Sunday, July 28, 2013

ODE TO SUMMER!!

What a great Monday morning!  

It's summertime and the sun is shining!  It's just the perfect day for  
 Simon Says Stamp and Show's Monday Challenge 
this week themed "Ode To Sunshine!"

 
I created this little wall hanging and decorated it with all sorts of things that remind me of summer; including a picture of my twin grandsons at Myrtle Beach last summer.

Want to make something like this for yourself?  Here is how I did it ...


1. Begin with eight pieces of chipboard cut into 10" x 2" strips.  Cut the corners with a CropADile Chomper 1/2" corner radius. Glue the strips together to create 4 strips.  This gives them more thickness and makes for a prettier project.  Cut two 1" by 8 1/2" strips of chipboard to create the back "rails" that will hold your fence piece together.


2. Paint all of the pieces with white gesso. Let dry or heat set. Also, my pieces are not put together yet.  I am just showing you in this photograph how they will line up. (You may not want to do this gesso step, but I wanted a white base to start with so that my colors would be truer).


3. Paint a base coat of Fresco Finish Mermaid and either heat set or let air dry.  Then follow with a layer of Fresco Finish Crackle Glaze where ever you want the fence to crackle.


4. Add a top layer of Fresco Finish Snowflake and let dry.  Then distress the edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.


5. Add the supporting "rails" to the back side of the fence by spacing the upright fence pieces evenly on the 8 1/2" rail.  Use your Tim Holtz Design Ruler and measure 2" up from the bottom and down from the top and draw a line across the fence pieces.  Add 1/2" Scor Tape to each fence piece.  Make sure the fence pieces are even and straight then add the rail across the tape.


6. Mix Gathered Twigs Reinker with a little bit of Wendy Vecchi's White Embossing Paste.  Randomly place the Crafter's Workshop Mini Ledger Stencil on the fence front and scrape the colored paste through areas of the stencil.  Heat set or air dry.

Making the wooden frame around the picture: 


7. I first created a black and white photograph out of a color photograph of my twin grandsons on the beach.  I then sized the photograph 2 3/4" x 3 3/4".  Then I glued it onto a piece of kraft cardstock and cut it out, leaving a little edge that I could glue my sticks onto.


8. I gathered a few twigs together and began wrapping them with a dark colored wire.  Then simply lay some 1/4" Scor Tape or hot glue onto the kraft edge around the photograph and glue the sticks in place.  I glued down the top and bottom pieces first and then added the two side pieces.  

Making the flower pot and flowers:


9. I needed a half flat flower pot so I used a little clay pot that I had as a mold and using Paperclay, I created a little half pot.  Mold the clay in place with just a little water on your fingers and then let it completely dry.  When dry, I painted the pot with (appropriately enough) Adirondak Terra Cotta Paint.  I then dry brushed a little white Gesso onto the pot to soften the bright color.


10. To create the big pink peony, I first shaded some white card stock using Permanent Red Tint, Magenta and White Pan Pastels.  For the leaves, I used Chrom. Oxide Green Pan Pastel.  Then, using Sizzix Susan's Garden Peony, I die cut all of the pieces.


Here you can see all of the pieces used to create the peony with the Pan Pastels added to make the flower look more lifelike.


Susan's tool kit is so important when making the Susan's Garden flowers. Everything you will need is in the kit.  Here, I am creating depth on each of the petals on a foam mat and one of the tools.  All of the instructions are included with each flower and you can also go to the Sizzix website and download the PDF files and view "how to" videos for each flower.  I also made a big sunflower that is included in the pot.  I simply die cut the sunflower out of golden colored cardstock and added a few highlights with Pan Pastels before putting the flower together.  (Use a spray sealer to seal the chalk onto the petals before putting the flowers together).


11. To create the bright yellow-ish custom colored ribbon that I wanted to use on my piece, I used simply cut some of Tim Holtz' White Crinkle Ribbon and laid it onto my non stick craft sheet.  Then I used primarily Mustard Seed Distress Ink by laying it, pad side down directly onto the craft sheet and pulled the ribbon underneath it, adding the color.  Then I randomly added some Wild Honey Distress Ink onto the ribbon, sprited it with water, wadded it up and heat set it.  Wah-lah!  Instant golden yellow ribbon! 

