mixed media – Artful Musings

Tag: mixed media

28
Nov
2016

Nani ke Ola Blog Hop: Butterfly Kisses & Dandelion Wishes Album

categories: Artful Pursuits, Mixed Media, NKO Design Team

Hello and welcome to the first ever Nani ke Ola blog hop! Today each blogger is focusing on the new 7 Dots Studio collections, Cotton Candy and Writer’s Block. I love 7 Dots Studio and was so excited for the new collections, particularly Cotton Candy. You should have arrived from Heather Thompson’s blog and started at the Nani ke Ola blog. There is a giveaway so make sure to visit each blog and leave some love for a chance to win a sweet prize!

I’ve been a member of the NKO Design Team for a little over a year, and in that time, I’ve had a chance to spread my wings, get messy, and be inspired by some of the most wonderful artists around. I know you will agree that these are some talented ladies, when you see all the creativity of this blog hop.

As I said, I was over the moon when I saw the Cotton Candy collection. It is dreamy and whimsical and includes teal and salmon a favorite color combination of mine. It’s like it was tailor made for me. I knew I wanted to combine the lush papers, stickers, chipboard, and other elements with products from Prima Marketing’s Memory Hardware collection. There are wonderful mixed media elements in this collection and you can really create something beautiful combining the lush papers and elements from 7DS with the great products from Prima. If you like the Memory Hardware line, I encourage you to let Jennifer know. She stocks some Prima products and is always listening to what her customers are excited about. I used the square album, flowers, rhinestone chain, resin heart, sequins, lace trim, and domes in this project.

I began by “dry” painting the album using some Vintage White Folk Art paint. The advantage of dry painting is that it dries quickly since you are using so little paint. It also creates a “shabby chic” / distressed base for the album. HINT: You only need to paint the edges since paper will be covering most of each page. I also began sketching out what papers would go on each page. I do this by cutting up the 12×12 papers into 6″ squares and also cutting smaller pieces (4×6, 3×6, and 2.5×4). Next, using Walnut Stain Distress ink and a round blending tool I inked the edges of all the papers. I cannot stress enough how elegant this simple step is. Visually, it adds so much dimension to the papers and ties each page together. Once the pages are cut and inked, I begin laying them out, moving things around and finally “locking” in the design of each page and 2-page spread.

Next, it’s time to begin gluing things down. I like to use a really strong tape runner (like 3L Scrapbook Adhesives My Stik permanent adhesive) or Scor-Tape. For this album I created photo pages, waterfall pages, and pocket pages. After the pages were done, I began thinking about embellishments for each page. For the chipboard I used some clear and copper embossing powders. To get embossing powder to stick to the chipboard, simply use VersaMark or another ink (like Delicata Black Shimmer ink), apply the powder and heat set. The 7DS collection kit comes with two sticker sheets, words and icons, one cardstock elements sheet, and one die cut tags sheet. The waterfall pages consist of 5, 4×6 panels. To create the glue tab, score each panel at a quarter inch and crease using a bone folder. Apply tape runner to the “tab” and beginning at the top, adhere each panel, placing the next panel tab right next to the one above. For the pockets, apply adhesive to the bottom, left, and right sides, leaving the top open to create the pocket.

Once the inside of the book was complete, I began working on the cover. Using a new Memory Hardware acrylic dome, a resin heart, some moss, a few rhinestones, some sequins, and rosette trim I built the focal piece of the album. Anything heavy was glued down using hot glue to make sure it would remain in place once the dome was sealed. HINT: If you paint anything that is going inside the dome make sure to let it dry completely and also rub your anti-static powder tool over any painted surfaces. Also, seal the dome to the backing paper using clear or matte Glossy Accents in a very thin layer. Using too much medium will make it seep into the dome and your floating bits will get stuck to the medium that seeped inside.

Up next, Kathleen Bement White. Make sure to visit and comment on all the blogs for a chance to win the giveaway!

I had so much fun creating this album. I hope it inspires you in your creative pursuits. If you started here, please visit the other talented team members listed below and leave them some blog love! 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

———– THE GIVEAWAYS ———–

	To qualify for the giveaway, make sure to follow and comment on each of the blogs. You have until 12/01/2016 to comment. The winner will be announced on the Nani ke Ola blog on Monday, 12/05/16! Good luck everyone!

