Art by Gill Humphrey

 Being Creative is an essential part of my daily routine - I find that it keeps my mind agile and healthy and by fingers supple for intricate work hence the title of my project today.

I took a That's Crafty! MDF Upright and applied That's Crafty! Texture Paste through a 13 Arts Ornamental Stencil and left to dry. Once dry I covered the entire piece including the base with That's Crafty! Black Gesso I then added Vintage Gold Wax Paste by Finabair through the stencil and around the edges. 

Whilst the paste was drying I chose my embellishments. I started by cutting paper from the His and Hers 13 Arts 12 x 12 Paper Pad - the paler piece is 8cm x 11cm and the darker piece 4.6cm x 16.8cm.

Both pieces of paper were scuffed around the edge using a pair of scissors before a layer of Milled Lavender Distress Oxide was added. I also applied the Milled Lavender Distress Oxide through the stencil to the base of the Upright.I layered a paper doily sponged lightly with the purple ink directly on to my Upright before adding the first piece of paper on top of a piece of greyboard for added dimension.

I chose a mandala from That's Crafty! Steampunk Flowers and Roses Craftyboard Collection and embossed it with Stampendous Frantage Shabby Silver and then adhered this on top of the smaller piece of paper. I added another piece of greyboard and then a Tim Holtz Ideology Ruler on top of the mandala before adhering the longer paper on top.

Next 3 butterflies were cut from an Vintage Flowers A4 Sheet by 13 Arts extras sheet and covered them with That's Crafty Acrylic Wax. Whilst the wax was drying I took a Prima Finnabair Bottle Cap and filled it with 13 Arts Gel Medium sprinkling over Finnabair Art Stones and then some more of the embossing powder which was then heat set. This assemblage was glued in place on the shrine with That's Crafty! Multi Purpose Glue.

The word "Art" was taken from a 13 Arts Chipboard Set embossed with shabby white embossing powder and then adhered in place.

To enhance the base of my Upright I used Milled Lavender Distress Ink through the same stencil and edged the base with Vintage Gold Metallic Wax

I placed my Upright in its base before adding my fussy cut butterflies leaving the winds free for movement.