Metal and Sparkle

Hi there and welcome to my blog  :)  I have a piece of mixed media to share with you today, something I created for the Country View Crafts Challenge blog;  http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/   Their theme for September is 'Metal' and I decided to create my take on a set of steel tool drawers, like the ones found in many garages.  I have used an MDF set of drawers, black card, embossing folders,die cuts, paper clay and moulds, skeleton leaves, gilding waxes, Dyna paints and Sparkle pens.
  

I started with a small MDF set of drawers with wooden handles.  I painted the whole thing with black gesso,taking the drawers out, painting each one and letting it dry.

While the paint was drying I embossed several pieces of black card in folders, one with a grid pattern and one with cogs.  I then added gilding waxes to give an effect of aged metal.  

I covered the drawer handles with each of the gilding waxes, then cut the embossed card into panels to cover the drawer fronts.  I used strong glue to attach the panels then blended waxes around the edges. 

I then attached panels to all sides of the chest.  I didn't cut the card to fit each side exactly, I used several smaller pieces on a couple of sides to give the appearance of patched sheet metal.

 I left the front of the chest black so that the drawer fronts really pop.

Next I made all the embellishments; some out of black paper clay, some out of die cut card, and a frame that I made by attaching two thin wooden frames together then painting it with black gesso and gold paint.  I painted the little face in the same way, the cogs and flowers were painted with Dyna paints.  I then used Sparkle pens on the flowers to enhance the textures.  I gilded the die cuts, but I left the skeleton leaves as they were already a lovely colour of blue.  

 

I used the gold paint to accentuate the features of the face.

I attached a small panel of mirror card to the back of the frame , then attached the face inside the frame.  I added a tiny flower to the frame and some tiny cogs to the face.  I then arranged and attached the other embellishments.

To complete this project I used the waste from die cutting cogs to create faux rivets  for the 'sheet metal' panels.  

I had an absolute blast creating this project and I'm really pleased with the result!  I love the combination of the hard metal effect with the softness of the flowers and the delicate skeleton leaves.  Thank you so much for visiting my blog today, I hope you've enjoyed this post - I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment - and I hope to see you here again soon  :)