2017 #13 Metallics: Christmas Wreath with EEV {by Ruth Mescall}

2017 Topic 13: Colour Study- Metallics

A spot of colour mixing, and gorgeous metallic splats, and Ruth is well on the way to creating another of her inspired projects!

Hi everyone, it's Ruth here with you today, and I'd like to share with you a little home decor project using metallics in a few of my favourite ways. I frequently use metallics in a project and quite often in a subtle way as I'm from the less is more school....most of the time!  
Christmas and metallics just go together so even if you have non Christmassy stamps you can still get the flavour of Christmas. I also like to show how verstaile stamps can be and I'm working with some favourite Ellen Vargo stamps both for the background and the centre piece. These are the stamps I've used to create my Christmas Wreath. 

This was a bit of a journey as I originally thought of making Christmas trees for a canvas or card out of the conical floral image (can you see snow capped metallic accented ones?) but that evolved into a wreath on a card using the current image and then I remembered I had a wicker wreath that could be altered and an accented poinsettia style layered bloom finally evolved. 

I knew I wanted a deep almost burgundy red effect and find using colours next to each other on the colour wheel can really add depth, so pink and blue were also used as well as archival inks. I used the following Fresco Chalk Paints, Cherry Red; London Bus; Bougainvillea; Blueberry and the first metallic I added in was Copper Fresco Chalk Paint. 

Aren't those gold splashes so rich and luscious? Gold Fresco Chalk Paint and yes it's slightly diluted, I've also added a sprinkle of gold embossing powder. 

This is such an easy stamp to trim and layer up and there are touches of gold on every flower. Not covering all the white card stock when brayering adds contrast.

Is it a flower or is it a 'petal'? Using a hot glue gun enabled me to get lift between the 'petals'. (I found out Poinsettias are made of bracts not petals...)

Dry brushing with Nougat and Snowflake Fresco Chalk Paint altered the frame before I 'tickled' it with White Fire Treasure Gold. I wanted to add a word to help balance the wreath so looking through my Christmas stamps thought the slightly squiggly one from the set below worked well. 

It had to have a dazzling flower centre so an old brown coat button was transformed with White Fire and Onyxite Treasure Gold.  

It was easy to assemble so would be quite a quick and fun project to involve children with and if you haven't used or rarely use metallics, splashes and hints can be a great way to start dabbling and the effect can be quite magical. I also hope you might try mixing similar paints to add depth. I quite like the idea of making leaves for another wreath, using green or autumnal shades or even the different metallic colours available could look stunning! Ruth x

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I totally forgot about that words stamp on the Lynne Perrella set!And I would never think to use Ellen's flower head to arrange a wreath either! See this is why we call you magnificent Ruth! You always come up with something unexpected! ~Leandra

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