I finally found my pack of Studio Calico feathers which I bought at the ATDML retreat to use for one of my posts (yes I think I need to spring clean my space!). I was inspired to have a go at one of the techniques in this months Scrap365 magazine embossing over a canvas shape in clear powder and then inking over the top. So I used a grid stamp and clear embossing powder on my fabric feathers and inked over the top in a grey chalk ink, once it was dry I rubbed over the top with a baby wipe very lightly just to show a little more of the pattern. Continuing on my feather theme I also made my own larger template based on the Studio Calico feather and cut it out of some of the October Afternoon 9-5 paper to tuck behind the photo. Feathers have been around for quite a while now but they are still appearing on paper, you can add real feathers, chipboard feathers and there are lots of fantastic tutorials out there for making paper feathers too (here is one).
A bit more Scrap365 inspiration was a tutorial on distressing - I normally just distress using scissors or a sanding block and bending paper. However in the tutorial Rachel Elliot looked at moistening the paper and really crinkling it up....which I have to say I loved doing and really like the effect. The inky effect for the background is based on a technique my friend Kim Price uses on lots of her pages, but I had a play around with it and didn't use a paintbrush as in her tutorial (which is here)....but I'll have to save that for a step by step (the page is quite crinkled but it is in my album now and will flatten out there!)
The papers are all by October Afternoon from their 9 to 5 collection which you can find here
