A 100% non-profit Art Publication                                                Click on any of the Menu Buttons
located on Route 66                                                                                            on the left and cruise
in the Galaxies of Cyberspace!                                                                   to your favorite hot spots.

Rubber Road
Scenic Byway:

Fretwork

By Elizabeth Lee
Trailblazers Mixed Media Team Designer/Writer

In this technique, the intricate cutouts are reminiscing of the fancy fretwork created by highly skilled wood craftsmen. Turning the paper while making the various cuts ensures smooth and precise scoring for a breathtaking finale! Create your own inviting sunsets with Radiant Pearl paints or employ your favorite mediums using this sample as a guide.

Supplies:
Pastoral Toile (Stampin Up)
Coffee Archival Ink (Ranger)
Smooth White Card Stock, cut to size 5½” x 4¼”
White Glossy Card Stock; cut to size 5½” x 8½”; plus one scrap piece
Gilded Fern Embossing Powder (Powder Keg)
Clear Embossing Marker (Tsukineko)
Peeled Paint Distressed Ink (Ranger)
Autumn Leaf VersaMark Marker (Tsukineko)
Forest VersaMark Marker (Tsukineko)
Poppy Red VersaMark Marker (Tsukineko)
Cerulean Blue VersaMark Marker (Tsukineko)
Pale Aqua VersaMark Marker (Tsukineko)
Brick VersaMark Marker (Tsukineko)
Sand VersaMark Marker (Tsukineko)
Cool Gray VersaMark Marker (Tsukineko)
#990 Light Sand Marker (Tombow)
Summer Sun Radiant Pearls (LuminArte)
Sour Lemon Radiant Pearls (LuminArte)
Sunset Glow Radiant Pearls (LuminArte)
Angel Face Radiant Pearls (LuminArte)
Sponge Dauber (Tsukineko)
Metal Ruler
Mechanical Pencil
Eraser
X-Acto knife
1” Watercolor Paint Brush
Water Receptacle
Funny Bones Bone Folder (Ranger)
Heat Tool (Milwaukee)
Mono Adhesive Tape (Tombow)
Foam Tape (3M)
Viva Paper Towels
Grid Cutting Mat for Work Surface (Creative Memories)
16" Cutting System (Genesis)
Personal Paper Trimmer (X-Acto)

Instructions:
1. Begin this design by custom creating the background. This will allow for ample drying time while completing the rest of the project. Make either full or quarter sheets of background paper. Any extras can be stored and used at a later date. The larger paint chip samples make excellent palettes for the paint, and they are free! These paint chips are available at any local hardware stores or Wal-Mart. Lay out puddles of the Radiant Pearl paints onto the palette. Refer to photo for placement guide. With the paint brush, pick up paint and begin blocking in color onto the smooth white card stock starting with the lightest color first. Block in the medium color creating streaks into the light color. Block in the darkest color creating streaks into the light and medium colors. Wipe brush off with Viva paper towel. With either one long stroke or a patting motion, blend any two colors together where they meet. Clean brush with soap and water and blot out excess moisture. Set aside background paper to dry.

Patterned paper may be substituted for custom made background paper.

2. Place the 5½” x 8½” piece of White Glossy card stock onto the rotary paper cutter as if it were going to be cut in half. Close the hold down bar and move the blade out of the way. Take a bone folder and score the card stock twice right up against the hold down bar. Remove card stock, fold in half and set aside.

3. Ink up the Pastoral Toile stamp with Coffee Ink and stamp the image onto the folded Glossy White Stock. Ink up on the Rooster part of the image with Coffee Ink and stamp onto a scrap piece of Glossy White Card Stock.

4. Using the metal ruler, lightly mark a ¼” border with a pencil around the edge on the front of the cardstock. There is no need to mark into the stamped image. Remove any unwanted pencil lines with an eraser.

5. Ink up a Sponge Dauber with Peeled Paint Distress Ink and randomly pat color on the edges of the design. Pat color around the tree leaves.

6. Render color to the various elements of design using the Versacraft markers. Refer to photo for color placement and shading. No additional color is applied to the white shirt. Color the tree trunk and fence with Sand. Color the wheelbarrow Autumn Leaf. Color the skin with the Light Sand Tombow Marker. Color the pants with Cerulean Blue and the shirt with Pale Aqua. Color the hat and shoes with Brick. Use the following colors for the rooster scrap piece and refer to the photo for color placement: Forest, Poppy Red, & Autumn Leaf. Color the stone the rooster is standing on Pale Gray. Cut out the rooster motif and set aside. Lightly heat set all the colored marker areas with a heat tool.

7. Create the leaves and grass in sections with the Clear Embossing Marker. Working in sections keeps the embossing ink from drying out too quickly. Sprinkle with Gilded Fern embossing powder, shake off excess, and return to container. Melt the embossing powder with a heat tool. Continue working in sections until all the wisps of grass and leaves are completed.

8. Open the folded card and begin cutting out the fretwork. Use a sharp craft knife with a fresh blade. Place the metal ruler back on the penciled border lines and score out these areas first. Work from the top down referring to photo.

9. Once the fretwork cutting is complete, turn the card with the design face down. Run Mono Adhesive along the edge of the back side of the fretwork and attach the sunset background piece face down.

This design is highly suitable for framing!

If you would like to print this technique including a near-full size image of the layout, click here. Once you've saved or printed the technique sheet, use your browser's back button to return.

 Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to obtain this file. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, click here to download and install.