Warm botanicals by Dawn Heald

Hi there, firstly I'd like to say how thrilled I am to be here as a Guest Designer this month, especially being among a major talented team is quite an honour for me. I do hope you like the projects that I have to share with you this month.

 

For my first project I wanted to use warming colours now we're in the chills of winter and do something non Christmassy. Here I have recycled some toy packaging or I believe the buzz word is upcycle these days and focused on the fabulous botanical stamps. I know this post is picture loaded, but I thought you might like to see the process and for those who haven't done anything like this before, show that by breaking it down into parts it really is achievable. Following the same colours

scheme throughout can help.

 

The Artistic Stamper products used

Katy Fox Encyclopaedia Botanica

Katy Fox Hessian

Swirls, Splats and Dots A5

Insects and Butterflies no1

Splats and Swirl mask

Other products used available at The Artistic Stamper

Grunge Paste

Andy Skinner Baroque stencil

Fresco Finish Paints

Fresco crackle glaze

Distress Inks

Gold embossing powder

Versamark ink

Other from stash

Masking tape

white gesso

pebeo Gilding wax

Ganache stazon ink

Polychromo pencils

Parchment paper

Metal embellishment

Hessian, ribbon, string

It all started here, it had a toy in it,
so keep saving those packages

another piece of corrugated card
packaging that doubled and had
flap, perfect stand.
glued both together

 

Next up, covered with multiple layers
of torn masking tape and then
painted with gesso

 

the fun really begins, using these fresco
paints to paint the entire frame
building up layers, using less
paint as I near the last layer. in real
you can see all the layers right back to
cheesecake

next up using writing stamp from
 Katy Fox set, stamped all over with
brown stazon and rub over
 hard with wetwipe

using parts of the two stencils and
 grunge paste decorated frame.
when dry, sanded to neaten, painted,
applied gold gilding wax and went
around shapes with brown pencil
 

Next I started on the feature
On a piece of card cut to fit inside frame.
creating border for the next layer
with paints and wax as shown in pic

Next layer I painted a smaller piece
of  heavy watercolour card, dried
then scraped over a thin layer
of  Fresco crackle glaze
and dried with heat tool 

Next I painted over using brush with a creamy colour
 paint that I mixed, dried and magic
the crackles appeared. This product works
every time and depending on using
a sponge or brush to apply your top coat
determines a different crackle look.
next I went in with distress inks to add
more warm colours.
 

That all done, I used the swirls to
stamp and gold emboss on top

Now all my images. The stamps from Katy Fox Botanica stamps
have been stamped onto parchment and also some onto pre painted
 cardstock and coloured with Polychromo Pencils. the flower on
corner of frame has been done on both and decoupaged.
Using Katy Fox Hessian stamped onto handmade paper and torn out
Finishing touches organza ribbon, hessian strip, string, metal corner

 

FINISHED FRAME

Just to show self standing back of frame

close up

 

So there we have it, thank you so much for looking and do click on the products to be taken to the shop. Also, the December challenge is Anything Goes, so do come and join in.

 

Happy crafting

dawn