altered art – Artful Musings

Tag: altered art

18
Mar
2016

Dare to Be AMAZING

categories: Artful Pursuits, Mixed Media, Teaching News

I had the opportunity to work up a class for the Scrapbook Expo coming up in Puyallup in July. My friend Jen over at Nani Ke Ola Scrapbooking is exhibiting and asked me to design a class as well. I was thrilled at the opportunity and enjoyed myself thoroughly.

The class, called Inspiration 101, focuses on techniques while giving the student the tools to make the project their own. Here is the class description and a few photos.

What inspires? How do we motivate ourselves and others? What is mixed media and how can we get started? In Inspiration 101 students will begin to answer these questions and more as they learn to employ mixed media techniques to create inspiration panels.

Join us creating positive messages of inspiration! Inspiration panels are 6×6 canvases of hope and positivity. Designed to bring a smile to the face and a gleam to your eye, these panels make perfect gifts for others as well as yourself. Give one to your daughter reminding her she is beautiful just the way she is, give one to your son reminding him that he can reach his goals, give one to a friend experiencing a loss reminding her that she is not alone, or put one up beside your bed to remind you to wake with a smile in your heart! The possibilities are limitless.

Students will leave class with one 6″ x 6″ inspiration panel they have created and will learn basic mixed media techniques including working with inks, sprays, powders, adhesives, paper, stencils, pastes, found objects, canvas, and much more!

There are endless configurations for creating inspiration panels and through discussions about composition, theme, and the creative muse students will gain the confidence to spread their creative wings and make inspiration panels at home.

Would you take a class like this? I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Thank you for sharing some of your time with me today. Until next time, remember, creativity and imperfection live together in all we do. “Grace is the face love wears when it meets imperfection.”

~xoxo
Beanie

08
Feb
2016

Frozen: Who Cherished Her Heart

categories: Artful Pursuits, Mixed Media

Hello, friends! I’m excited to be back today sharing my miniature mixed media piece called, “Frozen”. Have you ever heard the tale of “Frozen Charlotte”? Frozen Charlotte’s are miniature porcelain or bisque dolls. The ones I’ve found have come from Germany and were dug up from the ruins of pre-world war factories. Owing to this digging up, it’s rare to find a Frozen Charlotte intact. Most are hauntingly tragic with a missing arm, leg, or foot. The dolls were made in the latter part of the 19th and early 20th centuries and are widely collected today by doll enthusiasts and mixed media artists.

Here is the story of poor frozen Charlotte…

“One piercingly cold, winters night, Charlotte’s beau, Charles, picks Charlotte up in his sleigh to attend a ball at the village inn, 15 miles away. Looking lovely, young Charlotte, dressed in her finery, vainly wanted to be seen and admired along the way, and so did not heed her mother’s good advice and cover herself with a blanket, refusing even to wear her wrap. By the time she and Charles arrived at the inn, Charlotte was a frozen corpse! Charlie, devastated by the loss of his love, soon died of a broken heart and they forever slumber together, in one tomb.”

Sad, no? It’s unclear if the legend of Charlotte is based on actual fact or if it’s urban legend, but one this is certain. With their cheery faces, and broken bodies, Frozen Charlotte’s are a wonderful addition to any mixed media piece.

I was inspired to create this piece when I received the Prima Marketing Relics & Artifacts: Flaming Hearts II in an order from Nani Ke Ola. I’ve long been wanting to try out these relics and I thoroughly enjoyed working on colorizing the flaming heart at the center of this piece. I often enjoy working with the Melissa Francis domes. They are sometimes hard to find, so I ususally stock up. She does have a website where she sells them.

First I mixed up some gesso and LSG Red Hot Poker Orange magical and painted the chipboard base. I also drilled a small hole in the base and painted the bamboo skewer, setting both aside to dry.

