ABELA ARTISTRY: Handmade for Grandma

I have created a vintage inspired layout of my Grandma. She was a dressmaker and taught me to sew. I was lucky enough to spend some time with my own Mum in lock down around Mothers Day & I wanted to do something for her because when she comes to visit she trolls through my boxes of projects and takes them home to adorn her walls. Next time she visits she has a big surprise coming...

I used some metallic paint to colour the Layered Vintage Frame.

I went with a dull gold for a vintage feel.

Being careful to keep the chipboard looking aged I used a dabbing technique with my brush to create raised areas. I used Opal Magics in Blue Gold. It gives a great variation in colour depending on the thickness of the application. Two for one!!

Using some deep brown paint I covered the two edge pieces and highlighted them with the distress Oxide. I used the oxide because I love the way it keeps its vibrancy. Then I stuck them together back to back, off center. On the paper there was an image of the tied string I wanted to bring into the foreground and used the off center border edges to give it something to grip to.

I added some subtle texture to the background. I was running the risk of having the layout become too matte, so with some modelling paste and shimmery embossing powder, again in a Blue Gold, I added some crackle stenciling.

Check out this 'happy accident' I inked my edges of the layout with Vintage Photo Oxide and the embossing powder absorbed the colour. I love the way it bronzed the the embossing powder too. Just to check I tried using a wipe to remove it.. no go! This is a permanent hack. I will be trying this one again.

I didn't want to over do the dressmakers mannequins. I kept it simple and used some clear crackle and a little bit of walnut stain spray. it just seems to make those cracks pop.

Here are some close ups of the finer details.

I fussy cut some pieces from the Stamperia Atelier range to use for ephemera and inked them in vintage photo too. I added some flowers and art stones.

When I was putting together my final collage I came across this Barometer. I remember that this was the feature piece in my grandparents lounge room. Of course I had to find somewhere to put it in the layout...

This is what my mum will find in the box next time she visits... These frames a re super cool and can be found at KMart for about $15. So next time you look at one of these layouts and go...

but it doesn't fit in my album...

I hope you find somewhere special for it to be appreciated.

Thanks for looking and don't forget to check out whats happening in our facebook group Dusty FANattics. and show us what you have been creating. Id love to see your layouts on your wall. Let me know if you find the frames!