"In The Pink" Mixed Media Canvas

Hi everyone!  Do you find that you have a lot of "stuff" that you just don't know what to do with?  I sure do, and so I'm trying to use up some of this "stuff" that has been collecting dust for years.

In today's video tutorial, I made a mixed media canvas using up some tacks from the office supply, some molded embellishments from my stash, and lots and lots of flowers I've collected over the years.  I also used five different colors of pink ColourArte Primary Elements powdered pigments to colorize the background.  

I hope you will get some inspiration from my video and think about some of the things you have that would make some cool texture in your next mixed media project.

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ColourArte Supplies Used:

Primary Elements

  Playful Peony

  Rose Gold

  Hopeful Honeysuckle

  Apple Blossom

  Rose Petal

  Nutty Oak

  Burnt Umber

  Bolivian Blue

  Fern

  China Black

Butternut Radiant Rains Shimmering Mist

The Solution Acrylic Wash 

Glazing Medium All Purpose Clear 

Other Supplies Used:

8x10 Canvas

Thumb Tacks

Paper Flowers 

Faber-Castell Texture Gems - Gold

Assorted Brushes and Spatulas

Silicone Molds (Art Molds)(Martha Stewart)

Lumina Jewelry Clay (Activa)

PermaStone Plaster (Activa)

DecoArt Media White Crackle Paste

Liquitex white gesso

Krylon Clear Coat spray sealer

Aged Brass Metallique wax (Prima)
White Paint Pen
Sharpie Black Marker

I hope you enjoyed today's project and have been inspired to make a mixed media canvas of your own.  Thanks so much for stopping by and spending some of your valuable time with me.  Have a fabulous, creative day!

Barbara

Listen to Your Heart Mixed Media Canvas

Hi everyone!  I can hardly believe it is February already, so naturally, I think of Valentine's Day and the ever-present hearts associate with this month.  So, for my ColourArte project, I have a 'heart" themed mixed media canvas to share, along with a complete video tutorial on how to make it.

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ColourArte Supplies Used:
Silks Acrylic Glazed
Fuzzy Peach
Love Struck
African Jade
Guatamalan Green
Primary Elements Arte Pigments
Mediterranean Blue
Celadon
Warm Gray
Amy's Gold Leaf (contact www.colourarte.com)

Other Supplies Used:
9x12 Canvas
Prima #655350 Art Deco Background stencil
White Gesso (Liquitex)
White Gesso (Utrecht)
Light Molding Paste
Gloss Varnish (DecoArt Media)
Fast Grab Tacky Glue (Aleene's)
Glue Stick (Paper Studio)
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue
Krylon Gold Leafing Pen
Lace Fabric & Trim
Resin Embellishment (Michaels)
Assorted Brushes & Spatulas
Rubber Brayer
Ideaology Quote Chips (Tim Holtz)
Whirly Gigs Botanicals (from Japanese Maple tree)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful day!

Barbara

Some Acrylic Pouring Fun with ColourArte Vivid Ultra Metallics

Hi everyone!  Today, I want to share my first acrylic pour using ColourArte Vivid Ultra Metallics.  If you've been here before, you know how I like to experiment, and so this video will do just that.  I decided to try playing with the pour to see what may or may not work.  I hope you will join me for this "adventure".  



Supplies Used:
ColourArte Vivid Ultra Metallics
  Bolivian Blue
  African Jade
  Lemongrass
  Pink Azalea
  Solar Gold
Americana Lamp Black acrylic paint
8"x8" canvas
Flood Floetrol 
3-in-1 All Temp Silicone
Silicone brush (Prima)
Aluminum foil roasting pan (Dollar Store)
Push Pins

I hope you enjoyed my project today.  I would love to hear what you think, and if you have any questions, please leave me a comment below.  I will check in and try to answer them.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a super day!

Barbara

Botanical Pods Flower Mixed Media Canvas

Hi everyone.  I'm back today with another fun video tutorial to share with you.  I found these strange-to-me natural botanical "pods" and thought how crazy it would be to use these on a mixed media canvas.  With the beautiful ColourArte products, I felt it I could not go wrong.  I hope you enjoy watching the process.  I certainly had fun making it for you.

ColourArte Supplies Used:

Silks Acrylic Glazes
  Carmen
  Olive Vine
  Nutmeg

Vivid Ultra Metallics
  Bolivian Blue
  Teal Zircon
  Snap Dragon
  Sunflower
  Pink Azalea

Primary Elements
  Boysenberry

The Solution (1:1 mixture = 1 part water, 1 part The Solution)

Other Supplies Used:

Golden Light Molding Paste
Ranger White Gesso
Botanical Pods
Finnabair Grungy Grid Stencil
Prima Art Deco Background Stencil
Decorative buttons
Paper Studio white lace ribbon
Natural 3-ply Sisal rope
Fast Grab Tacky Glue

I love how this turned out, and the dimension with these "pods" is amazing (to me). 

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great and creative day!

Barbara xo

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

Trending Tuesday with Altered Pages

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Trending Tuesday.  This month, the Altered Pages design team will be using stencils in collages.  We are also working with The Robin's Nest  our cross-promotion partner this month.  So hold onto your hats, this is going to be fun.

I decided to make an altered art canvas.  I have not done one in awhile, but with all these wonderful products at my disposal, I had a blast.  I am going to call this "Live Brightly".  

