2017 #17 White: White on White Mobile with ESA {by Alison Bomber}

2017 Topic 17: Shades of White

From all things rust to all things white. Quite a contrast in these Topics, but we do love a challenge, and working with shades of white can be exactly that, but once you start to look at texture, shiny vs matte or sparkle, you have the makings of a lot of gorgeous posts! Plus, I do think this fits nicely into an elegant Christmas theme too! Let's see what Alison brings ot this topic! Always a crowd-pleaser, I'm sure you will love this idea!

Hello all, Alison here from Words and Pictures with some white on white action for you... and I do mean action.  I have a mobile for you today - the very name meaning it's always in movement... yes, I set myself another photographic challenge!

I don't really know why, but the very moment I put Shades of White together in my brain with the idea of using Seth's stamps, the mobile jumped into my head.  I could suddenly see it... Seth's Wood Chips, some glossy white embossing over a softer chalky background, catching the light as it moved.  It's really unusual for me to have such a clear picture of where I'm going.  I'll leave you to decide whether I got there.

I experimented with a couple of different hanging methods - if I'd gone with string as the mechanism, then it would really have been hard to capture as they would all have been twirling crazily.  The wire I eventually chose means things are a little stiller, so you can get a half decent shot!

I thought I'd use the circles and stars to give the mobile a wintry look to go with the whites - snowballs/stars/snowflakes as the idea.

Seth's wood chips come in a sheet as above, ready to pop out the shapes, and he also cleverly planned them to have some matching stamps ESA03 and ESA04, which as you can see, fit the shapes. The frames are a nice bonus and offer all kinds of options as far as layering and framing go too. 

I used the Fresco Chalk Paint in Chalk on the Wood Chips - it's a lovely warm white.  I did a couple of coats, sanding in between so that I'd have a nice smooth surface.

Seth's sets ESA03 and ESA04 not only work with the Wood Chip shapes (or vice versa, probably!) but also with his StencilGirl 'insiders' and 'outsiders' stencils, and he has a wide range of Spellbinders dies that mimic the star and circle theme too.

Eclectica³ {Seth Apter} Set 03

  

Eclectica³ {Seth Apter} Set 04

For the embossing, I used Wow Bright White powder over Versamark ink.  On one side I've used the fabulous texty stamps from ESA04...

... and on the reverse sides I've used the graphic designs from ESA03 (except on the outline Wood Chips - they've got text on both sides).

The frame is made from the internal ring of an embroidery hoop and some coffee stirrers, all painted in Chalk, and glued together.

And for my hanging mechanism I went for the recycling option... wiggly wire from a used paper pad - and of course it's another shade of white. 

I love the sculptural effect of the slightly straightened spirals in the air, and of course it's incredibly easy to attach the elements - just bend and twist and you're done.

It wasn't the sunniest of mornings for the photographs, but I'm really pleased with how the embossing shows up, and it's even better when the light is brighter.

So for once I knew where I was going and there were relatively few obstructions along the way (just as well, as I was working on a very tight time restriction!).  I did try out the effect of inking the edges with some Vintage Photo Distress Ink on one of the stars, just to see if I wanted to go that way, but I washed it away again.  (You can see the temporarily-inked star in the photo with the still-curly book wire - see what you think.)  I like the clean, fresh look of the pure white on white.  I hope my shades of white give you some ideas to play with over the next couple of weeks. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Alison x
Blog: Words and Pictures
Pinterest: butterfly crafter

Isn't the embossing on the chalk paint perfect! And I could not work out what your squiggly wire was until you said! A great idea Alison and as Frescos are equally happy outdoors as indoors, you could leave that outside too! ~ Leandra

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