Next, I chose some Copic markers (YR23, YR07, YR04, YR16, R37, R43, R46, & V15) and began coloring the flaming heart. I buy my Copics locally (at Impress, Urban Scrapbooker, or Ben Franklin) when I can. Several online retailers also sell them (Simon Says Stamp, Ellen Hutson, and Scrapbook.com). When I was satisfied with the colors and shadows I set this aside to dry. Next, I chose two small letterpress letters “X” and “O” and painted them with Distress paint in Candied Apple and put them aside to dry. At this point I came back to my relic and added some clear Wink of Stella to give it an iridescent glow. I glued the relic to the bamboo skewer and set that aside to dry.

Next, I created feet for the piece using scrabble tiles. Using Aleen’s fast grab tacky glue I adhered the feet to the bottom of the chipboard base. While I was waiting for things to set up, I took some Color Bloom Sprays in Cotton Candy, Peony, Carmine Red, and Frost and colored two pieces of seam binding. I crinkled the wet binding and began drying it with my heat gun. TIP: I love the fact that you can refill (with regular water) the Color Bloom sprays 2 times before discarding it. They are so packed with pigments.

I added the phrase, “who cherished her heart” using ChitChat stickers to the front of the dome and I distressed the X & O using my favorite sanding block. Now that everything was dry, I was able to begin assembly. First, I placed the relic and then added in the Frozen Charlotte, which I draped in one of the lengths of died ribbon, and finally the X & O. The last thing I did before sealing the dome to the base was to add a bit of Flower Soft (Snow).

Lastly, I tied the 2nd piece of dyed ribbon to the top of the dome and added a word charm (adore) to it. I’ve made many of these little dome pieces and I really enjoy creating in miniature.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with me today. I hope this piece has inspired you to get into your creative groove! Until next time, remember, creativity and imperfection live together in all we do. “Grace is the face love wears when it meets imperfection.”

~xoxo
Beanie

Supplies Used
Prima Marketing Relics & Artifacts: Flaming Hearts II
Prima Marketing Color Bloom Sprays: Cotton Candy, Carmine, Peony & Frost
Tim Holtz Word Charms
Tim Holtz Sanding Block
Tim Holtz Letterpress Letters
Wink of Stella Clear
ChitChat Stickers
Bamboo Kabob Skewer & Flower Soft (Snow)
Distress Paint in Candied Apple
Copic Markers & Vintage Frozen Charlotte
Snug Hug Seam Binding Winter White

15
Jan
2016

Domestic Goddess Mixed Media Canvas

categories: Artful Pursuits, Mixed Media

Hello, friends! I hope 2016 is off to an amazing start full of creativity and adventure for each of you. For my first post of 2016 I would like to share an 8 x 10 mixed media canvas I created using the Domestic Goddess paper line from 7 Dots Studio. I really like all the lines from 7DS and this one is no exception. It is reminiscent of 40’s & 50’s domestic life and honestly cracks me up most of the time. I am not June Cleaver. Not even close. It’s a good thing the only other “person” I have to keep alive with regular food and water is my feline friend, Rainey.

Growing up with a mom like June Cleaver, Donna Reed, or Marion Cunningham must have been amazing. I respect the women who run households. It’s a full time job and they do it well, but sometimes I wonder if Mom might have “other” dreams (in addition to taking care of her family). This is the inspiration for my project, “Domestic Goddess: She Did Because She Could”.

My base is an 8 x 10 canvas I picked up at Michaels back during the summer. It is from a “denim” canvas line and is a burlap brown with these amazing antique brass studs on the edges. You could also use a natural canvas (raw, without gesso). I began by choosing a paper for the background. I decided to use White Apron because I liked the imagery and the neutral palette. I cut a rectangular piece roughly 8 x 10 and ripped it diagonally. Once I was satisfied with the angle and edge I inked all the edges using Distress inks in Fossilized Amber and Hickory Smoke.

Next, I began gathering the elements I wanted include (ribbon, ephemera, stickers, chipboard, and flowers) and tried them out on the canvas. I almost always do this as I have no idea what configuration will look best when I start out. I also pull together way more items than end up on the final piece so I can try them all out. To me this is the fun part of creating a mixed media piece. Often I will create a mock up and walk away for a time, coming back to see how I like it, moving and swapping out different items until I’m satisfied. I take a picture so I don’t forget (mixed media for me often happens over a series of days) and it’s time to begin assembly.

