Industrial Bird House

 

I picked this bird house up today from Aldi for a fiver.

I prised the door and the starfish off the front.

Next I covered all the sides with an industrial style paper.

I cut up a sheet of rhinestones on a mesh background into various shapes and stuck them on the back and the two sides.

I took the roof off and covered both sides with air dry clay.

I pressed different embellishments, tiles and found objects into the clay and I left some of them in to create different textures and interest.

I added clay to the bottom of each of the sides and the back underneath the panel of rhinestones.

And again pushed found objects and embellishments into the clay.

I gave everything a coat of white gesso and once dry a coat of green paint. I used PaperArtsy Tinned Peas.

I added shades of yellow ochre and raw umber with water to the project and kept drying between adding the different colours.

Then I knocked it back a bit by re-apply the green but with a dry brush effect.

Next I added some waxes, aged brass, gold and silver.

I added some carmine for a rust effect and then started working on the top section of the bird house.

Once stuck down, I gave them a coat of gesso.

Then I painted the sides with the same green and umber and ochre paints.

Added the same colours of waxes.

Feet added and studs to the roof.

Mechanical Elements

I arranged and stuck down an array of different resin elements with nothing in mind of what I was going to do with the rest of the project!!

I added a steampunk industrial paper to the bottom and then stencilled over the top of it with 3d gel so it would be clear when dry. I used various different types of paints on the resin pieces until I got what I liked.

I printed, cut out the added the AHW image. I printed it out quite large to fit in the bottom corner.

I added some metal cogs to the image.

I added some gold coloured wax to bring the background out as I'd used clear 3d gel.

Close up of the coloured resin and metal embellishments using acrylic paints, metallic paints and sparks.

Outlined the image with midnight blue Art bar and added a sentiment.

Challenge for the Girls

When we all met at NEC earlier in March, I took a challenge kit for everyone which I had put together from my personal stash.  All four were exactly the same and this is what was included.

We all got together on a Teams meeting and crafted and chatted together using the kit elements.

I started by planning my first substrate.

Using more from the kit and some from my own stash I started to build up the composition.

After I'd added the frame, I added the main focus, the moth.

I then stuck everything down and made a few alterations along the way.

And here is my final finished piece.

Next I took the clipboard, started to rummage through what was left and started placing the pieces.

Once I was happy with the general layout, I used a stencil to create a background.

This is what I ended up with.  I had a fab time in our crafting session.

Steampunk Moths

 

With not much of an idea in mind, I started laying out some resin pieces on a wooden panel.

Gave the substrate a coat of white crackle and also added pieces of Prima Re-Design Poly Decor.

Stuck everything down and gave it a couple of coats of gesso.

I mixed some mica powders with acrylic extender and made a paste which I painted over the crackle.

I used a different colour or mica powder and painted the steampunk moths.

I painted the main elements with Finnabair metallique rustic brown paint.

Added some waxes until I liked what I'd go.  I decided only to use the large steampunk moth in the end.  Added some TH words from the sticker book. 

Close ups

Love how it came out.

NEC Craft Show

 

Went on the coach with Coopers to the NEC.

Met up with Vix and Jules.

It was busy to start off with but it soon thinned out.

There weren't really that many craft stalls, more sewing, knitting and fabric.

Janet chatting up the stall holders!!  This guy was really nice, he gave us free rice papers and a free bottle of weekday glue!!

Waiting for the bus to the car park and the coach back home.

My purchases, which were very limited as there really wasn't much there.