DecoArt Media Under the Sea Challenge and Video Tutorial

Hello everyone!  Are you ready for another DecoArt Media challenge? This challenge will be an Under the Sea theme, anything from bright and fun fishies to dark and mysterious sea monsters and submarine stuff. The Design Team has been busy creating some great inspiration pieces that will be featured throughout the challenge, which started July 11th and closes on August 12th.  

So, here is my Design Team inspiration project for the DecoArt Media Under the Sea Challenge.  I made this fun "Under the Sea" canvas using pieces I made or molded from clay, and of course, using all of the fabulous products from the DecoArt Media line.  

To better show you how I put this together, I made a video tutorial to share with you.  It is a little longer, but there were a lot of things to show you.  I hope you enjoy it.

Products Used:

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titanium White

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Prussian Blue

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Cerulean Blue

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Dairylide Yellow

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Quinacridone Burnt Orange

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Cadmium Red Hue

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titan Buff

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Blue Green Light

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Burnt Umber

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Interference Gold

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Green Gold

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Raw Sienna

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Quinacridone Violet

DecoArt Media Specialty Products  White Molding Paste

DecoArt Media Specialty Products Texture Sand Paste

DecoArt Media Specialty Products White Gesso

DecoArt Media Specialty Products Clear Crackle Glaze

Antiquing Cream Titanium White

Antiquing Cream Raw Umber

DecoArt Liquid Glass

Metallic Lustre Fab Fuchsia
Metallic Lustre Champagne Ice

Americana Classic Brocade & Berry Borders Stencil

Other Products used:

12x12 denim canvas

Polymer Clay 

Clay molds

Wooden laser cut word

Wooden anchor embellishment

Fish images

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The challenge opened for entries on July 11th and closes on August 12th. The winner of this challenge will be chosen by the DecoArt Media Design Team on August 15th and announced on the  DecoArt Media Blog and on the DecoArt Social Media Channels August 19th. The winner will receive a $100 DecoArt Gift Card for use in the DecoArt Online Store so you will certainly want to submit a piece or two! Don't forget to share with your friends so everyone can join in the fun!

All the details pertaining the the challenge can be found here, at this link:  

 DecoArt Media Under the Sea Challenge

We can’t wait to see where all your creative ideas take you! 

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful, creative week!

Barbara

Time Contraption Mixed Media Canvas for Andy Skinner's Time Challenge

Hi everyone!  I want to share my Time Contraption mixed media canvas that I am submitting into Andy Skinner's Time Challenge this month.  I know we are all wishing we could make more time for ourselves, and this "contraption" is just the thing we need.  Flip the switch and you will have more time on your hands.  If only it were possible.  However, I am just beating the clock for submission,  no pun intended, as it is due today.   So, let me get started before it is too late.

I began with a black canvas and two of Andy Skinner's fabulous stencils.

Spread DecorArt Media White Crackle Paint through Andy Skinner's Industrial Elements stencil onto a black 10x10 canvas.  Allow the paint to dry naturally for best crackle results.

Using one of Andy's techniques, spread approximately 1/8" thick layer of DecoArt Media White Modeling Paste between stenciled areas.  Allow to dry only long enough for the top to develop a "skin".

Mist gears stamp with water and press into partially dried modeling paste to make great textures.  Let the paste dry thoroughly before proceeding.

Add texture to the sides of the canvas by spreading DecoArt Black Modeling Paste through Andy Skinner's Snake's Web stencil.  Do two sides, let dry, then do the two remaining sides.

Die cut a frame from black chipboard and apply DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste over the frame.  Let dry.

Cover frame, as well as top and sides of canvas, with a wash of DecoArt Media Paynes Grey, Translucent White, and water.  Let dry.

Spray frame and canvas with the DecoArt Media Carbon Black Mister.  Do not try for full coverage, but rather a speckle appearance.

Brush DecoArt Media Quinacridone Gold over canvas and frame.  Let dry

Brush DecoArt Media Translucent Yellow Iron Oxide randomly over canvas and frame to add highlights to certain areas, paying particular attention to the crackled areas.

Add DecoArt Media Interference Gold with a dry brushing technique so highlight the high spots.

Brush DecoArt Media Patina Green Antiquing Cream and DecoArt Media English Red Oxide Antiquing Cream randomly over canvas.

