Orange Blossom Fairy Art Journal

      Growing up in Southern California, we always had different types of fruit trees, and I remember January being the month when the oranges would ripen up and taste the best. For some reason, they always tasted SO much better than the oranges sold at the grocery stores! But perhaps it was just fairy magic, as depicted on my latest art journal page? 

    The rest of my inspiration came from the Finnabair January 2021 Art Recipe. Any excuse to play with my stencils and effect pastes, and I LOVE the color combo! 

     It started as a collage of vintage sheet music, dictionary pages, lace, and stamping, adhered with Prima Soft Matte Gel. Then I painted it with Art Alchemy Metallique Paints (Rustic Brown, Fresh Orange, Deep Waters, and Midnight Sky), along with Sparks (Ginger Magic), adding lots of water to create some transparency.

     The orange color in the background was done with (Rusty Hinge) Distress Oxide Spray sprayed through the Finnabair (Floral Net) Stencil. Then I applied Finnabair (Red and Brown) Rust Effect Pastes to the Finnabair (Vintage Wallpaper) Stencil. Once dry, I added touches of (Vintage Gold) Metallique Wax, also added to the lace.

 

     All of the oranges were cut from magazines. The sliced ones were added to the flower centers that were embossed with Emerald Creek (Burnt Copper Leaves) Embossing Powder. I created a border with them using the Chipboard Lacy Border from Creative Embellishments, cut at an angle to make the corner piece. Then it was painted with Art Alchemy Paints (Deep Water and Midnight Sky), and more touches of Metallique (Vintage Gold) Wax.

     I played with my new Prima watercolors for the first time on this page, and absolutely LOVE them! They were used on the flowers and blush for the fairy. Then I finished the flowers with the new Finnabair (Crushed Ice) Effect Paste.

     The fairy was fussy cut from some older Prima paper. Her wings, which are the leftover pieces cut from the chipboard, were painted with Art Alchemy (Fresh Orange and Ginger Magic) Paints, and sealed with (Crushed Ice) Effect Paste.

      I'm so glad I was able to "squeeze" this in before the end of the month! Lol! Thanks for looking! 

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Challenges Entered:

Finnabair ~ January 2021 Art Recipe

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog ~  So Delicate

More Mixed Media Challenge ~ Anything Goes with Optional Blue

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Golden Days Art Journal

      Hello and happy Wednesday! I'm back with an art journal page reflecting these Golden August Days, which have been pretty hot here in Reno, Nevada! 

     I took inspiration from the gorgeous August Mood Board at Art Daily Cafe.

     The brown background of a hill was transferred from a magazine using Prima Soft Matte Gel, and was the very first step. Then I stamped some script with the Script Background Stamp from Red Rubber Designs. Wanting to use one of the new Finnabair Stencils, I chose the Oriental Wall, and applied Prima Heavy White Gesso to it. Once dry, I painted a light yellow wash over the whole page with Art Alchemy Paints, mixing (Pure Sunshine, Dragon's Eye, and White Pearl). The sun rays were then embossed with the Rays of Hope stamp, using Ranger Clear Embossing Powder, before painting the rest of the page. But because I added that clear embossing powder, and also embossed the leafy flourish with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) EP, it smudged the design where the two embossing powders met. Had I known, I would've just stamped it with black ink. Lesson learned. Lol!

     To paint the rest of the background, I used Art Alchemy Paints (Pure Sunshine, Dragon's Eye, Ginger Magic, and Fresh Orange). Then I went over the stenciling with Finnabair Metallique Wax (Vintage Gold). 

     Some of the bundles of wheat were stamped with Ranger Archival (Potting Soil) Ink, and the rest were embossed with Emerald Creek (Ancient Amber) Baked Texture. The sunflowers were embossed with Ranger Distress Embossing Powder (Walnut Stain) using the My Sunshine Stamp from Red Rubber Designs. Then I added Finnabair Mini Art Stones to the centers with Soft Matte Gel for some texture. Again I used Art Alchemy Paints to paint them (Pure Sunshine, Fresh Orange, Rustic Brown, Red Wine, Ginger Magic, Golden Moss, and Fairy Wings), and went over the centers with Finnabair Metallique Wax (Vintage Gold). Wanting more sparkle, I added Stickles (Golden Rod).

