Friday 11 April 2014

Un Peu Français (A Little Bit French)

Hello all and thank-you so much for visiting. A warm welcome too to new followers!

Fellow admirers of vintage genre / Tim Holtz will probably be well aware of fabulous new challenge ‘A Vintage Journey’. I was over the moon happy to have won their inaugural challenge for my ‘vintage suitcases’ project. I’m thus thrilled to be Guest Designing at their blog today for their current challenge with theme ‘A Little Bit French’.

As my 'suitcases' project involved the more traditional shabby aging techniques (with lots of shades of battered brown) I challenged myself to make something without any brown ink. Pairing this with the theme of ‘A Little Bit French’ I found myself reminiscing about my four Parisian visits, one of which included a day tour to nearby Palace of Versailles. The main colour that came to mind was GOLD! Lots of it! So I teamed gold with the traditional French red, white and blue and came up with a ornate gilded scene of how the sights of Paris might have looked centuries ago (excuse any time anomalies!)



I’ve altered a Prima ornate metal frame. It came in a shade of blue which I lathered with gesso and coats of white paint. The back of the frame is detachable so that one can decorate its two sides and better place embellishments inside.

Here you can see the background more closely:


Background: Coat of Paper Artsy 'Old Gold', followed by layer of crackle, then painted with coat of 'Snowflake' - this gave lots of lovely golden crackles. Next, stamped an ornate gold chandelier and randomly stamped lots of French text and doo dads in red and blue ink (Archival 'Hydrangea' and 'Red Geranium'). To tone that down then applied Distress Stain 'Picket Fence' and Paper Artsy metallic glaze. Then stencilled lots of lavish flourishes with a Crafters Workshop stencil and texture paste. Next, painted the top of all the stencilled work with Krylon gold leafing pen in two shades.

The Mona Lisa: Stamped Tim Holtz 'Paris Collage' onto cream muslin and embossed with black ep. Then coloured with DIs (Tea Dye, Weathered Wood and Bundled Sage). Heat dried inks. Affixed image into a Melissa Frances resin frame that I've been hoarding for ages. Painted the raised parts and sides of frame with Krylon gold leafing pens and covered Mona with lots of glossy accents to dry overnight. (Actually did this twice - the first attempt was with crackle accents but didn't like the result so re-tried with glossy accents and happy with outcome).

Other Paris landmarks: La Tour Eiffel and L'Arc de Triomphe are stamped on acetate using an Artemio set and embossed with copper ep. I would have loved to have Tim's stamp of the Moulin Rouge but couldn't locate one in time so cheated and printed stamp out on gold card instead. Affixed a gilded cog and metal bit to it also.

Carriage: The gorgeous chipboard carriage came in a giveaway. I coloured the wheels with gold leaf pen and attached 2 of Tim's hitch fasteners and a gilded game spinner. Then inked the top with red distress marker followed by several coats of UTEE to give it a nice gloss. Added some gilded metal bead string for 'reins'.

Other decoration to front: Diecut the pennants from faux leather papers. Stamped / embossed some black text on acetate and affixed around project. I'm dating the scene to the month of April so have gilded some chipboard blossoms and dotted same with white snow pen. Added too a dictionary definition for 'amour' and little golden butterflies.










Inner and outer frame sides.

I took 2 sheets of Neenah cardstock and splattered with lots of gold and copper paints using Liquitex splatter brush. Heat dried. Then embossed sheets with Tim's Eiffel Tower / French Script texture fades.


















Applied variously blue and red archival inks to brayer and rolled it over the embossed edges. Heat dried as I went with each colour. Cut into long strips and painted with a pearlescent paint. Once dry, sprayed each strip with water so that it would be roll nicely into place around inner and outer sides.















Finally, a view of the back.


