Hello

That's Crafty! have such an abundance of surfaces to play with, it can be easy to over look the earlier surfaces, so I decided to share this project which features one of their earlier surfaces,  white/greyboard panel.

This is another project which sees me dipping into the That's Crafty! Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit, utilizing Rice Paper, Teabag Paper and Calico.

Supplies

That's Crafty! Clear Stamps Lynne's Affirmations Set 7
That's Crafty! Surfaces White/Greyboard Panel 8"x 8" Rounded Corners Pack of 5
That's Crafty! Texture Paste
That's Crafty! Surfaces Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit (Rice Paper, Teabag Paper)
That's Crafty! Flat Matte Sprays: Aqua, Bluebell
That's Crafty! Multi-Surface Paint Metallic Antique Gold
Palette Knife (HERE)
Distress Crayons: Black Soot, Vintage Photo
Gesso (That's Crafty! have their very own Gesso in white and black)
Archival Designer Series Potting Soil
Gel Medium
Idea-ology Tiny Attacher
Shipping Tag
Water Brush
Extras: Rusted Washers, Dried Leaf, Coffee Granules, Baby Wupes

Instructions

It's not necessary but I like to apply Gesso to the surface - it's my own quirk!

Smear Texture Paste to the panel, creating texture as you apply, you can see, I only applied in random patches.  Leave to dry thoroughly, preferable overnight because the next step will see it having a bath!

Sprinkle coffee granules onto the panel. Ideally, do not use your favourite coffee. I like to coffee stain so I purchase inexpensive, supermarket brand instant coffee for this.  Either place into a tray (an old baking tray is a good idea) filled with warm water, hot enough to dissolve the coffee granules or as I did for this particular project, hold beneath tap of running warm water, rubbing the granules into the surface. Lay the surface flat for it to completely dry. Remember, the colour will dry lighter than when it is wet, take that into account for the result you want to achieve.  Also stain a shipping tag and small pieces of calico.

Begin to bring depth with the Black Soot Distress Crayon, creating marks with the crayon before blending with water brush, fingers and baby wipe.

I had previously eco dyed Rice and Teabag paper from the Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit. I stamped markings (I think they are PaperArtsy ELB stamps) and stamped Affirmation from Set 7, "Tattered whispers on the breeze".


 The tag stained from earlier is adhered to the panel. To this I layered a dried leaf and attaching stamped word to stained fragment of calico before adhering to the leaf.  Adhere two rusted washers to the tag. I re-inked the word "whispers", stamping onto another piece of the eco dyed paper. Continue layering stamped elements along with fragments of eco dyed Rice Paper.

To upper left side, I had a piece of teabag paper which had been dipped into beeswax, layered with coffee stained calico.

When adhering the stamped elements and fragments, do not apply Gel Medium to all edges, allow some edges to curl and have a loose, organic feel, as though they will be whisked away on the breeze.


Next, the final touch of spraying Aqua and Bluebell Flat Matte Spray. I was impressed that the colour shows even against the dark colour of the panel and I loved the effect of the colour lightly misted to the tag.

If you would like to seek out That's Crafty! Surfaces, you have an amazing choice: MDF, greyboard, acrylic, white/greyboard and there are flat panels, Chunkies, Art Shrines, Clocks, Journals.... visit HERE to browse through their ever increasing range.

Until next time,
Wishes
Lynne