How to Create a Piece of Entomology Wall Art

Begin by stamping out the various different insects to be displayed in the box frame, using a black archival ink pad. Use a stamping platform if you have one to get perfect results. Stamp some of the moths twice to use more than once in different colourways.

Have the pleasure of painting each insect by using the delicate colours from the distress ink pads. Apply the ink to a stamping block, creating a colour pallet, then use water to dilute the colours. Use colours such as Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Shabby Shutters and Tea Dye. Some of the insects require an extra little buzz of colour such as Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn and Fired Brick.

Top Tip – Continue painting the coloured ink outside of the outer lines of the insect. This will help when cutting them out. Any tiny bits of paper remaining around the outer edges, such as the legs and antennae will blend into the background and not appear so bright white looking.

Using a small pair of scissors (and a craft knife in some tight areas), carefully cut out each painted insect- roughly thirteen are required.

Remove the back of the box frame, together with the inset spacer and glass cover. Roughly sand down the top frame of the box frame to scuff the surface paint a little. Allow the fine edges of the frame to show bare wood again to give a real distressed appearance. Wipe clean and allow to dry.

Swipe over the prepared frame with 'Vintage Photo' ink straight from the ink pad. Rub this into the wood with a piece of paper towel. Bring back some of the white paint from the frame in some areas. Add some 'Shabby Shutters' ink in some areas to add to the distress look. Rub back again with the paper towel. Dab another piece of paper towel onto the ink pad of 'Peacock Feathers' and apply this to a couple places on the frame. Allow to dry completely.

Top tip: If the colour is too strong, simply rub harder to remove more of the colour.

Choose a muted, subtle sheet of patterned paper from the Wildflower paper stash for the background panel. Trim this down to the same size as the backing board of the box frame.

Place all the insects onto the background panel piece in a pleasing position. Look through the Clipping Stickers pack to find suitable words and phrases to add to the base of each insect.

Top tip: To bring the winged insects to life, gently curl the wings up with your fingers, then add 3D foam pads on the underside of the bodies to fix them down. For the legs and feet of the insects, use the back blade of a craft knife to carefully add a slight fold.

Construct the box frame to house the entomology display. Hang in pride of place to be admired