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Friday, 1 July 2016

Reach for the stars, an altered file folder for Mixed Media Monthly

Happy July and welcome! The first of the month means a new challenge over on the Mixed Media Monthly challenge blog and this month our theme is "Reach for the Stars". I altered a file folder to keep all my travel documents safe.
We have an amazing sponsor this month, who will also do a guest design post. It's no other than the wonderful Seth Apter!!! Here is our graphic for the month, if you want to play in our challenge to be in with a chance to win one of his amazing stamp sets, don't forget to add this graphic to your post!


My project is a full size file folder and I started by cutting a bit of card slightly smaller than the folder and then adding some scrapbook paper as my first layer.
Next I gave it a thin coat of gesso and then added various elements such as lace, strips of fabric and tape to add some texture. I also did some stenciling, using a variety of texture pastes.
The only Seth Apter products I own are two of his stencils and I used elements from them both for my background.
Time to add some colour, - I used a mix of sprays, inks, Distress Crayons and Gelato, but decided to keep my folder in monochromes. Below a few close ups:

The next and final step was to add some embellishments:
A large stamped and embossed butterfly adhered over a clock die. Both are by Tim Holtz.
Highlighting the stencilled words with Gelato and Distress Crayon.
A large flower I had in my stash in similar colours was dry brushed with a little gesso, - I also added some stencilled and wooden stars and that was pretty much it.
Do hop over to the blog to see what my talented teamies have created and to get all the details of the challenge. Of course we all hope you will decide to play along and if you do, don't forget to add our graphic to your post!!
Thanks for your visit like always and have a creative month!
xxxxx

44 comments:

  1. Wonderful piece, have fun with your challenge, hugs, Valerie

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  2. Brilliant and beautiful, you have created so much depth and dimension, I love it xxx

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  3. Stunning. It amazes me how you think of so many different ways to decorate the folders. This one is dreamy Astrid

    Love Chrissie xx

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  4. Gorgeous! Love the texture and that you showed the layers in your photos as it is always inspiring! Love my stars a bit too much so I will definitely be playing along!

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  5. This is utterly lovely, Astrid - such depth to the layers, such subtle shimmering colour and then that glow of warm autumnal orange on the butterfly - I love it. Sorry I've been MIA again - have a couple of weeks of calm coming up in the Czech Republic soon when I aim to do some proper catching up.
    Alison x

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  6. Wonderful project Astrid! Happy weekend to you!

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  7. A stunning piece Astrid. The textures look amazing, these screens should be touchable so we could feel the details.
    Yvonne xx

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  8. Lots of wonderful texture, beautiful layering and a gorgeous butterfly and flower - a real stunner Astrid! xx

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  9. Gorgeous canvas, love the textures as always. Have a great weekend, Shirleyxx

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  10. Beautiful soft colors which I love, beautiful depth from layers of them, -and the stenciling ,laces and diecuts- !! A gorgeous looking file folder, dear Astrid. I so admire your way with the inks and sprays ,to change a dull looking canvas to something brilliant !!
    Hugs,Dorthe

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  11. Beautiful texture astrid .. beautiful work x

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  12. Love the layering! Beautiful piece!

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  13. LOVE the whole file folder concept! Gorgeous texture and layers too. A beauty!

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  14. Fantastic altered folder, Astrid. Love the texture and shine.

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  15. Astrid,
    Beautifully vintage and wonderfully textural!

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  16. Wow! This is stunning!! Love everything about it! Have a great weekend!!

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  17. Wonderful colour combination and I love all the yummy texture

    TFS and hugs
    Annie x

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  18. Just gorgeous Astrid!! There is always so much texture in your work, I would love to reach in and touch one like this!! Stunning work with that flourish stencil!! hope you are enjoying your weekend. hugs :)

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  19. Gorgeous background Astrid. And I do love that texture!!!

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  20. Such a gorgeous piece of art here again Astrid. I love all the texture, you´ve used for it and the colors are also really great too, so the final result is really amazing and so beautiful. Have a wonderful week-end now all and lots of crafty fun, I hope.

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  21. Amazing background love the combi of colours
    Thankx for the inspiration
    Gr miranda

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  22. This is fabulous Astrid! The texture you have created is wonderful - if only I could reach out and touch it! Superb colour choices! Hugs, Chrisx

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  23. I always love your projects - so much to explore and learn from! The monochromatic theme in this one is so classic - just beautiful.

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  24. This is so gorgeous Astrid! I love all the textures and even with the monochrome colours you manage to get such great depth to your pieces .. just wonderful! Love this!! Safe travels and I hope it won't be too cold when you get here. So looking forward to meeting up with you. hugs xx

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  25. Astrid, this is utterly amazing! Wow, you sure have a way with vintage palettes and texture. I'm so inspired!

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  26. So much detail Astrid, love it too bit. Happy crafty week with hugs, Angela x

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  27. This is so pretty! Love the vintage take on the challenge and the textures. Great tutorial too. TFS! :)

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  28. I have no words to tell you how much I like this project, really fantastic!

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  29. Wonderful textures for a deep cover. Beautiful!

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  30. Fantastic folder! Love the monochromatic scheme and all that texture!

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  31. What a wonderful textured background you created on your folder base Astrid! love the coloring you added! Julia xx

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  32. Stunning altered file and love the layers of texture

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  33. Astrid, your work is always so lovely, and this is no exception to that rule. I love that fabulous shabby texture and your butterfly just melts my heart! Thank you for sharing your steps and for the inspiration! Hugs!

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  34. This is absolutely gorgeous!! Love all of the details with the added layers and dimension- tfs!

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  35. Amazing atmosphere and wonderful colors + nuances! Fantastic details and beautiful lace :).

    Hugs - Senna

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  36. love all the textures u added. beautiful. tfs :)

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  37. A lovely folder, with so much happening underneath. And we share a stencil or 2 in common :) Happy travelling. (Squiddy aka Anne Squire)

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  38. Wow! This is awesome! First I love that you altered a folder! That is so smart! And I love the stencils that you used and how you colored it all. The butterfly is gorgeous and I love that clock! :)

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  39. Your textures are terrific on this! Love it!

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  40. Beautiful - love all that texture!

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  41. the texture is gorgeos!!! wonderfull

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