A quick word about adhesives. I’m not a scrapbooker so I am not necessarily thinking about my work lasting (and being archival) for the next 100 years. Instead, I do my best to choose the best adhesive for the items I’m bonding together. One of my secret weapons is Beacon’s Fabri Tac, which is a liquid seam product used in sewing. It dries clear, bonds quickly, and works well for both porous and nonporous surfaces. The bond it creates is nothing short of miraculous.

For this canvas I used several things from the Stickers 12×12 sheet, a few things from the Collage Adverts sheet, and letters from the Alphas – Raspberry Muffin sheet. I also used two chipboard pieces, the wire cage dress form and a crown, both from UmWow Studios. Dimensional items included flowers, leaves, and some beads. I used several Prima flowers from my stash, however these flowers would work perfectly and these leaves are a staple of mine.

Using “sticky” embossing powder, I applied foil to the crown. I love sticky embossing powder (my favorite is manufactured by Ranger) and it does just what the name implies, makes the surface sticky when heated. Once you have this sticky surface you can apply foil, flocking, flower soft, or glitter to the surface and it stays put! Amazing, no? I also embossed the dress form using Delicata gold ink and clear embossing powder. I tinted the ribbon using Ken Oliver’s Color Burst in merlot, yellow ochre, and sepia. I also used Marion Smith’s Color Lab kit in merlot, 24k, and caramel on a different ribbon. I wanted to compare these two products. At the end of the day I love both. Ken’s product is more widely available, which makes it better for many of us, but Marion Smith’s has this great recipe card for mixing and getting amazing results. I also applied Bo Bunny Gold Glitter Paste through the Tim Holtz Burlap Stencil to add some dimension to the canvas. When the paste was dry I went over it gently with Fossilized Amber and Hickory Smoke inks using a round blending tool.

I used Mod Podge (matte), Aleene’s Quick Dry tacky glue, Fabri Tac, and black foam mounting tape. TIP: I prefer black foam tape (versus white) because it doesn’t show as easily when looking at the front and blends in perfectly when viewed from the side.

7DS is a Polish-based company so all the adverts are in Polish. On a whim I decided to translate the one I used: “Od piegow krem Hannol Niezawody Parf D’orient Warszawa”. Roughly translated it is an advertisement for “reliable freckle cream” imported to Warsaw from the Orient. Too funny. Finally, and because Mom has a rapier wit, I included the mysterious quote, “She did because she could.”

I hope this piece inspires you to “do because you can” and create something uniquely you! Until then, remember, creativity and imperfection live together in all we do. “Grace is the face love wears when it meets imperfection.”

~xoxo
Beanie

Supplies Used
Domestic Goddess paper line
UmWow Studio: wire cage dress form & crown
Prima flowers & leaves
Marion Smith’s Color Lab kit or Ken Oliver’s Color Burst
Snug Hug Seam Binding White
BoBunny Gold Glitter Paste & Tim Holtz Burlap Stencil
Distress ink Fossilized Amber & Hickory Smoke
Round Blending Tool
Delicata gold ink & Clear embossing powder
Ranger Sticky Embossing Powder
8×10 Canvas
Adhesive (Mod Podge, tacky, black foam tape)

11
Nov
2015

A Holly Jolly Christmas Shadow Box

categories: Artful Pursuits, NKO Design Team

Today I am bringing you a mixed media piece using Graphic 45s 3-panel shadow box and Blue Fern Studios Vintage Christmas papers. I am so happy to have the opportunity to share my love of Christmas through my project, which is based on a Graphic 45 3-panel wall hanging.

Last week I absently quipped to one of my fellow design team members that “sometimes my creativity needed the pressure of waiting until close to the deadline” to function properly. The person I was talking with is so on the ball with her submissions and me, well I’m not.

I’ve known what I was creating for about two weeks, but as I began working on it I felt compelled to stop and step away several times. The building of pressure (always inching closer to the publication deadline) helped me hone the design. Each time I came back after an absence (no matter how short) I found that I took things off, rearranged things, and added new goodies. It’s been a truly cathartic.

