A Shabby LOVE !

Hello crafters..

Welcome to my page today…I have something totally different from my usual Vintage style! If you have been following me, you will agree as to how difficult it is fro me to keep away from the BROWNS!  This project is brown free…totally..That was a real challenge for me, but I did it. Let me know if you see any brown!

I have discovered a new love for books…not reading, who has the time??lol…

I have altered one more Mills and Boon this time, perfect setting for the LOVE month!

A shabby love story of a beautiful couple…here it is!

I so love this picture from the net, and wanted a proper  frame to get this couple in! So, I went about  making a shadow box from an old mills and boon! Leaving a few pages in the front and back, I carved out a box in the center to hold some…SURPRISE!

I was going to keep the base color white! Yes, even I was surprised at my decision…but I was going to do it!

After sealing the box with gel medium, I gave 2 coats of gesso and then started my texture work.  I randomly applied some pearlescent paints in soft shabby pastel colors in spots in the front and at the back and sides. Then, went about stamping some textures and script with Bo Bunny stamps. Then came the time for texture paste and basket weave stencil from Prima and when that dried, I rubbed in pearl silver on the texture.

 By now the front page had a soft shimmery shine in silver and the whites and the soft colors made me happy…yes, no browns till now! Lol..

The heart widow on the front page is a hand cut out and I backed it with a cardboard at the back so it would be a sturdy closure. Some bling outlines the heart…after all it is supposed to be romantic, you see.

I used my new Heart felt creations, Ariana Blooms (my prize win) to make some flowers and have inked the edges alone so as to keep it shabby too. The florish leaf is a resin mold which I gessoed and then applied some distress crackle and then pearl blue in the crack. Its just so pretty!

 The ornate metal book corners are also given an aged shabby look with just rubbing a bit of gesso…no browns here again!

I have dyed the seam binding in pastel colors with worn lipstick and peacock feathers DI.

And then the book opens….

This is what you  see!

A shabby heart key chain, a love message scroll and lovely ruby heart…does this remind you of Titanic!I know that was in blue, but this was the closest I could get! I just loved this ruby heart…it’s a broken hair clip, lol! It just was waiting to fit in this love project..

The shabby key chain..is a stamped image using Paper Artsy stamp on one side and Itsy Bitsy on the other side. I stamped on canvas and colored with DI and then sealed it with varnish. The heart has crackle paint too and I have done some shabby machine stitching too..

The romantic message scroll too have been inked in complimenting colors and tied with twine and lay in a bed of shabby cheese cloth…no browns here too!

Have a closer look at this ruby heart! The front cover of the book is backed using paper from Prima Sunrise sunset paper pack…lovely lace pattern paper, so I dint alter it one bit.

The shadow box too has some stamping, inking , water wash and bling! Not to forget the back…

The entire book is edged with prima chalk egder , Tin can.

So, I have successfully completed a project without using brown paint or ink!! Did you see any???

I would love to hear your feed back on this shabby Love story. And it is now a proud display in my living room, cos the photo can be changed! I had to document my achievement of not using browns you see, Lol! Thanks for putting up with my chitter chatter!
Am now wondering "what next with a mills and boon" ???

I am entering my altered book in the following challenges..

CraftyCatz- Stitching

PolkaDoodle – flower power

SimplyCreate too- use hearts

Brown SugarChallenge – 3 diff embellishments

Natalie& Amy challenge Blog- all about Love

AlteredEclectics

All SortsChallenge Blog- flower power

SweetStamping Challenge Blog – Love

OCC- Metal, ribbon, paints

Try It On Tuesday - Add a photo

Thank you so much for stopping by today.

Until my next creative journey,

Happy Crafting and Re cycling.

Hugs.