Wednesday 21 May 2014

Coasting along...

My lovely friend Louise from Zuzu Petals 'n Stuff is hosting an altered beer mat swap. Each player is to make 5 altered coasters, send them to Louise and she will then make holes for each one and swap them out among the players, so that each of us will receive 5 in return which we can then make into a mini book. I have not done a swap for ages, and this one sounded like a lot of fun. So here are the ones I made:
I began with some blank beer mats, purchased from Calico Crafts.
I started by giving them a thick coat of Gesso and then added textures with the help of various  stencils and some embossing paste. I wanted them to be like a kind of series, so I used these sultry women images for each one.
The images came from a UK company called Cardmaker's Delight and come as ready printed so called card toppers. I saw these first on the blog of the lovely May and she gave me the link. For me the challenge was to blend them right into my backgrounds, which were created with the help of various acrylic paints and stamps.
I tore most of the images to give them an uneven edge and then blended my matching paint colours over and around them, I partly used my fingers, partly a baby wipe and sometimes added some fine detail with a brush.
Once the paint had dried I added some stamping, mostly in archival ink, but here and there also with paints. Often I stamped over the edge of the torn image as that helps to blend them into the background.
On some of them I also did further stenciling with inks, trying to pick up some of the patterns that were there in the digital images. On one or two I also added a little more texture paste and then blended paints over that again when it was dry.
I added one or two embellishments and each coaster got a sentiment. These are all from the Donna Downey Empowered Words set of stamps.

Well, hope you like my altered beer mats, I have not played with digital images for ages, but have to say, I really enjoyed it.

Thank you for visiting like always and hope you are having a good week!

48 comments:

Inky Angel said...

Astrid, These are simply breathtaking. Very envious the amount of work you put into them; the results worth a thousand words.
Hugs, Katie

Anonymous said...

Just gorgeous Astrid! What a beautiful job you have done blending the images into the background. I'm loving these. Karen.x

Two Mad Dahlias said...

These are stunning. I would be floored if one of these showed up in my mailbox. The women in the swap are lucky ladies!

Ink Art Designs said...

Yes indeed...the ladies in the swap are very lucky ladies!!! These coasters look amazing. Great art Astrid.
Dot x

marda said...

I would NEVER want to set anything on these beautiful coasters!!! Gorgeous.

Rosie said...

Wow, these little artworks are gorgeous, Astrid

Marisa Job said...

These are absolutely beautiful!! Great work!!

massofhair said...

Exquisite and stunning, love your coasters they are amazing! :-) xxx

May said...

WOW Astrid, what you have done with these images is fabulous... I adore the texture & colours...The crackle is amazing...I am so inspired by your work...Love them all... Hugs May x x

maria's knutselplezier said...

Wow this is super, what a marvellous swap!!! The person who will receive this will be very glad!!!I think you will get a lot of request to have a swap!!!

Greetings
Maria

Valerie-Jael said...

Gorgeous set of coasters, love the images and techniques used. Hugs, l

Lin said...

Astrid these are absolutely beautful!! every single one of them different but make a gorgeous set x

Dagmar said...

Fantastic!!!! Great textur and colours! I love them all !

froebelsternchen said...

The most beautiful beer mats I ever saw Astrid! Fantastoc!

Jenny Marples said...

Anyone who gets one of these gorgeous works of art will treasure them I'm sure. You've worked wonders in a small space Astrid with each one demonstrating your incredible style and artistry. Jenny x

Paula Whittaker said...

Beautiful!

Von said...

Blended to perfection ! what a fab set of coasters Astrid
Von ♥

Ruth said...

Exquisite. You've blended those divine images in beautifully. Each one perfect. Wow Astrid!

Maryann Laursen said...

And you´ve just done it again Astrid, these are soo gorgeous, and anyone would be sooo proud ogf getting any of these, that´s for sure. Stunning plates all of them.

Unknown said...

Wow, these are stunning Astrid. I can't pick a favourite as they are all so beautiful. Great imagery and love the texturing and blending - simply wonderful! Chris xxx

Redanne said...

