Ladies Night In: Mixed Media Canvas

A lot of times I make projects cause inspiration hit me over the head by talented artists. I was hugely inspired by Yulia Pospelova's piece on her YouTube channel.

This month's Creative Embellishments challenge is fun and can be interpreted so many different ways. I love art like this and can come up with about 10 completely different ways to be inspired.

My piece is all about time well spent with my girlfriends. I miss them bunches during these crazy days. Chatting and laughing about motherhood, husbands, jobs and life is what having girlfriends is all about.

Friends bring new experiences and "color" into your life. They manage to mold and "fit" into the foundation that is you. For this piece I used about 8 different colors. I'm not sure how it all works, but give a go if you are inspired. (Supplies listed below.)

49 and Market flowers mixed with Finnabair molds and paint, Creative Embellishment's chipboard and Lindy's sprays.

The leaf is leftover from another project. I know it's darker than the rest of the piece but somehow it works with the crazy color scheme anyway.

Paints and sprays are best used separately when working with a piece, in my craft room anyway. The colors pop and do not become muddy when swirling with other mediums.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!!

Supplies:

10" Circle Board - Michael's

Finnabair and Prima Marketing:

1. Molds:
--Cogs and Wings
--Stars and Moons
--Leafy Blossoms
--Other
2. Metallique Paint:
--Frozen Berries
--Plum Preserves
3. Opal Magic:
--Yellow/Pink
--Teal/Pink
4. Art Pebbles - mixed sizes
5. Tapestry Stencil
6. Texture Paste - Graphite

Creative Embellishments
--steampunk
--chains
--cogs
--timepiece

49 and Market - Blossom Blends - Sea Breeze

Lindy's Stamp Gang:

--Starburst Squirt - Polite People Purple
--Starburst Squirt - Poutine Gold
--Starburst Spray - Cowabunga Copper

Tim Holtz - Old Time Die Cuts

Background Stamp - cursive writing

White Gesso

Cheese Cloth

Feather

Steampunk Canvas - Fortnite Gaming Canvas

Today's post is all about the journey to the making of this piece, in which the whole family was involved!!!! Supplies listed below.

I just loved the piece by Anika Blumenthal named House of Imagination. I have made several pieces based on her original video and flow of how she applied the waxes. By keeping the two color schemes separate, the art really pops. When I stepped into the world of steampunk (and this style specifically), my husband and son really perked up. So much so that my visionary 13 year old asked, "Mom, can you make me a Fortnite scrapbook page so I can hang it in my room?"

Me, "Oh? Do you want a page or a steampunk piece like this star?"

Son, "Piece like the star."

Me, "What kind of base do you want? Star? Circle? Square? Rectangle?"

Son, "The map of Fortnite."

Wow. Alrighty then.

I went shopping online for several days. I had it in my head that I really needed more "boy" like molds to work with and I had my heart set on pipes and anything else I could find.

First, I ended up at Etsy where I discovered the GamerGirl Mold. I just HAD to have that. THREE days later I finally came across Katy Sue Designs based both here and in the U.K. I could have bought so many fabulous molds that I had to restrain myself to just two,  the "rusty pipes" and "iron alphabet" (to be used later).  (There is the nasty little thing called a "budget" that I need to live by.)

The next stage was the title and map. I was able to download the font style for free, in which I cut out the font using SCAL4 and my silhouette (about 2"). Next, I went hunting for the Fortnite map. I dusted off some serious Pixelmator and SCAL4 skills. I outlined a map in Pixelmator, then took that image and traced it into my SCAL4 program. The map is about 10" is diameter.

Finally came my husband! He took the cutouts (letters and map), traced onto a wood sheet, then used his "wood cutting machine thingy" to cut out the pieces.

My son knew what colors he wanted so all I really had to do next was build the composition.....

It was a happy ending!!!

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!!

Supplies:

Finnabair:

Heavy Black Gesso

TCW Stencil - Riveted
Dylusions Stencil - Numbers

Modeling Paste

Finnabair Moulds:
Suns and Moons
Roman Numerals
Cogs and Wings

Katy Sue Designs Molds:
Rusty Pipes

TheDecodenDiva: Gamer Girl Mold

Creative Embellishments chipboard;
Scribble Bulbs

Dusty Attic Chipboard

Tim Holtz Grungeboard

Metal Embellishments

Waxes:
(In order used)

Turquoise Satin - base
Peacock - 2nd layer base

Hint: When working with black gesso, it's important to go from dark to light.
--Everything else:
Amethyst Magic
Red Amber
Fire Ruby (just a smidgen)
Vintage Gold
White Gold (highlights)

Beauty Within - Mixed Media Canvas

Hello there!! Today I would like to share my latest canvas using many Finnabair's products, Prima Marketing products, 49 and Market flowers, Lindy's colors, Dusty Attic chipboard and Creative Embellishment chipboard.

