Together forever

Hi there!

I'm here with you invariably and regularly. Well... maybe not like a clockwork, but I try to describe the works that are created in my studio on an ongoing basis. So today you will learn the details of a layout stiffened with a wooden frame in the size of 30cm x 30cm. Always between the frame covered with canvas and paper sheet, which is the basis for work, I stick a sheet of cardboard for stiffening. Believe me, it means a lot. I forgot to do it once and the LO was kind of... bent. As a standard, LO was ordered - this time, by a loving daughter for parents on the occasion of the 60th wedding anniversary. I'm trying to imagine such an anniversary in my case.. This is just an achievement! Do you know couples who have been together for so long? Show off on what "round number" you had the opportunity to create a gift.

I received the following expectations: lilac-green colors, vintage style and lots of flowers. The colors fit perfectly into the moodboard challenge planned for August on the Dusty Attic blog, I love vintage style, and flowers... hello! Sure, flowers have to be!.. You can see for yourself that this project was pure joy to create! Or maybe you too will take up this challenge? All you have to do is add your work to the comments section of the Dusty FANattics Facebook group for a chance to win one of two amazing prizes of $50 (AUD) on purchases from their store. I can't wait to see your work on the Dusty FANAttics group.

While checking the sheets of papers out, I stopped at the "Love me Tender" collection, sheet 7A seemed to be perfect, and I was right. I started by sewing the sheet with a beige thread, on the sewing machine, my favorite stitch. I protected the entire sheet with a layer of clear gesso. I ragged the edges, painted the Distress Collage Medium by Ranger and made the edges again with Vintage Antiquing paste from Stamperia. Thanks to these steps, the romantic pink paper turned into old and dirty paper. You can find this process plus applying stencils in the IGTV on my IG profile. You're more then welcome!

I used two masks: distressed diamonds and circle dots arranged. The one with the dots was supposed to expand the composition around the photo a bit and shyly stick out from under it. I chose the Jewel paste in the shade of Rose Quartz and regretted it for a moment because I couldn't wash the mask off. But! .. during one of my IG live stream, I got a great hint from Kasia [Kasyopeaart] on how to handle it and now I share this with you: Cleanlux Plus - try it, just don't forget to dilute it! I applied the second mask with Distress Crackle paste, and then tinted with a mixture of 4 mists from Ranger. Finally, with a dry brush of the white acrylic paint, I gave a slight lightening.

I secured all chipboards with a white gesso carefully on all sides and started working on them. There are quite a few of them in this project so it took me a considerable amount of time. You will find the painting of the rushes in the other IGTV recording on my IG, so I'll not write about it here. I made the date, number 60 and the inscription love with Rose Gold wax from Finnabair. I painted the quote under the date and the inscription "together forever" in white gesso and Distress Collage Medium.

A beautifully framed photo takes a central place. After the gesso was dry, I used Stamperia vintage paste and a gentle Rose Gold wax to make this frame. Around the photo and in three other places, I put on Nuvo liquid 3D pearls in the Pumice Stone shade. They're great, look how perfect, they're all the same... Amazing product. On both sides of the frame I glued a delicate openwork lace so that it protrudes from under the frame, below there is the second - knitted, slightly more massive. I stained a large piece of gauze in the coffee and tear it irregularly, and I arranged it so that it protruded around the photo and from under the flowers.

The flowers are mostly roses from the same collection of papers made with metal dies, I made them myself. There are quite a lot of them, between them I have composed other, slightly smaller ones with stamens, also made with die. I gave a few of my little punch cut flowers, and in empty spaces, I stuffed some lovely Tim Holtz flowers. The composition is placed on paper leaves from the die, but also on chipboard ones. I painted them with crackle paste and a mist - bottle green. Very nice cracks were formed. The flower arrangement is complemented by a magnificent bow made of sisal string. Near the rushes, a birdhouse protrudes from under the frame, and on the right there are my beloved butterflies. Finally, I sprinkled tiny Finnabair pebbles on and around the flowers and splashed the work with white acrylic paint.