Birds & Words

Friday, March 11, 2016

Untroubled "Triple Trouble" - Corrugated, Metal, and Lace

So how are you liking Creative Carte Blanche?  I am just loving this approach to the "online challenge" model which we like to call "creative adventures".  Judging from the fantastic art you've all posted, you are totally getting it and are feeling your freedom.

The Queen of Vintage Arts, HRH Candy Colwell has suggested an awesome adventure for us this time.  Combine the delicacy of lace, the rigidity of metal, and the texture of corrugated materials and ask them all to dance together on one piece of art.  Let's go for it!
This is the second shot at this one for me.  I first made a card that I will give to my aunt for her birthday, but wanted to keep the design.  So I added to my studio wall by recreating the card as a 4 x 6 burlap panel.  
For my lace element, I went to a huge bolt of wide lace that I bought at a garage sale.  Can you believe it??  I love it when I find stuff like this.
I used some gesso on the lace to stiffen it up a bit and to give it a shabby chic feel.  When I flipped the lace over after brushing on the gesso, I found I liked the flip side better, so I used that side.
 DecoArt Traditions paint in Medium White has become a real go-to medium for me.  Its not really white, more of a light tan color.  I dry brushed a bit of paint in a cross hatch on a panel of Wallflower paper to grunge it up a bit and tone it down.
 Here's my yummy paint.  It adhered to the metal beautifully and dries with a nice matte, chalky finish.
I used my Fiskars paper crimper for my corrugated element.  I scratched the edges of the Wallflower panel and dabbed a bit of Ground Espresso Distress Paint on the edges for definition.  
I used adhesive metal sheets from American Crafts on card stock and die cut Tim Holtz's Layered Butterfly.  My metal wasn't big enough for this big butterfly so I patched it in the middle.  I was going to cover that part anyway.
I mixed a little DecoArt Traditions paint with Mermaid Lagoon and Fossilized Amber Distress Inks on my craft sheet to color my butterfly.
  I tapped the paint on the butterfly with my finger and used a paint brush to pounce the paint into recessed areas and to blend the colors where they met.  I used my heat tool for just a minute and then rubbed paint away from the raised areas.
I poured liquid starch on the gessoed lace panel, let it dry and then die cut another butterfly  for a lace layer behind the metal butterfly.  Its a subtle element, but one that really adds to the piece when you see it in real life.
Tinted, stenciled embossing paste letters give another layer of texture.  I used a heavy gauge wire to back frame the butterfly.  Some of my heavier elements needed a bit more reinforcement than just adhesive, so I stapled it down.
I added a couple of strips of Cavalini wash tape for balance.  This panel is really heavy with the wire, so I drilled some holes with my Dremel and placed a couple of screws to secure it in addition to double stick adhesive.  These will be hidden by Butterfly Girl.
 I didn't plan to keep the "untroubled" theme from last month when I started out, but then I saw this sentiment on a Christy Tomlinson scrapbook paper and it just completed the story!  
The little girl image came from a free download on Tammy Tutterow's blog.  Do visit Tammy there, she does some pretty cool stuff.  Its a regular stop for me!
Our little Butterfly Girl takes her place on my vintage window.  Three done, two more to go!

The entries we already have are so cool in their variation.  Seeing the different ways everyone interprets the same set of parameters is awe inspiring!  So what will you create on your adventure?


16 comments:

  1. I am loving this!!! You know my love of butterflies and this sentiment is perfect!!! Beautiful!!!

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  2. Gorgeous piece of art Cheryl! I particularly like the lace butterfly layered behind the metal one. Such a clever mix of textures. Maybe some day I will get to see this lovely piece in person!

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  3. OMG ... love your Butterfly ( lace n' all ), such a pretty canvas... those layers WOW !!

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  4. I am really loving the journey you are taking us on, it certainly challenging me to try out different things! I have not heard of the Medium White before but I am loving the colour of it on the lace... the butterfly is stunning and how clever to add the little girl - a wonderful idea - the canvas looks beautiful on your vintage window. Thanks so much for the inspiration! Anne xx

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  5. Love it, love it and love it more Cheryl. Your canvas is a magnificent work of art, I adore how you have combined the products and elements together and that butterfly is just divine. Bravo.
    Have a great weekend.
    Hugs Brenda xxx

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  6. Very nice and looks great on the window!

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  7. I adore your vintage window display, brilliant idea. Gorgeous piece of art . Love the combination of the lace with the other less delicate layers, they work so well together. Tracy x

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  8. Oh wow - how I adore the lace butterfly underneath - that is just the 'piece de resistence' - isn't it!? But this is just INCREDIBLE from top to bottom... lace, wire, burlap, cardboard, metal embellies, and on we go...... who would dream all that could makes such a WONDROUSLY LOVELY piece. Totally AWESOME Cheryl. XX j.

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  9. Wow, Cheryl - love how you die cut the metal butterfly as well as the lace butterfly underneath! Fabulous touches and tons of texture! Love it!

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  10. Cheryl...I LOVE your butterfly girl! Your combination of the corrugated paper, lace and metal is beautiful and proves that those three totally different elements can be absolutely gorgeous together! I love your colors, your sweet vintage design and your wonderful blog post. You rocked this, girl!

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  11. Love, love, love, love, love, love, LOVE this piece, Cheryl! Your Butterfly Girl is perfection, and her sentiment couldn't be more wonderful.

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  12. Beautiful work of art Cheryl! Love the sweet girl image paired with the fancy butterfly! The lacy background adds such an elegant touch! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  13. Do you hate me?!! It's been forever since I've come over. Sorry. I need a subscribe button here. Those wings are magnificent...just stunning! And that sweetie in the middle rocks them. What an amazing project!

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  14. This is AMAZING Cheryl! Wow, what a great little technique to butt the aluminum together. Such a darling collage, but filled with so many artistic touches! <3

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  15. Hi Cheryl. Girl, you are so precious. I wanted to stop by and thank you so very much for your lovely comments you left on my blog. You are always so kind. I love you dearly, my sweet friend.

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