Vintage-inspired mixed media canvas...a tutorial

So this week is all about stencils and stamps over at The Crafter's Workshop as we partner with Viva Las VegaStamps. I created a 6 x 6 mixed media canvas. Read on for the tutorial. :)

I started with a 12x12 sheet of Blue Fern Studios patterned paper which I cut down to slightly smaller than 6x6 and distressed the edges. Then I applied a coat of clear gesso all over. The collage of patterns was way too distracting so I applied a layer of Liquitex Super Heavy Gesso on parts of it to tone it down. [If you don't have super heavy gesso, just use a few coats of regular gesso till you get the look you want...but wait for each layer to dry before applying another...it tends to look very opaque when it's wet like in this photo.]

Next, I applied a tea stain all over to "age" the paper. This was Rooibos tea so it's a little orangey. You can dilute with water. For a really light tea stain, try Earl Grey. I usually just use whatever tea I'm drinking that day. *winks* 

Then it was stamping time! I was a little overzealous as usual and went a little overboard with my stamping...but there's a little bit of "open" time before the ink dried so I could rub off/lighten parts with a wet rag. Once I was happy with the stamping, I heat set with my heat tool.

I applied Liquitex glass bead gel with The Crafter's Workshop stencil. After that I blended everything in with Silks Acrylic Glazes, pulling the colours from patterned paper.

I added a Prima resin frame and "aged" it with Silks Acrylic Glazes. A thick layer of Crackle Glossy Accents was added...love how the cracks add to the vintage feel. :)

Then I embellished with paper blooms and pearls.

There you have it...a vintage-inspired mixed media canvas. What do you think?

Rice only?

My niece is always the first at the dining table when dinner is served. 

" Do you want chicken?"

"No!"

"Do you want fish?"

"No!"

"Do you want vegetables?"

"Nol"

"Rice only?"

"Yes!"

Yes...all the glorious food on the table and she wants plain white rice. Yeah, not even gravy. Weird, eh? *LOL*

Playing along with Stuck?! Sketches.

The one about the shy guy...

Nephew #2 is a shy guy. He's a little awkward in front of the camera unlike his siblings. *winks*

He is trying though...because he really wants to make the cover of a magazine. *LOL*

The background of this layout was one of my experiments gone awry. I applied gloss medium with The Crafter's Workshop stencil, then went to play with my Ecolines [liquid watercolours]. I was a little overzealous with my water spritzing and made a huge mess...so I chucked it aside. Yesterday, I decided to "save" it by applying some Dylusions mists with another The Crafter's Workshop stencil.

Now, it looks like a really abstract background that I think I can live with...what do you think?

Playing along with Let's Get Sketchy, The Studio Challenges and Off The Rails Scrapbooking.

*Edited* I won the challenge over at Off The Rails Scrapbooking! :)

An altered clock for Xyron, Core'dinations and Petaloo blog hop....a tutorial

At times it is a lot more economical to buy a finished product and then alter it to suit your taste. Like this clock I altered for the Xyron, Core'dinations and Petaloo blog hop.

It was a pretty clock to begin with but it needed some texture don't you think? *winks*

I cut some Core'dinations cardstock and then used the Core'dinations Sand It tool.

Then I added some pretty Petaloo Fancy Trim and adhered them with Xyron/Teresa Collins Clear Hold Adhesive.

For the pendulum, I adhered a piece of DCWV patterned paper with Xyron/teresa Collins Clear Hold Adhesive.

The edges were outlined with a black Sharpie and a white pen. Then I added Petaloo blooms from the Penny Lane Garden Collection.

Next I coloured some American Crafts thickers with a black Sharpie and outlined with a white pen. These were then glued to the clock using Xyron/Teresa Collins Clear Hold Adhesive.

There you have it...a really simple altered clock that anybody can try at home. What do you think?

Don't forget to comment on the Xyron, Core'dinations and Petaloo blogs for your chance to win some goodies! :)

The Earth laughs with flowers...

Hmmm....I've been on a floral kick recently, have you noticed? *winks*

The Earth laughs with flowers and apparently so do I! *LOL*

I was clearing up my desk and bed [err...yes, the mess gets to the bed too!] after working on a floral mixed media canvas and decided to make a card with the little bits lying around, :)

A quick misting of glimmermist with The Crafter's Workshop stencil. A little tea bag staining for a "aged" look,  then it was time to embellish! Those mica flakes were strategically added to cover up the glue marks of course! 

Playing along with The Mixed Media Card Challenge.

*Edited* This card made me the October challenge winner! :)

A mixed media canvas for The Crafter's Workshop and Susan K Weckesser.... a tutorial

This week the team at The Crafter's Workshop is having a Creatastic Blog Hop with the team from Susan K Weckesser Inc. Do join us for some fun giveaways and tutorials. My project is a 6x6 mixed media canvas and I have a tutorial to share with you. :)

I started by trimming the edges off a 6x6 sheet of Basic Grey patterned paper to fit a 6x6 canvas. I used a Fiskars edge punch on one side of the paper.

The patterned paper was then adhered to the canvas with gel medium [I put mine in a bottle and apply it like a glue.]. The strips of paper was teared and adhered to the top right corner of the canvas. Then I applied a coat of clear gesso to prep the surface for the addition of colorants.

I pulled the main colours from the patterned paper and intensified them with Faber Castell Gelatos blended with water. Then I added texture with a Susan K Weckesser Inc stamp and Ranger Archival Ink. 

Next I applied Golden Coarse Molding Paste with The Crafter's Workshop stencil.

I finished the background using Silks Acrylic Glazes to highlight the raised areas.

I loved the birdies on the patterned paper so I coloured them with Faber Castell Artist Brush Pens, added a frame by Annette Allen and then finished with a coat of Ranger Crackled Accents. 

I embellished with pearls, blooms, ribbon, trims, buttons, leaves and Golden Gold Mica Flakes.

Don't forget to stop by The Crafter's Workshop and Susan K Weckesser Inc blogs...:)

Happy mum with her new "toy"!

Happiness is.... a woman with a new "toy"! Yep, that would be mum with her Philips Air Fryer! *winks*

She even obliged when I asked her to pose with her new "toy"! :)

I did some stamping on the background to mimic the existing patterns on the paper. And added Shimmerz Inklingz for subtle colours.

Playing along with Blue Fern Studios.