Wipe back excess antiquing cream with a damp paper towel.  Leave as much or as little as you like.  To set the antiquing cream and prevent it from rubbing off, brush on a coat of DecoArt Media Ultra-Matte Varnish.

Begin working on the embellishments.

Coil 20g wire over rod or tool.  Cut length of black 18g wire.  Remove copper wire from rod and insert black wire through the coils.

Add a thick layer of DecoArt Media Liquid Glass inside the metal pocket watch and add a couple of small clock hands.  The Liquid Glass dries clear and will look like a watch crystal when dry.

Use your finger to color the gold watch with DecoArt Metallic Lustre Black Shimmer for a vintage, pewter look.

Color the bottom of the switch with the Black Shimmer Metallic Lustre also.

Color the bottom portion of the bulb socket with Copper Kettle Metallic Lustre.  Paint the chipboard gear with DecoArt Media Gold Metallic and place over the socket.  Then screw the tiny bulb in and adhere to the canvas.

Begin glueing down the embellishments, shaping the wire coils, and adding some deeper color to the background with the DecoArt Fluid Acrylics.  I added Cobalt Blue, Translucent Yellow Iron Oxide, and Burnt Sienna.  The green color you see in the photo below is formed where I added the translucent yellow over the blue.  

Finish adding the embellishments, and now you are ready to make some time!!!

And here are a few closeups.

And a few closeups from the side to show the dimension.

Supplies Used:

Andy Skinner's Industrial Elements stencil
Andy Skinner's Snake's Web stencil
DecorArt Media White Crackle Paint
DecoArt Media White Modeling Paste
DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste
 DecoArt Media Carbon Black Mister
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Paynes Grey
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Translucent White
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Quinacridone Gold
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic  Translucent Yellow Iron Oxide
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Transparent Red Iron Oxide
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Burnt Sienna
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Cobalt Blue
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Diarylide Yellow
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Quinacridone Burnt Orange
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Interference Gold
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Metallic Gold
DecoArt Media Patina Green Antiquing Cream
DecoArt Media English Red Oxide Antiquing Cream
DecoArt Media Liquid Glass
DecoArt Metallic Lustre Copper Kettle
DecoArt Metallic Lustre Gold Rush
DecoArt Metallic Lustre Black Shimmer

Stampendous CRS5036 gears stamp

10"x10" canvas
Frame die
Black chipboard
Clock and watch parts
2 brass shell casings
Metal embellishments
20g Copper Wire
12g Black aluminum wire
24g violet wire
Light bulb and socket
On/Off Switch

I hope you enjoyed my Time Contraption project, and if only there was such a thing in existence, wouldn't we be happy to have so much more fun to play with our DecoArt Media products?

I am also entering this piece in the SanDee & Amelie's Steampunk Challenges: Anything Goes - Steampunk/Industrial June 2016 Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week, and Happy Father's Day!

Barbara

DecoArt Mixed Media Haunts Challenge: Book of Spells

Greetings my macabre-loving friends, and welcome to the first-ever Decoart Media Challenge.  

The DecoArt Mixed Media Design Team are coming together to bring you some hauntingly bizarre and fun inspirational projects this month.  Best of all, you are invited to play along in the Halloween Haunts Challenge Round Up by making and submitting your own project and linking it up to the Decoart Media blog.  The theme, of course, is  “ H a l l o w e e n   H A U N T S :  Z​o m b i e s , G o b l i n s , W i t c h e s ... O H M Y ! ”​  The challenge runs from 1 October and ends 28 October.  Voting will begin on 30 October, and two winners will be announced via Facebook and the DecoArt Mixed Media Blog on 31 October.

My project today is one I've been wanting to try for some time.  It is a paper maché book entitled "Book of Spells".   I know many artists have made these and are very popular.  I'm just a little slow at getting around to it.  But to make up for it, I have made a video tutorial for you, and I hope you will enjoy watching the process.