As outlined above achieved gold crackle lines with Paper Artsy paints. Printed out a music sheet of song 'April in Paris'. Also 'cheat' printed one of Tim's letter stamps on gold card. Stamped the Bird Branch once onto tissue and again as if positioned across the music sheet. Pasted the stamped tissue with multi-medium matte glue so that it 'melted' in. Using Tim's new butterflies decorative strip diecut little faux leather butterflies and arranged around bird, together with some flowers. Rubbed gilding wax on metal charms and affixed.

Et, c'est ça!! Thanks again to all at A Vintage Journey - it's been a pleasure to make this little french scene and feature today at your blog.

Thanks to all for visiting - it's been lovely having you drop by.

Have a super weekend,
Nicola x

I wish to enter altered frame to the following challenges:
Simon Says Monday Challenge - Journey
Craft Hoarders Anonymous - Pick a Stamp / Any stamp
Inspiration Journal - A few of my favourite things
Eileen Hull - Art With Heart challenge - April Showers
Vintage Stamping Challenges - Anything Goes
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Altered Art
The Artistic Stamper - Embossing & Texture
The Kraft Journal - Paris or France

45 comments:

  1. Very ornate creation Nicola. Kind of cool. A lot of thought went into this.

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  2. This is so breathtaking!!! It's really hard to find the words to describe how I feel about this vintage frame, I think every detail is perfect with the french theme! Love how you were able to add all those elements together, and I think the backside looks amazing as well. This is a little piece of art, Nicola!

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  3. A stunning project Nicola, the wonderful details, gorgeous colours and sheer creativity have me captivated. Thanks so much for creating it for and sharing it at A Vintage Journey xx

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  4. Oh wow Nicola, such a totally amazing piece, the detail is incredible, every little corner has another treat for the eyes to offer, totally fabulous!!!

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  5. WOW....Stunning work Nicola....the attention to detail is outstanding...The design is amazing...so much beautiful wonder to gaze at... Love it all... Hugs May x x

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  6. This is simply awesome Nicola, so creative - stunning and beautiful. Thanks for guesting for us this week at A Vintage Journey. Chris xxx

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  7. Good Morning Nicola. Your creation s absolutely stunning. I cannot stop looking at it and finding more things that catch my eye. A lot of work has went into this piece and you must be so pleased with the outcome. Hugs Rita xxx

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  8. I am a new follower after seeing your suitcase creation. Nicola, this is another great project, hard to pinpoint exactly what's so special as each element is so detailed & a different technique in it's own right!! I lived in Paris so this has caused me to reminisce & want to return to this wonderful City! Tfs :)

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  9. Oh Nicola - wow! What a stunning creation, it is breathtaking in it's beauty. All of the elements go together so well, I really love how you altered that original frame - I am a bit stuck for words... like Caroline above... it is hard to choose one element - I just love it ALL. Thank you so much for bringing this to A Vintage Journey! Hugs, Anne xx

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  10. C'est tres magnifique Nicola! I love everything French and this really tickles my tastebuds. Thanks for sharing all the lovely details too. Margie

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  11. Ooooh la la fabulous project, have a great weekend, Elizabeth xxx

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  12. Wow, this is fantastic!! Look at all those wonderful details and textures. Gorgeous dimension and mix of images and the gold touches are perfect. Thank you for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog!

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  13. Fabulous, love the detail and how you have put it all together. Very ooh lala.

    Thanks for joining us at Rhedd's Creative Spirit,

    Moira DT xx

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  14. This is a beautiful artwork with many different things mixed so well together. I love the Mona Lisa picture! Congratulations! Lys.

