Never Doubt Your Instinct

Hello all, I'm so glad you enjoyed the Autumnal ATBs over at Calico Crafts.

Today I'm back with my second piece for Country View Challenges this month, hoping to inspire you to Add Some Texture.

I'm always adding some texture, so I loved Jennie's challenge this month.  From the many fantastic entries rolling in, it seems you do too!

There's been lots of extra inspiration over at the Country View Challenges blog all month, and there's still plenty of time to play, so do come and get textural with us.

My second offering continues in the autumnal atmosphere which has been hovering over Words and Pictures lately, and this time I've gone really earthy.  Ground Espresso is responsible really - it's such a rich, dark, earthy colour and it plays the starring role here.

I don't seem to have any process photos for this one - I was just playing and not really thinking it would go anywhere I think - but it's pretty simple.

I started with one of my favourite backgrounds... a PaperArtsy Fresco weathered crackle with French Roast (good for Ground Espresso!), then crackle glaze, and then Chalk over the top.









I stamped the gorgeous vintage tulip from PaperArtsy Hot Picks 1507 in Sepia Archival.  (You've seen the large tulip from the same set in action quite often here recently, especially if you were at Ally Pally, but I think this was my first time of inking up the small one.)

I applied Micro Glaze over the image, keeping it loose and rough so that it wouldn't be too perfect.










Then, with my heart slightly in my mouth, I smooshed the tag through some Ground Espresso, Pumice Stone and Hickory Smoke Distress Stains on the craft mat.

I shouldn't have worried... the Micro Glaze did its job beautifully, preserving the image, while allowing the inks to pool and spot around it.

I carried on with the wrinkle free distress technique, adding several more layers of inky dabbing and smooshing for a really grungy look.

I love the collage effect of the Hot Picks image with these great numbers around the bulb of the flower.











To add some more dimensional texture, I borrowed an idea from my recent Destination Inspiration post over at A Vintage Journey - the rusty textured floor from my spooky Victorian parlour room.











I ran some dark brown Kraft-Core through the BigShot with the Mixed Media Thinlits lattice die, and then added tiny sprinkles of Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo Distress embossing powders as well as a touch of Ranger Antiquities Rust powder.

The words are from the Small Talk stickers.  They were a bit of a self-pep-talk as I was really enjoying the dark grungy brown look, but wondering whether I ought to add a contrasting colour or element.

I went looking for words while I debated, and these just leapt out at me.  I took it as a sign that I should stick to my monochrome guns.









With all this grungy rustiness, I couldn't resist an extra hit of rusty wire wrapped around the crinkle ribbons for the topping...













... and wrapped around the tag itself.  Can't beat a bit of rusty texture!












A tulip is, of course, a spring flower... but through the winter the bulb holds the blueprint deep in the earth, so this is like a ghostly echo of the flower which won't appear for many months yet.

I hope you'll be inspired to Add Some Texture at Country View Challenges this month.  Come and play along and you'll be in with a chance at the randomly drawn prize voucher from Country View Crafts.  I hope we'll see you there soon.






The true worth of a man is not to be found in man himself, but in the colours and textures that come alive in others.
Albert Schweitzer

Find it at Country View Crafts:
PaperArtsy Hot Picks 1507
PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics - French Roast, Chalk and Crackle Glaze
Ranger Distress Stains - Ground Espresso, Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke
Ranger Archival Ink - Sepia
Sizzix Mixed Media Thinlits
Idea-ology Small Talk Stickers
Distress Embossing Powder - Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain
Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon
Tim Holtz Kraft-Core