here's how I got started...

here's how I got started...
a 20 minute podcast by Crazy BeYOUtiful

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

distress spray stain & string...

back on November 26, 2012, I wrote this post about how to decant distress stains & use them as sprays...

so, to say I was overjoyed when the new sprays were released, is an understatement...

I'm NOT a patient person...
 I waited almost 2 years...

so I need to say...
it's about time!

ok...moving on...

the stains in dabber form are fun...
but as sprays they are...

THE BEST...

THE FASTEST &

they allow us to do "things" 
that you can't do with the stains
 in the dabber bottles...

there are 999 reasons why I LOVE the spray stains, but today I'll focus on just one...

 the spray stains are the key ingredient 
to this home decor piece...

get comfy...
I have lots of photos for you...

I started with this string thread, 
but I'm sure whatever brand you find is just fine...

these come in lots of sizes, so your pumpkin can be any size...


I chose to use wild honey, spiced marmalade sprays...


and used both to spray the thread...


I used crushed olive & peeled paint to make the stem...

below the sprays, you'll see I crumpled up a piece of kraft card stock, misted it with water, then sprayed it & allowed it to dry...
it dried & is really very strong...


it looks lame now...
but in the end it works...


true confession...
I'm addicted to letterpress...
I could use them on EVERY single project...

I had planned to do a halloween word like EEK or BOO...
but by using FALL, I can keep this out until Thanksgiving...

letterpress are so fun to use with my embossing powders...
just swipe the block on an archival pad, sprinkle with embossing powder & heat to melt the powder...
I alternated fern green & orange blossom...

it's super fast...
the powders only stick to the raised areas that got inked...


now they look like this...

 I  stamped over them...
because every detail matters...

I used watering can archival ink with the tiny text stamp...
a quick dry & the ink is permanent...

watering can is not as stark as jet black...


see?

it's a tiny detail...
but so cool...

did I mention that I LOVE letterpress?


to distress this metal plant stake,
 I added potting soil archival ink & dried that...


I added a piece to the plant stake & it holds the letterpress firmly in place...


next, I grabbed heavier string to make the indentations in the pumpkin...
not sure what to call them...


I cut a large piece, dropped it in a lid, 
sprayed it with 
stirred it with a hemostat to completely cover it & let it dry...
ps...remember stains will stain your fingers...



then tied it tightly like this,
 to create the indentations...
don't worry...
those ugly ends all get covered up...

I also sprayed a tiny bit of walnut spray stain on the top of the pumpkin to add some shading...


next I die cut lots of leaves using tim's Sizzix alterations dies...
how many? 
that depends on the size of your pumpkin...

but leftovers are good for days you need to get something done in a hurry...
so cut lots...

I used my "clearly for art" (CFA) blackout so that this piece would be very strong & durable...

since I put some time into this project, I can easily pack it up & bring it out next fall & not worry that any of the pieces got crushed...



next, I enameled the leaves with my embossing powders...
I love the CFA blackout for this technique...
I like to wipe away the powders from the edges before heating them...
it creates shading very easily & a vintage effect...


to make them even more vintage, I swiped them with potting soil archival ink, using the mini blending tool...


here's a closer look...
the top green one was inked with potting soil...


these embossing powders can give you 2 different finishes...
the leaf on the left has one layer of embossing powder, so you'll see an orange peel textured surface...

the one on the right has a second layer of powder added, which creates a very smooth glass like finish...



more leaves...
some with texture...
the orange has the smooth finish...


I stamped over these CFA blackout leaves with my new "lots of leaves" background stamp, using jet black archival...


and I used jet black again to add text to these leaves...

this shows the 2 finishes better...
textured or smooth...

your choice!


I die cut these mini bottles from CFA blackout & enameled them & added remnant rubs...
I ended up not using the poison bottle for this piece, but it's ready to use on a card or tag later...
remnant rubs stick very well over embossing powders...
remember...
every detail matters...

again, I wiped away the powders from the edges &  
cut the corks in half to glue behind the bottles...
then heated the bottles & rounded them to make them more authentic...

see the great texture?
this is why I chose to have my embossing powders ground as a super fine detail powder...

see the one on the left?
I used my fingernail to put scratches in the bottle...
that has huge potential for a worn vintage look...



