Tissue Transfer and God's Faithfulness

 

 I've been experimenting with using tissue to transfer graphics to wood.  Rosemary at Villabarnes has a great tutorial that inspired me to begin working with tissue paper transfers.

I began by applying a paint wash using watered down, flat, gray paint onto some pieces of reclaimed wood I have.  No real recipe here -- just more water than paint so you can still see all of the details of the wood.

I printed out the words on my computer (I had to play around with placement on some of these to work around the holes) to make sure they fit where I wanted them.  The tissue paper is attached to the top of the paper (you can use any piece of paper, I just used the one I'd already printed on) using double stick tape (I have a 1/4" tape, tape gun).  The tissue attached to the paper is run through the printer and then I gently removed the tissue.  The third image shows the tissue with torn edges applied to the wood using the same water/paint solution.  Work gently and then go over it distressing/tearing holes where you want them, etc. and let dry.

Once it dried, I GENTLY rubbed on some stain 'here and there'.  Finally, I applied a matte, clear acrylic spray paint to seal everything.  The paint wash adheres the paper for the most part but it would not stay on forever unless I sealed it. 

 I love to use music lyrics in my work as well as Scripture verses.

This one is for our son and has special meaning.  He has gone through a rough year but has remained faithful to the Lord through it all.  Recently when I visited him, I played this song for him.  It speaks so clearly of how the Lord is with us 'even when the rains fall' and the 'floods are rising'.  Isn't this Bible verse a perfect fit?  The Lord is already changing our son's desert into pools of water -- AMEN!

I had to include this.  My "little boy" made this handprint stone nearly 20 years ago.  How comforting to know that the Lord knew all he would face even when this little hand print was so tiny and has promised never to leave him or forsake him!  Please enjoy this video of the song:

Target-Inspired Glitter Easter Decor.

I was walking through Target the other night and spotted some adorable bunny rabbit Easter decorations – they were covered in brightly-colored papers and covered in ultra-fine glitter.  Would I buy one?  Of course not.  I’d make my own.  To do this I had to find ceramic or resin figures (mine were ceramic). (IMPORTANT:  Don’t look at the painted designs on it – look at the LINES.  The shape needs to be very clean and simple otherwise you’ll end up with a very pretty, glittered blob!)

Here’s what I started with – pretty terrifying aren’t they?  Well, the duck isn’t so bad but that bunny?  EEEKK!  So a coat or two of primer went on first.  (I did the duck in gray, not sure why but ended up doing it over in white because the paper I was using was white and the gray showed through.)

Once the primer was dry it was time to start covering with the paper.   

 

The paper I used was handmade.  (See my paper hints at the end of the post!)  Hint:   The smaller the figure, the smaller your torn pieces of paper should be.  It makes it much easier to shape around all the curves.)  Tear your paper (don’t cut – straight edges will show up and leave a less uniform result.) 

I worked in small sections by applying Mod Podge to the figure and then to the back of the torn paper pieces, pressing on and shaping by applying more Mod Podge over the top and blending in all the edges.  Now you could use a sponge brush I suppose but I feel I have better control by using my fingers.  I kept the figure on aluminum foil so it wouldn’t stick while it was drying.

Here, everything is dry and I’m ready to “glitter” him up!  

To do this, I watered down a little Mod Podge and brushed over the entire bunny lightly using a paint brush. Then I gave him a “glitter” shower and left that to dry.  I used Stampin' Up! Dazzling Diamonds ultra fine glitter but you could use any kind.  I think even the kid's "chunky" glitter would look cute!

I added the little black bow (because I’m going with the black and white theme) and you’d never know how truly sad he looked before his makeover!

I followed the same steps with the duck, added a bow on her little neck as well and she too was a new woman! . . . I think they're a cute little pair now!

And they fit just perfectly on my dining room table!

Really, the possibilities are unlimited!  You CAN use wood figures or shapes; you could add rhinestones, pearls, rick-rack on the eggs, etc.  With all of the beautiful handmade papers available, you could really go crazy with this project!  And those holiday decorations you're no longer crazy about?  Just re-cover them!

Now here are some tips for choosing the right paper for this project:

• You can’t use tissue paper – it’s too thin. 

• You can’t use regular scrapbook paper – it’s too thick. 

