Thursday 22 September 2011

Berry 71 Bleu Guest Designer for September 2011 {Altered Frame}





My good friend & teamie at Bird is the Word, Marivic Clifton, invited me to be one of her September Guest Designers this month & sent me some lovely stash to work with, including a couple of her famous tags to showcase.  

You can find Marivic's blog here, her website here 
{you should register there as she holds monthly challenges with awesome RAKS on offer for the merit-voted winner too},
 and you can purchase Marivic's lovely tags from her Etsy shop here.

You can see my contributions up on the Berry 71 Bleu blog in this post.
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I photographed my process step-by-step so I could post a little tutorial - then I read a magazine submission call that required just that so I submitted it {but it couldn't be posted anywhere beforehand} so I'm still holding thumbs that it may be chosen so I'm not going to post the tutorial just yet - but if it isn't then I'll be back with it in a couple of weeks :)


I made this frame for my daughter's bedroom.  
Her room is turquoise & brown so this should look stunning in it.  
She LOVES this girl - her best friend Sophia, and even though they are now at different universities (which don't even share the same vacations) they still manage to see each other, and with modern technology, remain very close.  


I kept the "layout" part simple by using a piece of 3 ply cardboard & tearing it open to reveal the corrugated core, then treating it with some ink & blue & gold glitter.


I printed out the photos using my own version of black & white/sepia, which I achieve by desaturating the photos until they are ALMOST black & white, which gives a much nicer version of sepia as it's not so brown!



Marivic's tags are so exquisite that they really deserve centre stage - which is why I tried my best to make the tag the real "star of the show/project"!



I painted the frame dark brown - waited for it to dry - then applied a crackle medium - allowed it to dry - then applied the blue paint - and the reaction caused the crackle effect.  A rather tedious process so best tackled over a couple of days whilst working on other projects, as I did.  I think the effect is definitely worth it!  I glazed the whole frame with clear varnish for a high-sheen effect & randomlysprinkled on a bit of gold powder paint to the corners & edges.



Marivic provided me with extra buttons to match the tag so I used these on my skeleton leaves to hide the adhesive.
 I embellished the corner here with feathers, skeleton leaves
(that are already pre-painted from my LCS),
turquoise doilies, bling & a large flower bought attached to a hair-elastic!
I often do that here as there are no lush Prima flowers for sale here in South Africa!!



I added the metal word "Friends" as my title then added a clear-sticker just beneath it,
attached to the front of the glass, as my journaling.



I also painted up a decorative chipboard corner from Imaginarium Designs & added that to the corner.


Supplies List:-


Pre-purchased frame - Hypermarket
3 ply cardbox from box - packaging
Brown Paint - Making Memories Chocolate mixed with Making Memories Asphalt
Blue Paint - Creative Talents Teal
Varnish - Mr. Hooks Hard Varnish
Gold Paint - Metallic Powder - Barco
Blue ink - Pretty Colour "Turquoise"
Blue Glitter - Dimensional Aqua by Acrilex
Gold Glitter - Stickles by Ranger
Friends word - Making Memories - Metal
Blue chipboard corner piece - Imaginarium Designs
Clear sentiment sticker - Creative Memories
Tag - Berry 71 Bleu
Feathers & skeleton leaves - LCS
Bling & doilies - stash
Large flower - from hair accessory
Buttons from Berry 71 Bleu
Glue Gun

**  I am not big into off-the-page projects - as you know - but my advice to you if you want to try making an altered frame is to use a GLUE GUN with HOT GLUE to attach your embellishments to the frame
- glue-guns & sticks are available in most countries & work out super-cheap compared to fancy glues
& I've NEVER come across ANYTHING that sticks as strong as hot glue!

 Just BE CAREFUL - the glue is BOILING & I have a permanent scar on my arm to prove it
{don't worry it's only a centimetre long but I've had it for a couple of years now so it's there to stay!}




30 comments:

Amelia Khalik said...

