2017 #7 Adventure is Worthwhile {by Jennie Atkinson}

2017 Topic 7: Found Objects

Jennie leads us on another trip down memory lane with some Vintage trinkets cleverly curated into a delightful assemblage of goodness! She has such a lovely way with Infusions too! Always a treat to see her in action!

Hi everyone, Jennie here with you tonight and how lovely it is to share a project with you for our fabulous 'Found Objects' theme.  As a crafter it is second nature to be a hoarder, but living here on a small island there are not many opportunities to collect items as islanders are themselves naturally gifted in always finding a use for just about everything and anything!

However, we do have a scrap store in Lerwick where it is possible to pick up bits and pieces and the little "bruck" box in the corner of the shop is my usual stopping off place!

I have combined my Found Objects with the new loves of my crafting life - Infusions and Scrapcosy's stamps and stencils - to make this small assemblage hanging (which is not easy to photograph I might add as it kept swinging around!).

Eclectica Scrapcosy 03

PS049 Stencil by Scrapcosy

The adventure sentiment from Sara Naumann's last release was also most appropriate.

Eclectica Sara Naumann 19

These were my found objects: a little tin thrown away I imagine as the lid had become detached from the bottom, but just perfect for adding a hanging sentiment as you will see later. I only used the bottom of the tin and kept the decoration simple by painting first with gesso and then two coats of Fresco Nougat, such a wonderfully neutral colour.

And then some rusty wire (well actually a spring mechanism from an old clock), a piece from a broken necklace of mine, some rubber washers (amazing what you can pick up in yacht chandlers) and an old coin.

As I have mentioned before when working with the Infusions I always lay down a coat of Fresco Finish on the cardstock so I can add a lot of water. I have used PaperArtsy Smoothy 240 gsm card for the inside of the tin which I find brilliant for all ink and spray paint work. It really is super happy having a lot thrown at it but it is still thin enough to cut to the right size for the project. I have used Chalk Fresco as my base layer for this project but also find it is a good background colour for most things I create. Sleight Blue Infusions seems to be one of my go to colours! - I love that it blends so well with vintage designs and has a great masculine feel too.

I love Scrapcosy's stencils as you can find lots of little bits to use in a small project - a part of the Paris address fitted the background paper perfectly.

I felt the GrungePaste needed a bit of definition and so blended Sepia Archival Ink around the edges of the card and lightly across the raised texture.

I used the same process for the small hanging but as this was cut from white board it looks slightly different. Don't you just LoVE all those wonderful colours in a one bottle of Infusions! 

I used my rusty wire to create a top hanging - it was very springy and hard to bend being from a clock mechanism but once bent into shape it didn't need glueing in the tin.

The two broken hinges worked perfectly for the little hanging as I was able to hang my rings from them. My sentiment was stamped on some old book paper to retain the vintage feel.

The washer and coin joined a few other embellishments but I couldn't find a use for the old necklace in the end!

Sadly none of my PaperArtsy vintage people stamps fitted this small tin (despite stamping them all and fussy cutting to make them fit!), so I had to resort to a purchased "art doll" but his relaxed air lends itself to these wonderful vintage adventure stamps and stencils.

I really love the versatility of these stamp sets with options for using small parts of the larger stamp to create vintage layers.

I have to admit to having great fun creating this little hanging and without the current theme would probably not have thought to hunt out some of these objects and use them together in a project. I probably need to have a good hunt through most of my drawers here in the craft room to see what else is lurking! 

As always thank you for joining me and happy crafting and creating!

Jennie x
Live The Dream

I adore your gorgeous little lad perched nochalantly on the edge of the tin, almost inviting us to peer in and see all the treasures. His expression is pretty much 'Look what I've found!' Perfect! ~ Leandra

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