Mirror, diary and some tips

I thought, that I've done with Xmas pieces, but my son-in-law asked for a diary... I've made one and want to talk about some tips which you might find useful.



The first point is ageing. Everyone knows that I like vintage items so the matter of achieving ageing effect is very important to me. Usually I use bitumen and other patinations but sometimes they add blur to the image and overall effect could be too strong. Here I decided to age background of the item before I glue the picture. In this case the image stays very sharp but overall effect is vintage.

Another point is the inside of the covers. I get crackling using shellac/gomma arabic pair and I like to wash off the layer of gomma arabic with water. It means to be very cautious to avoid water getting inside. With this diary I've lost concentration for a moment and ended up with water stains inside the cover. To rectify it I use the napkin again. The best is to use a second layer. Here I use the same napkin.



And here is a different napkin completely to underline the opulent feel of this diary.



And this is a mirror. Nothing special, but I like this napkin! Here again I shaded the frame corners before gluing the napking.

New Year Diaries

End of year means a new year, a new year means a new diary, it means decoupage! Every year I decorate 3-4 diaries with a very different images, but this one - medieval book illustrations - is always in presence. I bought this paper two years ago in some museum in Munich and use everywhere since. Sorry to bore you with the repeats but I love this paper to bits!



Of course I can't stay away from a vintage theme! This year it's going to be Americana and Wild West. Hope I haven't overdone ageing!..

A Diary and a Letter Stand

It is not only Christmas but a new year is coming. Time to get a new diary. I made a few and want to show this set of a diary and a letter stand in vintage style. To add an aged feel I used a blue patination with golden paint on the diary.