• The best is the handmade papers or mulberry paper because when you tear them, the edges are “fibrous” and you don’t see white edges instead of the printed paper.  Most scrapbooking stores carry both the mulberry paper and handmade papers. 

• Stay away from solid colors, stripes or plaids.  Choose paper with a tiny, all-over pattern or a tone-on-tone print (like the one I used) if you want a solid color look.

Thrifted Rustic Easter Vignette

I found these three pieces at my local thrift store -- total cost was $4.00.  

 This is how they started out.   I gave all three pieces a coat of white chalk paint.  They were too 'stark' for the look I was going for so I added several coats of watered down brown paint.  Here you can see the duck on the left after it was 'aged' and the one on the right with just chalk paint.

To age the watering can, I just kept wiping brown stain over it and rubbing it off.  The hatching chick decal was applied using Mod Podge.  I have a method for printing these out using just plain paper, white tissue paper and a regular ink jet printer.  You can read about it in detail HERE.

To help make the edges of the print 'disappear', I take something stiff (a stencil brush, stiff piece of dry sponge, etc.) and pound the edges.  They then 'fray' and 'feather' out so you hardly see them.

 I filled the bottom of the can with paper and topped with some moss and wooden eggs that I already had.  I'm trying to spend as little as possible while adding to my Easter decor this year.  How are you saving money with your decorating?  I always love seeing how others decorate "on the cheap"!  Happy Spring (hopefully it will FEEL like Spring soon where we are!)

 

Weathered Wood Garden Signs

I don't have a very 'green thumb'.  I admit it.  I keep trying though.  Every year.  It helps to have a sense of humor about your shortcomings so I decided to create some signs for the garden (of course they're fun to use even if you DO have a 'green thumb'!)  I'm making multiples of these so they will be for sale in my eBay shop on APRIL 1 and are also available through my Facebook Marketplace shop right now.

I have a lot of reclaimed wood but you could use any scrap wood you may have.  I give the wood a white wash first.  This is important because the images are printed on white tissue paper and you want the tissue to kind of 'disappear' when applied to the wood.

Lots of sanding by hand and using my sander help to make the tissue 'disappear' into the wood.

I love this verse!  I thought it was also a great way to display God's word in the garden.  I normally like the NIV but for some reason, I really liked the King James for this verse.

Patience pays off when the tissue disappears making it look like these have been hand-painted directly onto the wood.

It's still a bit cold here although the flowers ARE starting to make an appearance and the grass is starting to grow so hopefully in the weeks to come I can get out to the garden beds and begin getting them ready for another attempt at making SOMETHING bloom this summer!

It may not FEEL like Easter but it IS and I wish you all the most blessed Easter as we celebrate the risen Savior, 

Jesus Christ!

I'm sharing with you one of my favorite songs by Selah called "Glory".  It was a great comfort to me as we sat with my mom before she went to be with the Lord.  It's such a great description of all that awaits when our Lord returns.  Because of His sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection, "one day death will retreat and wave it's white flag"!!  Amen!!

On any given week (depending on how busy I am!) I love to participate in Link Parties.  These gals put a lot of time and effort into hosting these parties so I always want to show my appreciation by directing my readers to these blogs. 

Monday

Busy Monday

Amaze Me Monday

Creative Mondays

Metamorphosis Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

Inspiration Monday

Show & Share

Keep It Simple

Sew Can Do

Farmhouse40

Tuesday

Let’s Talk Vintage

Tuesdays at Our Home

Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Tuesdays With A Twist

Brag About It Link Party

The Savvy Apron

The SITS Girls

The DIY Dreamer

Party in Your PJ’s

Review, Chews and How To’s

The Hearth & Soul Link Party

Celebrate Your Story

Reader Tip Tuesday

Wednesday

Wow Us Wednesday

Ducks In A Row

Creative Spark

Penny Pinching Party

Thursday

The Homemaking Party

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

Inspired Creations

Vintage Charm

Transformation Thursday

Dragonfly Designs

Share Your Style

Too Much Time on My Hands

I Gotta Create

Share Your Cup Thursday

How Sweet the Sound

Friday

Simple and Sweet Friday

Home Sweet Home

Oh My Heartsie Girl

Homemade & Handcrafted

Chic on A Shoestring

Home Matters Linky Party

Saturday

http://www.acrosstheblvd.com

Sunday

Sunday’s Best Link Up