Floral Canvas

It is time for a new challenge at Stamps and Stencils and this time our hostess is Ruth who calls it Colour, Texture, Shape and describes it this way:

This month it's almost anything goes as I have a picture inspiration board for you.

Maybe it's the colour palette ranging from cream and peach through to gold, warm browns and soft greens that inspires you...or you want to use different colours and use fabric, lace or metal in your project as texture? As for shape, what about flowers, leaves and architecture or the design elements that are gothic, steampunk or romantic? Whether your inspired by one or all of the pictures, please share your mixed media creations with us, the only restriction - you must use a stamp or stencil somewhere in your project. Can't wait to see what you're inspired to create!

I decided to make a display in a frame and incorporate a little bit of everything from Ruth's description.  Here are the steps to make this project:

1. Grab a frame with a deep back and take it apart.  Set the glass and mat aside for a future project.  Remove the easel stand from the back of the MDF panel that comes in the frame.  Note:  The frame has a short part on the front where all of the mechanics are but the project will be built on the deep back part of the frame. 

2. Cover the MDF panel with old book paper using Mod Podge and then give it a light coat of Liquitex Gesso with a dry brush.

3. Add some stenciling with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink (Tim Holtz for Ranger) and Dylusions Dotted Flowers stencil.

4. Add some stamping with Jet Black Archival Ink (Ranger) and a variety of stamps - Circles, Collector's Edition #2 and #4 (IndigoBlu) and Honeycomb (Tim Holtz).
5. Give the panel another light coat of Gesso with a dry brush.
6. Add a strip of lace across the panel and then glue the panel back into the frame on the deep side.

7. Use a palette knife and some Light Molding Paste (Golden) to give the frame some texture inside and out being careful not to get the paste on the panel insert.

8. Paint the texture with Butter Pecan Acrylic Paint (DecoArt).  Note:  Sorry that there is no photo but at this point I added a dry brush coating of Gesso because I thought the paint was too dark.

9. Make the flowers from scraps of white card stock cut with dies or punches (mine were laser cut by my hand husband on his fancy machine) and dye the petals using Distress Inks (Tim Holtz).

• Gerbera Daisy - one dyed with Abandoned Coral and one with Dried Marigold, add pearls (Recollections) to centre of both
• Lacy Zinnia - dyed with Dried Marigold and then painted with Abandoned Coral, add microbeads (Recollections) to centre
• Rose and Rose Bud - dyed with Antique Linen, calyx from green card stock

10. Die cut leaves from scrap card stock using Garden Greenery Die (Tim Holtz), ink with Peeled Paint and Forest Moss DI and cut into pieces.

11. Ink a plain and filigree butterfly (laser cuts) with Tea Dye and Tumbled Glass DI (Tim Holtz).  Add pearls to body (Recollections & The Paper Source) and layer the filigree butterfly on top of the plain one.
12. Add all the flowers and leaves to the panel, tucking a few tiny sweetheart blossoms grouped in threes (Wild Orchid Crafts) among the paper flowers.  Add the layered butterfly.

There you have it - a very floral canvas.  Now if I just had those lovely blooms in my garden.   I hope I have inspired you to come and join us in Ruth's fabulous challenge.