Supplies used:

Altered Pages Collage Sheets:  AP 1789-Vintage Bird Cards; Victorian Beauty Labels; Queen of Hearts
5x7 Canvas Art Board
Art Anthology Acrylics:  Orchid, Mint Julep, Baby Blue Eyes, Kona, Kenyan Copper, Imperial
Burlap fabric
Burlap flower shapes
Dylusions Diamond Border Stencil
Leaky Shed Wrought Iron Leaf Corner
Corners Antique Brass
Seam Binding Ribbon (yellow or havana brown)
Dylusions Ink Sprays (Cut Grass, Fresh Lime, Squeezed Orange, Lemon Zest)
Gel Medium or Light molding paste
3D Crystal Lacquer

The Robin's Nest Dragon Fly Rub on:  (Live Brightly)(3 mini dragonflies)
Floral sprays (Michaels)


I started with a blank 5x7 canvas art board.  I used a spatula to spread light molding paste through my stencil in a couple of spots.

Allow molding paste to dry.  You could also use gel medium if you don't have molding paste.

Next, I began painting my canvas with Art Anthology acrylics in Orchid, Mint Julep, and Baby Blue Eyes.  These paints are absolutely fabulous.  They are shimmery, translucent, and creamy.  I really love the look of them.  Next, I "framed" the canvas with the darker Kona color, just like when we edge our paper with brown distress inks.  I simply feathered the paint inward as I went around the canvas.

Next, I started on my embellishments.  I first chose this Leaky Shed chipboard corner and painted it with Kona and Kenyan Copper acrylics.  

Here is a closeup of the chipboard after I added the Kenyan Copper.  It gave it a bit of brownish red shimmer.  I love it.

Next, I fussy cut my three collage images and glued them down, as shown.  They are totally flat at this point.  

The three remaining corners looked a little bare to me, so I lightly sanded three of these gorgeous metal corners to make the embossed image pop.  Then I attached them by simply pressing the metal together with a pair of flat nose pliers.  Just be careful not to scratch the metal.  (See photo of finished project.)

Next, I knew I needed something to ground my collage images.  First, I needed a branch to place my "floating" bird, so I glued some botanicals down, and began the process of decorating my branch.  I wanted some bell-shaped flowers, so I used three of the smallest burlap flowers in the package, removed the paper backing, and cut two petals away.

Then I painted each petal with Art Anthology Imperial acrylic, spraying with water to allow it to soak in well.  I covered both sides, as they will show when my flower is formed.

I placed a stamen on the flower, some wet glue on one petal, as shown, and then glued that petal to the petal on the opposite side.  I used a PVA glue, which grabbed quickly so I did not have to hold it for very long.

This is how the flower looks when glued together.  The stamen can be moved in and out at this point, depending on how far out you want them to show.  Aren't they pretty?

I then decorated the branch with these flowers, some faux eggs, and more gems, as shown in the close-up photo below.  

To make the faux bird nest to hold my eggs, I used strands of burlap fiber, folded and glued together, and arranged around the eggs.  

Next, I used seam binding in a yellow color, spritzed with Dylusions Cut Grass and Fresh Lime, and allowed to dry.  For the peach flowers, I spritzed with Dylusions Squeezed Orange and Lemon Zest.

To make tiny vintage ribbon rosebuds, I put a blob of hot glue on my craft sheet and began  scrunching up the ribbon into a wrinkled bud.  Be very careful as you do this.  The hot glue is VERY HOT!  I used a metal piercing tool to manipulate the ribbon, but as the glue cooled, I could use my fingers to squeeze and tighten the flower.  

Here are three peach rose buds waiting to be pulled up off my craft sheet.  Don't they look like those old vintage roses you see on needlework and cards in antique shops?

These were used to ground my "floating" woman.  I also added small pieces of a brownish stamen to add to the collage image to simulate the grapes in the image.  I also added 3D Crystal Lacquer to the grapes in her hair.  This just gave it a bit more dimension.

Now, to make my "flat" collage images have more dimension.  You know I love my dimension.  So, I cut out another bird image and placed it onto a piece of fun foam.

I embossed the bird from the back so that it would have this puffed up shape for the body.  As you can see in this photo, is does not sit flat any more like the photo above.

To help my little bird retain it's shape, I added a puddle of hot glue in this area before adhering it over my first collage image.

I used the same process for the banner in the Savon de la Rose collage image.

With this image, I embossed from the back and the front, where the banner would flow in and out if it were real.

Hot glue added to the middle.

After the hot glue dried, I then used PVA (or white glue) to adhere the pieces down.  Here is a close up of the banner.  I also added some Crystal Lacquer to the roses.

In this photo, you can see a bit of the bird causing a shadow from the dimension it is displaying, as well as the leaves I cut out and reattached in the same way.  I also used The Robin's Nest Dragonfly rub ons to adhere my title for this piece, "Live Brightly", and three tiny dragonflies.  TRN rub ons are so easy to use, and adhered beautifully to my painted canvas.  Here, you can see that tiny dragonfly.  It looks like it was painted on.  

I hope you enjoyed my canvas project as much as I enjoyed making it.  This is going to be an inspiration piece for me, which I am sure, during the winter months, will brighten my day.  For now, it just reminds me of the beauty and brightness we are about to experience with Spring finally here.

Please be sure to shop Altered Pages and The Robin's Nest for all of your art supplies.  And visit the Altered Pages blog to see what the rest of the team has created to inspire you with collage and stencils this month.  

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

Barbara