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Faux Photo Coloring-Photo Cube

By: Mary Shoebridge
Scrampin’ Love Bug
Beginner’s Scramping Team Designer

Supplies:

Burnt Umber Palette Hybrid Ink Pad (Stewart Superior)
4” by 4”Wood Photo Cube (Michael’s)
Scrapbook Papers
          1-12” x 12” Sheet Narratives by Karen Russell (Creative Imaginations)
          2-12” x 12” Sheets Memories by Karen Russell (Creative Imaginations)
1 Neutral Background from Kamalaht Papers (Soar With It Collection)
5 Heritage Photos
Photo Copies (Ink Jet Printer)
Folk Art Acrylic Paint: Linen 420, Tapioca 903 (Plaid Enterprises, Inc.)
Brown Color from Shimmer Chalks
Assorted Colored Pencils (Prismacolor)
Clear Blender Marker (Tombow)
Liquitex Acrylic Matte Medium (Binney & Smith, Inc.)
6 Antique Copper Jumbo Metallic Brads (Making Memories)
Twine (Westrims)
Tan 1/2” Braid (Jo-Ann’s Etc.)
Tools: Paint brushes, scissors, bone folder, sponge, sandpaper

Instructions:

1.      The first step is to sand and paint the wood cube.  Mix about 3 parts of the Tapioca color with one part of the Linen to make a very light tan color.  Paint the cube and set aside to dry. Give the cube another coat of paint.

2.      Copy the Heritage Photographs on an ink jet printer.  Regular printer paper is OK for this project. All the photos can be placed on one sheet depending on their size.

3.      When the photos have been copied, they can be colored with colored pencils.  This is not a regular photo retouching project, but an experiment creating a project with faux colored pictures.  What makes this process faux coloring is that the pictures are photocopies and not real photos.      

4.      Here is the Faux Photo Coloring Technique:  Color the photo with an assortment of colored pencils and blend the color in with the Tombow Blender.  Tear the pictures apart, to create a variety of image sizes to use on the cube.  Touch up the edges with the blender.  Some color can be blended towards the edge to cover the white left by tearing the edges. 

5.      Pick the sayings and designs to be used from the scrapbook papers listed.  Plan each section as you go using both the prepared photos and design elements.  The top of the cube uses the main theme of Memories from the scrapbook paper and then a photo and saying.  Adhere the photo to the cube with the acrylic matte medium being careful to smooth out any air bubbles with the bone folder.  Complete each of the other sides using the same method.  Use the type from the narrative sheet behind some of the images.  Also, use the sayings provided on the scrapbook paper.  Complete all four sides of the cube.   

6.      Add some distressing to the cube by taking some of the brown shimmer chalk and applying it to the cube with the blender.  Then give the cube a final coat of acrylic matte medium.

7.      Cut off the metal ends that go through paper. Attach the brad embellishments with the tacky glue.  The top of the cube has two brads that are wrapped with twine to create an impression that it could be opened.  Color the twine with the Burnt Umber inkpad. 

8.      Apply some of the Burnt Umber Ink to the tan braid.  Using the Quick Dry Tacky Glue, trim the edges of the cube with this tan braid.

9.      Cut a 3¾” by 3̖¾” square out of the neutral cardstock and glue to the bottom of the cube.

This completes the faux colored photo cube.  It is a creative pleasure to experiment with designing art work featuring heritage photos.  These techniques could be used on scrapbook pages or other paper crafts.

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.

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