Knowledge Is the Key

Books and words are inspiring us this month at Gingersnap Creations .  As Visiting Artist, this is my contribution for the Gingersnap Creations Spicy Supply Challenge: #54 Pencils.  The challenge is posted today along with wonderful inspiration from the Design Team.  You have until June 6 to link up your entry at the Gingersnap blog. Seven Ginger Gems will be chosen from the entries.

As soon as I read the challenge, I knew what I was going to use.  No, I didn't draw this pencil sketch.  It's part of a postcard sent in the 1800's from my grandfather to his family.  He sent it from Geneva, Switzerland, where he was a medical student.  I don't know if it's a self-portrait or if someone else sketched his profile. The entire postcard is written in tiny handwriting, also done in pencil, covering every inch of the postcard around the sketch.   Unfortunately I can't read a word of the language it's written in.  (I chose to put my watermark over the handwriting on the collar since it was bothering me that I didn't know what it said.)

For this project, I photocopied the original and cut out just the sketch of my grandfather.  I placed it on top of some dictionary paper.  I added a couple of Graphic 45 stamps and lots of Tim Holtz hardware.  The base is a vintage cardboard photograph frame covered with Making Memories shopping bag paint.  After I did a little sanding to distress the board, I added a thin layer of Lumiere crimson metallic acrylic paint.  It's hard to see in the photo, but the corners are stenciled either with punchinella or Tim Holtz floret mini masks using fired brick Distress Ink.  I used a ZIG black photo signature pen to add some pertinent information.