But enough about my process … onto the Christmas fun! My favorite Christmas cartoon is the classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer mostly due to the wonderful songs included. The songs Silver & Gold, Fame & Fortune, We’re a Couple of Misfits, There’s Always Tomorrow, and of course, my favorite A Holly Jolly Christmas are what have given the cartoon it’s charm and staying power. I named my piece Holly Jolly Christmas in homage to this classic from my childhood.

I’ve had this Graphic 45 3-panel shadow box for about 4 months. Originally I bought it with the thought of doing something with it for Halloween, but when I joined the NKO design team and learned we were having a Christmas kickoff I decided to save it. I was able to get my hands on some of the brand new Blue Fern Studio Vintage Christmas papers, which formed the basis for this project. These papers are amazing, with rich colors, beautiful imagery, and an opulent thickness not found in other papers. Simply put, the line is perfection.

I started by choosing 3 papers and cutting the background squares. The frame has two pieces of plexi glass that are held in place by swivel clasps. I also used the Greeting Cards paper for the elements added to the back over the background squares. When everything was glued and dry it was sandwiched between the plexi glass and secured to the frame using the swivel hooks. I added metal corners & a paperclip to the front along with the “Merry Christmas” banner (also from the Greeting Cards sheet). Using red and white baker’s twine I tied the silver bells together and then threaded them through the clip holding the banner. I mounted the banner to the wood using foam squares.

Next, I inked the edges of all the papers using Hickory Smoke Distress and Powder Puff Chalk Biscotti inks. Once the panels were in place I began laying out each vignette. For the top vignette I fussy cut the little girl off the Noel sheet and glued her in place. I also inked up the 25 chipboard with Fresh Ink’s Red Currant and added sticky embossing powder so I could finish it with some Distress rock candy glitter. I popped it up off the background using black foam dots. TIP: I prefer black foam tape and dots because they are easy to hide and are not as stark as the white. I added an ecru burlap flower to the corner and some vintage metal trim to the bottom of the panel. For the focal piece, I filled a glass bottle (similar to these) with German glass glitter in green, silver, and red. I added the tinsel label, a gumdrop (similar to these) to the top of the cork, and tied a bow with some red and green baker’s twine.

For the middle panel I fussy cut the little letter carrier from one of the cards on the Greeting Cards paper. Since I had two sheets of this I was able to glue down the card and then cut out the frame and the little letter carrier, which I popped up using foam tape. I added a red burlap flower to the corner and for the focal point I filled a small cork dome with mini jingle bells and added the jingle label to the outside.

For the bottom panel I chose another of the Greeting Cards panels and also fussy cut a wreath and added some red berry pearls from Queen & Co. I mounted the wreath using a double stack of black foam dots so that it pops up far away from the background. I added some miniature trees in green, red, and ecru to one corner. For the focal point I used a large corked dome for the “holly jolly” sign post. I mounted the words to a silver memo pin that I stuck into the cork base. To create the snow at the base of the sign I added liquid applique and shaved ice flakes.

Here are a few more closeups of some of the fun elements in this piece.

There were so many wonderful panels on the Greeting Cards sheet that I made a card as well. You easily make several cards from this sheet alone.

I hope you have enjoyed today’s Christmas preview. There is more fun throughout the week over on the Nani Ke Ola blog.

Until then, remember, creativity and imperfection live together in all we do. “Grace is the face love wears when it meets imperfection.”

~xoxo
Beanie

Supplies Used

Blue Fern Studio Vintage Christmas
Graphic 45 Shadow Box
Chipboard Elements
Powder Puff Chalk Ink Biscotti
Fresh Ink Red Currant & Queen & Co Pearls Berry Red
Cork Domes, Memo Clips, Chitchat Stickers Holiday, Gumdrops, Rock Candy Glitter, Metal Corners
Sticky Embossing Powder Liquid Applique, Shaved Ice Flakes, Glass Bottles, Baker’s Twine

P.S. Do you always know what you’re doing when you start a new piece? Does it seem to pour out of you as you work? Do you procrastinate? Do you get it done way ahead? If you feel so inclined I would love to read your comments about your process so drop me a note below.