Creating the die cut butterfly:

I discovered something that makes a really cool effect for a die cut butterfly.


12.  Take some white tissue paper and spritz whatever color of ink spray you want on it.  Then gently raise up the tissue paper and heat set it.  Add more spray if you want deeper color.  Set aside.  Then die cut your butterfly.  In this case, I decided to create what resembles a Monarch butterfly.  So, I used the Memory Box Vivienne butterfly die cut twice using black cardstock.  


Use Glossy Accents lightly on the underside of the die cut and lay it onto the colored tissue paper. Cut around the outside edges of the butterfly. Then add Glossy Accents to the underneath side of the die cut butterfly on all of the die cut areas. Take the other die cut butterfly and stick it directly behind the first one, sandwiching the tissue paper in between the wings.


Glue on the body/antenna and cover with Glossy Accents and let dry.

Now put it all together and create your Ode To Summer masterpiece!


The top half of the fence with the Embossing Paste detail and the sweet Monarch Butterfly. 


The half "terra cotta" flower pot with the beautiful peony and large sunflower.  (I added a piece of styrofoam and a little excelsior grass and plastic greenery along with the yellow bow to the pot).  The pot and styrofoam were hot glued onto the fence.  


Closer picture of the flowers.  So fun to make!!!


The bottom of the fence with "Post Card" heat embossed using Antiquities Rust Embossing Powder.  This place looked sort of bare and sometimes something as simple as a stamp can fill up the space beautifully.


And finally...the wired twig frame with my sweet grandsons.  I added a little piece of yellow ribbon to the frame and hung it in place, draped over one of the pickets in the fence.  I also added some smaller daisies and a mini rose that I had left over from my "Good To Be Green" project.  I also made a little bee from Wendy Vecchi's  Busy Making Art stamp set. I stamped him onto Specialty Stamping Paper and colored him with a Detailer Water Brush and Scattered Straw Distress Ink on the body and Broken China Distress Ink on the wings. I added some acetate wings with Glossy Accents and glued him into place.


Crop a couple of holes at the top, tie it up with ribbon, add a shabby bow and you're all set!  I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial on making this dimensional ode to Summer!

Now it's YOUR turn to create something summery and join the fun on our challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show's Monday Challenge.  

You could be the lucky winner of our weekly random 



$50.00 credit voucher.  We also love sharing our favorite projects with you on a new feature called ...

 All of the Design Team votes on our favorite pieces and why we love them so much.  Then, the top vote getters are featured.  You never know...YOU might end up in the spotlight!

Here are all of the products available at Simon Says Stamp that were used in this project:







27 comments:

  1. Wow... Candy, this is such an amazing project! Love your steps showing every beautiful details on this gorgeous wall hanging. You are just so talented. :)

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  2. This is a gloriously summery hanging Candy! The picket fence design is a brilliant one and the flowers are simply gorgeous. Absolutely love the butterfly and the little bee is the perfect finishing touch. Love the photo of your Grandsons and the wonderful frame you created with the twigs. What a stunning piece to bring back memories of a wonderful day. Hugs, Anne x

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  3. this is a gorgeous make and a lovely photo, love the flowers you have created they are amazing! a really summer filled and accomplished make hugs trace x

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  4. This is amazing, Candy! Love the texture on the background pieces! The crackle and the colors are stunning! And those flowers are really gorgeous! Such a sweet picture of your grandsons! Hugs, Sandra

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  5. I was trying to decide what my favorite part of this project is... The twigs around the photo, the faux fence you created with the crackled surface or your beautiful flowers. I think it is all the above. :) Beautiful summery wall hanging and your grandkids photo is sweet!

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  6. This project is so beautiful Candy!! Love that precious photo of your grandsons and the twig and wire frame that you made for it is wonderful. Gorgeous Susan's Garden flowers, and the butterfly is so pretty. Love the background too, I thought it was real wood first, great finish, textures and stamping.

