I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Friday 31 August 2012

Back to school...

Hello everyone, I'm delighted to have your company here at Words and Pictures today.

I'm sharing a Guest Design project with you today for Fussy and Fancy and their Back to School challenge.  I'm afraid I'm one of those odd types who actually didn't mind going back to school (yes, I know - boo, hiss!)... I've always enjoyed learning new things, and being set new challenges.  And I know for sure many of you share that - look at us all here in Craftyblogland trying out new techniques and styles and equipment all the time.

So, perhaps my take on this challenge comes from a slightly offbeat position - made as a wall hanging to go by the front door, so that each day as you set off for school you're reminded that it really is completely worth your while.  And, being me, it's vintage and distressing all the way (and lots of photos, as there's lots going on!)...




The minute Fussy & Fancy let me know that the challenge was Back to School, my head went to these glorious images from Nicecrane Designs.  

This set is called A Child's Garden of Verses (taken from a version of Robert Louis Stevenson's collection of poetry for children illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith).  Usually, I would take an actual stamp over a digi any day of the week, but for these I was prepared to make an exception!

I think they're completely adorable.  It's really worth a visit to the Nicecrane store and blog if you've never been, because there are so many amazing images to play with, and lots of inspiration.





I experimented with colouring them with Distress Markers, and I'll certainly hang on to the results for future projects, but it wasn't quite what I was after this time.  Then I thought I'd try printing them onto Kraft paper, and suddenly things started to fall into place.

I adore this one with the boy so completely absorbed in his reading - just as captivated and engrossed by that as an activity as he is by the adventure games, or the idling in conversation over the five-bar gate...





I used the Picket Fence Distress Marker to highlight certain parts of each image - trying to give the impression of the same boy moving from picture to picture, and then gave each of them a buffing with a blending tool full of Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I'm really happy with the results.  I really like the golden brown of long lost summers...

As my first background layer, I used a sheet from the Graphic 45 ABC Primer collection in the 8x8 size.  I gave it a whitewash layer with Picket Fence Distress Stain to get that slightly shabby look, but I'm quite pleased that it also looks like a partially wiped blackboard behind the pictures, with plenty of chalkdust left on it.  It's got a bluish tinge in the photos, but I promise you it's not!


The quote is by George Washington Carver - not someone I really knew anything about (seems he's an American scientist 1864-1943), but I love the sentiment - and wholeheartedly agree with it.






The two really significant words get extra attention drawn to them by being backed onto some cream mesh ribbon.






The key seemed a perfect addition, not only in support of the words, but also with the whole golden vintage glow I was - by now - trying to create.  


The compass is there to help you decide your direction in life.  It's the Tim Holtz stamp on Kraft card, given a good coating of UTEE for the super glossy finish, and with a dull gold game spinner through the centre.



I then started building extra framing layers.  There's one on white paper, stamped with the Prima Almanac Script stamp, and inked with Vintage Photo.  

And over two corners of that, in the opposite corners from where the words are, I've added the lovely Memory Box corner die cut out of Paperartsy's wax paper (same thing as Kraft Glassine, as far as I can make out).

And then, for the base frame, I started ripping up one of my ex-stash-delivery-boxes (nothing useful ever thrown away round here) to try to get at the corrugated card inside.  

You have to peel away the top layer of paper/card over it - easier said than done! But in the end I quite liked the textured effect where some of the paper wouldn't quite come off.

I played around with gesso, white acrylic, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain DIs, some Mushroom Color Wash spray and Perfect Pearls Mist in Heirloom Gold, ripping, distressing and rolling the edges as I went, until I had a weatherbeaten look which pleased me.











The banners are hand-cut from one of the other ABC Primer papers and inked... learn your letters as well as your numbers for an all-round education!



Thank you so much for stopping by today here at Words and Pictures - your support and comments mean so much to me.  Do pop over to Fussy and Fancy and see all the amazing projects from the Design Team there - there's lots of inspiration, and still plenty of time to join in with the challenge.