I wanted a base for the pumpkin to sit on...
this is an art parts piece...
it's the leftover inside part of 

I added tree branch archival ink, sprinkled on the tree branch embossing powder, then heated it...

next, I used the checkmate stencil with jet black archival, then added jet black to the base edges with the blending tool...


ok...this next part is a little tricky because these alpha parts guys are plastic...

I swiped this piece onto the orange blossom pad, sprinkled it with orange blossom embossing powder, wiped some off some powder to expose the black & heated it to emboss...

this works if you are VERY CAREFUL &
KEEP the HEAT TOOL MOVING...

it's a little warped, but for this project I decided to embrace the imperfection...
(thanks Tim!)

I also added a piece of card stock behind it to make the letters more visible...
here's the enameled alpha parts framed...


I created a stickpin by wrapping some orange embroidery floss around 
and used hot glue to add the memo pin to the back...


I enameled a small foliage flower, the leaves & the long fastener & hot glued them to the hat...

oops & I used jet black to add polka dots to the leaves...


now it's just a matter of creating a pleasing arrangement...

I used hot glue to hold everything...


and again...
the finished fall home decor piece...

oops again...
I twisted some wire & used hot glue to keep those pieces in place...

I LOVE the NEW large leaf in the back that is stamped with the screen stamp from my very first release back in 2008...
an oldie, but a goodie...

this was so much fun...



this is reason 1 of 999 why I'm thrilled that we now have distress spray stains...


I hope this tutorial gives you some inspiration to 

make (fall) art!
wendy
ps...I almost forgot...

the winners from the last post are...



and from the blog...


please send me your addresses & Rick will get them postal...



52 comments:

Julie S said...

This is such a cool project!! You went crazy, ma'am. Love it.

Creative Tara said...

Awesome tutorial, this is just adorable! So many fun tips in one project!

Anonymous said...

Great project, Wendy! The little details are fabulous! I love the Letterpress too! Got a laugh with the Hemostat! Once a Nurse-Always a Nurse! :)
Thanks for sharing the great tutorial!
Hugs,
cathy
:-)

Nicole Wright Designs said...

Wow, this is a great tutorial! I really need to get some of these sprays. Love your clever use of the twine. I need to grab one now.

Anonymous said...

HOLY WOW! can i say this is my most 'recent' favorite? i've read this 3 times and love it more each time i read it and look at this lovely pumpkin!

Caroline D. said...

Gorgeous Halloween decoration!!! You're right... the details do matter! Thanks for sharing all the tips and how-to. :)

Wilma said...

W O W this is a great beautiful project. What a clever idea to make a pumpkin from twine. Thank you for the tutorial. It sure gives me a lot of inspiration!!
Congrats to the lucky winners.

Kath Stewart said...

WOW Wendy what a great tutorial...love this project and what a great idea to use a ball of string for your pumpkin and so much detail...thanks for sharing...hugs kath xxx

Redanne said...

I really, really love the sprays too, so much so I am nearly out of one! I LOVE the pumpkin from a ball of string, that is so clever and the embossing powders look fabulous too! Thanks again for a terrific tutorial. Anne xx

Claudine said...

Wow, Wendy this is gorgeous, I love it! How inventive to use a roll of twine like that. Nicely done.

Debby said...

Wow! Beautiful piece. I love all of the details you put into it. Have to do some art before work today.

jac777 said...

Ab fab :) xx

Connie Mercer said...

gorgeous~I'm inspired:)

Unknown said...

I LOVE this! I love what embossing powders do! Your bottles are too cool!
Congrats to the lucky winners.

TangledBlueRose said...

Gratz to the lucky winners!
The pumpkin! Wow!! You never cease to amaze! Love it!

~kim

Jane said...

This is just so creative...I love it x

SusanK said...

I'm blown away! Those leaves are just the superest! And guess what? By my count, this is the 200th tutorial you've posted on your blog. Congrats my artsy friend on all your hard work, talent, creativity! And thank you for sharing it with us!