Products Used:

Media Black Gesso
Shimmer Violet Mister
Shimmer Turquoise Mister
Primary Yellow Mister
Media Fluid Acrylics Carbon Black
Media Fluid Acrylics Transparent Red Iron Oxide
Media Fluid Acrylics Gold Interference
Media Fluid Acrylics Cadmium Red Hue
Media Antiquing Cream Medium Grey
Media Antiquing Cream Raw Umber
Media Crackle Glaze Clear
Media Matte Medium

DecoArt Metallic Lustre™ Iced Espresso
DecoArt Metallic Lustre™ Black Shimmer
DecoArt Metallic Lustre™ Cosmic Blue

Supplies used:
Large Paper Maché Book Box (Paper Studio)
White handmade paper
Ravenhead Manor 12x12 paper pad (Recollections) (green/black flock) (purple print/black flock)
Gina's Designs Lasercuts:  Hinge Straps, Spiderweb Shape Set, Book of Spells (coming soon)
Vintage Ravens & Words Stickers (Jolee's)
Halloween Glitter Embellishments Spiders Stickers (Recollections)

I hope you enjoyed my project and video tutorial today.  I think I will continue this project with a part two so I can share some spooky things I plan to add to the book inside, so stay tuned.  If you would like to keep in touch, you can subscribe to my youtube channel by clicking the link.

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to play along in the challenge. Click here for all the details.  We want to see what you make!

Have a wonderful, creative week, and Happy Halloween!!!

Barbara

House of Cards August 2015 Challenge: Metallics

Hello everyone, and welcome back to a new monthly challenge here at House of Cards.  I so enjoy seeing all the creations each month, not only from the design team, but also from you, the challenge participants.

This month's challenge is ...

AUGUST 2015

Word Cue Challenge

Here is my interpretation of metallics.  I decided to go with gold metallic card stock for the wings, and a shimmery white metallic card stock for the hearts.  I used the two colors of alcohol inks on the hearts because they are translucent and I knew they would keep the paper shimmery and metallic looking.  I also edged the print layer with silver embossing powder for some extra shine.

Here are the bits and pieces I used to make this simple, yet effective card.

Supplies used:

Kaisercraft Storyteller paper pad

Wheat card stock (to make A2 size card)

Sizzix Tipsy Hearts Originals die

McGill Angel Wings punch

White shimmer card stock (Paper Studio)

Gold metallic card stock

Adirondack alcohol inks:  Mountain Rose, Sunset Orange

Blending tool with felt

Brilliance Platinum Planet ink pad

Silver embossing powder

Cosmo Cricket Tiny Text Stickers

And check out the other DT members for more inspiration~

Barbara

Cohenna

Cornelia

Daen'Ys

Donna N.

Donna T.

Dotty Jo

Em
Emily

Gracie

Heather

Jane
Joni

Judy

Karen

Katy

Lilian

Linda

Lisa

Merethe

Michele

Monika

Mrs Duck

Pat

Rocky

Ruza

Shawna

Steph

Sue T.

Sue N.

Tammy
Toni

The DT cards will be showcased on the House of Cards blog throughout the month!

I hope you enjoyed my card this month and that I have been able to inspire and entice you to play along with us in this month's challenge, which can be seen by clicking here.

Thanks for stopping by, and please come back on the 3rd for MORE inspiration from this very talented Design Team!  We hope you join in the fun, too--please check out our House Rules HERE before linking up!  I can't wait to see your creations!

Barbara xo

House of Cards May 2015 Challenge - Bokeh Effect

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Please click here if you are looking for my ColourArte post today!
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Hello everyone, and welcome back to a new monthly challenge here at House of Cards.  I so enjoy seeing all the creations each month, not only from the design team, but also from you, the challenge participants.

This month's challenge is ...

MAY 2015
Technique Challenge: Bokeh Effect

1. So, what exactly is bokeh? According to Wikipedia:
   In photography, bokeh (Originally /ˈboʊkɛ/, /ˈboʊkeɪ/ BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as /ˈboʊkə/ BOH-kə, Japanese: [boke]) is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light".

1. I have to admit that I had never heard of bokeh, but now that I know what it is, I am excited to share this fun technique with you.  Once you see how easy it is, I think you are going to enjoy it as much as I have.
   

   

   Sponge at least three colors onto watercolor paper.

Make a stencil by punching three different circle sizes into which card.

Sponge Brilliance Moonlight White ink through stencil, moving stencil around to get depth.  Some cirlces will appear in front, while some will appear behind.

Here is a picture of how it starts to look.

Keep stenciling until you like the appearance.

Fold 8-1/2" x 11" yellow card stock in half to make 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" card base.  Punch right edge with Garden Trellis punch.  Cut lilac card stock to 1-1/4" x 11".  Fold in half and glue to inside along right edge.

Trim bokeh layer to 4-7/8" x 6-7/8" and edge with Hydrangea ink.  Adhere to card front.

