Paper Smooches Guest Design - 3D Faux Metal Photo Frame

Thought I'd try something a bit different for my Guest Designer spot at Paper Smooches this week, and created a 3D faux metal photo frame using Paper Smooches diecuts. If you hurry you can still join in the fun @ Paper Smooches June Guest Designer search today!

My project started out with a chipboard photo frame base covered in heavy black gesso (watered down slightly), and layered this with a selection of Paper Smooches Hugs and Kisses, Smooches and Hearts diecuts in black cardstock. Once the base layer dried, I added a top layer of heavy black gesso over the diecuts (see photo below).

Once the gesso dried completely, I mixed some transparent soft matte gel together with Mica Powder, one lot in Black Cherry, and a second in Copper. I dipped a soft brush in the soft matte gel mix, brushed off most of the colour on a wet wipe so there was only a tiny amount of the soft matte gel mix on the brush, which was then lightly applied over the photo frame - almost like you apply blush when you are doing your makeup! It is important to add only a little at a time and I find it useful to keep the brush strokes on a diagonal to the project i.e. first layer from the top right hand corner towards the bottom left hand corner next layer from the top left hand corner towards the bottom right hand corner and so on.   

Playing along with {PIN}spirational Challenge #165,

Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge,

Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies 

Paper Minutes Hearts Challenge too!