Inspiration Post ~ Upcycle Your Packaging.

Hi everybody! It's Toni here with the first of our 'Inspirational Posts' for 2017. Heck! it doesn't seem five minutes since the year 2000 ! Now, if you're anything like me, you will have kept various pieces of packaging from all of those lovely new goodies, you had for Christmas. I can never bear to throwaway those firm pieces of acetate, so many crafty goods come in. After acquiring a few more, I decided it was time to put them to good use. Here's how I got started.......

I selected my packaging, and trimmed it to size. I ran one piece through my Big Shot, using a Seth Apter embossing folder. I had to create an embossing sandwich, as unfortunately my machine does not like the Spellbinders brand of embossing folders. Once the acetate was embossed, I painted one side, using Deco Art Media Acrylic Paints, in green gold, burnt umber and touches of turquoise.

As soon as it was covered with paint, I flipped it over, and pressed it onto a clean piece of paper, as if taking a print. this removed the paint from the high spots.....

Whilst this was drying, I stamped my image with Staz On, onto another piece of acetate. This is where my new stamping tool came into use brilliantly. If you have a Misti or similar tool, you'll know what I mean. It is notoriously difficult to stamp onto a slick surface, but a stamp press makes a huge difference.

 Once the Staz On ink was dry, I coloured my image with a variety of Alcohol Inks. The stamp is from a Lynne Perella set.

I really love the stained glass effect. My next move was to add a sheet of 'gold' metal leaf to the painted image. To do this, I sprayed the side I'd printed and painted, with repositional adhesive and

gently pressed a sheet of gold leaf onto the surface. This made the colours really glow. I haven't tried it, but I imagine you could use gilding flakes in the same way.

I repeated this action with the embossed panel too........

This is the back and this is the right side...........

I then attached the background panel to a small canvas, using some rusty tacks. I added a wash of acrylic paint to the surface, using one of Andy Skinner's dirty wash recipes, quinacridone gold, paynes grey and yellow iron oxide. This toned down the shiny surface, but still allowed the gold to shine through.

I then trimmed the stamped image, and added border with some left over sparkly, washi tape. I secured it to the canvas with small brads.

Finally, I added a word band, a rusty wire hanger and rubbed the sides of the canvas with Treasure gold. I'm really pleased with this little canvas. When I showed it to my husband, I asked him what he thought the background was and he said, 'some kind of metal'. Result!!! I hope this inspires you to put some of that hoarded packaging to good use. x