Life Is a Song. Sing It!

Hello! Today I am sharing this fun project that I created as a home decor, but it could be easily turned into a card. I found out that by surrounding myself with projects I made and inspirational quotes I am much more creative. 

First of all I die cut and coloured the pine branches - I used distress inks (Forest Moss and Old Paper) and applied the inks using a brush. I used the ink left on my craft mat, diluted it with water and created splashes on the background. I also created the birds the same, I just added more Forest Moss and some Frayed Burlap Distress ink. 

Next, I created a frame that I cut from kraft cardstock and painted with acrylic paints. When it was completely dry, I applied crackle varnish and another layer (a darker one) of acrylic paint. It does not create such cool effect as crackle paste, but I think it went well with this project. 

After that I added the sentiment. I used Tiny Type Alphanumeric dies and CutOut Script. I think this quote goes well with the whole theme and is very inspirational.

As a finishing touch I added some ivy leaves that I created using a "napkin technique". It is a technique by Dave Brethauer (Memory Box), which consists of die cutting shapes out of napkins and colouring them with watercolours, which creates very instristing structure. I modified this technique a little bit by first sticking the tissue paper down (I use water based glue, so when I colour it later on, the glue gets to all the layers of the napkin and doesn't come off as easily). I also usually use diluted distress inks or distress oxide inks instead of water colour paints because they have a smoother finish. Once I colour it and it is still wet, I use a little bit of acrylic paint and spread it randomly all over the die cut. The paint gets into those small crackles created by the napkin and it creates a very nice effect.

Supplies:

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 6PK – Feathered Friends Item: 664433
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Pine Branch Item: 664228
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 146PK – Alphanumeric Tiny Type Lower Item: #664407
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 123PK – Alphanumeric Tiny Type Upper Item: #664406
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 74PK - Cutout Script (3/4" Tall) Item: #663113
Sizzix 661206 Thinlits Die Set, Garden Greens by Tim Holtz

Forest Moss Distress Ink

Old Paper Distress Ink
Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Cadence acrylic paint - Siyah, Fuchsia and Limon Sari

Cadence Dora Metallic - Rich Gold

Darwi Crackle Varnish

Thank you for stopping by!

Dana