OMGoodness Astrid, not only are these exquisitely beautiful but you have managed to incorporate those images so well! I love each and every one, the backgrounds are so beautiful. There are some very lucky recipients out there who will be absolutely delighted by your artistic talent! Hugs, Anne xx

Unknown said...

I've never seen more beautiful beer mats... Ever! Stunning pieces of art!! I.

rachel said...

these are stunning Astrid - whoever gets these in their swaps are going to be very pleased - gorgeous xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Five stunning pieces of art Astrid - fabulous textures on each of them and I love the way you have blended the pictures into the background. What fabulous swaps! Jennie x

Maryanne said...

These are fantastic, Astrid!!! I love the texture and the images area so well integrated into the backgrounds. Whoever gets them will be thrilled!

Paper Profusion said...

Your artistry never ceases to impress me hugely Astrid. All utterly stunning and incredibly collaged. Nicola x

krcmasterpiece said...

I love your designs! You've expertly incorporated the pictures into the background! Love them all!

Shirley said...

Finally got around to popping in Astrid and so glad I did as these makes are to die for.

Have had a mooch at all I have missed and oh my what fabby news this is. Want to say a belated congratulations on your new grandchild.

Warm hugs from Shirl x x

Margaret Mifsud said...

Wow!! Your little altered mats are awesome Astrid!! Love the colours and textures and you blended those images into the designs beautifully!! Whoever gets these will be over the moon!! Absolutely stunning work as always!! ox

Marleine said...


Hi, wow! Love the style and designs. Great images. X

Marti McClure said...

These are beautiful! And thank you so much for sharing your techniques. Very inspiring! Xoxo, Marti

Dorthe said...

They are beautiful Astrid, and all your backgrounds are so gorgeous.
Wonderful swap pieces, dear.
Hugs,Dorthe

Bärbel said...

Großartig gestaltet, Astrid, ich bin begeistert!
Liebe Grüße, Bärbel

Ellie Knol said...

WOW, they are all to be framed, not swapped :)

Corrie Herriman said...

I don't think I can add anything to the above comments so one word from me : GORGEOUS !!!!
Corrie x

Anonymous said...

I love these Astrid, they're all absolutely beautiful! xxx

Meggymay said...

Stunning coasters, whoever gets these in a swap will be delighted.
Yvonne

Anonymous said...

The images are beautiful but it is in your artistic hands that they transform into exquisite creatures and the way you blended them into the backgrounds with all that gorgeous inky goodness surrounding them surely has us believing that they are all Muses.
Wishes
Lynne

Silvia(Barnie) said...

In one word: BREATHTAKING.

Sandy said...

Oh Astrid - can I take what Anne said and triple it. Silvia said it perfectly --- BREATHTAKING! I sure hope you show the end result when you get five back in a little book.
Sandy xx

Ros Crawford said...

These have to be some of my favourites by you ... Love how you blended those photos ... I adore them!

Anonymous said...

Astrid, I agree with what everyone has said, they are completely stunning. I've never seen those images before, I feel a purchase coming on...

rkramadh said...

You sure are the queen of blending! So seamless every time. I zoom in on your pics, I gawk at them and I am always in awe as to how well everything is blended, digital or otherwise. I love these beer mats. I bought quite a few of these coasters (with some prints on them) and have been meaning to transform them for a long time. May be I can try now although I don't have guts to enter any challenge. Thanks for the inspiration as always. Almost every post of yours is pin worthy :)

Jools Robertson said...

Incredibly beautiful and how you have blended the images is amazing, they just disappear and then really pop out
Such fabulous colours and such a great idea to make into a book

Jools x

Words and Pictures said...

Ooh, yes - I love your glamorous film stars and how you've blended them into the surrounding colours and textures. I wondered when I saw your comment over at Zuzu's whether you'd end up playing along - so glad to see the results - gorgeous!
Alison xx

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Oh my gosh, these are gorgeous, your artwork is so inspiring, love it ! Cheers, Shirleyx

Marjie Kemper said...

Va va voom! These are exquisite, Astrid... love how much texture and color you've packed into these small spaces. Off to pin so I can enjoy them another day.

Nicecrane Designs said...

Your blending is amazing, Astrid,,,,,,waht a beautiful coasters OMG

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