28
Sep
2015

What a Wonderful World: Altered Box

categories: Artful Pursuits, NKO Design Team

Last time I shared my struggles with (and a new commitment to) creating handmade gifts that were simple, yet elegant. I’m happy to say I’ve been doing pretty good creating handmade gifts for friends this Christmas and today I would like to show you my latest, the “What a Wonderful World Gift Box”. Let’s get started!

On a recent foraging excursion to my local craft store, I picked up a small balsa wood box. It has a window insert in the lid that intrigued me. I knew there was the perfect vinyl sentiment just waiting to be part of this box. Enter the “what a WONDERFUL world” sentiment and 7 Dots Studio’s Cold Country paper and embellishments line. I really like the 7 Dots Studio papers. They are rich and luscious and have some interesting visuals, very different than what you see from US companies.

This little trinket box currently holds a set of handmade cards and matching washi tape (a stationery kit of sorts) but it could easily hold other small gifts: tea for two (tea bags and honey straws) or a gift tag kit (tags, washi tape, to/from stamps, and ink pad). The options are truly infinite and can easily be tailored to your intended recipient. That is what I love about this project.

I started by taking the box apart so the lid and base were separate. This allowed me to protect the metal findings (hinges and clasp) and paint quickly. Once apart, I lightly sanded the box, particularly any rough spots and wiped it off with a damp cloth. I also measured the surfaces that I planned to cover with paper (interior lid and base, and all four outer sides. Looking over the Cold Country papers, I chose two paint colors, (a light and a dark) that complimented the line. To get the shade I wanted I mixed the colors together using a 4 to 1 ratio, 4 parts Weathered Wood (light) to 1 part Blueprint Sketch (dark).

While I waited for that to dry I cut my papers and inked their edges using Weathered Wood ink. TIP: I always ink the edges of any items (paper, stickers, embellishments) that have white edges; doing so gives your project a finished look. Once painted and dry I went back over the box with Weathered Wood and Blueprint Sketch inks using the round blending tool. I heat set the ink and applied the papers to the various surfaces on the outside and inside of the box using matte Mod Podge. I sealed the entire box using Mod Podge..

Next, I created 4 cards using some grey and white mini cards that fit inside the box and the embellishments from the Cold Country kit. I also custom dyed ribbon to bind the cards together using white seam binding and Distress stains and sprays in Brushed Pewter, Blueprint Sketch, Hickory Smoke & Tumbled Glass.

For the insert in the lid I chose a piece of cardstock from the Cold Country papers and applied the “what a wonderful world” vinyl sentiment to the cardstock. TIP: To ensure that your sentiment is centered in the window, insert the paper in place and lightly trace the edge of the insert. Once you’re done you can easily erase the guide. Vinyl is very easy to adhere to porous surfaces, a good burnishing before you start and a slow peeling of the backing at a sharp angle are my secrets to success. I also glued the cardstock to the wooden insert and cut a piece of acetate to go on top. For the inside of the insert (the lid) I glued another piece of paper that is the perfect place to write a note to the recipient.

Cold Country is a lovely collection of vintage images and sentiments focused on family and love designed by Anna Dąbrowska aka Finnabair. It is based on a cool palette and goes well with other cool colors (blues, greens, and grays).

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that it inspires you to make and give handmade gifts. Remember, creativity and imperfection live together in all we do. “Grace is the face love wears when it meets imperfection.”

~xoxo
Beanie

Supplies Used:
7 Dots Studio Collection Kit
Distress Inks (Weathered Wood, Blueprint Sketch, & Hickory Smoke)
Distress Paints (Weathered Wood & Blueprint Sketch)
Distress Stains (Brushed Pewter, Blueprint Sketch, Hickory Smoke & Tumbled Glass)
Mod Podge, Hug Snug Binding (winter white), ruler, paper trimmer, sanding block, round distress tool