What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard Shaw

The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder. 
Ralph W. Sockman

I'm entering this in the following:
Kraft Outlet's Make it Monday who are also playing Back to School this week
It's All About the Vintage have a lovely challenge called Summer Memories, for which this seems perfect
Simon Says Stamp are having an Anything Goes week
The Addicted to Stamps Challenge would like us to Recycle Something - I've used my packing boxes
Papertake Weekly who are having a Sketchie Free For All... I'm using Sketch #35


49 comments:

Sazzle said...

Alison I love the collage that you've designed for your guest design spot over at Fussy and Fancy and the vintage style that you've created it in.

Thanks for bringing us such a gorgeous project :-)

xx Happy crafting and glittery hugs xx

Sazzle

Claudia N. said...

The can claim theirselves lucky having you as a guest designer Alison and your project proves that heartwarmingly!!!!

I so know about the truth of that quote you chose (having been in school as a teacher for quite a couple of years) and love that compass whith it's wonderful message of personal responsibility of knowing where you want to go.

Love the colours and textures too of course! Gorgeous!!!!

Hugs,

die amelie xx

coconut said...

C'est superbe !! Bravo pour cette belle réalisation et tes nombreuses explications ! A bientôt, quand je peux car je manque de temps pour tout voir ! (je préfère voir peu mais bien).

Brenda Brown said...

Being in education myself my whole life I just love this Alison, both for what it stands for but also the wonderful way you have used the images and the fabulous design. The white picket fence marker has really given it continuity and leads my eye right across the pager. Superb.
Have a great weekend.
hugs {brenda} xox

Redanne said...

Your canvas is stunning, the images are beautiful and evoke wonderful childhood memories for me, the colours are perfect, as is the design. As a retired Trainer I totally get what you are saying here and wholeheartedly agree and it is wonderful these days to hear that someone enjoys their job too! And how inspired to hang it on your door........Crafty hugs, Anne x

Sophie said...

Wow!
Was für eine fantastische Karte...
Chapeau!

Jenny Marples said...

Where do I start? Love the materials used, techniques tried (gonna have a go at that kraft one) and attention to detail. Stunning sums it up nicely methinks. Good luck with all the challenges. Hugs, Buttons x

Viv said...

Fabulous collage wall hanging - love the colours you've used and you've achieved the weatherbeaten look perfectly.

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

What a wise and gorgeous wallhanger Alison!!! All the details are so great again, it's lovely...the white details are perfect, as well as everything :-)
Great artwork lady!

greetings, Alie :-)

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Fabulous!!! Love your design on this Kraft green! Well done!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Gorgeous images is right! Love this! It's wonderful how you made is all very vintage as well!

Nicecrane Designs said...

Wowwww Alison,,,,love the vintage style and the way you uded my children picts,,,,,what a neat idea apply only a white color to get a really vintage effect,and these vintage elements ad the perfect ornament, very weel done my friend.Horayyyy for Alison.

Paula Whittaker said...

wonderful project Alison - I just wanted to thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog today, its very much appreciated.

Jingle said...

This is such a wonderful piece! That quote is just fabulous! Thanks so much for playing along with us over on the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog!

Sarah said...

You definitely get an A+ for this nostalgic piece. Every inch of it evokes the feeling of wonder and excitement of early school days.
The corner die that you used really caught my eye...pretty!

Ana K. said...

Totally in your style and I totally love it. Quote is perfect for Back to school theme!
Hugs

Hwee said...

I like the vintage look, especially the images. The quote is well chosen too.

Anonymous said...

Simply gorgeous. It is such a treat to visit your blog. Have a wonderful weekend.
Regards Florence x

Janny Jager said...

Very beautiful card Alison.
Love it.

Greetings Janny

Marlies said...

A gorgeous creation!! A lovely vintage look and I love the stamps you've used!! Thanks for joining us at ATSC, hugs, Marlies

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Must admit I did not mind going back to school either, I had great fun, but long time ago now, makes me feel old lol. Love your creation , beautiful colours and layout and I love the white highlights. Great embellishments. Tracy x

Brenda Brown said...