Hope you are inspired!!!

Layers using Creative Embellishments Corsets and Autumn Leaves Set, wooden cogs, 49 and Market flowers Linen and Cantaloupe and Prima Wings and Swirls mould shown here.

Dusty Attic chipboard shown here. Plus Finnabair Graphite Paste along with Lindy's Squirt Poutine Gold, and Starburst Cattail Copper Brown.

I layered my moulds with Finnabair's Blackberry, followed by Red Wine. Topped them off with Vintage Gold Wax. 

The bottom of the pebbles were colored with Red Wine.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!

Other products:

Finnabair Cogs and Wings

Prima Marketing Carte Postal Tissue Paper

Star Punk with Metallique Waxes

Hello everyone!!! I hope you are getting to spend more time playing with your stash during this strange and surreal time.

Creative Embellishments challenge this month was perfect as it led me straight to a project I've been wanting to do for a while. I loved the piece by Anika Blumenthal named House of Imagination. The link sends you to her video on how she used black gesso followed by waxes. I followed her technique with my own supplies but added a final touch with White Gold.

Here is Creative Embellishments challenge:

If you have all those wax colors ..... go for it!!!! You won't regret it.

Supplies:

Finnabair:

Heavy Black Gesso

TCW Stencil - Riveted
Dylusions Stencil - Old Letters

Modeling Paste

Finnabair Moulds:
Suns and Moons

Creative Embellishments chipboard;
Fairy Wing Set 2
Scribble Bulbs

Dusty Attic Chipboard

Hobby Lobby:
Star
Alpha wood pieces
Chipboard numbers

Waxes:
(In order used)

Turquoise Satin
Peacock
Indian Pink
Red Amber
Vintage Gold
White Gold

Mixed Media Canvas: Dream

Hello everyone! Although I follow many challenge groups, I don't always get a chance to participate. Here is Creative Embellishments challenge for the month of January. I also loved the color scheme of Lindy's challenge for this month and decided to mix them up.

Red and pink are classic for February, but I immediately reached for my pink and chocolate stash with Lindy's, which is perfect for the bottom, middle photo with Creative Embellishments.

 My first layer here is a brick background with modeling paste and a large swirly chipboard piece by Creative Embellishments. Then I began adding Lindy's colors: Creme Brûlée Creme, Milk Chocolate Brown, and Cosmopolitan Pink.

My titles for these projects are usually decided last. That's because I just never know how

it's going to turn out and what will be the best fit. This title, from Creative Embellishments is embossed with Lindy's embossing powder, Midnight Gold, easily one of my favorite powders.

Here you can see layers of gears, both metal and chipboard, the birdcage (Creative Embellishments), fussy-cut flowers, 3-D flowers and finally the moon himself. There are layers of sprays using pinks and chocolates.

To add a bit of extra shimmer to my project I used Cosmic Shimmer Gliding Flakes, purchased

at a local craft store. Love that stuff!!!!

One thing I'm learning about mixed media is to not be afraid to be messy with your flowers.

Use complimentary colors in your stash to brighten them up and use gesso to distress them a bit.

THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!!!

Gesso: Black and White

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst:
--Cosmopolitan Pink
--Cotton Candy Pink
--Dark Chocolate Truffle
--Milk Chocolate Brown
--Creme Brulee Bream

Lindy's Embossing Powder: Midnight Gold

Prima Marketing/Finnabair:
--Moon and Stars Mould
--Wax Vintage Silk
--Wax Royal Robes
--Melange Art Pebbles

Blue Fern patterned paper

Creative Embellishments Chipboard (birdcage, large vine, and title)

Metal Charms: Gears (Amazon)

Cosmic Shimmer Gliding Flakes

Paper Studio Poppies flowers

Twine

Tim Holtz Butterflies

Brick Stencil

Enjoy The Journey - Mixed Media Canvas

Hello! Today I would like to share with you a canvas I made following 

Finnabair's December Art Recipe.

