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Hello and welcome to my blog. Here I will be showcasing all my design team work, general crafting and digital scrap booking.I hope you enjoy seeing my creations and listening to my ramblings. If you leave a comment I'll know you've been and be able to visit you in return. I read and appreciate all comments which are left - good or bad! Thank you for taking the time to visit me. Pop back soon. Carol xx

Friday 21 November 2014

Artist Trading Block

Good morning all.

A week or so ago I was trawling around mixed media blogs when I saw some decorated wooden blocks, of course I forgot to bookmark it and can't for the life of me remember where I saw them. Hubby had been playing in the garage so I asked him if he had any spare bits of wood, after being told what I wanted them for he gave me one of those looks...then indulged me with a few various sized and shaped pieces. Here is my first transformation...I chose the smallest piece and a Christmas theme to start off with.


I started by coating the whole piece in gesso, then painted a panel on the front in blue acrylic. Once dry I added snowflakes with texture paste and a Joanna Sheen stencil using some diamond dust whilst it was still wet to make it sparkle. The Christmas sentiment is a Clearly Besotted die cut four times from card and layered up to make it quite chunky and sturdy, this was inked with festive berries DI. The piece was finished with ribbon, a bow, snowflake button, snowman, star, gems and a pearl all from my stash.

The finished piece is about 3" square and 1" deep and I love how it turned out!
This is how it looked originally - a lovely piece of teak, hubby thought I was mad painting over it but when I showed him the finished article he turned round and said "actually it's very good"!!


Challenges entered:
4 Crafty Chicks - make it sparkle
DL Art - Christmas
Crafter's Cafe - anything goes
Decorate to Celebrate - anything 3D
Inspiration Destination - anything goes
City Crafter - just a word
All Crafts Challenge - anything but a card
Craft-Dee BowZ - anything goes with a handmade bow
Altered Eclectics - anything but a card
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything altered art goes
Allsorts - anything but a card
Not Just Cards - anything goes

26 comments:

  1. Good morning Carol,
    Absolutely brilliant, love it. Something you can bring out every year.
    I did one a L O N G time ago for a Birthday Gift. I used an fancy drawer knob on the top.
    Have a good weekend

    Patricia x

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  2. Cannot tell you how many times ive gotten that same look! Lol. Love what youve done with this

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  3. Actually Hubby is quite right, but more than very good, it's beautiful, love your design and the embellishments, especially the little snowman, hugs Kate x

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  4. so beautiful thank you for joining us at anything goes challenges at dtc. hugs

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  5. This is so gorgeous! I've received that same look from my son... no hubby on this end... but I have a son who is a 'collector' and I often go through his stash and ask if I can have this or that for a project. Afterwards, he is always surprised at what I've done with it but I still get that look! Men! lol This is a very, very clever use of a scrap piece of wood! Thanks for sharing your fabulous project and joining our current challenge at Inspiration Destination. Hope to see you again and good luck!
    Ema
    IDCB Owner

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  6. This is brilliant, love the idea, and gorgeous design too.
    Hugs
    Linda xxxx

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  7. This is fabulous Carol, I think we've all been on the receiving end of that look, at least he had the grace to admit that you had created something 'good'.
    Pauline
    x

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  8. This is fantabulous!! Really cool and I'm sure your hubby thinks he's glad he gave you the wood. What a great decor piece!

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  9. Beautiful seasonal ATB Carol. Very well done too. Hugs Rita xxx

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  10. Oh Carol this is really lovely x

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  11. a super block Carol - I love the before and after shots - brilliant xx

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  12. Amazing what you did with a simple block of wood! Adorable. Thanks for joining the Craft-Dee BowZ November challenge. Don't forget to check our blog this month for the free giveaway Diemond Dies set!

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  13. This is great I love unique things.
    Thank you for joining my DL.ART Thankful Thursday #144 “ANYTHING CHRISTMAS” challenge, Have a Blessed day, DIANA L.
    http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com http://dianamlarson.ctmh.com



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  14. Hi Carol I think I must have seen the same post I was very impressed with their creativity and I am also impressed with this wonderful transformation it is brilliant.
    hugs
    lorraine x

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  15. Such a sweet project ... I have a hubby with 'rolling eyes' too .... LOL Thank you so much for joining us this week at Not Just Cards Challenges Good luck and We hope you'll join us again soon.
    Zoe x
    Handmade with lots of Love

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  16. This is so clever Carol! What a transformation. A really fabulous project. Michelle x

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  17. Yep, I have gotten that same look many a time too but I always get what I want and then a shake of the head when I show my creations 'where did you get that idea from' lol and 'how did you think of that' lol.

    Your Christmas theme is fab, love it. Bet there will be no more bits of wood getting thrown away at your now ;-)

    Thank you so much for coming over and joining in with us at Rhedds Creative Spirit.

    Great Big Huge Hugs

    Becca xx (DT Member)

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  18. Oh Carol this is just fabulous:) Thank you for joining us over at Decorate to Celebrate!
    Hugs,
    Norma

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  19. Oh I know all about "those looks"! great make though, what a transformation! Many thanks for joining the Rhedd's Creative Spirit challenge and good luck!!! Melissa (DT)

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  20. Fantastic block! I love how you designed it into a fabulous inspiration of Christmas. What a great idea. Loving the sparkle on the snowflakes.Thank you so much for sharing your marvelous inspiration with us this week at 4 Crafty Chicks Sparkle Challenge.

    Tamie DT

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  21. This block is so adorable! Thanks for sharing it with us at Decorate To Celebrate! DT, Sarah

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  22. What a beautiful transformation!! Thanks so much for playing along at CCCB!!

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  23. You transformed a piece of wood in a precious keepsake. And besides all the gorgeous cards it;s wonderful to have a stunning project like yours in this weeks linking up . I really love love love it! Good to have you with us at CCCB and sharing your handmade gem!

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  24. Fabulous altered block...they are such fun to do,I have quite a few from when I peeled off my rubber stamps.
    Love yours and the seasonal theme...
    Thank you for joining in with our challenge over at Rhedd's Creative Spirit...x

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  25. What a lovely trading block...I've never seen one and I must say it's just lovely. Thank you for sharing it with us.

    Thanks for playing along with us this week at Inspiration Destination. Good luck. Lynn, ID DT

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  26. Wow!! How cute!!! Thanks so much for participating in our DECORATE TO CELEBRATE challenge!! Hope to see you again for our next challenge!!
    ~DEANNE~
    A Little Bit O' Paper

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Many thanks for taking the time to comment on my post. Constructive comments are always welcomed and appreciated on my creations. Carol x