     The tag is made from muslin, and had been in my stash for awhile now. It was colored with Distress Spray Stains (Wild Honey and Fossilized Amber). Then I embossed it with the Finnabair (Rust & Dust) Stamp using Ranger Distress Embossing Powders (Walnut Stain and Aged Mahogany). The 8, for August, was done with the Tim Holtz (Numbered) Stencil, using Finnabair Rust Effect Pastes (Red and Brown) with a touch of Wax (Vintage Gold). The calendar page was stamped with a Prima Stamp from 2009, which just happens to align for 2020. I highlighted the 11th, for my 19th wedding anniversary, with Stickles (Golden Rod), also added to the butterflies and bees, embossed with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) EP, using the Finnabair (Rust & Dust) Stamp for the butterflies, and the Be Fabulous Unmounted Stamp from Red Rubber Designs for the bees. 

      Thanks for looking, and take care! 

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Challenges Entered:

Art Daily Cafe ~ August Mood Board

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog ~ Stencilmania

Try it on Tuesday ~ Words or Numbers

Art Journal Journey ~ Pockets and Tags

The Artistic Stamper ~ August Anything Goes

Let's Craft and Create ~ #162 Lots of Layers

Mix It Up ~ #40 Anything Goes + Embossing

Four Elements ATC's

     The Four Elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water are represented on my latest set of ATC's, made with Finnabair Moulds, Metallique Waxes, Art Alchemy Paints, and beads! 

     They came from a deck of regular playing cards, that I covered with white gesso. Once dry, I embossed some stamping with Emerald Creek Boho Blends (Wrought Iron) Embossing Powder.  Then I added some Finnabair Mould pieces and Mini Art Stones, before painting with Art Alchemy Paints. All of the texture was brought out with Metallique Waxes applied with my fingers. I thought (Bronze Age) was perfect to represent the practical Earth signs of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, shown with the globe stamped with the Stamperia (Around the World) Stamp! 

     The Air Signs of Gemini, Libra, and like myself, Aquarius, have a curious nature, represented by the moon. I just love the blues and purples against the (Vintage Gold) Metallique Wax!
      

     The energetic Fire Signs of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are shown here, using (Rich Copper) Metallique Wax.

     The sensitive Water Signs of Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are represented on the last card using (Old Silver) Metallique Wax. Beads were the last step, along with this broken chain I found awhile back.

     Thanks for stopping by, and have a great week! 

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Challenges Entered:

Art Sandbox ~ 4 Elements + Woman

Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge ~ #62 Anything Mixed Media Goes

Bleeding Art ~ July Challenge

Country View Challenges ~ Do What Makes You Happy (I love making ATC's, working with rich jewels tones and metallics, and painting!)

The Creative Crafters ~ Challenge #30

Peace, Love, Light

     Green has always been one of my favorite colors, especially emerald and teal! So I created this mixed media piece, made from cardboard and other recycled items, colored with various gorgeous greens and metallics, using Art Alchemy Paints and Waxes.

     Including the colors, I took lots of inspiration from the June Challenge at Mixed Media Place, like the pine cones, pine tree, and dew drops from the mood board.  

     I started by adhering some leftover fruit netting, including the darker green netting from avocados, which I can't live without, and also happens to be green, to a piece of cardboard. I even left the tab, which has the wooden "Peace" banner on it. Then I added some torn strips from an old dictionary, and covered it all with white gesso before painting. The same netting was also used on the outer cardboard piece, after painting it with Rustic Brown Metallique Paint, and applying black gesso. 

