12 February 2015

Bloom and Grow with Wendy Vecchi

Hi everyone and welcome. Thank you for stopping by to see what I've been up to this time - your visits are always appreciated. Wendy Vecchi is a constant source of inspiration and education for so many of us and she has been sharing lots of new techniques again recently, inspiring a few 'what if' moments in my own craft room.

Whilst creating my 'Plaster and Pots' card I had a go at creating a faux terracotta pots for one of the new mat minis. It was a little too shiny for my liking so I decided to have another go (bearing in mind what Wendy explained about making her embossing powders matte).
Here's the process I came up with...




Mix together equal parts of Frosted Crystal and Tea Rose embossing powder and sprinkle unevenly over the wet paint.
Tap off any excess and save for future use.


Heat until the powder is melted. It will turn lighter.


Finally blend Potting Soil Archival Ink over the whole surface to deepen the colours.

Now I had a pot I needed a place to put it! Those of you who have followed me for a while will know I have something of a passion for Venice and it's incredibly beautiful buildings. Having seen Wendy's faux plaster technique in action I figured it would perfectly replicate the slightly crumbling and faded plasterwork so often seen on them. What do you think?...


The ink colours I chose to use for this technique included Tea Rose, Tree Branch and Watering Can. You'll see some Watering Can stencilling (using Add a Stencil) brickwork (using a mix of Tea Rose, Tree Branch, Watering Can and Frosted Crystal embossing powders through the Basically Bricks stencil) Distress Ink blended edges (Brushed Corduroy) brick patterned washi tape (from my stash) stamping (using the border from The Beauty of Art with Jet Black Ink) and some Industrious sticker borders.


With the background complete I moved on to the window. The main window was cut from kraft card and the shutters from corrugated card, all dry brushed with white gesso and blended with Brushed Corduroy. The 'voile' curtains are white embossed vellum using the Vintage Lace background stamp and the faux graniteware pitcher is another Mat Mini using Sky Blue embossing powder and another of Wendy's fabulous techniques. The pot and pitcher were filled with flowers  made using die cut Clearly for Art and more embossing powder (Fern Green, Sky Blue, Red Carnation and Tea Rose); using the heat gun on them gives you the chance to manipulate the shapes. To finish I added Remnant Rub Ons and Alpha Parts to remind me about the things I love about this panel.


I had a ball creating this just for me! Isn't it great to be able to do that once in a while? If you've created any of your own handmade flowers remember, there's a new 'Winter Blooms' challenge started over at Frilly and Funkie. And if you fancy diving into your own Wendy Vecchi stash you'll be pleased to hear there's a new Make ART challenge too! This time the theme is 'Hearts'. Both challenges are sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique so you've got two chances to win a shopping coupon!

That's it from me today. I'll be back (well, in spirit) with a post for IndigoBlu on Saturday (when I'll be teaching a workshop at Byrkley Park, Rangemore) and for those going to Stitches make sure you come see me on the IndigoBlu stand! For now, take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx



36 comments:

  1. Beautiful !! Faux plastering looks perfect on your pots. Very inspiring post, Jenny

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  2. This looks brilliant. I love the plant pot.

    Chrissie

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  3. Just beautiful.. a brilliant project!

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  4. Jenny this is amazing, I love what you've created xx

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  5. Wow, love your terracotta technique, it's amazing, very clever indeed. The page in itself is stunning, I love all the elements, so much detail to just drool over. In particular the white pattern behind the flower pots, yum xx

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  6. Good morning Jenny,,
    Absolutely brilliant, love the effect you have created on the flower pot and the jug.
    Great card, love it all.
    Have a fantastic weekend
    Hugs

    Patricia xxx

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  7. Amazing Jenny!! I just love how you put together the window, with the corrugated cardboard as shutters...genius!! Love your little pots and flowers, and the background with the brick washi is fantastic! Love it! hugs :)

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  8. This makes me happy TOO! I think I'll just be on your blog for a bit admiring....
    hugs,
    Lisa x

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  9. Gorgeous Jenny, I love your shutters and the techniques all work so beautifully together. Beautiful design and I love your terracotta pot x x x x

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  10. I love Venice too, although I have only been once... but you have captured the 'look' fantastically well and I really love your faux terracotta technique, it looks fabulous! Another triumph Jenny. Anne xx

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  11. I love everything about this happy project. The brickwork looks fantastic and the window right down to the curtains are so well done. The pot and jug have been transformed perfectly and the little flowers give me hope that we might have warm weather sometime soon.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  12. This is gorgeous! I love the realistic look of the whole piece!

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  13. I LOVE this card!! It is absolutely gorgeous...so much detail! And who ever thought we could mimic terra cotta? Not me, that's for sure!!!!

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  14. Outstanding! Your attention to detail is amazing. Love the flowers in the pot, the shutters and how you stamped on vellum for curtains. Wonderful!

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  15. I know I say the same thing every time, but I'm always just stunned by your incredible artistic brain and your ability to translate your image into art so seamlessly!! I keep saying that you and Annie should open an art gallery of all your works. To see them in person must be a thrill to the core!! Hugs, Darnell

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  16. Gorgeous! Jenny n so pleased that you got to spend some time creating just for 'you' for once !
    Always love to see your creations n read the story behind them !

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  17. I love Venice too. In fact I love all of Italy. You sure did capture the mood. Beautifully created!
    Sandy xx

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  18. Nothing better than creating something just for yourself, Jenny. And your Venetian window is a stunner. I particularly like the blue jug - it looks beautiful against all the browns, creams and tans.

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  19. Awesome Jenny, love every little detail ion it.

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  20. Fabulous techniques Jenny, a wonderful card! That window is so cleverly done!

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  21. Jenny this is fabulous, such lovely colours and I love the way you have done the shutters they go so well with the window frame. Not sure I am going to Stitches but I am off to the trade show next Monday - whoo hoo.

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  22. Jenny, what a wonderful creation full of great techniques! I love your flower pots and the window looks amazing! Hugs!

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  23. Jenny, this is absolutely amazing! Great combinations of colors and techniques. Bravo!

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  24. Love that plat pot Jenny. The finished piece looks magnificent. Love it. Hugs Rita xxx

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  25. So much to see, beautifully done, love the pots, great tutorial and love all the details, stencilling, metal additions...absolutely wonderful Jenny! Ruth x

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  26. Stunning card and great tutorial on the flower pot! =)
    Hugs, Elenor

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  27. Woooow! It really does look like terra cotta. I'm going to have to try embossing powder on distress paints. I really like the texture.

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  28. A lovely pot and a great window scene too.....Brilliant!

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  29. Stunning Jenny. I love your little pots and shutters. TFS, enjoy your time at Stitches.
    Julie x

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  30. This creation absolutely makes me happy, too, Jenny :) It's just a fabulous card and I love every little detail! XOXO-Shari

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  31. Great design and layout Jenny....wonderful details....love the pots

    Tfs and hugs Annie x

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  32. Fabulous layering and composition Jenny - but such wonderful techniques too! Love the terracota - might store this one for later. Nikki xx

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  33. Spectacular, Jenny - I love the terracotta pot as well as your take on Wendy's faux granite. Fabulous window box design, and I love the background walls fading out to the edges - just brilliant!
    Alison xx

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  34. Awesome!!! Love the terracotta pot and your take on Wendy's technique!! Absolutely stunning card!! ox

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comments - they are really appreciated and will be published when moderated. Jenny xxx

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