Friday, February 5, 2016

Grungy Love at Anything But Cute #10

Well it's that time of the year where Cupid is flying around acting all sorts of crazy. So at Anything But Cute #10 we are celebrating love-grunge style! Our fantabulously amazing hostess this month is: Sara Emily of Sara's Closet and here's what she would like to see: To celebrate Valentine's Day, we would like to see you make a Grungy Valentine's project for your sweetheart! It can be a card, tag, or anything else you might give a loved one to show them how much you care. Just be sure it's Grungy!



I decided to try mending a heart (artistically). My best friend just had an 8 year relationship end and I thought she might be cheered up with this design. Her Destination in love is Unknown as of now, but I am confident she will find the right dude!
I started with a 5x7 canvas and used the TCW brick stencil then made my heart out of cardboard and some of the Cold Country papers. Love that paper set! I then added some holes so I could stitch my heart back together. I used elastic thread and a rather large needle so I could double up on the thread and my fingers wouldn't hurt so bad. The holes were pre-punched with a hammer and a nail. Smashing success it was! Lol

I then sprayed my canvas with some black DecoArt spray and wiped off the excess. When that was dry, I sprayed with some Colour Arte Primary Elements-Hunter Gray that I put in a mini mister. Random bricks were painted with Silks-Black Emerald (my new favorite color!) and some were painted with white acrylic paint. I added the hooks in the bottom left corner with Glossy Accents. 
I wasn't sure where to go next with this design, so I walked away for a bit. When I came back to the canvas it screamed at me-flowers! I am not a big flower person but that is what my canvas was telling me. So, I went to my small flower stash and pulled out a few and painted those with the Colour Arte-Black Emerald as well. The feather was inked with Alcohol ink and then lightly dry washed with the Emerald Black. I added some Black Prima Art Ingredients Mico Beads with Mod Podge.
The "corset" lace up was a blast to make and something I am going to be doing again and again, and maybe again. I used embroidery floss doubled up and tied it into a bow. The bow was glued to the canvas just in case, I didn't want it to come apart and fall off. The entire canvas was then splattered with white and black acrylic paints. I covered the heart, flowers, and corset with scrap papers so it would stay nice and clean while splattering. The plaque at the top is chipboard and stamped with my sentiment, with brads in the corners and the edges are dabbed with black acrylic paint. I sure hope you enjoyed this design as much as I did making it. My new favorite piece. Don't forget to see what my amazeballs teamies have come up with for their Grungy Love designs! What will you be making?

Come to think of it, those hooks look like what you see on your bra, hmmm, well I believe I used these bra hooks in a more unusual way. :) Hugz and Carpe Diem! ~Niki

I would love to share this canvas with these delightful challenges:


30 comments:

  1. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! This is fabulous Niki, so unique and original!! Love the colour palette, so dark and atmospheric and perfect for the grungy love theme! Your heart is just incredible, the idea was amazing and your follow through even better, the stitched heart is nothing short of genius! I really enjoy the addition of your corset style hooks and tie in the corner, it's such a fabulous steam punk addition!! I'm just so impressed with your creativity! hugs :)

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  2. What a dramatic, grungy, stempunky piece of art, Niki! That corset detail is awesome (I am going to copy your genius idea) and your stitched heart is outstandigly fabulous! You really rocked this challenge theme, my friend! I am blown away by this glorious piece! Huge hugs and lots of love to you! Branka xxx

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  3. Wow, Niki! This is CREATIVITY in it's finest hour! You had me at bricks, but then you had to go and add hand-sewing on your fabulous-perfectly-unconventionally-colored heart and a CORSET to your canvas! I am speechless at your thought process, and I want to take a quick CT scan to see what other amazing things you have going on it that brain of yours! Huge round of applause on this, and yes, it's MY favorite, too! Your friend will be brought to tears by your thoughtfulness and support for her at this cross roads time. Big hugs, Punkin'!

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  4. I just love the brick background, they really do look like a grungy wall and the stitched heart is such a clever idea for your friend. The corset is fabulous, I can see why you would want to use it over and over - it is brilliant. I think your friend will truly love this gorgeous grungy canvas! Hugs, Anne xx

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  5. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh - what an incredible friend you are Niki. This brought tears to my eyes for your friend but also tears of joy that you are so thoughtful to reach out to her with this FABULOUSLY TOUCHING and GORGEOUS creation. It is truly WONDERFUL. That heart is just LUSCIOUSLY SPECTACULAR. And the ribbon laced on the hooks - GENIUS. The sentiment is so perfect. This will be something that will get her through her heartbreak... it will mean so much to her in so many ways..... PERFECTION. Big Wow. Hugs to you and to her. j.

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  6. Brilliant, Niki!! I love your colors, and all of the fabulous detail here.... what a wonderful gift for your friend! xxx Lynn

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  7. I love all the details you put into this Niki. What a fabulous gift for your friend. Thank you so much for sharing it at Emerald Creek Dares.
    {julia}

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  8. Love your grungy love piece, and I hope it cheers your friend, too. Have a nice weekend, hugs, Valerie

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  9. Wow, gorgeous Niki, love the stitched heart, amazing!

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  10. Awesome card!!! I love how you did this so creative. :D

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  11. Beautiful, I love the corset element, the whole piece is so creative. Thank you for joining in this months challenge at The Artistic stamper.

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  12. For me, mixed media is all about the details. And you are a master of the detail. Amazing!

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  13. Fabulous mended heart Niki, wonderful background and love how you've echoed the stitching in the laced element. Wonderful, thank you for sharing it! Deb xo

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  14. Love your mended heart! Very creative. C Thanks for joining our challenge at Creative Embellishments!

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  15. This is awesome, love your texture on the background, such a great piece.

    Thank you for playing along with us at Things to Alter
    Jac x

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  16. Fabulous, love the sewn together heart, what a wonderful idea. The other details are brilliant, as is the colour scheme.

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  17. Great texture, and composition! Love that brick background!
    Hugs
    Samra
    Paper Talk with Samra

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  18. so creative...I hope she loved it :) Thanks for playing with us at Creative Embellishments!

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  19. Gorgeous card with a strong message and beautiful textures! Thanks for playing along with us at Our Creative Corner.

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  20. Awesome project! I love the idea of joining the broken heart! Concept is so good. & love the use of hooks!

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  21. Very creative and awesome idea with this heart . I ALSO LOVE THE COLOURS !Thank you for playing with us at Creative Embellishments :)

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  22. OOOMMMGGEEEE this is just amazing love your color choice and that heart with all the stitches wow wow wow. I bet your friend will love it for sure....Thank you so much playing with us this month at the Creative Embellishments blog and good luck hugs Amy xox

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  23. Original canvas !! Love love this !! Thank you so much for your sharing !! I will try :-)
    Thank you so much for joining us at Creative embellishments :-)

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  24. ooo love this stitched heart! Awesome textures and peaceful colors. Thanks so much for playing with us at Things to Alter!hugs
    ~kim

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  25. Stunning cover and super clever design. The heart totally rocks, lover the fun background textures and color scheme. Thanks for playing along with us at CE this month.

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  26. Amazing project!! Thanks so much for playing along at Creative Embellishments!

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  27. Awesome project! Fabulous details and colors! Love the message and what a thoughtful gift for your friend! Thanks for playing along with the Creative Embellishments February Challenge! :-D

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  28. This is such a cool project! Thanks for playing along with the Challenge at Creative Embellishments this month!

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  29. Fabulous project . Totally LOVE the colour tones and such an original idea . x

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