Sunday, May 05, 2013

Inspired By...Paris!

Whether it is a song lyric, or a quote from your favorite author, an idea from your favorite blogger, or you want to create something inspired by your favorite artist,  this week we want to see how you are "Inspired By" someone else and their creativity. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to try a Wendy Vecchi style piece, or you wish to try your hand at layering like Finnabair. Maybe your favorite book can serve as inspiration for a canvas piece or a place you've visited inspires you to create a new art journal entry. If you have a Pinterest account full of inspiration you’ve not used, this would be a great time to pick something, and give it a go. Whatever it is, take the inspiration in front of you, and make it into something uniquely you. We can’t wait to see what you’ll try, and how you’ll inspire us!

Hope you aren't tired of hearing about my recent excursion across the ocean, because as you can guess this frame was inspired by my trip to Paris. I still can't believe I was in the City of Lights...a dream come true! Only three of us where able to continue on, and once again I had to have something special to give to the girls to remember this wonderful vacation. So I transformed el cheapo $1 store frames, to house that one special photo that each of us would cherish and look at fondly. Each lady told me the colors of their Art Studio or place they keep their mementos in
If you come back tomorrow, you will see some of my photos of Paris, and hear all about it...the good, the bad, the ugly, and the pretty! 
I spray painted a gold base, and followed with a white crackle top.
Using Tim's Distress Paints from Ranger, I shook them first then applied some to my craft sheet and dabbed the Parisian script and postmark images of Tim's from Stamper's Anonymous into it so I wouldn't have too much paint on the images so it wouldn't run. I used Broken China here and on the other,  and then Fired Brick on the last one.
I didn't want to risk any crackle flaking off, so I sealed this with Glossy Glue N Seal. The Glossy gives the vintage feel of this a nice contrast, but it's not too shiny at all...just perfect.
After it was thoroughly dried, I began stamping the Parisian images from Tim's Paris to London and Paris Memoir, and from Artistic Outpost's Paris Exposition (Linking to their May Monthly Referral Program as well. ) in Jet Black, and heat embossing them with Ranger's Black Powder. I also used the bee from Tim's Oddities set, appropriate for Debby I think!
More Distress Paint to compliment everyone's colors, covered the metal bits from Idea-ology. I then sanded them a bit. I didn't paint the metal from the Fired Brick frame.
I added the year in the balloon and sealed the numbers in to match the texture of the rest of the frame.
I didn't like that the sanded portions were silvery and the frame crackle was gold, so I added a little bit of dried up Inka Gold...I like it dried by the way...on portions of the silvery bits..much better. I love the way the pink metal looks...very Ooh la la!!! I should have painted in the word Paris here in black and totally forgot in all my excitement of the Inka Gold. It doesn't take me much to be excited I guess.
I poured Crackle Accents into the ornate frame opening. It totally would have looked better in black letters...oh well. I also gave the edges of the frames a little Gold Paint Dabber distress.
This one is mine...typical red, black, gold, and grungy.
This is Debby's.
 
 
This is Michelle's.
 
 
Does someone creative inspire you all the time? Do you have a Muse? Have you ever visited a place that ignited your creative fire? If so, create something based on that inspiration, and enter it into our challenge. You just might be the lucky winner of a $50 voucher to Simon Says Stamp. You can also be named as one of the "Top Three Picks" for this challenge. Good luck, and visit the other DT member's blogs to be inspired by their inspiration! WOW!!!
 
Supplies:


I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

42 comments:

  1. Oh Anita! I love these frames. Every detail is absolute perfection. Have a wonderful week! Hugs, Yvonne

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  2. Anita...your Parisian frames are gorgeous! I love all of the crackle, the distressing and the stamping. I'm sure glad Tim came out with that new line of stamps in January! You've utilized them perfectly with these frames! Love the colors of each of them, too. Beautifully done. <3 Candy

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  3. Paris is a fantastic place, I confess that I could spend a really long time! Your frame celebrates it perfectly! Wonderful choice of colors! BArbarayaya

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  4. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE..what a transformation....

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  5. Wow Anita, these are just beautiful!!!

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  6. Absolutely beautiful frames Anita. These are inspiring in their own right. Thanks for the tutorial again - always so helpful. Hugs, Jenny x

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  7. What fabulous frames you've made for memories of Paris!