Just popping back to say thanks for your kind words on my new DT position, I really appreciate it.
Have a great weekend.
hugs {brenda} xox

Inkypinkycraft said...

This is beautiful, I lve the way you have used the White, the images are fab And there are so many subtle and clever details, a beautiful piece...trace x

Victoria said...

I wonder if we'll be synchro-commenting today?
I love this wallhanging - the quotation is absolutely spot on. The colours are great, the images are lovely and the key is perfect!

Kyla said...

lovely wall hanging and the muted colours are stunning.
Thanks for visiting my desk on WOYWW

Kyla #55

Kim Dellow said...

Beautiful! Love all the fabulous details. Kim

toni said...

Absolutely lovely work! I really like the combination of kraft card ink and picket fence it works so well and the images are just adorable. As I 'm a teacher, I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment. Thank you so much for the lovely comments you have left on my blog, i really do apreciate them x

Candy C said...

Hi Alison. First of all, I love your Back to School piece. It's so cute and wonderfully done! I love all of the stamped images. They lok so vintage. Love the corrugated background. Love the distressing...it's all just a great piece. Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice post about my tag that is featured on Ranger. <3 Candy

chrissie said...

This is a terrific piece of artwork and also a great idea as well.The colour combo is just beautiful.

Must say I loved going back to school as well but didn't like it at all when my own kids had to go back as we had so much fun together in the holidays.

Love Chrissie xx

Unknown said...

Oooh, this is absolutly gorgeous!! I just love the soft colors, the beautiful details! Thanks for joining us at over at It's All About The Vintage & Beauty Challenge! Good Luck! Hugs and sunshine

Anonymous said...

thats such wonderful card
Hello from Elma

Unknown said...

A very beautiful and romantic view on old school days - love your collage but have also to admit that I didn't like to go to school, I thought most of the teachers were very boring. Upps.
Thanks for your nice comment on my blog.
Barbara

trisha too said...

What a charming piece, Alison--so pretty and sweet!

:)

Carol Q said...

beautiful Alison. love these images and the slightly aged feel to everything, the corrugated card really sets it all off for me.

Olivia said...

What a beautiful projekt you made!! I just love the blue and brown colours together!!

Merkkublogi said...

I just love this card!
Very beautiful and talented card1
Thank you for joining us at It's All About the Vintage & Beauty- challenge!
Hugs Merkku

catherine said...

You are so very creative Alison and this is a fantastic piece. love all the images and the way you have put it all together. Hope you have a good weekend
x catherine

Pia said...

wauuuw so beautiful , lovely colours you have used. Sewing machines and me aren't friends... so i made it with a zig writter pen
hugs pia

Saron said...

Gorgeous project!!

Anonymous said...

Alison
I love your stamps, they are so adorable and full of vintage goodness and those colours, oh this is a stunning wall hanging.
Wishes
Lynne

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Awesome collage love the color combination too.
Hugs Anja

Meihsia Liu said...

Great creation! Alison. Love the beautiful collage and gorgeous vintage look.... :)

Hettie said...

Gorgeous card...I wouldn't want to give it away!

♥Jan♥ said...

Love your style ! The colors are perfect. So glad you joined in with us this week at The Kraft Journal !!

Sanna Saksija said...

Gorgeous vintage look! The stampede images look great on kraft paper. Thanks for joining us at It's all about the vintage and beauty and for your visit in my blog!

Sharon Caudle said...

Beautiful card! Thanks so much for joining us at Papertake Weekly!
hugs, Sharon

Joy said...

Oh how cute is this, love the vintage appeal... thanks for joining us at Simon Says Challenge blog

Johanna said...

So beautiful and detailed work! I love those pictures and the message :o)
Thanks for taking part of the Vintage and Beauty challenge :o)

Mira said...

This is absolutely gorgeous, I love it!
Thanks for joining us at It's All About The Vintage And Beauty.