Monday 4 November 2013

Alison Bomber Project #2 Who Lives In A House Like This ....

Hello again... and welcome to post one of two for my second project of November.  I'm working again with the Urban Snapshots Nature plates, but you won't see them until tomorrow.  First things first...

As you know from my "Dolls" Houses last month, I've a soft spot for little houses (what with my history with dollshouses) so it was pretty much inevitable that when looking for fun in my crafting, I headed for one of the fabulous wooden house substrates. They're also a fantastic bargain at £2.30 I think!
I started with a coat of French Roast on the sides and edges.
Then out with the Grunge Paste, the palette knife and some stencils. I used my (almost) favourite Chicken Wire on the roof (I'm never sure whether this is the "Reverse" or not, and I've got the packets mixed up now!)...
... and a combination of the Imagination Crafts Leaf Swirl Border and the Crafter's Workshop Swirly Vine - lots of swirling!  And absolutely no need for perfection at this stage... there are going to be many, many layers over it.
Before those layers went on, though, I added some areas of Crackle Glaze, mainly in and around the texture, rather than over the top of it.

Once the glaze was dry, and the paste fully set, I started out with my first layer of paint.
Vanilla is a lovely warm cream, and I mixed it with Snowflake. Unlike yesterday, I applied it with a brush, making all my strokes vertical so that you get a nice "directional" crackle where the glaze was.
But the Vanilla seemed a bit wishy-washy after all, so I added a rough coat of my new favourite neutral, Stone.
Then I started building up layers of earthy browns, starting from the edges with each colour, getting progressively darker, but taking each colour less far as I went.
This way I get lovely dark varied layers at the edges and corners, and leave lighter areas highlighted at the centre.
A bit of dry brushing onto the Grunge Paste texture adds definition to that too.
And on the inside, I used a similar process to add a sense of extra depth to each cubicle.
Now for some colour ... I wanted to stick to quite a natural colour palette. Well, I was planning to use the Nature stamps, so it made sense to me.
I started with my favourites again - the wonderful turquoises, and using the same method of working from light to dark, but travelling less far, and with less paint on the brush each time, I started working downwards from "the sky".
Then it was time to go upwards from "the grass". I started with Limelight, and couldn't believe the colour variation from adding just that one colour. But, of course, since Limelight is translucent it benefits from all the varied layering already present underneath it. Very exciting!
But I layered in some Hey Pesto too, and added the same colour shadings to the edges of the mini-boxes at the front. There'll be more layers arriving later, but for now, I turned my attention elsewhere... to the back wall of the display area.
On a separate piece of paper I added stripes of the same paint colours direct from the bottle, graduating them so that they would be at the same height as on the external frame.
Then I used a brush to blend them (pretty roughly and randomly) the full height and width of the page.  
Time to get some ink into the mix. I used toning Distress Inks, and managed to get both Chicken Wire Stencils into play this time. 
I also added some white "clouds" right at the very top with the Prima Chalk Edger, smudging it with my finger for a softer, fluffier look.
I did an approximate cut first of all, before trimming each piece to the exact fit for its compartment.
I'm pretty pleased with the end result - given I was really following my instinct, and hadn't planned this at all. In fact, I had a whole other plan for the background originally (more on that later!)...
As you can see, I added some of the delicious birds in the grass from Hot Picks 1009 to the bottom of the background.

And I really like the way the colour gradation travels to match the colour gradation on the sides.
Those were all late-night photos by the light of a daylight bulb, so here are just a couple in proper daylight.
I'd also added some more layers of browns by this point, pretty much dry brushing really, highlighting both the texture and the crackle.
And can I just say: check out how close those greens are to the natural mosses and lichens on the stone windowsill beneath!  
And a pretty accurate rendering of stone colour in the centre and brickish browns on the roof ... Fresco Paints rock!
The sharper-eyed amongst you may have spotted a couple of hints as to the contents of the finished house, but you're just going to have to wait until tomorrow for the full interior. However, I will give you a head start on some of the embellishments, because they did need some preparation.
I was thrilled to read that PaperArtsy are now stocking the fabulous metal embellishments designed by Anna Dabrowska a.k.a. Finnabair. Given I was working with Nature stamps, flowers seemed an obvious addition... but I wanted to do a bit of altering first, so I grabbed some Rusting Powder and got to work.
I laid out my chosen pieces - these are mainly Prima, but a couple of other bits of filigree may have snuck in - on some vinegar-soaked muslin.
I used Multi-Medium Matte to coat the metal so that the rusting powder would "stick" to it.
Then a gentle sprinkling of rusting powder over everything...
... and a good spritzing of white wine vinegar from a mini-spray bottle. Apparently you can also use it slightly diluted with water, but I use it neat.
Then all you have to do is wait... preferably in another room, since it's pretty stinky!
Here they are, almost done, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see the finished flowers, and how they fit in to the final project.
Oh, by the way, here's what I'd originally planned to use as my background within the house: the fabulous "leftover" muslin from the rusting process ... Needless to say, it's gone into the stash box for future use!
Thank you for stopping by, and I hope to see you tomorrow night for the final chapter.

