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Wednesday 1 February 2012

Four Piece Swap - Mission Accomplished!


One of my dear blogging friends
recently challenged me to a four piece swap.
The idea being we send each other 4 paper crafting items
of our choice and then each add a few items from our own stash
- make something with it all and send it back.

I'm always up for a challenge so of course agreed!
Here's what Mrs A sent to me

- sheet of designer paper
- pink fabric flower
- glass beads
- metal butterfly


It took me a few days before I decided what to do with it all!
It was the fabric flower that spurred me into action.


Look how pretty it is, so what did I do?


I took it apart - as you do!
Once the petals were separated
I had the idea of making them into little hats.
I was going to use clay heads at first, but changed my mind.


Very fashionable, wouldn't you agee!

I stuck the hats onto a (7" x 10") canvas board -
after adding two stylish ladies -
I wonder who they could be - lol!!

I glued the designer paper onto the canvas first with Paper Mod Podge
then gave it a light brayering of white acrylic paint to tone it down.

The ladies were pieced together - their faces, arms and legs
were drawn onto book text then painted a tan colour.
The clothes were pieces of scrapbook paper.


At the bottom of the canvas, I stuck on some tissue tape
and coloured it with water colour pastels.
The metal butterfly, I coloured with alcohol inks and it became
a hanger at the top of the canvas.

The Coco Chanel quote, I found on t'internet - printed onto
copy paper and stuck onto the canvas with more Paper Mod Podge.

Thus far I had used three of the four items
 - the designer paper for the canvas background
- the pink flower for the hats
-the metal butterfly for the hanger

This left the glass beads and the only way I could incorporate them
I thought was to just hang them from the canvas - but that seemed
to be a bit of a cop out to me.

After several days of thinking about and playing with
the beads I decided to make them into a necklace -
but not one for wearing!


I had a wooden heart blank in my stash and drew
on a neckline - so the heart effectively became
a sort of torso / bodice hanging.


I stamped versamark ink on the lower part of the heart,
applied several layers of embossing powder and heated it up
- whilst still warm, I pushed an acrylic stamp into it.


I painted the top half of the heart with tan acrylic paint
and then a coat of Sparkle Mod Podge.
The finishing touches were a row of stickles at the neckline
and the lace around the edge.

Phew, all finished!
The worry now was would Mrs A like what I did with
her four pieces.  I'm pleased to say yes, she did!!!

Here are the four pieces I sent to Mrs A -
- scrapbook paper
- lace
- ribbon
- beads


I can't wait to see what she makes of them all!

Finally, here's the inspiration for my canvas piece -
the two fashionable ladies with their fine hats!
A book called 'Collage Couture' by Julie Nutting.


It's full of wonderful ideas and I'd thoroughly recommend it.

Thanks for looking :)

23 comments:

Netty said...

Loving how you used the items to make this fab piece of art. The book looks like a must have.... x

Deborah said...

Your fashion drawing is really fab. Sherry. Another string to your bow!

Estelle Grace Tudor said...

Wow, that is beautiful! Love the ladies - tres chic! Can't wait to see what Mrs A creates! x

Meggymay said...

Wonderful, love how you used the things you were sent, like the look of that book as well.
Yvonne x

Nina Lise@Mrs Moen said...

What a great challenge, your ladies turned out very chic, Sherry; Project Runway next?

Unknown said...

just loving the ladies and them hats are so clever..hugs sassy

Cindy Is Crafty said...

Sherry, it is lovely! Awesome collage!

LivArtNow said...

Love your collage!! and that quote is perfect for it!! Nice work :) tfs,
hugs and smiles,
Linda

Jester said...

The canvas is gorgeous - such creative use of the items - and the necklace is lovely, too.

Unknown said...

Oh so pretty pretty pretty Sherry! Indeed totally fashionable, love your silk hats, they're over the top gorgeous!! Enjoy your evening, hugs, Ira x

Mrs A. said...

Lucky, lucky me. This is so adorable and you can't have known how so me this absolutely is. Hanging up on wall already and The Doc keeps coming in and having a look and saying "thats so you .You wear clothes just like that!!!!" Hope you are going to like my offering as much. The good news is that it has finally dried out from all the gluing and sticking. Took a hairdryer, airing cupboard and finlly the iron!!!
Yep its been well pressed!!!!!
Hugs Mrs A.

Vicky said...

Oh wow Sherry I love your canvas and the heart - you are clever. Lovin the look of that book too.

You're right there are lots of trendy shops now in the flower market. Well worth a look!:)xx

JaN's ArTy JouRneY said...

Oh Sherry..I LOVE your collaged ladies....You are soooo creative!!I've had my eye on that Collage Couture book ;)
These swaps are great aren't they...Can't wait to see what Mrs A made with her goodies :)
Jan x

CAROL said...

Wow! Sherry it's fabulous, have you drawn the ladies, they are brilliant x

Luna Art said...

So pretty, I love how you have made the hats they are stunning! I love the whole design of it (I have a fashion design degree) so this really spoke to me! Love the effect of the stamped embossing powder to and I will have to check out that book x

Jan said...

I think 'gobsmacked' is the word I'm looking for! Fabulous pieces Sherry and your artwork is just amazing. xx

Healing Woman said...

I was immediately drawn to your gals when I saw them on my sidebar. Cut-outs with attitude. Love them. Thanks also for recommending the book.

Elaine Akers said...

Love what you did with your challenge pieces, especially the flower that you turned into hats.
Great pieces!

SusanLotus said...

I dont know what to say! This is fantastic artwork!
Hugs!

StylishByNature said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jenny said...

Beautiful Sherry... your fashion girls are lovely... adore that book also... love seeing the swaps you are involved with...

Hugs
Jenny x

Sharon Field / Inky A*Muse-ment said...

Lovely art work, love those chapeaus!

Gini said...

Oh I got that book too, I love the way she puts the ladies in fashion poses, I was totally inspired to make some bird canvases by that book... I know how weird LOL!
Those ladies hats are just brilliant and the ladies and their flicky dresses are devine :-)
Gini
xx