It's a Frame Up: I am not a number!

Hello Monday friends! It's good to see you again, and I hope you are ready for this week's challenge at Simon Says Stamp - It's a Frame Up.

I was in the mood for some good rusty texture and blues this week, and some more play with numbers. I was thinking about how much of our lives are "framed" by numbers - I mean think about how many different ways we are identified by a number, like a bank account, driver's license, passport, or where you fall in your family (Me - #2 and in the middle), for example. 

So as I started creating my canvas and stamping numbers into it, I really got to thinking "I am not a number"! We are so much more than that!! 

I started with this beautiful Papillon frame from Prima, and even though it is so elegant, I wanted rust, so rust I got with the wonderful Rust Paste set from Finnabair. I also "rusted up" some gears to go with the frame.

While the frame was drying, I added a thick layer of white crackle texture paste with a palette knife to my canvas, and set that aside to dry overnight, and off I went to watch "Upstairs, Downstairs" with hubby - we love that show! I timed it that way, because I get so impatient waiting for things to dry!

First layer of paint, some lovely Lapis with really brings out that crackle!

Then I stamped numbers all over with archival ink.

Time to build up some layers with Midnight, Caribbean Sea and Inky Pool, as well as remove some with the stencil and a baby wipe.

After all the paint layering, the numbers kind of disappeared, so I added them in again on top of a bit of the light Antarctic paint.

Since I kept working the crackle with a number of layers of paint, it began to chip a tiny bit, so I felt I  had better seal it all in with the clear gesso.

Oh, just one more layer...distress inks and the harlequin stencil.

Lovely, rusty texture...

Crackle detail and numbers, and a bit of the graphite pencil I added and then went over with a wet brush...

Framed the gentleman, and added the specimen tag... there has to be a story behind the photo, I wonder what it is?

I shredded apart the tag's string, set it up in my new Tim Holtz adjustable easel, and headed outside to photograph Specimen 2675.

Are you ready for a frame up? I hope I have inspired you to join us in the challenge this week. One lucky person will be chosen randomly to get the $50 voucher from Simon Says Stamp!

SUPPLIES:

                                       

                                       

A GREAT place to shop!!

Simon is on Instagram! Use hashtag #sssmchallenge

Wondering how the DT is getting "framed"? Me too, so lets head on over and check out all of their creative goodness!