Sardine Shrine

I've been at the upcycling again today - inspired by a project I saw years ago by Gail Milburn (Efemera) which was made from a sardine tin. Advice suggests we feed our new doggie oily fish from time-to-time to make his coat shiny, so recently we've had sardine tins in the house - something we don't normally have because I think they are disgusting!!!

My make is a shrine to an inspirational woman and artist - the amazing Frida Kahlo. The stamp of Frida is by Stampotique - isn't she lovely? While conceiving this project I noticed that the current challenge at Our Creative Corner is Mexico Moods - so I used their moodboard, along with Frida's paintings, to inspire my colours.

I am entering lovely Frida into some challenges:

Our Creative Corner: Mexico Moods

Frilly and Funkie: Raise It Up (because the inside is layered with pieces of chipboard and it's literally raised up on a plinth!)

Simon Say Stamp Monday Challenge: Anything Goes

Here's a bit more info on how I made my piece for you.

My sardine tin is gessoed, then lightly coated with Viva Decor Terra Paste. Once dry I painted it a terracotta colour - reminiscent of Mexican pottery.

Inside the back of my shrine is a stamped skull (Tim Holtz) - linked to Frida's fascination with death. On top of this I built up a layer of stamped leaves and butterflies (Rubber Dance).

Frida Kahlo (Stampotique) is coloured with Distress Markers (her skin is darker on the piece - the light has bleached the colour a bit here). She has flowers in her hair (sprayed with Picked Raspberry Distress Spray), gemstone earrings and a butterfly and skull at her neck.

The stand is made of a cotton reel and a wood circle painted with DecoArt Metallic Paint in Gold (this paint is AMAZING - one coat and this coverage!) and aged with DecoArt Antiquing Cream in Black. The muse word is stamped onto card painted with the same Gold paint. The whole piece is finished with beads,

Finally a view of the side where you can see that I used the same method as for the base to create the golden wings and glued them to the back of the tin. I ran a length of lace all around the tin and added gold paint highlights with a dry brush. Frida is mounted inside on some layers of chipboard to bring her towards the front of the shrine.

I hope that my shrine is deserving of Frida - thanks for looking - I hope you like her.

Hope to see you soon,

Katy x

This isn't a DT make but my fave RD stamps still get a plug! I used these Rubber Dance stamps:

Twiggy Leaves

Antique Botanicals