VINTAGE CHEVRON FRAMEWORKS CANVAS FOR COMPENDIUM OF CURIOSITIES III

Hello friends!  

Can you believe that we're already on to the 25th challenge in our journey through Tim Holtz' Compendium of Curiosities III book?  It has been such fun for myself and the Curiosity Crew over at the Compendium of Curiosities III Challenge. I hope that you've learned some new techniques, some things about Tim's products and we've inspired you to try new things.  

This challenge is more of a product challenge rather than a technique challenge.  It's all about Tim's Frameworks ... those wonderful little 5 1/2" x 2 1/2" pieces of magic that can add so much texture and dimension to your art pieces. There are six in all:  the Courtyard, Honeycomb, Chevron, Trellis, Lattice and the newly released Wave. So turn to page 64 in your books and check out Frameworks.

Here is my finished project, using the Chevron Frameworks along with Tim's new Correspondence Paper Stash and the matching stamps, Special Delivery Remnant Rubs, and Paper Twine.  Unfortunately, I have not received the matching Tissue Tapes yet or I would have used them as well. 

I began this project with a 6" x 6" stretched canvas.  I covered the top with a square from Tim's Correspondence Paper Stash.  I glued it in place using Ranger's Matte Medium. Then I added a variety of washi tape designs that I already had and thought would go well with a travel or "air mail" theme. I pretty much covered the sides of the canvas with the washi tape and added a few strips on the top for more interest.  

I wanted to add some dimension to the top of my canvas; something that would lend a grunge feeling without being overpowering.  So I decided to use Tim's Bricked Stencil and add some of that multi-talented artist, Wendy Vecchi's wonderful white Embossing Paste colored with a little Carnation Red Archival Reinker.

I simply laid the Bricked Stencil on top of the canvas and while holding it in place, I randomly scraped the colored Embossing Paste through the stencil.

Happy with my design, I brushed a coat of Matte Multi Medium over the entire surface of the canvas to seal it.  Matte Multi Medium is an excellent adhesive and sealant. It goes on smoothly and dries to a clear, matte finish. You can let this air dry or gently heat set it. 

(**Notice that I still am using my Claudine Hellmuth Matte Medium?  It also lasts a long time!)

When the Matte Medium was dry, I wanted to pull everything together so I lightly brushed over the canvas first with Frayed Burlap Distress Paint mixed with a little water to dilute it a bit.  Then I added some darker brown tones with Gathered Twigs.  I wiped away any excess paint from the bricks and areas that I wanted lighter.  Then I used a bit of blue acrylic paint on my finger and added some defining edges to the canvas. 

Here is a photograph of one side of the canvas.  The washi tape really does create a very cool design and when brushed over with the paint, it really blends together beautifully.

Now that the canvas was ready, it was time to make my embellishments.

I die cut three of Tim Holtz' new Butterfly Duo die cuts and embossing folders in one set. LOVE THEM!!  I die cut my butterflies onto watercolor paper.  Then I randomly rubbed some glue onto the paper surface using my finger so that when I began adding my Distress Ink colors, the glue would cause the ink to really stick in a grungy way onto the areas where the rubbed glue was on the paper.

I began with a light coat of Scattered Straw over the entire butterfly.  Then I started in the center and started working my way out.  I added Peacock Feathers over a light coat of Faded Jeans.  The next area was a done with Wild Honey. Next I added Worn Lipstick then a light coat of Fired Brick on top of the outer edges of the wings. 

Next I brushed on a light coat of Crackle Glaze over the butterflies and let it dry.  When dry, I rubbed some Raw Umber Antiquing Cream over all of the butterflies and wiped away the excess, leaving this very antiqued matte finish butterfly.  The body was added on what would be the top butterfly using Wendy Vecchi's Black Embossing Paste and I let it dry.

Then I glued the two lower bodies together.  I added the wire antenna to the underside of the top butterfly with the embossing paste body and then using Glossy Accents, I glued the top butterfly onto the other two already joined together.  In the inset picture, you can see the dimension and the fluttering effect that the three butterflies glued together gives.

  

Since the theme of this piece was about correspondence and mail art, I created a little envelope out of scrap cardstock.  You can see the dimensions of the finished envelope front here.  I added 1/4" tabs that were scored and clipped and the top envelope flap was freehanded and cut out. I then slipped the back of the envelope in place, added 1/8" Scor Tape to the tabs and put them together. Next I added some stamping and some washi tape to the envelope and finally distressed it using Gathered Twigs and Black Soot Distress Ink to give it that vintage, aged look.  You will see the final envelope in the next photo.

Here are all of the elements that I decided to add to the canvas: the butterfly, the envelope, a card from Tim's new Photo Booth photos (minus the top photo because I wanted the couple's picture to stick out of my envelope), various stamped images on the envelope, cardstock scraps and mini tag, Tim's New air mail colored Paper String, a Word Band and the Chevron die cut. 

The Chevron was cut out of plain Grungeboard and then painted with Antique Linen Distress Paint as a basecoat.  I then added Scattered Straw, Faded Jeans and Fired Brick Distress Inks to give it color and texture. Some of the insets are left blank.  Others are filled with pieces are fabric covered remnants, cork and distressed corrugated paper. 

Here is a closeup of the finished envelope, stuffed with all sorts of stamped memorabilia and the Photo Booth photograph. Those add such a vintage feeling!  The red and blue stamping on the envelope and memorabilia inside was done with Wendy Vecchi's Cornflower Blue and Vermillion Archival Inks. I also added a Remnant Rub from Tim's new Special Delivery set to the envelope. It's the little airplane and "AIR LETTER" writing underneath. So cute!

Behind the envelope, you can see the dimensional bricks.  I think they add a lot to this canvas and give it a bit of a grunge feeling.

Finally the Word Band was added across the bottom and held in place with Tim's new Paper String. I love how the paper string seems to also pull everything together.

So that's it!!!

Now it's YOUR turn to use one of Tim's Frameworks die cuts and incorporate it into anything you can imagine to create.  Then enter our Compendium of Curiosities III challenge. 

The wonderful people at Inspiration Emporium are hosting this challenge and awarding a $50.00 gift certificate to one of our lucky winners.  We thank them so much for their generous support!

And ... as always, Tim and Mario have been so kind to donate a mountain of Tim Holtz products to be given away to our second winner of EACH challenge!  Thank you Tim and Mario for YOUR continued support as well!

Have fun with this challenge! I can't wait to see all of the lovely art that will be posting!