Tale-ing Fragments #6: She Dreams + Varnished wood tutorial

"She dreams of faraway places and daring adventures.

Her eyes gleamed with the first step in the journey"

It's been a while since I made one of these fragmented story-collages, I had so much fun! Part of the fun in this particular project was the combination of using older technique-testers and the accidental discovery of a new technique - a yummy varnished wood look! (tutorial below).

What started me going was a Steampunk theme challenge in two blogs, the SanDee&amelie's challenge blog and the Simon Says Stamp challenge blog that also had a Steampunk theme (I actually missed the deadline for the later, so will be entering this work to the Anything Goes theme challenge Simon has on their Weds challenge 😅).

Like many of us these days, I've been at home a LOT, and I used some of this time to play with craft supplies, so I wanted to incorporate some of my trials in this piece. The large mosaic-like image in the back was done with the distress crackle-paste + embossing glazes technique shown by Tim Holtz & Stacy Hutchinson a couple of weeks back. The nautilus piece below is from playing with alcohol ink lifting. I did not expect them to work well together, but it's always a great surprise when that happens. I then picked a paper doll and found her story in my mind - doesn't she look like she'd be a great adventurer? Not the flashy kind, a clever time-traveler that can go, observe, learn and come back without causing a mess.

Clearly she needed a Steampunk\time machine.
My association of Steampunk includes, beside the industrial grunge, also the slick decorative Victorian style design that had polished wood and glass elements beside the iron and steel. I was thinking of how to get that polished wood effect when my eye caught my Distress embossing glazes - would it work? It did! I was so excited with the results I had to share them and some kind fellow crafters asked me for a tutorial - challenge accepted! And embedded below, but first, a few more details of this lovely adventurer and her machine:

I love how the stained gear fits with the nautilus pattern, in some angles it almost disappears!

Now for the promised tutorial:



This is my first attempt at making a video tutorial, so I hope it's clear enough...
If you have any questions about the video or anything else in the project please feel free :)

If you're looking for more inspiration take a look at these wonderful challenge blogs, they always have amazing inspiration and treasures in the entries

SASPC

SSS Wednesday Challenge

  

For now, a shiny farewell

xx

Tale-ing Fragments #2: The Old Tree

There was an old tree at the edge of the wood no one dared come near

But now and then a bird came by to whisper secrets in its ear

What secrets did they tweet in his old ears? 

Were they bringing news from afar?
Glad tidings or horrified murmurs? 

Were the birds his friends? Cursed by an old foe? 

Messengers from beyond?

This piece is a good example of going with the crafty-flow, sure I had an idea of what I want and how I wanted it to look but well – always expect the unexpected, right? 

I did not plan the branch frame, but the woodgrain backing (as much as I love how it came out – love this paper!) was just too… clean? Organised? However you’d call it is was definitely missing something. Thankfully, London was having stormy weather and with the aid of strong winds and kind trees I managed to collect the needed twigs to make the frame. 

If you can’t find the perfect frame, make it!

I’ve entered this Fragment to the Simon Says Stamp weekly Monday Challenge. This also wasn’t planned, but their theme this week is ‘Tear It Up’ – isn’t it perfect?? 


Hope you enjoy it, and if you see a raven send hello to the old tree.