MIXED MEDIA ALTERED ART FRAME - TUTORIAL

Here it is.... my first official step by step tutorial!!! woo hoo!!! I've always wanted to do this. A step by step, like you see in Craft Stamper magazine or such like. I have been told that my posts are particularly descriptive and someone once told me they love the way I describe my makes in a simple manner so anyone can understand and follow the techniques to a point where they could do it themselves. Which, to be honest, I've never really looked at it that way before but it does make sense because that is the reason why I do my blog... to share my creations and hopefully inspire others to be creative.

This is a mixed media altered art project. I love doing altered art because it is such a good feeling to re-use and recycle something which someone without a creative eye would of originally dumped! 
Like many crafters out there, I have a secret stash of 'stuff' which more often than not is cracked, broken or in pieces and which I have kept or rescued from the dustbin. When people come across it, the first thing that comes out of their mouth is "what are you gona do with that??!!" The favourite from my hubby is... "is this for the tip??!!" NNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!


For this project I decided to use a paper mache frame which I found in a clearance corner because it was bent and a bit squashed! Ridiculous!!


So here it is... 

* Step 1 - paint frame with Dulux 'Soft Truffle' Emulsion paint and dry with heat gun.

* Step 2 - spray with a fine mist of 'Copper Frost' Mica powder mixed with water in a spray bottle. 
* Tip - I put my frame on a plastic bag to do this so the spray mist was finer and therefore spread more evenly.

* Step 3 - stamp the top right corner with the Postmark stamp from the Urban Stamp 'All Aboard' collection from Docrafts with clear ink. Emboss with clear embossing powder and ink over the top with Dusty Concord Distress Ink.

* Step 4 - make your own texture paste.
This is a technique I picked up from the lovely Ali Reeve from Stamps Away. Mix PVA glue with Cornflour to create your own texture paste.

* Step 5 - place the ..... mask in the top left corner and the grid mask in the bottom left hand corner and add the texture paste.

* Step 6 - ink over the top of the texture pasted area with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink. Place the mask back over the top and randomly apply clear embossing ink. Cover with clear embossing powder and heat with heat gun.

* Step 7 - use the Patchwork Stamp Set from Stamps Away to make a repeat pattern on the inside back of the frame.

* Step 8 - sprinkle areas with coordinating embossing powders - I used 'Jasper' embossing powder from Judikins. I didn't use and ink to 'stick' the embossing powder before heating. So this technique takes patients. I sprinkled area with the powder and gently, from a distance, heated it with a heat gun. I heated from underneath to start - as soon as it starts to melt and 'grab' I started heating from the top until it was all melted. This embossing powder leaves a lovely glazed, almost enamelled look to it. 

* Step 9 - cut a piece of muslin and stamp the manniquin stamp three times using jet black Archival Ink. Heat set. 

Stamp your craft mat with a selection of Distress Inks - I chose Brushed Corduroy, Old Paper and Antique Photo Distress Inks. Spray with water.

Wipe the muslin fabric through the ink on the craft mat to colour the fabric. Dry with a heat gun. *** Tip - As the fabric dries the colour changes so don't add too much ink to start with, you can always add more ink and dry, then re-apply again until satisfied. 

* Step 10 - pull threads from the sides of the muslin and fray areas in the center to distress the fabric. 

* Step 11 - place the muslin in to the center of the frame. Cut some pieces of bronze antique lace and place over the top right corner and bottom left of the frame. I used Cosmic Shimmer glue for this and glued the lace on top and around the corner of the frame to the back.

* Step 12 - embellishments.
I recently went to an antique fair where I picked up huge bags of buttons and sewing bits. I decided to use these on the frame.

I chose different buttons based on the colour, size and sometimes material of the buttons as some were plastic, metal and fabric. I also chose some buckle pieces which I think add a bit of originality. But my favourite embellishment is the sewing machine thread reel which was in the collection of buttons I found at the antique fair.

* Step 13 - to finish I used my DYMO machine and embossed the words "A STITCH IN TIME" and adhered it across the lace in the top corner. 


The Finished Creation:

I really enjoyed this project and it just shows the treasure you can find hunting in the bargain bin!!

What I used:

* frame
* 'Soft Truffle' Dulux emulsion paint
* 'Copper Frost' Mica Powder
* "home-made" texture paste
* 'That Special Touch Mica Mask' - Winged Dress Form
* 'That Special Touch Mica Mask' - Grid
* Distress Ink - Dusty Concord, Old Paper, Vintage Photo, Pumice Stone.
* Clear embossing ink
* Clear embossing powder
* Docrafts Postmark stamp from Urban Stamps 'All Aboard' collection
* Patchwork Stamp Set from Stamps Away
* Muslin
* Mannequin stamp
* Vintage Buttons
* Vintage Sewing pieces
* DYMO embossing machine



This piece will definitely take pride of place in my craft room. 


Thank you so much for looking. I hope I have inspired you. I you like this creation as much as I have loved making it, then please leave me a comment - I love reading your thoughts.
Toodles for now, Lis xx

I would like to enter this creation in to the following challenges:

Avenue 613 - anything goes
My Creative Moments - anything Goes
Amusing challenges - Anything Goes 
Anyone For Anya? - Vintage Vibes 
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes 
Creative Inspirations Paint - Anything Goes
Craft My Life - All Craft Challenge
C... Is For Challenge - Buttons 
Craftin Desert Divas - Anything Goes  
Crafty Cardmakers - Monochromatic Purple 
My Craft Creations - Always Anything Goes 
Sweet Stamps Blog - Frames 
Crafty Creations - Make It Yourself 
It's All About The Vintage - Use 3 Stamps 
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes