Sweetheart Frame

                                             Click on image to enlarge 

First of all, I would like to say Hello to the new members who have joined my blog and thanks to everyone for leaving comments on my blog. Each and everyone of them is appreciated.

Inspiration for this project came from watching the Antiques Roadshow programme a while ago. I listened intently to the history behind a Sweetheart Frame. This was given between 2 loved ones as the man would part for battle or war. The one I remember seeing on the show was of a metal frame encased in a leather folder and they explained that when a man left for battle or war these were often exchanged between two sweethearts as a reminder of each other.They would often contain a lock of hair hidden behind the frame and a love poem. The story has remained poignant in my memory and when I saw at Cheery Lynn the challenge Sweethearts it immediately sprung to mind and my crafty head switched on to replicate this

I wanted the outside of my folder to resemble the look of old worn leather. I got a piece of cardboard and using grunge paste stenciled areas and added texture to other parts. I also cut out CL corner dies and glued in shape.

I covered the outside with a layer of black gesso and then started to blend my paints onto it. Once dry I picked up my textures with gilding wax.The keyhole was made from a mixture of gel medium and paint  poured over my stamp. This was then left for 24 hours to dry.I then peeled it off the stamp and highlighted with gilding wax.

To resemble the metal frame and picture inside, I had a family photograph of this young man in uniform, which I thought was perfect for my project. Unfortunately, we are unsure who he is but my mum reckons he is possibly  my Great Great Grandfather. I cut out my CL die and applied Versamark onto it and then embossing powder. If you heat from the back and repeat this process it gives a smoother finish. I carefully cut my photograph out and mounted it onto black card and then onto the frame.

I wanted this side to look like a small collection of memories the sweethearts had collected in their relationship, before they parted. I made my red rose from my CL die and added my Cuties 3 strip around the edges and distressed with ink and my distress tool.

As I was looking at the photo for inspiration I noticed the buttons on his uniform. My dad was a Captain in the Merchant Navy before retiring and he had given me the buttons from his uniform jacket. I decided to make a mould of one of them and then poured utee into it. Once popped out I highlighted with gilding wax. I think the result was fab.... I then placed all my pieces together. If you look closely at the postcard you may notice I had stamped with Old Paper Distress Ink  a small dots stamp. This represented parts of the mildew age marks that were on the frame of the photo I had cut up for my project.

Hope you enjoyed reading my blog and I always look forward to reading your comments.

Julie x 

I wish to enter this into :

http://cheerylynndesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/cheery-lynn-designs-116-sweethearts.html

http://www.theartisticstampercreativeteam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/january-2014-challenge-love-is-in-air.html

http://wlvc.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/challenge-nr-18-en-random-winnaar.html 
Man Card /Creation.

http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.co.at/2014/01/no-more-shopping-sins.html 
I bought the Paper Lace Ribbon on the spine of my project years ago and never used it until now ! 

Product Used : Cheery Lynn dies Sweetheart Frame FRM127, Cuties 3 B151, Miniature Rose B152 and Lace Corner Deco E B165.

Other products used : PaperArtsy paint brown shed, chocolate pudding and little black dress. Black and white gesso, treasure gold, grunge paste,harlequin stencil, 2 part molding putty,maja design vintage summer,woodware envelope punch, heart punch ,black soot and old paper distress ink, Paperartsy minis MN72, crackle stamp, bobunny keyhole stamp, platinum utee, stampendous pearl embossing powder, versamark, archival watering can and various craft stash.