    Sally

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  8. O my word. Such Gorgeous frames...the detail is AmAzing... Wonderful keepsakes for your dear friends.. Looking forward to the Paris Pics.. Thank you for the great inspiration & tutorial... Hugs May x x x

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  9. Wow, these are fabulous, Anita - amazing crackle backgrounds and wonderful stamping! Great to have you play along at Artistic Outpost!!
    Alison xx

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  10. Anita those are simply divine! Love every detail and adore the crackles ... Have a great day, Suzanne x

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  11. Stunning! Such a great gift idea and I really, really love the way you decorated them! Would love to know what you used for the crackle??

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    1. It's a Crackle system from Krylon, 2 parts. First, you spray the bottom coat, then after drying, spray the top coat. There are several color options. I love using it!

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  12. Ooooh, how gorgeous!!!!! Love the colours & the crackled effect. Simply stunning.

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  13. Was für wunderschön dekorierte Rahmen mit Paris Flair, ich mag sie alle.
    xox Anja

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  14. What a great inspiration...your Paris frames look great Anita!

    kind regards, Alie :-)

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  15. What a stunning frames, and such a great idea to make 3 frames to remember your special picture! You're so great in altering things! Thursday I'm off to Paris! Can't wait, hihi! Hugs, Sandra

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  16. Lovely trio of PARIS frames Anita. Love the ornate plates in differing colours, lovely touch and fabulous stamping too. The trio of colours are so complementary. A perfect gift idea. Tracy x x

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  17. They are beautiful Anita, I just love the cracking backgrounds and all the detail, really pretty. Thank you for sharing how you did them.

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  18. Beautiful frames! Love the crackle. I can never get my crackle to crackle like that! Love the images and the design.

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  19. Wow, what wonderful work!!! (A bit of illiteration for you Anita lol!) I'm lucky enough to have been to Paris twice, once as a kid, but it was definitely much better the second time when I had a romantic weekend with my husband :-) What fantastic gifts these will have made as mementoes for your friends, and I'm sure they are much appreciated. I love the paint stamping and all the images you have used are perfect. How thoughtful to have matched them to the recipient's colour schemes too. Love the pink metal, perfect for Paris. Fabulous projects and thanks for the inspiration! Maddy x

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  20. I adore your frames! Love the finish you got on them and all the great images. I am glad you got to Paris! When I lost my first hubby, I went with a girlfriend for a week to experience a childhood dream. It was just what I needed to feel alive again. Such fabulous memories. So, if you come to my stamp room, you would see it is done in a Paris theme and I mean everything is Paris or French inspired. I am truly happiest in that room. My current hubby thinks I have an "illness" for the tower, as the says it is everywhere, but I think it is happy. I hope someday to get there with him. What was your favorite part of Paris? I adored it all, but loved all the museums (wish I saw more of them...)

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  21. Ooh la la! Your frames are magnifique!

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  22. Soooo WONDERFUL Anita - lucky travel companions. Paris Je T'aime. Nicola x

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  23. Wow!!! Fabulous frame:) The structure of frames and colors are really stunning. I love it :) Stamps and metal accessories are brilliant. Photos of paris certainly will show in them great. Thank you for the inspiration! Greetings Asia :)

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  24. And another Ooh la la from me too. These frames are just stunning Anita! Paris is such a vibrant city and you have captured it perfectly - love the wonderful crackling, the amazing stamping and also that you matched the colours to your girlfriends wishes - you are a star and your work is so inspiring. Love, love, love these frames and so glad that you enjoyed Paris, looking forward to the photos! Hugs, Anne x

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  25. Wow ! This is Stunning !I loved the crackled base with gold a lot and you have used the stamps fabulously !

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  26. These are absolutely gorgeous! What lucky ladies, so thoughtful of you Anita. I love the cracklling with the stamping over the top really lovely x

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  27. Wow, these are fantastic altered pieces. Just gorgeous.

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  28. Hello Anita. What beautiful frames.just so amazing. Hugs Rita xxx

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  29. A fabulous set of frames! Love the crackle and stamping.

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  30. I love the stamping & texture from the crackle. A lovely set of frames.

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  31. beautiful work and what a wonderful souvenir!

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  32. These are gorgeous!! Love the fabulous crackle and the great colours and stamping. Great idea for a project!

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  33. Very cool Anita! Love the stamping over the crackled background, awesome!

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  34. Gorgeous trio of frames, Anita! I love the way you stamped over the crackle finish :)

    *mwah*
    Steph
    Simon Says Stamp!

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  35. Oh yes! And loving that steampunk feel to this!

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  36. Oh, Anita! How gorgeous! I love the yummy crackle finish and all that artful stamping. Everything you do just oozes with artistry. You took a $1 frame and made it look like a million!

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  37. After seeing the amazing photographs you took in Paris, I can see why you were inspired to create these cool frames to house a couple of them. Blessings, my friend!

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