Colours of December Art Recipe:

 Art Extravagance: Snowflake Paste

 Art Alchemy: Opal Magic Paints

 Art Ingredients: Glitter 

 Finnabair’s Moulds 

The colours: Blue, Lavender and Silver

While I don't have a lot of European papers to work with, I have plenty of Bobunny! I pulled out Penny Emporium for this and decided on the framed sticker as my focus point.

My Finnabair ingredients are glitter, snowflake paste and moulds. Because I don't have the right color of opal magics, I did reach for plenty of other Finnabair products to add to this piece.

All my supplies are listed below! Enjoy and thank you for stopping by today!!!

I went back and forth on my moulds and embellishments with how to distress them. For some, I used black gesso and Royal Robes wax. For others, I used Mermaid Sparkle and Old Silver wax.

The flowers I added last and distressed the whole piece with snowflake paste.

I love the effect of the Graphite texture paste and glitter.  All the pebbles are colored with Frozen Berries, a beautiful pearlescent color.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Supplies:

Finnabair Products:

-MOLDS:
--Cogs and Wings
--Regal Findings
--Everleigh Flourish
-PAINT:
Sparks Mermaid Sparkle
Metallique - Frozen Berries
-WAXES
Old Silver
Blue Velvet
-OTHER
Melange Pebbles
Glitter (Purple)
Texture Paste - Graphite
Stencil - Tapestry
Snowflake Paste

Lindy's Starburst Frolic in the Forest Black

BoBunny's Penny Emporium

Tim Holtz's quote chips

Creative Embellishments chipboard and wood

Metal Embellishments

Flowers

Buttons

Happy Holidays Home Decor - Mixed Media

Lots and lots of fussy cutting and layering  ..... and here we are!!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

I had a huge package of poinsettias (from Hobby Lobby) that I bought years ago and I have used them on several projects. I finally used of the last of them with this creativity.

While some of the layers were pre-made poinsettias, I did fussy cut a lot from Graphic 45's 12 Days of Christmas to fill out this piece. I especially love the birds.

I didn't want this piece to be overwhelmed with texture, so I just used crackle paste only as the primary texture. I let that dry overnight and then added colors, followed by the art stones and glitter.

The green and red beads were found at a yard sale!!! But really, this piece is just lots of layers using Graphic 45, poinsettias, pinecones and beads.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Round wooden piece - Michael's

Graphic 45 - Twelve Days of Christmas

Poinsettia flowers - Hobby Lobby
Beads and Pinecones - Hobby Lobby
Gold Glitter - Hobby Lobby

Finnabair Art Stones

Lindy's Stamp Gang:

Starburst Golden Sleigh Bells
Starburst Rudolph Rose Red
Starburst Frolic in the Forest Black

Wooden Window

Crackle Paste

Flair button from . . . ?

Joy - Home Decor - Lindy's December challenge

Hello!! Inspiration can be found many ways. You can find it from an entire project, a technique, a color scheme, or even a cluster of flowers.

I found my inspiration from here, created by Nuneka. I also found inspiration simply from Lindy's December color challenge.

Isn't it stunning?!

These decor letters can be found at Hobby Lobby, all ready for you to make something fabulous. The base is covered with white gesso followed by crackle paste all over. The next day I then slowly added the blues: Tilt-A-Wheel Teal and Bavarian blue. Once I was satisfied, I added more texture using modeling paste, stencil and glitter. Once completely dry I sealed with matte gel and left overnight to dry.

Meanwhile, I made poinsettias from dies. This can either be rather relaxing or tedious, depending on how impatient you are. Once I got all the flowers, leaves and fillers cut out, I then added embossing powder to the leaves and fillers using Polka Purple, Madonna Robe Blue, and Merci Beaucoup Mint. The main poinsettias are inked with purple hydrangea chalk ink.

Personally, I think the hardest part in all this is the gluing. I spend several minutes after each project scrubbing my hands repeatedly. 

But it's ALL worth it cause I just LOVE how this turned out.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!!

Supplies:

Lindy's Products:

EP Madonna Robe Blue Gold

EP Polka Purple

EP Merci Beaucoup Mint

Magical Shaker Bavarian Blue

Flat Tilt-A-Wheel Teal

Finnabair Pastel Glitter

Prima Stencil - Tapestry

Crackle Paste

Creative Expression poinsettia dies (open cut)

Creative Expression fillers

Impression Expression poinsettia dies

Versa Magic chalk ink - Purple Hydrangea

Floral fillers - Hobby Lobby

JOY home decor - Hobby Lobby

Pinecone

Aleene's Tacky Glue

Pearls

Craft All Day

Hello there!!!