Tona said...

This project is beyond amazing!!!Love all the texture & details.

Lisa said...

Wow, this is amazing!! All of the details are just perfect!! You constantly blow me away with your creativity!! Love, love this!! Have a great day :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

2amscrapper said...

This is one of the most amazing tutorials I've seen anywhere is cyberspace!

Gabrielle said...

Yet again you produce an awesome project! Love all the aspect but enamelling CFA is a very clever idea! *wanders off to have a go..*

Lisa H said...

this is wonderful!!!!!!!!! …and another ! for good measure ;-)

Dorothy said...

Too awesome!!!

Candy Spiegel said...

This is so beautiful, Wendy! I cannot wait to try some of these techniques for myself.

Terry said...

Ohhh now Wendy your tutorial is looking fabulous and sure you have waited wayyyyy to long for the distress sprays heehe, I can see you had loads of fun with them since your project is just amazing. Thanks for sharing hun hugs Terry xxxx

Linda said...

OMG!! Just so beautiful. I love it!

Linda said...

OMG!! Just so beautiful. I love it!

sally said...

I love that this is Fall & Halloween....talk about getting extra mileage out of something :-) I need to get me some sprays!

Sally

Vic said...

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing the details.

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Absolutely brilliant Wendy, so creative and the embossing powders look fantastic . I love this piece. Tracy x

Linda said...

Awesome project for fall Wendy, I just love the colors of fall. Thanks so much for sharing.

Bobbi Smith said...

OMG Wendy, this is AMAZING!!! I love it, thank you for sharing!!! I just love the techniques you come up with!

Sherry Cheever said...

Absolute CREATIVE BRILLIANCE!

joy said...

Simple fabulous! I would never have thought to use a ball of thread for this purpose. Thanks for the great tutorial, Wendy!

Linda E. said...

How cool is this! I recognized that ball of thread right off. What a great use of it. Thanks for sharing.

Craftychris said...

Wow, this is awesome! xxx

Scrapthat said...

Very pretty Wendy! TFS

Linda T said...

What an absolutely beautiful Fall project. I just adore it. Never even thought of using the thread ball and spray paint to make such a creative project. Thank you for sharing you're great tut along with it.

Helen said...

wow, that was a monster post but what a fabulous project! Love those glossy leaves.

Anonymous said...

Wow ! Speechless ! Gorgeous, love it ! Wow ! Sue C x

Unknown said...

Phew….I am tired out just reading the post! Fabulous make Wendy. All that attention to detail was truly worth it!

Theresa said...

WENDY! This is amazing!!! It is absolutely beautiful!!!! I LOVE IT! GREAT inspiration.

Art By Wanda said...

Wow!!!! That is like the coolest idea to use the thread ball for the pumpkin!!! I just got the stains and your powders as a birthday present and after I finished a couple of projects with a deadline quickly approaching I will be playing, playing, playing!!!! Thanks for all your inspiration!!!!!

Shoshi said...

What an amazing project - I love those enamelled leaves. I'm not at all into halloween but the autumn elements are lovely. It's a very striking piece.

Thanks for sharing.
Shoshi

Cim Allen said...

This is a freakin amazing project !! I love the vibrant colors !!

IamUniquelyImperfect said...

Love this!! You gave me an idea, if I can't find the right color crochet thread, I'm gonna spray it! Love your project, tfs. Love ya' Patricia B

Rea' said...

This is so awesome... so fun ... love what you did... I got giddy watching the tutorial !!

Candy C said...

Wendy...YOU are a genius! The way you "see" the possibilities in the simplest of things just blows me away! I learn so much from you every time I see you demonstrate or post something on your blog. This piece is just amazing!!!! So creative and what an imagination!! <3 Candy

Lori said...

Very cool project!!! Love that enameling...looks awesome!!

Unknown said...

Completely and utterly Fantastic décor piece, Wendy! So clever and cool and just fabulous!! Thanks for the tutorial :) XOXO-Shari T.

Tracee said...

OMG so AWESOME, love love love this! Tx

Quirky Shepherd said...

What a great project and lots of inspiration - thank you