Hi everyone. Today I have some really exciting news!! I've been asked to join the hugely talented team at A Vintage Journey and today is the first project I have made for them as a Creative Guide! I feel really honoured to have been asked and I do hope you'll like what I've come up with for the lovely Nikki's challenge. Here's what she has to say:
'For our birthday challenge we thought it would be fun to challenge you to use the products in our DI Travel Bag this month. You’ve seen how the Creative Guides have used the products in the past and you will see how they use them this month too. So join us in using the following products and enjoy the journey!
Substrate: Board (eg grey board, coaster board, cardboard)
Main Colour: Lilac or Pale Purple
Technique: Rust Effects (perhaps using rusting or embossing powders or rust coloured paints)
Product: Something Metal'
'For our birthday challenge we thought it would be fun to challenge you to use the products in our DI Travel Bag this month. You’ve seen how the Creative Guides have used the products in the past and you will see how they use them this month too. So join us in using the following products and enjoy the journey!
Substrate: Board (eg grey board, coaster board, cardboard)
Main Colour: Lilac or Pale Purple
Technique: Rust Effects (perhaps using rusting or embossing powders or rust coloured paints)
Product: Something Metal'
Here's the piece of wall art I've made for the challenge:
I've used grey board for both substrate layers; metal for the heart, wire, oval embellie and the decorative band and finally, I rusted the band and the oval using acrylic paints. The heart and wire were both pre-rusted.
One piece of grey board is sealed with gesso and stencilled with a home-made stencil and some modelling paste. A piece of lace is applied along with a second stencil design and modelling paste which is kept very sketchy and rough. White, turquoise and magenta misters are then used to add colour. To add a more purple hue, acrylic paint is then added but it still looks blue I'm afraid - no matter how many photos I took!! A little interference paint was also added to highlight some areas.
![]() |
Detail shot. |
The large stencilled areas are stamped with script and white gesso. Quinacridone gold paint is applied and dried. Thick crackle glaze follows and after drying, white antiquing cream is used.
Vague stencilling is applied with purple acrylic paint and the roughly stencilled modelling paste is given the same treatment as the main areas.
The decorative metal band is part of an old bracelet I bought in a charity shop. This has been given a rust like finish using texture sand modelling paste, grey and quinacridone gold paint.
The heart and wire are pre-rusted but the oval embellishment received the same rusting process as the metal band seen previously. The wire has been curled around a paintbrush handle.
This is the metal embellishments prior to rusting. I've added the pre-rusted heart so you can compare.
For the base layer, card is folder embossed and sealed with gesso. A light lilac colour is mixed and applied. This is followed by lots of dry brushing with titanium white fluid acrylic, a layer of crackle glaze and more quinacridone gold to highlight those cracks!
The embossed card is then applied to more grey board and all naked edges are finished with a Krylon pen.
All paints and mediums used are by DecoArt and they just happen to sponsoring this birthday challenge so you really must link up a project to be in with a chance of winning a wonderful prize! Remember that the Creative Guides will also be selecting their top three projects to win a pinworthy badge. Please do pop over to A Vintage Journey to see the wonderful inspiration from my lovely teamies!