For an additional giveaway, make sure to follow us (@nanik3ola, @beanie_me, @heifer21, and @lccrafts85) on Instagram and comment on the prize photo. You have until 12/01/16 to follow and comment. The winner will be announced on the @nanik3ola Instagram on 12/05/16! You can search Instagram using #NaniKeOlaBlogHop and when you receive your 7 Dots Studio goodies make sure to post pictures of your creations using this hashtag to join in the fun!

Supplies Used
Cotton Candy Collection Kit
Cotton Candy Chipboard
Cotton Candy Hex Stencil
Prima Marketing Memory Hardware Line

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)

05
Dec
2015

Twenty-Fifth Treasure Chest

categories: Artful Pursuits, Christmas Inspiration

Hello and welcome to another day of Christmas inspiration. Today’s project is a simple balsa wood box, perfect for holding onto those little Christmas treasures. I created an accordion booklet but this box could easily hold gift tags or any other Christmas treasures you might have.

First, I removed all the hardware, painted, and set the box aside to dry. I knew I wanted to use the Yuletide collection from Seven Dots Studio, which focuses on rich gold/yellows, reds, and grays so I chose a complimentary paint. This collection is so versatile and I’ve gotten so much use out of the items in the collection kit – truly a little goes a long way.

I began by cutting the paper pieces for the lid, outsides, and inner lid out of Gingerbread. I also chose some flowers and leaves. Using LSG Industrial Chic: Golden Doubloons, I sprayed all the flowers and leaves. I glued the Gingerbread pieces to the lid and all four sides of the box. Using my piercing tool, I punched holes in the center of the lid and attached the porcelain “25” to the lid using brads. I stuck various stickers from the word stickers sheet to the red piece and then glued the piece inside the lid.

For the “Dear Santa” accordion booklet I cut two pieces of Figgy Pudding (the gray side) 4″ x 12″. I scored the first piece into three 4″ panels. The second piece I scored at 1/2″ and then created two additional 4″ panels, finally trimming off the excess 3.5″. This resulted in five, 4″ panels. Using tape runner I attached the two pieces together using the 1/2″ tab. Next, using element stickers and element cutouts from the Yuletide collection, I filled in the panels of my “Dear Santa” booklet.

Finally, I replaced the hardware, added some Merry Christmas washi tape to the sides of the box, and attached the flowers and leaves to the lid. As the final touch, I drew a white dot border using my favorite white pen from Signo. TIP: White pen can be used to create all sorts of borders or accents.

I hope you enjoyed this little sojourn and that it helped boost your Christmas spirits!

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
Yuletide collection
LSG: Golden Doubloons
Merry Christmas washi tape
Savvy Cityscape Die
Signo White Pen
Distress Paint: Fossilized Amber

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.

10
Sep
2015

A Study In Brown

categories: NKO Design Team, With One Color

I love brown, really I do. It’s wonderful for aging things and comes in a wide array of shades: vintage photo, chocolate, ground espresso, walnut stain, frayed burlap, antique linen, corduroy, gathered twigs, sepia, and many others. These colors are powerful bases and accents but how does brown do when it’s the focus? This was the challenge I set myself for this post. My secondary challenge: get going on handmade Christmas gifts for those near and dear to me.

If you are anything like me, you start out with the very best intentions – something handmade for everyone dear to you and then sometime between September and November the days slide away and you are burning the midnight oil just to get a couple of things done. If you are not like me (aka you are organized and on top of your handmade gifts) I applaud you … oh, and can I have a hair off your head so I can clone you?!?

This year I am trying to make sure my gifts are special, but don’t require weeks to complete. I decided to make a few calendars for friends using 3″ x 4″ wood blocks and mini printed calendars. The Nature Walk collection from 7 Dots Studio was perfect for this self imposed challenge.

First, I painted the wooden block using Vintage Photo Distress paint. Once it was dry I went over it again with a coat of Walnut Stain Distress paint. If you are impatient like me, you can hit the block with the heat gun to speed up drying. TIP: Make sure you don’t get the heat too close or the paint will bubble and peel. Once this was dry I distressed the edges with a sanding block (so some of the vintage photo as well as the raw wood showed through) and finished it up with Lindy’s Stamp Gang (LSG)-Autumn Leaves Sidekick “Blazing Sun” and “Incandescent Copper”. Once that was dry I added the tissue tape. Tissue tape (and washi tape) is not overly sticky so to make sure it stayed put I spread on a thin layer of Mod Podge under the tape. Using the round distress tool I colored the tape with Fossilized Amber and Frayed Burlap Distress inks.

