Sunday, 16 February 2014

12 days of Christmas in February?

For the last five years I have participated in a wonderful crafty swap where 13 like minded crafters each make 12 identical (well very similar) gifts. These are then swapped with the other participants to that everyone gets one of each other person's gifts. This is our 12 Days of Christmas swap and it is such a treat.

It is quite a challenge just to think of something different to make each time that is not too large or heavy but strong enough to stand up to two postal journeys - one to "Santa" who puts together the parcels and the other to the recipients. In the past I have made key rings, stuffed animals, calendars and buttons. these and the gifts I got in return are the subject of (much) earlier posts.

This year I made door (or wall) signs using MDF blanks that just fitted into a shoe box for posting.

 
I started by painting gesso over the whole sign and then used a chocolate brown coloured paint round the edge. The colour in the close up photos is a better representation then the one taken of the sign hanging on the wall.
 
I die cut letters from chipboard and glued these and lots of art and craft bits and pieces down with gel medium Glossy Accents.
 


 
I used all sorts of things including pencils and old paint brushes ( I have so many with gummed up bristles!). I painted over everything with gesso to disguise unwanted colour and used spray inks with pearl powders over the top to create a unified, aged, stained look.

 

I finished off by highlighting the letters and other details with Treasure Gold and dyed string with Walnut ink to create the hanging.

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