Leandra Says: Thank you for sharing the whole process of how you set about choosing your colours and how easily then can work well with one another. Great tip for everyone on how you graduate the colours too. This is such a beautifully detailed project ... cannot wait to see where you go next with the embellies.

Gillian Says: Love love love the graduation of your chosen colours and the textured chicken wire roof ... fab. I know these rusty embellies are just going to look perfect within this house, great to see Rusting Powder making an appearance.


32 comments:

Helen said...

The graduated colours look amazing, and I love the outside of the house too. Can't wait to see tomorrow's - but I am going to have to, as I'll be out at reveal time!!

Darcy Marshall said...

Fabulous, its like a garden inside a house. Looking forward to the next installment.

sara j said...

STUNNING!

Alison said...

Fantastic!!! xxx

Hazel Agnew said...

What a build up. Love it so far and as the saying goes, all good things come to those who wait!

Unknown said...

Its looking great!

Maggie said...

Fabulous House love the textures and colours and the rusting embelies (not forgetting the muslin)! can't wait to see more.

MaggieH

Astrid Maclean said...

Wow, you have been busy, looks amazing! Just taking all those photos alone must take you hours, don't know how you do it all...

Jennie Atkinson said...

Fabulous Alison - it is looking wonderful. Thanks for all those wonderful step by step photos - just amazing. Can't wait to see the next stage!

jojo79 said...

The colours are beautiful x

Julie Lee said...

Fabulous project! Such useful tips for applying colour and it really looks fantastic! I can't wait for tomorrow! Julie Ann xx

massofhair said...

Fabulous House, looking forward to finding out who is living in a house like this!

Stunning project so far excited there is more to come:-)

Dagmar said...

wow - your house is fantastic!!!!! great artwork - i love it so much!!!!!

Unknown said...

Fabulous! Love the rusting technique! Can't wait to see it finished! :)

Anonymous said...

I already love this little house, it's completely gorgeous. Can't wait to see the rest tomorrow.

Lucy Edmondson said...

Wonderful project! Can't wait to see the rest of it!

Lucy x

Linda Hart said...

I love these wooden houses too, and agree - they are a bargain! Great work on the project so far, can't wait to see the finished article!

pearshapedcrafting said...

This just cannot be what they mean when they say 'like watching paint dry' to describe something boring - this is riveting and I can hardly wait to see what you do next! Just love the layers of colour and especially how it matches the moss so well! Brilliant Alison!! Chrisx

Cocofolies said...

What a gorgeous house, already wonderfully painted and textured !!!! Can't wait to see the rest and the inside now... Drooling ! :) Coco xx

Tracy said...

Alison your sneek peek was stunning and the full project is AMAZING ...swooon...can`t wait to see the inside!!
Big hugs
Tracy
xoxox

Marci said...

Intriguing. Wondering what else. Making me want all those paint colors, but they're out of a lot of the ones they carry over here. Love it so far.

Mona Pendleton said...

Wow Alison! What a beautiful project! Thanks for the inspiration and enabling!

Jenny Marples said...

Love the ideas on this Alison, especially the way you've used the blended bands of colour on the exterior and interior of your lovely house. Looking forward to the next instalment. Jenny x

chrissie said...

Wonderful piece and some amazing ideas

Love Chrissie x

Gio said...

Oh, you master at using those fabulous paints, Alison. Gorgeous gorgeous colours and texture. Can't wait to see the finished piece!

Hettie said...

Wow! This is fabulous Alison. Bagsy this one when you realise you don't have room for it!
Stunning.
Hugs
xx

Sandy said...

I am in love!
Sandy

craftimamma said...

I love these little houses and this one is looking to become a stunner! Fabulous rusted embellishments too (I have the powder ... must use it!!!)!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

CreativSpirit said...

Can't wait to see the finished house. So lovely the way you've used the paints and stencils so far.

Marjie Kemper said...

Absolutely gorgeous! Really love the stenciling and beautiful color job.

Annie said...

This is fabulous Alison with a stunning outcome. Love the layers and stencils and the background papers on the interior. Absolutely wonderful

Crafty hugs Annie x

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow absolutely gorgeous stunning house and so loving your rust technique. The outside of the house is amazing :-) Kezzy xxx