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  15. Hi Nicola! This is SO lovely! I wanted to let you know that there are still a couple days left in our Paris/France Challenge at The Kraft Journal, and this project would be SO perfect for it. I hope you will stop by today and link it up with us! It's AWESOME, and we would enjoy having you share with us any time. This is GORGEOUS and SO appropriate for our challenge this week. I hope you will link it up quickly!
    Blessings,
    Karen
    The Kraft Journal
    www.thekraftjournal.blogspot.com

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  16. what a wonderful eclectic vintage curio.. i adore it. x

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  17. Nicola
    You will need to pick me up off the floor where I lie prostrate!!!!!!!
    Outstanding in detail and texture. I surely feel as though I am walking the streets of Paris this Friday evening, savouring the sights and sounds of this magical city.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  18. Your work is just art. I am gobsmacked! This is beyond the beyond! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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  19. wow wow wow !!!! such a beautiful, stunning magical creation . I am loving the way you play with color and texture .... beautiful work x

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  20. Stunning, so ornate...love every yummy detail. Thanks for joining us on the Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog.

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  21. Wow, stunning! Great project, thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog.

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  22. This is such stunning project, Nicola. Love all the embellishments and details you created. Gorgeous creation! :)

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  23. Good night is this stunning! GORGEOUS!

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  24. Just Speechless my dear Nicola... How do you do that??? It's totally and in every detail a unique piece of Art. Will keep it in my favourite blog posts links kept aside, and I've just pin it in my 'Wow!' galley... Thanks so much for your great art Nicola, very inspirational, especially on this French theme! It's a pure delight!!!!!!.... Have a wonderful week-end, with sun I hope. Hugs, Coco xxx

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  25. What a beautiful piece...so much attention to detail. Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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  26. Gorgeous little vintage delight! So full of things to see but not at all overcrowded.

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  27. Hi Nicola, I just love your attention to detail in your work and this piece is no exception. I love your Mona Lisa and all the little gold touches. Mo x

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  28. Oh My this is stunning! I want to hold it in my hands so I can examine it up close. Thanks so much for sharing it with us at Craft Hoarders Anon :)

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  29. Well good grief...I'm blown away! You had my heart at stamped on muslin and I love the quirky spinner on the carriage. Outstandingly amazing project and you've left me nearly speechless (...Bravo!! ;)
    hugs,
    Lisa x

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  30. How remiss of me... I know I left a lot of love over at A Vintage Journey - but should have come here to say a huge thank you and an even huger bravo on this extraordinary creation!
    Alison xx

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  31. Oh my, the detail in this is incredible. . From front to back, top to bottom, inside to outside and all parts in between, this is an amazing project!

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  32. Wonderful project! Love all the detail in your altered frame. Thank you for sharing this with us over at the Kraft Journal.

    Anitra

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  33. such a unique altered project!! Thanks so much for sharing it with us at Craft Hoarders!!

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  34. This is truly stunning! I love collage to begin with, but this is so beautifully composed. I love the color palette, the stamping, the dimensional elements. Magical and wonderful in every way! Thanks for sharing your stamping hoard with us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge #5: Pick a stamp, any stamp!

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  35. Such a fun and creative project! Thanks so much for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog. Hope you can come back to play along soon. Hugs Ginny from Polly's Paper Studio.

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  36. Very cool, love all the details! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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  37. Very belatedly Nicole popping in to say what a really gorgeous creation and thanks so much for sharing with us at FlonzCraft Vintage Stamping Challenges.

    B x

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  38. Wonderful project! Thanks for playing along with Craft Hoarders Anonymous!!

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  39. It's a nice project. The style is beautiful.

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  40. Great project, so much to look at, love it!
    Thanks for joining us in the Inspiration Journal monthly challenge :)

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  41. Such wonderful creativity! The altered frame looks like a carriage - which is so very french and perfect for this theme. I love all of the elements, so elegant!
    Thank you for joining us at Vintage Stamping Challenges.
    Dot x

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  42. Thanks for joining us for our April Challenge at Inspiration Journal-My Favorite Things!

    Such gorgeous details and so much work! Awesome!!!

    ♥ Sue Kment

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  43. And remiss of me again not to thank you for sharing this wonder with us at The Artistic Stamper!
    Alison xx

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Thank-you! Your visit and comment is very much appreciated. Nicola x