Western Assemblage

I'm part of an online group that has a "retreat" near here in Grapevine TX every summer that coincides with the Heirloom Productions Stamp Convention. This year 23 of us will attend in just a few weeks. Our "leader", Jeri, sets a theme every year and designs a book for us to work on. Several of us also present smaller projects.

This year the theme is "Western" and I will "teach" a small assemblage in the top of an Altoid mint tin. I was having trouble coming up with a central image for this piece until I went back to my mom's recently and was going through old family photos. Lo and behold, I came across this photo of my dad from the early 1940's. I knew instantly that I wanted to use it in my Western assemblage.

I rusted the tin with a two-part Rust Antiquing kit from Sophisticated Finishes. Then I added Cosmo Cricket "Amarillo" red paper, a torn piece of corrugated cardboard and a small piece of Wild West ribbon (from Michael's $1 spot last year). The rusty star is wired on through the two holes in the tin; a piece of twine was wound in a circle and tied with a torn strip of bandana print fabric; the boots are a decorative button with the shank removed; and a piece of "barbed wire" cording was glued in the upper left corner.

I hope everyone will enjoy this project.