Fall-inspired mixed media tag

Why yes, it's another fall-inspired mixed media tag! Autumn colours just make me happy.  :)

As always, I started with a cardboard base which I went over with a stencil and texture paste. After a coat of gesso, I applied mists for all-over colour and slight sheen.

I even went matchy-matchy with the flowers by using white ones and misting them the same colours as the base for a cohesive look. Would you believe that I made this tag just so that I could use that Graphic 45 fussy-cut butterfly? Yeah, sometimes I do crazy things! *LOL*

Yep, I even used a diecut! Go me! *high fives all around*

Of course, when I was rummaging my ribbon stash, I found a sock hanger which I just HAD to use. You know how it is...*winks*

Happy week ahead friends!

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An altered mooncake box....tutorial

Hello friends! It's that time of the year again - when I start altering mooncake boxes! *winks* Read on for a quick tutorial.

1. I started with a sturdy box with shiny gold sides. Since I like the gold sides, I just covered the lid of the box with plaid patterned paper.

2. To create cohesiveness between the box and the patterned paper, I added some washi tape with gold details along the edges of the box.

3. To add a bit of elegance, I glued down some pearl trim.

4. Next, I gessoed and painted some chipboard swirls.

Then I added some lace trim to form the "mat" for my embellishment cluster.

And then build up my embellishment cluster with chipboard, diecuts, fabric and paper blooms, papr leaves and bling.

I finished with some gold mica flakes. 

Hope you are having a great week so far!

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The one about the lemon curd tarts

September was my month of perfecting the pâte sablée - a classic French shortcrust pastry for tarts. Love the tender buttery crust that makes feel like an accomplished baker (even though I've only been baking for 14 months)...*winks*

It also meant learning how to make the fillings for the tarts - like lemon curd (pastry cream is next on my list!). 

There's always a little pressure on Sunday afternoons when the folks are seated at the dining table waiting for my baked goods to come out from the oven. My mum (the Home Economics teacher) will critique on the texture and taste. My dad is easy -he will just eat anything I make! *LOL*

Dived straight into my paper scraps to create the layered photo mat. Love that I got to use up some odd-shaped pieces in my stash.:)

Even took my distress tool out for a spin!

And got to use up some of my Bo Bunny stickers.:)

Why yes, that's a Bo Bunny birdie!

Playing along with The Studio Challenges to use as many S objects on your layout as possible...I went with scraps, stickers, stars and sequins.

P/s: This layout was a September fave at The Studio Challenges.

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Mixed media eye on a wood painting panel

So these days I've been painting my mixed media eyes on bigger surfaces instead of just practising in my art journal. This one is a 12x16 Derivan wood painting panel. It provides a much more rigid surface for painting (as opposed to a conventional canvas) and an interesting woodgrain texture.

I did the mixed media background first with acrylic paints, watersoluble crayons, gesso and stencils before painting in my eye.

This piece took a few weeks to complete...including time that I just stared at it and did nothing...*LOL* But you know how it is... suddenly you find inspiration, push through and just finally get it done. Now I just need to varnish and hang it up! :)

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The one about the birthday and lanterns...

So last Saturday we had an early celebration for nephew #2's birthday and the mid-autumn festival (lanterns and mooncakes).

This time I tried to be less ambitious so that we can actually have afternoon tea (had a major fail back in July for my mum's birthday..*winks*).

I did a coconut and earl grey panna cotta the night before, started on the dark chocolate fudge cake with cream cheese frosting first thing in the morning and baked a white chocolate and cranberry blondie right after lunch...so we had afternoon tea *drumroll" at 3.30pm! Yay!

But I had help of course. You know child labour is the best kind of labour right? *LOL*

The two older nephews were in charge of blowing up the balloons. Yes, apparently I only had pink metallic ones in my stash. Nephew #2 said it was okay with him so we just went ahead with them. The niece was of course, super excited since pink is her fave colour....hehe.

After dinner, we went for a walk around the neighbourhood with our lighted lanterns.

Now, I always got the Gangster Gang battery-operated lanterns when they were younger because they were a lot less hazardous (you know lighted candles with paper lanterns...haha). But this year, I got them the traditional ones made with wood and cellophane paper.

I didn't expect nephew #3 and the niece to be terrified about the prospect of carrying those lighted candles though...

My niece called it the "scariest day of my life!" which was kind of funny since she is only 6!

But once they ascertained that they were not going to get burned to death, they really enjoyed the stroll along the neighbourhood. :)

Lots of fun fitting in my paper scraps on this layout. I even brought out my circle punch to play! 

Playing along with Stuck?! Sketches.

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Upcycled mixed media gift box

I haven't done one of these mixed media gift boxes in a long time. So when my sister passed me a sturdy old phone box, I got to work right away. *winks*

I only had enough chipboard to cover the top of the box so I used some texture paste with a stencil for the sides of the box.

You can't tell by the photos but this box has several layers of paint and gesso on it. I first covered the whole box with heavy gesso and then gold paint. But I hated how it turned out so I covered the whole thing with gesso again before colorizing it with shimmering spray mists. 

Then I finished by embellishing with little bits and pieces from my stash.

P/s: Yes, I was very careful when using my hot glue gun after last week's painful incident. Happy week ahead friends! :)

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It's time to make more family mixed media canvases...

Recent commissioned mixed media canvas pieces (like the one shown) have ignited my desire to add to my existing collection of family mixed media canvases. Especially since members of the Gangster Gang (aka nephews + niece) have grown up quite a bit. *winks*

I don't know about you...but I tend to do a LOT of something I like till I get bored.  Then I move on the next "exciting" thing. And start the cycle all over again. 

This particular mixed media canvas had me stumped for a while because I had to incorporate people from 3 different photos and if you noticed, I tend to enjoy doing  "scenes" on my mixed media canvases involving people. 

So I went with a multiple photo scrapbook layout style instead.

The silhouette photos were "popped" up for a more dynamic feel.

The 12 x 12 canvas was covered with wrapping tissue and remnant lace before being misted with shimmering sprays. I finished with really eye-popping embellishments and bling since the recipient was a lady. :)

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The tag that caused a lot of pain...

Meet the tag that caused me a lot of pain. And possibly a scar on my left calf. 

Yep, I went into battle with my hot glue gun and it won. [cue super sad music] See that pretty blue flower? Well its evil twin (loaded with hot glue) decided to slip from my fingers, burn my left thumb and make a spectacular landing on my left calf. Ouch! 

But at least the tag turned out pretty right? *winks*

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