Delightful Dies

I recently became the proud owner of a few more Sizzix dies and I have to admit, in the past, I didn't really understand the hysteria surrounding dies. I could understand why I needed a die of a dress form, birds or flowers but didn't really see the necessity for a gazillion frames. I am starting to see the light and this is the set that got me thinking!!!

I immediately saw it as a doorway.....a very pretty doorway.

This set of circles.......could be transformed into flowers,

And this die which I think was designed with jewellery making in mind, would become the greenery and centres for my flowers

This is what I did:

I painting a layer of gesso on my box canvas, I selected four colours of Paperartsy Fresco Finish paint (Mermaid, Beach Hut, Honey Dew and Hey Pesto) and randomly painted them over my canvas, blending and drying between layers so that I didn't make mud!!

I added some interesting layers to the canvas by sponging some paint through some Crafters Workshop Stencils.

Now for the embellishing! I die cut one each of the dies from the Ironwork Frame set (oops there appears to be one missing from this picture.....trust me, there are three stacking panels!!!)

I took the largest panel and the smallest panel and painted them with Guacamole Fresco. Popped them inside a gorgeous BasicGrey embossing folder.Adding a touch of Vintage Photo Distress Ink with an Ink Blending Tool really highlights all the detail.

The largest one became the door frame and the smallest one, after a bit of chopping, became the door panels. The middle sized panel became the door after a paint treatment of Mermaid and Beach Hut. I did also paint the framework with Holly....note to self....it would have been easier to dies cut this scroll frame from coloured card instead if trying to paint it!!!!

A few scribbly lines around each panel on the door and some dots added to the framework with a metallic marker really made all the difference to the appearance of the door.

I think you can see from this next picture that the little hanging tabs at the top of the canvas are actually the end sections cut from the smallest size panel of my Ironworks set.

Having painted them, scibbled on them and stamped some script, they were crying out for something else. After much brain searching, I remembered another die that I purchased recently. It's Sizzix Butterflies & Rings and I knew the butterflies would be the perfect size for these tabs.

Now for the flowers. First of all, I die cut four bits of foliage from my Frames, Leaves & Flower die. Painted them with Hey Pesto, Scribbled on them a bit and stuck them to my canvas to make a little shrubby thing.

I die cut an assortment of circles from green and blue patterned paper. I used the itty bitty flower from the Frames, Leaves & Flower die and started sticking them together.

Then you take your sharp little scissors and start snipping the paper to create a fringe.

Sorry, this picture is a tad on the blurry side, but I am sure you get my drift!

Finishing touches are always very important in my book. Filling up an empty space can transform a project so I die cut some letters from Tim Holtz Typeset die to spell out "Home Sweet Home" and numbers for the door.

I have to say, it was a lot of fun making this canvas and I hope that it has inspired you to take another look at your dies now and see what you can make from them.

Lin