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Thursday, July 3, 2014

Faux Metal Ceiling Tile Album Cover

Hi everyone!!! It has been such a very long time since my last post.  Many of you know I had pretty serious neurosurgery in New York back in May.  I am back home now and slowly but surely healing (I just got my stitches out.  I can't believe how long the scar is!  Thank goodness for long hair :) ).  I will be wearing a neck brace for the next couple of months and I can't lift anything over 3 pounds to keep pressure off of mending bones.  This kind of limits what I can do.  I've gotta say ... try crafting (as well as eating and putting on your shoes and so many other things) without being able to look down :)  It's seriously a bit of a challenge!!   However, I've managed to overcome the hurdles this week to do a project as a Guest Creative Guide over at a Vintage Journey.


Before I introduce my latest project, I would like to give a heartfelt thanks to Anne and all of the talented creative guides over at A Vintage Journey for choosing my tag as their "It's All About Him" Challenge winner.  That was such a special project to honor my dad and remember those who have sacrificed their lives in military service.  I loved that tag and was so glad to have a chance to share a little bit about my dad with you.  It brought tears to my eyes when I saw that you all liked it too!

Ok ... now on to my latest project.  While I have been laid up in bed recovering from surgery, I've spent a lot of time watching home and garden television programs.  I love shows that repurpose vintage items and use them in home decor.  One of my favorite decoration ideas was using old metal (usually tin or copper) ceiling tiles for wall art.  The embossed metal tiles have intricate designs and often are painted.   If these tiles have been laying around for awhile, you can see the the metal peaking through where the paint has worn off.  Sometime they are pretty distressed and have accompanying rust or corrosion.

I wanted to create a scrapbook album cover that looks like one of these vintage ceiling tiles.  It was the perfect project for Nikki's "Use Every Stamp in a Set" Challenge over at A Vintage Journey.  One of the first Tim Holtz stamp sets that I bought (and still one of my favorites) was the Floral Tattoo Stamp Set.  Although I  have used individual stamps from this set at various times, I had never used them all on a single project.  These stamps create images that already seem to have such texture to them.  I was really excited about playing with them and seeing what kind of arrangements I could make for my faux embossed metal tile.




 I had a 12 x 12 chipboard album in my craft stash.  I started by giving the front cover a good coat of gesso.  After that dried, I painted it with copper acrylic paint.  Then came a coat of Antique Linen Distress Paint.  Now here is the fun part. I started designing my cover by using my Tim Holtz Floral Tattoo stamps.  I used some 12 x 12 white paper and stamped various designs on it with black ink until I had a design I liked.  I then recreated that design on the cover with Pirate Gold embossing powder (alas ... no copper embossing powder!).  I used Distress Embossing Ink for the stamping.  After the entire cover design was stamped and embossed, I painted the cover with another coat of Antique Linen Distress Paint. 



After everything dried, I pulled out the sand paper.  I sanded the embossed areas to uncover those wonderful floral tattoo stamped images.  I really distressed the album cover edges and even distressed all the way down through the top layer of the chipboard to create the “rusted holes” (actually ... copper doesn't really rust ... it "corrodes") in my faux ceiling tile.   Next I took some Walnut Stain Distress Ink to rub into the distressed areas. I grabbed some Martha Stewart verdigris jewelry enamel glaze and wiped over some areas of the cover to give it that patina-like finish in places.  Finally to bring out the stamped design a little more, I rubbed Walnut Stain Distress Paint into the nooks and crannies of the embossed images.   Here are a few close-up pics:







I have just about used all of my energy for the afternoon.  Thanks for dropping by.  I hope to visit your blogs soon and catch up on all of your creative endeavors.  Wishing you all happy crafting!!  -- Mary Elizabeth

10 comments:

barbarayaya62 said...

MAry!!! I' m very very happy to see and read you! I've started to be worried for you and this morning.... et voilà..... you are here! Very good news! You are a very courageous woman and I admire you for this, my friend! I hope that you health get better !!!! Your project is wonderful as always! Welcome back my dear! BArbarayaya

Anonymous said...

Beautiful tile Mary Elizabeth!!! Its just brilliant. Love it! Glad you are on the mend and still crafting. Karen.x

Words and Pictures said...

So glad to hear you are home, and starting on the road to recovery after the op.

And so thrilled that you managed to join us with this stunning creation at A Vintage Journey. Have just been leaving some love there - but it's great to see some more detailed photos here - especially of that amazing decayed effect and the fab DP over EP!!

Brilliant, Mary Elizabeth... take good care of yourself over the next days and weeks.
Alison xx

Paper Profusion said...

Popped over for a closer look Mary Elizabeth. You've made a stunning guest design piece. I'm delighted to hear that the worst is over with. I'm sure your current setup is very frustrating / requiring lots of patience - hoping that it all heals perfectly. Nicola x

Andrea Ockey Parr said...

Oh my goodness! What a medical trial to have to go through! It's crazy how much we take "normal" activities for granted until we have limitations. Even the most simple things become monumental achievements. I'm so proud of you for fighting through. How cool is it that you can still create incredible art even when struggling! You go, girl! I love what you've created here and was totally floored when I read that it started out as chipboard! What an amazing transformation! So many layers and such great attention to detail. I especially love the hints of teal that you would see with aging copper. It is stunning and I am so happy that you are hanging in there. Stay strong, my friend, and know that you've got so many fans out here supporting you!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Congrats on the guest spot, AND HOLY MOLY!!! This totally loves like old metal ceiling tiles! I'm thoroughly impressed!!! Just a WOW!!!!

Marci said...

I commented over there, but wanted to tell you here that you succeeded in your goal. I would have sworn this was on old ceiling tile! Good luck with your recovery.

Marci said...

P.S. Pretty petunias?

Redanne said...

So very pleased to see you back Mary Elizabeth and to know that you are healing well. You are an incredibly brave woman and I hope your recovery continues well.

It was not a very difficult decision for the Creative Guides to choose your piece as a winner, it was stunning and your story was so moving. It is a piece that will stay in my memory for a long time.

How wonderful too, after all you have been through that you should do yet another stunning piece of work for AVJ. You had me convinced that it was real tile - what a very talented lady you are. I look forward to seeing more of your beautiful work. Big healing hugs, Anne xx

Jackie PN said...

Mary Elizabeth- this has got to be one of the most creative pieces I have seen! I really thought it was an actual ceiling tile till I read your post! Crazy incredible! Thanks so much for sharing your process- I need to try this myself!
regards,
Jackie