For the front and back of the calendar I chose one of the 6×6 sheets from the Nature Walk paper pad. I cut two pieces, 2 3/4″ x 3 3/4″ and inked the edges using the round distress tool and Fossilized Amber and Frayed Burlap Distress inks. TIP: Start with the lightest color to avoid cross-contamination of your ink pads. I also lightly inked up each of the calendar pages with a bit of Frayed Burlap Distress ink. Using flowers and leaves from Prima Marketing’s Archivist collection, I spritzed them with Prima’s Color Bloom-“Empress Gold” and set them aside to dry.

Using Mod Podge I attached the papers to the front and back of the block. I have a mini pastry roller that I use to make sure all the bubbles are out and the paper sticks completely. I also put a small amount of Mod Podge on the last page of the calendar, gluing it down as well. I love Fabri-Tac for dimensional items like flowers and wood pieces. Once all the flowers and leaves were attached with Fabri-Tac I set it aside to dry.

The back of the calendar was completed the same way as the front. I used some of the Nature Walk wood stickers to spell out the message “Take flight … find yourself … spread your wings.” The butterfly wood icon is from Prima’s Archivist collection and it was attached using Fabri-Tac.

For the companion card I used another sheet from the Nature Walk 6×6 pad, a piece of chocolate cardstock cut 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″, and the beetle hexagon from the Nature Walk Elements sheet. Using a hexagon die from My Creative Time, I cut a mat for the beetle element out of the brown cardstock and glued the beetle hexagon to it.

To make the crinkle ribbon I used my Hug Snug “Winter White” seam binding ribbon and LSG “Incandescent Copper” and “Blazing Sun” sprays. While the ribbon was still wet I bunched it up (creating the crinkles) and then I dried it using my heat gun. I glued the ribbon to the back side of the panel and then glued the panel to the card using Scotch’s Tacky Glue. Two black foam squares pop the beetle hexagon up, completing the card.

I hope you enjoyed this little trip into the world of brown and that it inspires you to take a little creative trip of your own. 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-Nature Walk 6×6 Paper Pad
7 Dots Studio-Nature Walk Elements
7 Dots Studio-Nature Walk Wood Stickers
Prima Color Bloom Spray-Empress Gold
LSG-Autumn Leaves Sidekick
3” x 4” wood block
2016 Yearly Calendar
Hexy Dies
Prima-Archivist: Posterity Flowers & Wood Icons
Distress Paint: Vintage Photo & Walnut Stain
Distress Ink: Fossilized Amber & Frayed Burlap
Ideology Sanding Block, Round Distress Tool, Tissue Tape (or other washi tape), Hug Snug: Winter White
Mod Podge (Matte), Fabri-Tac, Scotch Tacky Glue

14
May
2014

Back to Bootcamp with Jen Starr

categories: Artful Pursuits, Random Goodness

A few weeks ago I decided it was time for me to jumpstart my creativity with a trip back to “bootcamp”. No, I’ve never been in the military, but over the years I’ve had a few opportunities to participate in a learning intensive, lovingly called bootcamp.

This 4-part bootcamp (Paint Bootcamp, Colorful Effects Bootcamp, Stencil Bootcamp and Inka Gold Canvas) focused mostly on background techniques, but the final class we created a 6 x 12 canvas, on which we were encouraged to use what we’d learned during the last day and a half.

Our teacher, Jen Starr, was visiting the PNW from New Jersey. Jen is on the design teams for Art Anthology, Viva, Ranger, and Copic.

Paint: the dread color theory, including creating our own color wheel and understanding how to avoid ending up with mud when you mix colors.
Colorful Effects: Using salt, Vaseline, molding paste, and other fun stuff to add dimension and interest to your backgrounds.
Stencil: Further work focusing on different ways to incorporate stencils into your backgrounds.

I had a great, albeit, exhausting experience and met some neat ladies (Dale my table mate is a very talented artist). Below are some of the things I created at bootcamp.

[Show as slideshow]