Friday, May 11, 2018

spring discoveries

Hi everyone,
I am so excited this share my Pinworthy Guest post project for A Vintage Journey
I created this piece for their May Challenge: Words and Music,
 which is currently underway.
Coming off a winter season that has seemed to be never-ending this year, I knew in my heart that spring was on its way, the morning I awoke to the glorious sounds of birds singing. It brought joy to my heart and peace to my soul. This was the inspiration behind my "words and music" piece. I have created a panel covered with vintage sheet music that has been coated with vintage beeswax embossing powder to create a faux encaustic appearance. I am in love with the new Baked Textures Embossing Powders by Seth Apter/Emerald Creek. The Vintage Beeswax is the perfect translucency. After coating the paper with embossing ink, I sprinkled the powder and heated it. This process should be completed multiple times to create the faux encaustic look. Each time you add another layer, the depth and richness get better.
 In my excitement to start, I embossed the paper with two layers before I realized I should have adhered it to the panel first. Using collage medium, I adhered the paper to a canvas board that had been painted with black paint. I weighed it down to assure that it would lay flat and set aside to dry. While that is drying, I select my focal image from the Tim Holtz Wallflower paper stash. I fussy cut the image of birds on a branch. This piece is inked around the edges with distress ink in walnut stain.
 I select a scrap of burlap, then select some alpha chips and label letters to form the words that will be placed at the top of the panel. Using distress ink, I ink the Alpha Chips around the edges to give them a more vintage appearance. While trying different layouts, I decide to replace the printed branch with a clipping from a real pussy willow.
Envisioning the birds gathering bits and fibers to create their nests for spring, I embed the scrap of burlap along the left side of the panel using the embossing powder while I add the final layers of embossing on the sheet music. I attach the bird's claw to the pussy willow.

I then add the birds, letters and words to the panel. Another clipping of pussy willow that has catkins, is attached on top of the burlap using the embedding method.   
 An Idea-ology "DISCOVERIES" word band, that has black soot distress crayon rubbed into the crevices, is adhered to the bottom of the panel.
I am so thankful for this opportunity to be a Pinworthy Guest for A Vintage Journey.
 I hope that you are inspired to create something for this month's challenge. 
You have until the end of May to submit your project on their site. 

23 comments:

Words and Pictures said...

I just love your beautiful birdsong panel - and lovely photos of the process too. Thank you so much for sharing this lovely inspiration for the Music and Words challenge at A Vintage Journey.
Alison x

ann barnes said...

Alison, I was honored to have this opportunity! The words and music challenge was a treat to work, there were so many ways it could be considered. I really appreciate your lovely comment. Thank you for stopping by! ~Ann xx

A Pink said...

This is so lovely, Ann . ave captured a wonderful touch of spring and offered great inspiration for our latest challenge. Thanks for guesting over at A Vintage Journey today and sharing your Spring delight with us . x

Jackie PN said...

Ann, when I saw glimpses of this over at VJ I was blown away at the sweetness and how it so represents springtime! Every inch of this piece is so delightful!Those birds go so well with the burlap and the pussy willows- just precious! I love them! The music for your background made me instantly think of the birds singing their morning songs-
Beautiful, my friend!
hugs,Jackie xo

Freddie Bubblescrap Sleijpen said...

I love love love this! Tgank you for sharing your talent and your step by step with us. I am soaking it all up! Xox

ann barnes said...

Thank you so much Rox! I am so happy that you were able to stop by the blog. Hope you have a wonderful day! ~Ann xx

ann barnes said...

Thanks Amanda, it was a fabulous opportunity; and one that I am so grateful for. ~Ann xx

ann barnes said...

Thanks so much Jackie! You have a fabulous piece on AVJ today as well! I really appreciate your wonderful words of encouragement. hugs Jackie! ~Ann xx

ann barnes said...

Thank you my friend! I truly appreciate your kind words, so happy to see you stop by Freddie! hugs to you ~Ann xx

Lucy said...

Ann, this piece of art just makes me happy. I love how you arranged the birds. And I must note - superior fussy cutting. That is impressive as well.

ann barnes said...

You are so sweet Lucy, thank you so much for stopping by! I will admit, many of my fussiest cuts are handled with my exacto knife! thanks again! ~Ann xx

Mona Pendleton said...

Wow! What a beautiful project Ann! Love the fancy birds along with the strip of burlap! So natural and organic!

ann barnes said...

Thanks Mona, what a wonderful thing to hear. Thank you for stopping by! ~Ann x

sarascloset said...

Anne, your beautiful spring time panel has totally blown me away! The faux encaustic sheet music makes for a stunning backdrop to my favorite bird image. Embedding the burlap and pussy willow is a genius creative move and to me, makes this even more special. Thank you so much for being our Guest Creative Guide at A Vintage Journey and wowing us all with your lovely work of art! Sending hugs!

ann barnes said...

Sara Emily, your wonderful comments always give me such joy! Thank you so very much! I am truly honored to have had this opportunity and hope have another project selected in the future. I thank you for pointing me in the direction of A Vintage Journey blog in the first place, it is such a wonderful informative site. Thanks again, hugs ~Ann xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

LOVE that you cut the birds out...gorgeous piece!

Redanne said...

Ann, this is such a wonderful creation! I love those Tim birds and you have really brought them to life the way you mounted them, I just love the way the Vintage Beeswax looks on the music sheet and those pussy willow adornments are an absolute delight! Thank you SO much for guesting with us at A Vintage Journey with your beautiful art! Anne xx

ann barnes said...

Thanks Anita! So happy that you stopped by, I truly appreciate it. hugs to you ~Ann xx

ann barnes said...

Thanks Anne, it was such a pleasure and an honor to guest on AVJ. Thrilled you liked my piece and thank you so much for stopping by, it means a lot to me ! hugs ~Ann xx

Julia Aston said...

What a lovely Words and Music project Ann! Love the Vintage Beeswax embossing over the music sheet background - isn't that the greatest EP??!! Wonderful fussy cutting of your birds and the layering of burlap, pussy willows! How clever to add the little stick branch with the birds' claws wrapped around it! Congrats on being chosen Pinworthy and thanks for sharing your creativity with us at AVJ!! Julia xx

ann barnes said...

Julia, Thank you so much. I do love the vintage beeswax embossing powder, its magical. I am so happy that you enjoyed my project. Thanks for the visit. Hugs ~Ann xx

Seth said...

This is beautiful. I love the vintage touch that the Vintage Beeswax added.

ann barnes said...

Thank you so very much Seth. Your vintage beeswax is so utterly amazing for so many different types of projects! I totally appreciate you taking time to stop by the blog. Thank you! hugs ~Ann xx