Friday, August 5, 2016

Shabby Garden Barn Doors and Peeled Paint

Hello there dearies! I am back after a month long break and ready to share with you all my newest design. I have been decorating my home and am wanting to put barn doors up in my kitchen and in my bedroom for a rustic vibe. It is on my to-do list but I needed to get the idea out of my head and with the new challenge over at Anything But Cute, I knew this was a win win situation. I give you my version of a Shabby Garden.

The doors are on hinges and open to reveal the secret garden elements inside. 
Lisa the Fantabulous, of Mermaid Crafts, is our hostess for this month at Anything But Cute #16, and the theme is inspired by her mood board of this Shabby Garden. 

Here is what she would like to see: For this challenge, we are asking you to take a stroll through a romantic shabby garden. Create any mixed media project strongly inspired by the mood board. Think flowers and plants in cracked pots, peeling paint bird feeders, distressed timeworn furniture, crumbling statues, soft pastels and feminine accessories. Don't forget to tell us how the mood board inspired your project and have fun!

This is an 8x10 reverse canvas. I used cardboard from a box to cover the front. I cut out the middle with an exacto knife. Then I added a Layer of white gesso and when dry peeled back some of the cardboard. Next came a layer of DecoArt white chalky paint. The inside lip of the canvas was painted with the chalky paint as well. 
While the chalky paint was drying (it really doesn't take long though) I started constructing my barn doors. I used the backing from a calander. The doors got the gesso and white chalky paint base. 

While many people use wax to create the peeled paint technique, I found it didn't give me the look I wanted (I really did try it). I randomly painted chalky paint (Relic and Turquoise) over the white base. Then tried the wax layer. Blah! 

So I re-did it with CHAPSTICK! Yeppers, I seem to have an abundance of Chapstick laying around and liked the smell (hehe!) so I swiped it over the areas I wanted to "crack and peel"! It worked like a charm and you can see the "cracks" it created after I painted over the Chapstick with the white chalky paint. 

After the top layer of paint is dry, take a sanding block and GENTLY sand over the areas you want to distress. This will reveal the colors below and creates a wonderful peeled paint shabby look! TIP-I also used this technique of the Chapstick on my shabby wall shelf in my bedroom! Works great! I also stamped a rose design using the shadow stamp technique. You can see these on the gram and the front and back of the doors. 

Anyway, I used a plain piece of scrapbook paper to make my background. I heat embossed a stencil design and a word stamp from the Artistic Stamper, then I scraped off some of the embossing powder before I used my hearing tool. I used white and grey EP. Then I grabbed a pipette and dribbled my shades of blue from the DecoArt media line and spritzed with water to create a watercolor effect. 

After the background was dry I added some stamped feathers, small flowers and sprigs. I used ink around the edges of the small white flowers to give some added blue color. 
And there you have it! My take on a Shabby Garden. This was a challenge and out of my comfort zone but it was a totally BLAST to design! Hugz and Carpe Diem!
Closed Doors
Sneak Peak! :)
Open Doors!

I would love to share this Shabby design with these challenges:


Some of my best moment this summer are planting new flower beds and learning how to make a butterfly friendly "bird bath" (you add flat marble stones to it so the butterflies can stay above the water)


The Artistic Stamper-Anything Goes

A Vintage Journey-Stencil It
I used the TH flourish stencil on the frame and the background inside the canvas

Mixed Media Place-Be Inspire by the mood board. 
I used the blues and the overall shabby feel of the board and was inspired by the over hanging tree path. 



36 comments:

  1. Oh this is really lovely! So beautifully done, and I adore the inside! x

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  2. Wonderfully shabby project and I adore the background created for your butterflies.
    Julie x

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  3. It really does not show that this was outside of your comfort zone, you have done a superb job! The 'peeled' paint technique with the lip balm is fantastic and I love how you created the doors. The base inside looks beautiful with the pretty butterflies and that watercolour look. I think the part I like the most is that the doors actually open - such a brilliant idea and a VERY clever project!! Hugs, Anne xx

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    1. The butterflies are from Reneaboquets. Renea makes the most gorgeous butterflies, dragonflies and glitter glass. I used the blue glitter glass on the front vellum banner and near the cluster of flowers as well. :)

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  4. I'm so blown away by the chapstick technique that I'm having to reread the entire post so I can take the rest of it in! lol. Wow Doc, this is utterly amazing! I am loving your little swinging doors, what an amazing idea to add them to a reverse canvas! Genius! Love the colours you used, so cool and refreshing, a lovely switch to the heat wave over here! Your butterflies are so beautiful and I adore your little flower arrangement tucked in the corner! So much texture, I really want to touch it! tee hee. You have done such an incredible job with mood board, and boy oh boy, you would never know how far outside your comfort zone that this style is because you sure did nail it! Back with a bang, atta girl! Loved watching your process too, you really know how to work those products! Well done my friend. sending hugs :)

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  5. Punkin, be still my heart! You have rocked this challenge theme, and like everyone says...it's beyond belief that you are out of your comfort zone with the shabby look, because you NAILED it! I loved seeing all your photos and reading about your process. Love the frame, the doors, the shabby garden inside and just every durn thing about this piece of artwork! Loved seeing how you made the background; it really didn't need anything else imho, but the addition of those awesome butterflies just seals the deal! I need to know how you made those flutters! They are drop dead gorgeous and the perfect foil to all the light colors! GORGEOUS and one of my top Punkin' projects! Big hugs, my friend!

