Hello

I had a play with the That's Crafty! Artist Trading Block, working with the larger size 4"x4" to create a decorative item with the essence of nature.


Supplies
That's Crafty! Surfaces MDF Artist Trading Block - 3"x3" and 4"x4"
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Carved Leaves Set 1
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Mark Making Set 1
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Mark Making Set 2
That's Crafty! Multi-Purpose Craft Adhesive
That's Crafty! Walnut Ink Crystals
That's Crafty! Surfaces Tea Bag Paper
That's Crafty! Liquid Acrylic Wax
That's Crafty! Flat Matte Sprays: Basil, Sage Ochre
That's Crafty! Multi-Surface Interference Paint Gold
Memento Ink Tuxedo Black
Extras: 2 branch off-cuts, small tags, scraps,

Instructions

After assembling the Artist Trading Block, it was a matter of covering the block.

As with many of my projects, this was another where I utilized several elements which had been previously prepared. The small tags had previously been stained with Walnut Ink Crystals and some lightly swiped with Interference Gold paint.  Scraps torn from papers stained with Flat Matte Sprays and other papers which had Liquid Acrylic Wax applied. In other words, bits of this 'n' that.

To cover the block, I had the perfect paper for the finished style I knew I was aiming for.  I had tea bag paper which, purely by chance, had a beautiful, naturalistic mottle effect, conjuring to mind burred wood.  As I said, by chance this effect was achieved from when I had this paper as the under-paper when I was staining tea bag paper and rice paper with walnut ink crystals. Knowing I would not be able to achieve this effect again, I had been "saving" this paper!

I applied Gesso first to the assembled block, now sometimes I skip this step but I wanted the white areas of the stained paper to remain true and if I had adhered the paper to un-prepared Block, there was the chance that I would lose this.

Four of the faces represent the seasons. I didn't want to go down the road of interpreting the seasons with associated colours or images but for Winter, I did choose to bring in the white muslin and I happened to have some Gesso on my fingers at the time, so I swiped it over a piece of the paper which had been prepared with Liquid Acrylic Wax.

The hint of green, on the stained paper, is a nod towards the greenery which is around at that time of the year.

The Mark Making stamps on the Summer tag, bring to mind rocks at the beach, stacked together. A hint of Lustre Gold, conjures sunlight.

Spring - The Mark Making stamp at the upper edge, was to bring to mind rain dripping downwards on a window pane, with the dominant Mark on the right, a Mark that suggests to me a pod/sprout rising out of the ground.

Autumn - The Carved Leave, stamped onto walnut ink stained Teabag paper, tearing around the edge before hand-stitching.

Two off-cuts of tree branches, rest upon each other on the top of the Block.

The Artist Trading Blocks are so easy to assemble and with the option of two different size of blocks within the pack, it is great value for money.

Many Thanks for the visit.
Lynne