Friday, June 5, 2015

Masculine You Say?

Hello dearies and wonderful day to you all! Today starts a new challenge over at Anything But Cute. Our amazeballs hostess is the lovely Cec! She chose the theme for this month and wants to Make It Masculine. "Make a mixed media card, or other project for a fellow in your life. It could be for Father's Day, a birthday, an anniversary, or just because you want him to know how special he is."

I chose to make a display honoring the Veterans and soldiers in my country. This piece will be abandoned at a local Veterans Hospital. Hopefully someone enjoys it! 

I started by dry embossing my tag and then added alcohol inks and copper embossing powder. Once the inks were dry I gave the entire tag a wash of metallic glaze (leftover from a revamp of my bedroom dresser). 
I added the chain die cut after painting it with gold distress paint. I added the tiny tag after using the same alcohol ink and dry embossing with a different EF. The white "sticks" under the small tag are parts of my paintbrush I accidently left in water overnight. Oops, and not the first time that has ever happened. :)


When the tag was finished I figured it need more so I grabbed some paper and went to town using distress inks, a sanding block, distress glaze and my black archival pen to trace around the word "Liberty". 

The black around the word makes it pop off the page. I also added some weathered wood but it didn't work out so well. You can sort of see the cracks in this corner. You can also see some of my stamping here with black archival ink. I wanted to give it a "postage" feel with the rubber stamp.

I then added some ephemera and other tid-bits. The chit chat stickers added the perfect finishing touch to this piece to remember our brave. What is your take on a Masculine project? 


Huge hugz and lots of Happy Crafting this month! Carpe Diem!
~Niki~

I would like to share this project with the following challenges please:

Mixed Media World #3-Vintage

The Artistic Stamper-Summer is on its Way What better way to celebrate summer here in the states than by thanking our brave so close to the 4th! I would rather use this color combo.











31 comments:

  1. Fantastic Doc!! I love how you did the tag, those colours are amazing and make a great patina effect, perfect embossing pattern choice too! Outlining the word Liberty was such a great idea, helps make it stand out and considering the cause, that couldn't be more perfect!! Such a wonderful layout and an amazing masculine make my friend! LOVE IT!! hugs :)

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    1. I knew I wanted to make something to take to the Veterans Hospital. Without all of them, I wouldn't have my freedom. Thanks Bubbles! Hugz to you muffin!

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  2. WOW!!! This is absolutely amazing! Love all the texture and great choice of colors! What a noble cause and gesture Niki!!! You are just too sweet! Hats off to you and your art!!!

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    1. Why thank you for the sweet words Samra-cake! Hugz to you muffin!

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  3. A special project for a so special occasion, Niki! I can call this stunner 'Art from the Heart' since it really came from your heart! I love everything about your fantastic masculine piece of art! The way you outlined the word Liberty is genius! Your tag is another piece of art and I adore your patina effect there! Amazing design, my lovely!
    Huge hugs :)
    Branka xxx

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    1. Wow! That is the perfect way to think about this piece Branka-kins. Thank you for the idea and for being awesome! Hugz to you muffin!

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  4. Bravo, Niki! What a wonderfully rusted and patina's creation and how thoughtful of you to "abandon" it at the Veteran's hospital for others to admire and be inspired by! I love, LOVE, LOOOOVE the backgrounds you made for the tag and the first layer; I bet they are amazing to touch, too! Oh, how I wish I were a fly on your craft room wall; I would love to see how you work to make such amazing artwork! Lots of big hugs to you, Punkin!

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    1. Haha! Thank you Sara doll! If you were a fly on my wall you would see me gettin jiggy wit it when I am stuck on what to do next. Lol! And also see me playing with my dogs. I am waiting until July 4th to abandon this piece and am excited to do it! Hugz to you muffin!

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  5. I just love the idea behind you creating this Niki, so sweet and thoughtful, and everyone will love it!! You created some amazing layering with this and some gorgeous vintage detail too, just loving the little red handle with care at the bottom!
    Hugs
    Georgie xx

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    1. So glad you saw that "handle with care"! It means more than what the words say. I can't wait to drop it off. Hugz to you muffin!

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  6. Love this vintage piece and the story behind it. The rusty embossed background looks much like a weathered tin ceiling.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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    1. Oh yeppers bit sure does now that you mention it. Haha! Thanks Cec! I channeled you when doing the background. :) Hugz to you muffin!

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  7. Niki, you really made my day with your comment on my blog! And what a good laugh I had about the pinning! To answer your question about the Cloisonne granules: I really know nothing about them, and think I have not been using them properly in the past. A friend of a friend gave them to me YEARS ago without instructions, and she is no longer available to ask for help. I cannot find them online at all, so I experimented with them. They look like embossing powder, but I think they may be similar to this frantage' I see mentioned all the time. A tiny bit goes a LONG way! I wish I had them in rust color! About pinning, if I can open a Pinterest account, anyone can! Ha! Ha! If you click on the upper left corner of a photo a Pin button appears. I believe you might be asked to open an account if it is your first time. It's been so long that I can't remember! I'm honored that you would want to pin my work, Punkin'! So honored! And so blessed to know you! Hugs!

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    1. Oh dearie. Now I had to google frontage' as well! Lol! You are an amazing lady dear friend, so of course I would pin your wonderful makes! I do have a Pinterest thing but I will have to try your idea about pinning. Thanks for the info! Hugz to you muffin!

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  8. Lovely card, thanks for joining us at The Artistic Stamper

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  9. Lots of wonderful techniques and textures on this making a fabulous vintage steampunk piece. Thanks for sharing with us at MMW this month
    Love
    Amanda x

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    1. I am slowly adding for layers and such to my make. Practice, practice, practice right? Thanks for stopping by Amanda!

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  10. Hi Niki...Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment! They are much appreciated. Thought I would stop by your blog as well. Glad I did! Your card is awesome and a great tutorial! Your display piece is beautiful and a very nice way to remember the service of our veterans to this country. Love your design! <3 Candy

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    1. So glad you popped over dearie! I think some of our Veterans and soldiers are unsung heroes. I am honored to make a little something for them to say thank you. :)

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  11. Hi Niki loving the patina what a great make thank you for joining in with us over at the artistic stamper. x

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    1. Thanks Dee! I had to use my little postcard stamp on this! It signifies all the places our troops have gone.

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  12. Love these colors and all the texture Niki but my fav part is the LIBERTY and then... the Handle with Care. Just sometimes wonder if we truly realize how precious our Liberty is and how we should be handling it with care. Everyone will love this when you take it to them... it's VERY VERY special. j.

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    1. Exactly right Joi! I saw the Liberty word and knew I wanted to somehow showcase it. So glad it turned out and you can see it well. Hugz!

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  13. Absolutely stunning! Love the tag! Thank you for entering our challenge at Mixed Media World! Ingrid x

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  14. Beautiful creation Niki, so many amazing layers of textures and what a wonderful inspiration. It will be treasured at the Veterans Hospital I am sure, what a wonderful idea!

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    1. Fingers crossed they like it at the VA. I am still trying to decide what to write on the back to show my gratitude......

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  15. You are too kind. Thank you Annie! Happy weekend to you as well! Hugz.

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  16. Hi Niki! This is fantastic project! Great texture, colours and all fabulous elements on it. Brilliant! I love your style and love the new blog's design... so cool!
    Hugs, Mar

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    1. Pretty cool new blog Huh? I just had an idea and an awesome friend put it all together. She's amazeballs! Hugz!

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