Hugs, Sandy

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  9. Oh dear, my lovely long comment earlier got lost. I love this dreamy triptych - the soft lilacs and mauves, and the flutter of the butterflies and the flower petals in the night breezes - gorgeous!
    Alison x

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  10. It is not too busy at all, you can never have too many butterflies and I just love the mix on your tryptych, especially the fabulous Prima ones. I also love the soft mauve tones and the lovely flowers you added here and there. A fantastic way to show the challenge theme Sara! Hugs, Anne xx

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  11. So beautiful, I love all the details, gorgeous butterflies and color choices. Thank you so much for joining us this month at Penny Black and More!

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  12. Oh Sara, you really did an amazing job incorporating the three houses with out division. The entire piece flows together beautifully with so many amazing details. Great work at AVJ so far!!! I'm still so happy for us and still want to say congrats to you! :) Hugs, Autumn

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  13. Wonderful work, like the butterflies! Thanks for joining us at Penny Black and More and good luck!
    x Daniela (DT)

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  14. Butterfly Love! also digging on that cracked No.38!!
    Beautiful make my friend! xo

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  15. This is a real dedication to the magic of Three! Sara Emily and its fabulicious.! Your colour palette is wonderful. Great choice of elements arranged so well in, on and around your beautifully crackled houses and just love the 'free' way you've curled those petal leaves- along with your gorgeous butterflies they emit a real sense of movement. Terrific and indeed magical creativity! Sara xx

    Thanks for your lovely comment. You always say such nice words and make me smile . b assut please be assured you have SOOOOOOO much more talent than I, even in just your pinky! FACT!! The evidence is here on your blog for all to see !!
    hugs xx

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  16. Gorgeous wall hanging!!! Love those distressed house shaped chipboard pieces!!!
    Hugs
    Samra
    Paper Talk with Samra

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  17. This is fab! I am in awe at all the details on your embellishments - just gone back to look at the photos again and I see something different everytime! Stunning xx

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  18. Just gorgeous Sara Emily, adore your colour palette and so many amazing layers and textures and fabulous details to see and enjoy! Truly a wonderful example of the Magic of 3, thanks so much for sharing it, Deb xo

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  19. A gorgeous wall hanging with lovely colours, embellishments and tags.
    Thank you for entering our challenge at Penny Black and More this mont and sharing your work with us.

    Shirley

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  20. A fabulous hanging! so many wonderful elements and layers and I love the soft palette. A great interpretation of our three's theme! Jennie x

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  21. Back to say thank you for joining us at Frilly and Funkie xx

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  22. Hi Sara x this is a stunning project and so many trio's to look at....I love it. Great tip on altering the cardboard and you have also shared amazing details.
    Apologies for being late in visiting x just got back home

    Sending hugs Annie xx

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  23. This is such a pretty color palette for spring, Sara Emily! I love the wonderful crackle finish on the background. You've cleverly tucked numbers in everywhere, and it's fun looking for them! The butterflies lend this a great feeling of movement! Thanks so much for sharing with us at the Count Me In Challenge on Frilly and Funkie!

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  24. Thanks for joining Stamping Sensations and Penny Black & More with this great entry, good luck.
    Happy crafting
    Tracy x

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  25. WOW, what a beautiful and detailed project, thank you for joining in this months challenge on The Artistic Stampers blog

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  26. I adore this background with corrugated cardstok! love the colors you've used, this purple palette is fabulous! barbara

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  27. This must have been so much fun to create! It looks amazing...I wouldn't know where to start! I wanted to thank you for playing along with my heARTful stamping challenge during April! I'm sorry to be just stopping now for a visit...

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