Documented Life Project - Week 38

Still in the September theme of journaling with photos...

Week 38 - Sept. 19

Art Challenge: Using a Silhouette

Journal Prompt: "There is no shadow without light"

For this spread I searched "silhouettes" online until I found this image of a little boy jumping. Since I am knee-deep in little grand boys, I decided to use this!

For the background I blended Distress paints until it looked somewhat like a sunset. For more texture I used the same paints through a few stencils over like colors so it would be subtle. I imported the image into my Silhouette machine and created a cut file. I used that as a stencil with black gesso. (Did you know that black gesso is more opaque and darker than black paint?) I also brushed the gesso across the bottom of the page to ground the image and used light vertical brushstrokes for grass. The flowers are from a Tim Holtz stencil - I just used a few and the tops only.

I finished the page with very old rub-ons (love using up old supplies) and some uppercase gold alpha stickers. I'm happy with the result and will always think of my boys when I see it.

You Distress Painted What?

When we replied to Fabio's family that we would be attending the wedding, Jo promptly asked us to be in the wedding party!  Apparently in Brazil (at least at this wedding) there were no bridesmaids and groomsmen. Instead one has "madrinhas" (female) and "padrinhas" (male) - family members or friends or people close to the couple. The couples walk down the aisle together and then go together either to the groom's side or bride's side of the altar.  In all there were 31 of us! The women all wore long formal dresses and men wore suits with matching ties.

I was luckily able to borrow a beautiful dress from one of my co-workers (thanks Lynette!) but the only appropriate shoes I had were silver and the dress was bronze.  I really didn't want to buy a new pair of shoes! After much thought, I finally came up with the idea of using Tim Holtz's Distress Paints to color the shoes!  They are advertised as working on all surfaces and permanent when dry, so I figured I had nothing to lose!

I have to report that it worked beautifully! I used Antique Bronze Distress Paint which was almost a perfect match for the dress. The paint went on really easily with the dabber top.

Here's one original shoe (on left) and one coat of paint on the right shoe.  I could have probably stopped at one coat, but I wanted to make sure they were well covered, so I did two coats. I didn't do the insoles as I thought they might get sticky in the heat when wearing them.

And here's the finished pair!  (Oops, before the pedicure...) They stood up to an entire night of walking and dancing and still look like new. No nicks or scuffs!

So, Mr. Tim Holtz, thank you for another fabulous product which is more versatile and useful than I ever thought! Now I'm wondering what else I can paint...