Stamp flower bouquet postcard image onto Lilac card stock with VersaFine Onyx Black ink.  

(TIP: VersaFine is a fast drying oil-based pigment ink.  It works extremely well for finely detailed images, but I use it on brand new stamps, both clear and rubber,  because it will stick to the stamp, rather than bead up like water drops on a flower petal, if you know what I mean.)

Color the image with the same archival inks using a cotton swab to apply the ink.

Add Diamond Stickles to the butterfly and flower centers.

Stamp "Thinking of You" onto 1-1/4" x 7" strip of gold vellum with Hydrangea ink.  Adhere stamped image to card front over vellum strip.

To finish off the card, stamp some butterflies with Hydrangea ink in upper right open area.  The largest butterfly was stamped again onto scrap of lavender card stock and fussy cut out before adhering over stamped image.  (See finished photo above)

Supplies used:

90lb water color paper

Card stock:  Yellow, Lilac, Gold Metallic, Gold Vellum

Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink: Leaf Green, Dandelion, Hydrangea

Brilliance Ink:  Moonlight White

VersaFine Onyx Black ink pad

HOTP 1141-Postcards clear stamp set; HOTP 1085-Heartfelt Greetings clear stamp set

Makeup sponge

Index card

Various sizes of circle punches from (1", 3/4", 1/2")

Diamond Stickles

Here is a fun video tutorial on how to make your own Bokeh background.

https://youtu.be/aaH0QE01D1s

Now didn't that look like fun?  I hope you enjoyed my card this month and that I have been able to inspire and entice you to play along with us in this month's challenge, which can be seen by clicking here.

Linking up with:

Simon Says Anything Goes
Seize the Birthday: Make Your Own Background
The Pink Elephant Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by, and please come back on Monday for MORE inspiration from this very talented Design Team!  We hope you join in the fun, too--please check out our House Rules HERE before linking up!  I can't wait to see your creations!

Barbara xo

House of Cards April 2015 Challenge - Add a Butterfly &/or Color

Hello everyone, and welcome back to a new monthly challenge here at House of Cards.  I so enjoy seeing all the creations each month, not only from the design team, but also from you, the challenge participants.

This month's challenge is ...

APRIL 2015

Add a Butterfly &/or Color Challenge

While this is not my preferred color palette, I think my card would work well for a masculine card without the flowers.  However, with the flowers, it certainly works for the girls in your life who love primary colors.  So, here is my inspiration card for this month's challenge.  

Supplies:

Cardstock:  Blue, Red, Green

Altered Pages Collage Sheets:  Altered Images 1, We All Enjoy Coffee

Colorbox Chalk Ink Pads:  Yellow Ochre, Yellow Cadmium

Teresa Collins Embossing Folder:  Chevron (8-1/2"x11")

Martha Stewart and Paper Studio Decorative Punches (shown in picture)

Beacon 3-in-1 Glue

Tim Holtz Ideaology Memo Pin

Splash of Color Mixed Media Phrases sticker sheet

I cut a piece of blue card stock to 7" x 10", folded in half to make a 7" x 5" card.  I embossed the front of the card only with the embossing folder, and hit the high spots with the two yellow colors of Chalk Ink.  I know the colors look green instead of yellow in my pictures, but I should have known that when I inked the yellow over the blue card stock, I would get green.  Duh!

I printed out the images from the collage sheets and matted them onto red card stock, leaving a tiny border.  These were adhered to the card front, as shown.  

I punched many flower petals in the different sizes from red and blue card stock, and some leaves from the green card stock.  These are the punches I used.

I misted each leaf and petal lightly with water and scrunched, pinched, and formed them to my liking.  Let the petals and leave dry.  They will now be nice and stiff.  I then put the different petals together to form the flowers, which I turned into a bouquet for the card front.  

I added a tiny bouquet at the top, above the focal collage image.

I added the phrase sticker with the memo pin to the bouquet, as shown.  While I was making the card, I wondered, 'Just who is this woman flirting with the pilot?"  

Well, that's about it.  I hope you enjoyed my card this month and that I have been able to inspire and entice you to play along with us in this month's challenge, which can be seen by clicking here.

Thanks for stopping by, and please come back on Monday for MORE inspiration from this very talented Design Team!  We hope you join in the fun, too--please check out our House Rules HERE before linking up!  I can't wait to see your creations!

Barbara xo