I couldn't believe how large this Maya Road Birdcage Chipboard Book was when I received it -- it's 6" x 7"! So I thought it would be a good size to make it into a Spring home decor piece.
To start this project, I covered the front chipboard birdcage piece with Webster's Petite Papers Life's Portrait, using Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Multi-Medium in Gloss. Amongst its many uses, the multi-medium is a great all-purpose glue and works in the same manner as decoupage glue. I also brushed it on top of the papers, to give them a slightly glossy finish.
For the back chipboard piece, I first applied a couple of coats of Claudine Hellmuth's Gesso and let it dry. The Gesso primes the chipboard (since it is a semi-dark color), so that it takes fewer coats of paint color to cover it (especially when using a lighter color of paint). Then I used Claudine's Color Mixing Chart and Studio Paints in Yellow Pastel & Painterly Pink to mix up a close match of Studio Paint to the patterned papers and painted the back chipboard birdcage piece.
Once dry, I attached a piece of Webster's Pages paper to the back of the painted birdcage chipboard piece.
The bird is a piece from Maya Road's Song Bird Coaster Book, which was the perfect size to fit inside the birdcage! What a great value this book is -- at just $2.20, you get 6 birds to use either all together as a book/album, or separately as accents on any number of projects! I covered the bird in more Webster's paper (notice the bird and cage theme of the paper?!!), and gave her a beak with a Copic N5 marker.
The Bird's eye is a KaiserCraft Latte Pearl. I accented her with Maya Road white zig-zag vintage crochet trim that was sprayed with Tattered Angels Old Lace Glimmer Mist. In the photo below, you can tell a subtle difference between the original white color of the lace (top) and how pretty the Glimmer Mist aged it and made it match the papers better:
The lace also now has a pretty shimmer to it (which, of course, I had trouble showing in a photo). While I've had the opportunity to experiment with many different colors of Glimmer Mist, I only had Old Lace on hand to use on this project. So while my examples may not be very dramatic, you can imagine the possibilities with all the gorgeous Glimmer Mist colors Ellen carries! A GREAT example of how pretty these colors can be mixed, is Becky's Trend Watch Tuesday post this week -- in her layout at the bottom of that post.
I have a few good tips for working with Tattered Angels' Glimmer Mist --
How to use Glimmer Mist:
- #1 Tip - make sure the bottle is shaken up very well so that the glimmer, which settles in the bottom of the bottle (as in the photo above), is distributed throughout. That being said, don't shake it SO vigorously that all you have are air bubbles inside the bottle -- these will cause splattering! So after the bottle is shaken well, gently swirl the bottle for a minute (tilting it back and forth), allowing any air bubbles to settle, while keeping the glimmer evenly dispersed in the bottle. Not only will this give you better results, but it prevents the nozzle from becoming clogged.
- For a light, evenly misted look, hold Glimmer Mist away from your project and spray such as you would when applying hairspray.
- For a thicker, raindrop application, hold Glimmer Mist closer to your project while spraying. Do not move the sprayer too much, or too fast.
- For a pooling effect, which gives intense color, spray Glimmer Mist very closely and directly on your project.
You can let Glimmer Mist air dry or use a heat tool to speed up the drying process. While Glimmer Mist is attractive when just using one color, layering multiple colors also adds a beautiful richness to your projects! It is acid-free.
Can be used on:
-Wood, cardstock, patterned paper, metal, glass, fabric or paper flowers, felt
-Cardboard, Grungeboard, Craft-A-Board
-Adds a gorgeous sheen to lace, ribbon, twill and fabrics (will wash out!)
-Pools on plastic to create a stained glass effect
-Makes your stickers shimmer
To avoid sprayer dribbles/drips:
When you spray, make sure your finger is not hanging over the front edge of the sprayer. When the Glimmer Mist disburses it will hit your finger and dribble back down onto the rim of the sprayer. The next time you shake it or tip it, it will dribble out. If your finger is pulled back the Glimmer Mist will spray out in the pattern it was intended to and it won't go back onto the cap.
If the sprayer gets clogged:
-To prevent it getting clogged - Make sure you shake the bottle of Glimmer Mist really well before you spray it. The glimmer part settles at the bottom and if the bottle isn't shaken really well, the sprayer will suck up too much glimmer for the sprayer to handle.
-To clear out the sprayer - Take off sprayer top, put canned air (without the spray straw) directly on sprayer opening. Apply canned air in short spurts 1-3 times until clear.
If you don’t like the spray pattern:
-If you want a fine mist - Push the sprayer down quickly and move it across the surface of your project like you’re applying hairspray. You want to keep your hand moving quickly and evenly across your project. Bear in mind the nature of the product is that it may take you several tries to get a completely even spray pattern. Practice spraying before you do your final project.
-If you want a “splotchy” look – Push sprayer down half way while aiming at your project. Don’t move the sprayer too much or too fast.
If your paper is curling:
Glimmer Mist is a water-based spray that can make lightweight mediums (like tags and paper) curl as it dries. There are a number of ways you can correct this:
-Use a heat tool on both sides of your paper
-Iron your paper
-After it’s dry, place a heavy object on it for a few minutes
Will it stain my hands and/or clothes?
As with any arts and crafts project, messes happen. Glimmer Mist will come out of your clothes in almost all circumstances. It may take a couple of washings so make sure you check before you put it in the dryer. Glimmer Mist on your hands comes off best with shampoo, so once you’re out of the shower it should be gone! It will also come off with several washings with soap.
Will it fade in the sun?
Yes, Glimmer Mist will fade if left in the sun. You may be able to resist fading if you use a UV protective coating over your project.
Is Glimmer Mist water resistant?
No, Glimmer Mist is water-based and does not use pigment dye. Therefore, it will run if exposed to moisture. If you’re planning on using Glimmer Mist in a humid environment (bathroom décor, for example) put a protective coating over it.
My stamped images get blurry after being sprayed:
There are two ways to use Glimmer Mist with stamped images: If you’re using archival ink, you can spray Glimmer Mist on top of your stamped image and it won’t run. If you don’t use archival ink, spray the Glimmer Mist first and stamp your image over it, after it’s dry.
To finish up my birdcage decor, I suspended the bird to the top of the birdcage with narrow silk ribbon and then tied up the top with wide ivory silk ribbon. I also Glimmer Misted white Prima 4-Petal Flowers and (I think) managed to capture the glimmer in this photo (click on it for a larger view):
I added a tag with the "Live, Love, Bloom" sentiment from one of my all-time favorite Cornish Heritage Farms' stamp sets -- Kim Hughes' Silhouette Blooms II; it is cut with Spellbinders Tags Trio die and also Glimmer Misted. You can see below where I attached two strips of patterned paper to the bottoms of the chipboard birdcage pieces, so that it would stand up:
I hope you'll have fun with all these wonderful new Maya Road chipboard pieces Ellen is now carrying, along with my favorite Webster's Pages papers!
Stamps: CHF-Kim Hughes Silhouette Blooms II
Paper: Webster's Petite Papers Lullaby Lane/Life's Portrait 6x6
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad, Ranger Antique Linen Distress, Copic marker N5
Accessories: Maya Road Birdcage Chipboard Book & Song Bird Coaster, Tattered Angels Old Lace Glimmer Mist. Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Multi-Medium (Gloss), Studio Paints in Yellow Pastel & Painterly Pink, and Gesso. Prima 4-Petal Flowers, Hero Arts Spring Fancy Felt Flowers, May Arts wide ivory silk ribbon and narrow white silk ribbon, KaiserCraft Latte Pearl, Spellbinders Tags Trio die, Sanding Block,
