Monday, October 18, 2021

Altered Halloween Brush - Mixed Media

 Remember that phase where mixed media artists were altering paint brushes like crazy?

Well, I finally found a store where I could buy a larger brush for $2. 

I was hugely inspired by Sanna Suomalainen's Sparkling Nights video using various shades of black. I thought her piece was just gorgeous and I couldn't wait to try it for myself.

Other than having a different theme and adding a touch of Metallique Ginger Magic to my piece, I pretty much followed her steps. Her video is just fantastic.


1. I used black gesso on the entire brush except for the tip, which I left entirely alone.
2. I followed this with Jewel Paste Sparkling Onyx using a distressed diamond stencil.
3. Then I glued the lace down.


3. I gessoed all my individual pieces black before glueing. I find this to be easier than trying
to get the brush into small spaces.
4. I saved gluing the trinkets and flowers for later, as well the the pebbles with ginger magic.


5. Once the pieces were adequately dried in place, I began the coloring process. Letting the pieces settle into place after gluing means you can be a little more "rough" with your piece when applying color. This is very helpful for me as I'm a little bit clumsy.
6. I applied colors in this order:
 Charcoal Black wax, Graphite wax, Raven black paint, Old Silver wax, more raven black paint


7. I then glued my flowers down, adding Raven Black paint to dress them up quite a bit. 
8. I then added my pebbles with ginger magic around the piece.


9. Finally, covering up the main focus (cat skeleton is hard to see), 
I then added white gesso splatters.
10. I love videos. I truly appreciate everything women and artists go thru making them. If I were to add one little piece of advice that is not shown in any video that I've watched is this . . . after you start building your layers, let your glue dry. This is a patient process but start to finish it really takes no more than 2 - 3 hours. Go fold some laundry while it's drying. You are much more likely to regret trying to rush that one step.

Supplies:

Reneabouquet products:

  1. Reneabouquet Corner Web and Spider
  2. Reneabouquet Leaf filler
  3. Reneabouquet Lace

Tim Holtz Halloween trinkets

Creative Embellishments Spooky Tree

Straws

Prima leaf and roses moulds and time clock mould

Window from the dollhouse section at Hobby Lobby

Graphic 45 Black Roses

Finnabair Products:

  1. Charcoal Black Wax
  2. Graphite Wax
  3. Old Silver Wax
  4. Sparks Raven Black acrylic paint
  5. Sparks Ginger Magic acrylic paint
  6. Jewel Paste Sparkling Onyx
  7. Melange Art Pebbles


Friday, October 8, 2021

BOUNTIFUL FALL - Home Decor Mixed Media

Hello and welcome!! This is my latest home decor project for my favorite season...FALL!!! I made letters like this in the past using JOY (from Hobby Lobby) and crackle paste. Whelp, crackle paste has been rather difficult to get a hold of these days. So I tried something new...FolkArt Crackle Medium. 
Since it was my very first time using it I was amazed at the results. My other projects using crackle medium are even more detailed. Basically, the effect is similar to the swirls of alcohol ink, but also with some "crackle" effects as well.
The final finish was a glossy, glass like effect that is just gorgeous! I have more projects I will be posting soon, in which the effect is even more prominent than this first attempt.
What I learned:
1. Apply white gesso
2. Apply a full base color (you're lighter choice). I did not do this for this project. I should have.
3. Apply crackle medium. WALK AWAY....LET DRY ON ITS OWN. 
4. Come back and apply your next color choice (darker). I used Lindy's sprays since all the mediums      are water based. You can use acrylic paint as well.
5. Using your heat gun at this point is so fun and you will really see the pattern take a life of it's own.
    (much more prominent in my other projects)
6. Build your piece from there.
I gathered similar objects for each letter using Lindy's colors and 
ReneaBouquet products to dress it all up. 

I did use Bratwurst brown on the embossed writing on background. 
Graphite paste was used on the stenciling.

I have copper glitter from ReneaBouquet that really add a 
wonderful final touch to the letters.

Since the leaf had a larger base to work with, I felt the need to add "bountiful" 
from Creative Embellishments and the butterfly from ReneaBouquet.

Some of the flowers are Prima flowers. Don't forget to check out the little acorn 
and pumpkin tucked into each piece!


THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!

Supplies:

Lindy's embossing powders:

  1. Oktoberfest Orange
  2. Scratch Broom Yellow
  3. Bougainvillea Red Teal
  4. Bratwurst Brown
  5. Tennenbaum Green Gold
Lindy's Sprays
  1. Crow's Nest Copper
  2. Mango Mania
Creative Embellishments - Bountiful word

49 and Market flowers

Die Cut fillers foliage
Die Cut skeleton fall leaves

Reneabouquet
  1. Flowers
  2. Fall Beautiful board cutouts
  3. Pumpkin beautiful board cutouts
  4. Fall Leaves beautiful board cutouts
  5. Copper glitter
Graphite Paste and stencil

Gold beads

Prima Fall die cuts

Folk Art Home Decor Crackle medium