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    1. PS I love the smell of cucumber melon, too, and have little scented beads with that scent in my home.

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  6. WOW!!! This is freakin' awesome! Love it! The way you created the door is fantastic!
    Hugs
    Samra
    Paper Talk with Samra

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  7. I have been visiting your blog for about fifteen minutes or so, just studying your amazing project, Niki!! To say I'm blown away is an understatement!! I absolutely adore this!! I love seeing you you created the doors!! They look so freakin' amazing!! Chapstick!! Who knew??!! Not only does it look gorgeous, but it smells gorgeous, too ;) The details are just perfect and I love every single shabby detail!! I think shabby chic should be your new style because you totally rock at it!! Love, love this my sweet friend!! Thank you for bring the mood board to life!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  8. Wonderful secret garden, love all the details. Hugs, Valerie

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  9. Wooooooow, Niki, you have outdone even yourself with this absolutely stunning shabby chic piece of art! You rocked that challenge mood board, my friend! I am completely out of words to describe how much I adore this! I adore the way how you created your doors, it's a genius idea! Your Chapstick technique is brilliant and it's definitely something I am going to try!
    This piece looks so magical with those stunning butterflies! Everything is just perfect here, my lovely! Bravo!
    Thank you so much for joining us at Stamps and Stencils this month! Have a great weekend! Lots of love to you! Branka DT :)

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  10. First of all, that you constructed the barn doors makes me love you! Big kiss! ;0 LOL! I actually had come up with a way to construct gates, but was too lazy! But that you too thought up almost the same things just tickles me to death! This is one more amazing project! It has beauty, intrigue, and depth. So so amazing! Big hugs, Autumn

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    1. Niki, I am so glad I had the opportunity to revisit this marvelous creation! My jaw dropped yet again! We appreciate you sharing with us at Stamps & Stencils. Hugs, Autumn

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  11. LOVE LOVE LOVE Thanks for playing at MIxed Media Place challenge

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  12. Hey Doc, just wanted to drop in and answer your question about the butterfly. It's a Frantic Stamper die and I used the Pion paper to cut it out, so I guess it's both. tee hee. Here is the die if you are interested. hugs :)

    http://www.franticstamper.com/Frantic-Stamper--Precision-Dies--Monarch-Butterfly_p_108750.html

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  13. Hey Sweets this is gorgeous hun - I love the look of the doors, really like the peeling paint look!! Hope all is well with you hun xxx

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  14. What a wonderful and interactive creation! Thank you for sharing your process and also for participating in the challenge at Emerald Creek Dares!

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  15. Wow Niki...this is mind blowingly gorgeous! I loved your chapsyivk technique and the way you used a reverse canvas with barn doors is such a brilliant idea. The entire shabby feel is full on and just so inspiring to play.

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  16. Niki, this is stunning! Absolutely blown away by how you created it.

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  17. Oh my goodness... this is so breathtaking! I love the colors and those butterflies are gorgeous! I love your project!

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  18. Right up my Ally Niki - love your Barn Door project. The only thing that could have made it better for me would be if there had been a horse inside - but then you wouldn't have a garden at all - stomp, stomp, stomp!!!!!!!!!!!! So.... the butterflies are perfect. GORGEOUS project. j.

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  19. Niki your piece is amazing! I love the colours you've used on this piece and the texture is amazing! Thanks for playing along with us on the Southern Ridge Trading Company Blog!
    -Katelyn DT member at Southern Ridge

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  20. Fun project and great tutorial! Thanks for taking on our Emerald Creek Dare! :)

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  21. Clever girl!! Love your doors, and what they reveal - stunning all round! Cool project! xxx Lynn

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  22. Fantastic idea and beautiful project! Thank you for playing along with us at Mixed Media Place this month!

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  23. Love the idea with the door! Beautiful project! thank you for playing along with Mixed media Place:)xx Sylwia

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  24. Love your weathered, distressed doors, and they open up to such a lovely gentle butterfly surprise inside - gorgeous! Sorry to have been missing in action for so long, but it's nice to have a few moments to catch up a bit.
    Alison x

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  25. Fabulous! Thank you for joining in our Creative Challenge at THe Artistic Stamper .

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  26. Should also have said thanks so much for joining us on A Vintage Journey with this beauty!
    Alison x

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  27. Brilliant! I love the beautiful barn doors and how you open them to a lovely interior which reminds me of a secret garden.

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  28. congratulations, Punkin! You're a winner at Stamps and Stencils, yippee! So well deserved and such a wonderful thing to see your name in lights! Hugs!

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  29. I am blown away Niki! Every single project is awesome art, just gorgeously good xx

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