Americana Blueprint

With the 4th of July fast approaching, it's the perfect time to get out the stamps and Distress Markers.  I'm using the Americana Blueprint stamp set today.  Appropriate, right?

I stamped the star onto a 4 x 4" piece of watercolor paper using black Archival ink.  Then colored the star with fired brick, the word with faded jeans and the drop shadow with pumice stone.  Remember, as your working around the star, color a section, then use the water brush to drag the ink around, then move to the next section.

 Ink the edges of the water color paper with Vintage Photo.

Once the star was dry, I covered it with Glossy Accents.  Set this to the side to dry for at least an hour or more depending on the thickness of the Glossy Accents.

While the star is drying, cut a piece of heavy book board or chipboard for the foundation.  If you want to use wood or a stretched canvas, that would work too.

Cover the surface with paper from the Seasonal Kraft Resist Paper stash.

Cut the large number 4 and the word three from the Alpha Parts - Numeric set.

 Cut the "th" from the word three.

 Glitter "4th" with white glue and Stickles Fine Dry Glitter in Platinum.  Set aside to dry.

 Cut 4 pieces of Metal Foil Tape for the edges of the foundation.

 Color Metal Foil Tape with Mushroom Alcohol Ink.

Cut edge of tape with pinking shears.

Peel the paper backing off metal tape and add to the edge of the foundation piece.  Fold excess around the edge to cover side of book board.

 Once the star is dry, add Mini Fasteners to each corner.

 Then add the star plaque to the foundation with 1/2" wide Wonder Tape.

 Add some Seasonal Chit Chat stickers.

 Color Crinkle Ribbon with Faded Jeans Distress Stain.

 Now add the Crinkle Ribbon and the glittered 4th.

Tuck a red Vial label under the large 4, then add an appropriate rub from the Remnant Rubs sheet - words.

 Gather a bit of striped paper string and dyed cheescloth...

 and tuck under the bow (I used a bit of hot glue for fast drying).

and we're done!

cheers for a great weekend!

paula

Non-stick Micro Serrated Scissors Inkssentials Memory Foil Tape, Aluminum Alcohol Ink Applicator Replacement Felt Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Ink, Mushroom NEW Archival Ink Pad, Jet Black Tim Holtz, Remnant Rubs, Words Tim Holtz, Alpha Parts, Numeric Distress Stain, Faded Jeans Tim Holtz, Americana Blueprint Distress Marker, Fired Brick Distress Marker, Pumice Stone Distress Marker, Faded Jeans Tim Holtz Water Brush, Detailer Brush Nib Distress Marker Full Set In Tube Wonder Tape, 1/2"" Tim Holtz, Seasonal Chitchat Tim Holtz, Paper String, Stripes Tim Holtz, Mini Fasteners (Screw-top) Tim Holtz, Kraft Resist, Seasonal Stash Tim Holtz, Vial Labels Stickles Dry Fine Glitter, Platinum Inkssentials Mister, 2 oz. Tim Holtz, Crinkle Ribbon Vagabond Cutting Machine by Tim Holtz

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Loose the Fear

I have always been a collector of old frames.  Large, small, ornate or simple, it doesn't matter.  I love them.  But what to do with them once you've collected a few (okay, more than a few)?

I created a grouping in my hallway using the frames and old photos.  Most of mine are family photos but if you don't have access to such photos there are 1000's for sale in antique shops, junk stores, as well as Esty and Ebay that can be used.

You will need:

old pictures of varying sizes

old frames of similar color

hammer and nails

small level

Command Adhesive strips

washi tape

Once you have everything gathered together, measure the wall space the frames will take up.  Layout your frames on the floor or a nearby bed to get a visual of how you want the wall to look (keep inside your measurements).  I only worked with the frames during this stage...no pictures yet.

Add nails to the wall to hang the frames using the small level to keep things straight.  Once the frames were in place, I started adding the larger photos with squares of Command adhesive (or another adhesive that will not damage your photos).

I found the "Private Driveway" paper sign at my local antique store, Ruby Rose awhile back...it fit perfectly here.  The oval frame with the beautiful convex glass was a gift from my friend Sande.  She purchased it while we were in Paris together in 2012 (a gracious gesture to say the least).  I added my favorite little photo booth pic of my mom then hung it with a bit of vintage ribbon to take up more the the space inside the large frame.

Moving down the hallway, I added a simple shadowbox I created for a past CHA show booth display made from a small cigar box.  It has my maternal grandparents wedding photo taken December 2, 1914.

 Again, I just stuck the shadowbox to the wall with Command Adhesive.

The oval frame at the top is a beautiful antiqued gold color.  However, as I was putting it up I noticed the old paper that had once covered the entire back.  I decided that much much more interesting, so it now hangs backwards on the wall.

And the last section, a large black frame with my parents wedding photo.  The inside edge was a weird peach color so I painted it with Tarnished Brass Distress paint.

 A piece of ephemera taped below is a vintage calender page with their wedding date.

The last layer is the small photos that you see taped to the wall with Washi tape.  A super easy way to make the wall appear unplanned and haphazard which is what I like.

And we're done!  

I can add more frames and more pictures in the future if I so choose or take it all done in a matter of minutes.  I think the biggest mistake people make in decorating is never doing anything because they're afraid.  Decorating should be fun and make you feel like you really "live" in your house.  Don't worry about nail holes...they can always be filled later!  Don't let fear stop you from being creative, because really, what good is a box of old family photos if you just leave them sitting on the shelf?  And if your afraid of damaging the photos... just a make a color copy (even if it is a black and white photo).

remember the 4 stages:

1. measure wall space

2. layout frames to fit measurements

3. add frames to the wall

4. add main photos and ephemera

5. add smaller photos with washi

cheers for a great week!

paula