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  7. Candy -

    This is a stunner! I am so in love with this piece. You have done such a beautiful job creating a memorable keepsake. And your instructions were great.

    Elaine Allen

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  8. WOW This is obsolutely goregous! I love the twig frame!

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  9. When are you home? I so need to come to your happy place and make art with you! This is so over-the-top full of summer goodness and beauty! Your detailed instructions are so helpful. Thank you!

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  10. Wow, what an amazing project, so many great uses for so many products and so many different techniques. Thank you for sharing all those detailed instructions too.

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  11. Fantastic piece Candy, Imlove how you created a fence for your backdrop and added crackle randomly to,the background along with the gathered twigs texture paste. A gorgeous backdrop for such an adorable image. Love how you framed the image with twigs, gorgeous touch. The flowers are stunning and Imlove the added greenery and half clay pot. Stunning. Tracy x

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  12. This beautiful garden hanging must have taken you ages to do Candy and certainly worth every minute spent on it, Annette x

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  13. I just love your crackled garden fence - amazing paint and stamping on the fence itself, and the flowers, butterfly, and delightful twiggy frame for the photo are all just wonderful.
    Alison xx

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  14. Candy, this is a gorgeous project! The butterfly, the flowers, the picket fence...all are exquisite elements. And together, they are magic!

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  15. Wow Candy this is another stunning project ! I love the structure you've built and the crackle is gorgeous. The flowers are amazing ! What a beautiful piece of art ! Sue C x

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  16. WOW!! Candy, what a gorgeous piece of art! I love the way you 'aged' the fence and added personal photos and handmade embellishments :)


    *mwah*
    Steph
    Simon Says Stamp!

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  17. Beautifully put together Candy, such an amazing project and full of summer loveliness. You never cease to amaze me with your creative ideas and I just love this one.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  18. Wow Candy! What a gorgeous project! I love that beautiful pink blossom and butterfly! Thank you for sharing your creative process! So much detail to take in!

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  19. How gorgeous! I love the way you framed your grandsons and that monarch b'fly is amazing!

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  20. OMG this is outstanding work Candy you are ROCKING that fence, you're soooo creative, love all the paint and stencilling on the fence,kool how you made the pot, beautiful flowers and love all the dyed ribbon, my favorite is the frame with the tiny twigs and curlys looooooove it, grrrreat photo of the sweet twins,beautiful butterfly you created, fantastic Ode To Sunshine, thanks for sharing all this creativity, have a great week..

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  21. Candy, you always amaze me! the details of your creations are truly stunning, butterfly is awesome, the photo frame is wonderful, not to mention the crackle! Fantastic! Hugs BArbarayaya

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  22. This is simply gorgeous! You are a master of techniques and materials and I'm blown away from how things go from ordinary to extraordinary in your skilled hands. Kudos yet again!

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  23. WOW!!! What a fabulous summer project. I love the picket fence! It is so cute. And of course, I love all of the details that go with it. First ... that butterfly is simply amazing! I've got to try that. Always a tons of inspiration on your blog. Now Wendy V's embossing paste has just crept to the top of my wishlist. I love the texture it gives the fence. Your flowers are simply lovely in that cute little pot. Seriously stunning make. To top it all off, that pic of your grandsons is adorable. Love Myrtle Beach. Heading there myself this weekend. Cannot wait:) Hope you have a great week. Thanks again for sharing your amazing talent with all of us. -- Mary Elizabeth

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  24. Candy, this makes me positively giddy with joy and delight. The thought and artistry you worked into every glorious detail is a testament to your love of art. I can't decide what I like the best...the gorgeous shabby finish on that darling fence, or the majestic tissue paper butterfly (be still my heart!) or the bodacious blooms. You are a marvel!

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  25. I love your miniature gate! As to your faux finishes, they never cease to amaze me. Blessings!

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  26. Love your picket fence collage! This is one gorgeous piece!!

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  27. This is so adorable and I love your step by steps!

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