Wow this is one awesome frame. Love the combination of paint and glitter. That tag is gorgeous! :)))

Heather Jacob said...

S.E.N.S.A.T.I.O.N.A.L!!!!!! love the blue paint and the way you have used the embellies and pics .. awesome work .. big hugz x

Lynette Jacobs said...

You might not like "off the page" projects...but you are very good at it. Well done Helen.

Lea said...

Wow! This is stunning!!! That tag is gorgeous and I just love this overall color combo. I think you should do more "off the page" projects because you rocked this!!!

Svjetlana said...

Love this, the colours are awesome!

Bellaidea said...

Lovely projects, great photos /I know I`m boring with this part of comment but can not help.../ and colors!

Bellaidea said...

My Friend, please check your email,
I just send you some IMPORTANT contact :), please let me know you have it.

Mitralee said...

Helen, it's awesome to be able to see all these details. That color blue is simply stunning as well as the glitter. And the feathers! Simply amazing.

Mitralee said...

Of course the TAG stands alone in it's beauty!

Rachael Funnell said...

WTG Helen!!
My hat go's off to anyone who makes anything Off- The Page Creations.....
I not the biggest fan either!!!
BUT GEE! WIZ! You have totally Created a Beautiful Frame!!!!
& Marivic's TAG is SO Gorgeous...
Just LOVE the Colors & Well everything......
xx

Alison said...

BEAUTIFUL,Helen! Bet your daughter will love it!
Alison xx

Kerryn said...

Wow Helen! It looks amazing!!!! I am sure it will be a treasured item in your daughters room.

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

Simply breathtaking.....

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

WOW WOW WOW WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! This is AMAZING! I loveeeeeeeeeeee the photos, the colors....and that frame is AMAZING!!! CONGRATS on the GDT! :):):):):):):):):):):)

Sandy Ang said...

The glitter corrugated cardboard looks amazing. I've never tried hot glue before and hope your arm doesn't hurt too much.

Keshet said...

This is beautiful, Helen! Love the vivid blue!

Diana said...

Very cool project!
btw why am I not seeing your blog banner? Or is it just my computer?

Chantal Vandenberg said...

Wow!!! Helen this looks incredible! What an awesome frame! You are officially an OTP Queen! WTG!!! :D

Blossom inch said...

Helen, this is one beautiful altered frame. I love it to bits, the blue, gold, glitters just screaming beautiful! Lovely indeed!

Sasha Farina said...

wow wow wow... that is absolutely gorgeous! eyecatching.. stunning! just out of this world beautiful.

yyam said...

Woohoo! This is gorgeous Helen! Love the vibrant blues and the shimmery gold! :)

You really should do more altered items! :)

tania said...

Beautiful!!! BUT...you will have to make one for her friend too!!

Jasmine S said...

Fab work Miss H. I just love your colors. The blue flower and feathers are superb. Just love it.
Now I have to tell you, I am just finishing an altered frame myself for something I am up to. Bit different but a bit the same sort of. Great minds think alike hey?

Irini said...

WOW WOW WOW......what an amazing frame......the colours are gorgeous!!

sandi said...

Wow! This is simply amazing Helen! Love everything about this! Great colors and those pics with the mix is perfect! Your dd is going to love this in her room!

Unknown said...

Helen,

You know I love your work! I'm so thankful that you were able to do the GDT. I haven't been blogging lately due to other things going on. Just want to stop by to tell you that i truly love your work! Love both your projects. You are an amazing artist! Keep it up!

Eila Sandberg said...

Holy smoke Helen! the frame is stunning!! the blue and gold are really so gorgeous and crikey the work you've put into it - woooooh!! xoxoxo

Desire Fourie said...

Gorgeous of the page creation. Very talented you are.
Desire

Yolande (pronounced you-land-a) said...

Oh my...this is so arty and so incredibly beautiful....This totally rocks! :)

jax said...

I can just see this frame in Chel's room - it muct look amazing. (Now you need to make one for Sophia's room in her colours)