Stamptember Blog Hop with Scrap 'N Stamp

Welcome back! I am so excited to be back as a guest designer for 

Scrap N Stamp's September Blog Hop.

This month Scrap N Stamp is featuring

The Postage Strip Die from Memory Box.
This is such a fabulous and versatile die that can be used in so many ways!

Here is my finished project - a vintage photo inspired 5 sided frame.

The 5-sided frame came from a project my dad was working on. I knew I would use it some day but was waiting for inspiration. To make the insert for the frame I first took a piece of 12x12 chipboard and cut it to fit my frame. I then used natural canvas and Aileens Tacky Glue to adhere it to the chipboard. This took a couple of days to dry completely.

Once it was dry, I applied a layer of white gesso to seal the canvas.

Next I took a couple of stencils: Prima Grungy Grid and Stencil Girl Encouraging Scribbles and used these with  molding paste to create my focal point.

I painted the entire surface with vintage white acrylic paint once the molding paste was dry.

To start adding some colour to my canvas, I took some cheap acrylic paint I bought at the dollar store in blues, greens and browns. I added the blue and green paints with a brush then sprayed them water, letting the drip over my stenciled images. Next I added the brown by dry brushing along the edges and splattering some across the canvas.

The help the raised parts stand out a little more I used some Distress Oxides: Frayed Burlap; Walnut Stain; Vintage Photo and Black Soot. I 'painted' the Oxides over the stenciled areas to help them pop off the background. 

Next I collected some ephemera: vintage photos,  post card, book page, ration stamps, lace doily and a Wildflower Bouquet chipboard die from Southern Ridge Trading Co.

I used the Postage Strip die from Memory Box to die cut out 6 pieces from my vintage postcard and painted the Wildflower Bouquet die with some black acrylic paint.

 I began to assemble these pieces into my focal point. Before using the postage stamp die cut I did use some Distress Oxides to grunge them up a bit. After I got everything adhered down I decided that the black Wildflower Bouquet was a bit much - so I gently dry brushed some light brown acrylic paint over it It was just enough to help the flower die blend a bit into the background.

Here is my finished project again.

Check out some more inspiration from the

Guest Designer Team.