I received this little home decor item as a free gift from Scrapbook.com with a purchase. It was a fun afternoon playing around with it.

Supplies:

Craft All Day home decor piece

49 and Market vintage flowers
Creative Expressions Fillers and open flowers

Lindy's Stamp Gang:

Starburst Creme Brûlée Cream
Starburst Azure Sea Asters
Starburst Tibetan Poppy Teal
Flat Sidewalk Chalk
EP - Candy Rose
EP - Bonjour Butter

Stencils and modeling paste

Finnabair Red Rust Paste

Thanks: Mixed Media and Die Cut tag

Hello there!! Today I'm dropping by to quickly share with you my latest fall tag. 

Recently, I've forced myself to significantly reduce my crafting budget for various reasons. I already have so much to work with, it's not that much of a "hardship".

I'm part of a school project called "Adopt-A-Staff" in which we provide small gifts to a teacher/staff member during the school year. I see it as a great opportunity to play with my stash!!

My sister gave me a bag of fall goodies over a year ago and I stuffed them into my "fall" drawer. Whelp, I pulled out that bag, did some fussy cutting and had quite a few die cuts to layer!!

All that was left was the background!! I really wanted it to be colorful but simple and somewhat masculine. I mixed Lindy's squirt Maple Syrup Bronze and magical Autumn Maple Crimson with modeling paste. Layered those colors using my Prima tapestry stencil (awesome stencil, by the way). Then I added Moon Shadow Mist Golden Doubloon very lightly. Did a little stamping with some text, and voila!

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!!!

Believe in Yourself: Mixed Media Artist Palette

You know how your brain can tease you with creating something fabulous?? Well, lots of different scenarios happened to get this piece out of my head and into something tangible.

First, I was greatly inspired by Ola Kohmenok at Mixed Media Place. I just loved the idea of using a paint palette. Secondly, More Than Words had a challenge last month with "costume/masks and black background". Although I'm too late to enter, I still loved the idea.

Finally, a very good friend of mine spent months planning her daughter's Quinceañera and I happily went having a grand time with friends. Everyone was lovely and the tradition behind the event was a tear-jerker. Anyway, I told my friend that I really wanted to make a piece featuring her daughter and to "give" me a photo. It wasn't quite an arm wrestling match but I almost didn't give her a choice, because my inner creative side was desperate to come out. She understood as she's an artist as well.

Without further ado, here is the piece. I hope it inspires you. I will say I made this with a purpose. I used the colors of the Quinceañera along with adding touches of embellishments that were specific to this event. Thanks for stopping by today!!!

P.S. I really miss my light box. Supplies listed below.

I layered the piece with moulds, metallic trimmings, chipboard and stenciling. I then covered it all with black gesso, followed by white gesso. Doing that can really create a wonderful contrast with your colors, even if you are using the same set.

The colors of the Quinceañera were orange and purple, matching the Mexican holiday 

"Day of the Dead". I couldn't quite make this palette gothic, as I wanted to focus 

on the daughter's feminine side.

One of the reasons I was insisting on a paint palette was that both daughter and mother are artists. It's definitely a more interesting background than a rectangle.

Her mother picked out the title, knowing her daughter's growth thru the teenage years.

I used a number stencil to bring in the significance of the 15th birthday.

The wings, crown, paintbrushes, butterfly, flowers and even the chipboard dress mannequin were about the daughter. I wanted to add shoes and a ring, but alas, those pieces aren't in my stash. I have a car-lovin' son, so no barbie shoes here.

I know many blog posts discuss "how" they actually made something. In the end, it's all about layers and having fun with the color scheme. You almost can't go wrong.

Thank you!!

Supplies:

Wooden artist palette

Black gesso
White gesso
White Acrylic Paint

Old paint brushes

49 and Market Salmon flowers
Graphic 45 French Lilac and Purple Royalty

Finnabair Colors:
Blackberry
Metallique Plum Preserves
Sparks Ginger Magic

Finnabair Other:
Moulds
Melange Art Pebbles
Art Stones
Texture paste - graphite
Heavy Body Gel
Soft Gloss Gel
Wax - Old Silver

Gilding Flakes - Aurora Lights

Tim Holtz Quote Chips

Lindy's Stamp Gang:
Fuzzy Navel Peach

Textured stencils

Creative Embellishments Chipboard