     To extend the tree trunk from the image, I used some more black gesso, and colored it with Prima Waxes (Rich Copper, Bronze Age, Vintage Gold, and Lucky Emerald).Then I embossed the pines with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) Embossing Powder onto white tissue paper, adhered with Prima Marketing Soft Matte Gel. The Pine Cone Charms are also from Emerald Creek, and the silver ones got covered with white gesso, and painted with Art Alchemy Sparks (Fairy Wings) Paint. 

     The foliage and other metal charms were also covered with gesso before painting.

     To create water, I painted the bottom with Emerald Green Metallique Paint, with touches of the other greens painted over it. Then I added some medallions from the Funkie Junkie Boutique to replicate lily pads, frog included. The dew drops on the leaves were done with Ranger Glossy Accents. 

     The medallions also got treated with gesso, paints, and waxes. Then I added various clear green beads, along with some jade ones. The smaller river rock are Jade Gemstones from Emerald Creek.

     It felt great to use up so many charms that have been in my stash for YEARS, like this butterfly fluttering on top!

     The main image came from a magazine, and was adhered with Prima Soft Matte Gel, to the insert from my husband's cell phone, after covering it with black gesso. Then I used a stencil to create a mosaic effect on the frame, including the sides. After drying, I painted it with the same colors as the background, painting water along the bottom, and gave it touches of bronze and gold wax. I just love the effect, and wish you could see all of the shimmer! 

          The lantern was made from a large bead, that I embossed the the round edges with using Emerald Creek (Charred Gold) Embossing Powder, along with the hanging piece that I found among some beads. 

     

     The ray of light coming from the lantern, was painted with watered down Art Alchemy Sparks (Dragon's Eye) Paint. Then I painted the wooden banners with Art Alchemy Metallique (Rustic Brown) and Sparks (Ginger Magic) before embossing the words with EC (Black Cherry) Aroma Embossing Powder. 

     This piece was so much fun to make, and now hangs above my scrap table for inspiration! Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Challenges Entered:

Mixed Media Place ~ June Challenge

Products Used: (Prima White Gesso, Prima Black Gesso, Art Alchemy Paints (Rustic Brown, Golden Moss, Dark Forest, Ginger Magic, Fairy Wings, Dragon's Eye, Emerald Green, Green Olive, and Opal Magic Green-Gold) 

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog ~ Water, Water, Everywhere

Bleeding Art ~ June Add Cardboard Challenge

A Vintage Journey ~ July Precious Metal

Creative Artiste ~ #51 Anything Mixed Media Goes

Country View Challenges ~ Blues and Greens

The House That Stamps Built ~ Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge (I went across with the top row using insects, butterfly and dragonfly charms, Metallics, used throughout, and Dew Drops on the leaves)

NSD Dali Layout ~ FotoBella DT

      Happy National Scrapbook Day! One of my favorite artists is Salvador Dali, along with Picasso and Van Gogh, and I honestly can't pick a fave between the three. I love them all, for different reasons, but since I've already scrapped a couple of Dali's, and even have one framed in my living room, I decided to make another one to add to my collection. Eventually I will get to Picasso and Van Gogh. Lol! 

     I started with a piece of watercolor paper that I adhered with napkins from a fast food place, using Prima Marketing Soft Matte Gel to give it texture similar to a canvas. Taking my cue from many of Dali's works, I blended the background with Dylusion's Paints from FotoBella.com, starting at the bottom with Pomegranate Seed, and working my way up with Postbox Red, Squeezed Orange, Pure Sunshine, and Vanilla Custard using a large paintbrush. Then I used Archival Ink (Jet Black) with a couple of Prima Stamps (Salvage District) and (Finnabair Clear Stamp #4) with the bird. 

     The stencil work was done with a couple of Stamperia Stencils (Steampunk Man and Clock and Mechanisms) that I applied Prima Black Gesso to. Once dry, I reapplied my stencils, and added Art Alchemy Paints (Raven Black, Silver Spoon, Dragon's Eye, and Ginger Magic) with touches of Prima Rust Pastes (Brown and Red). 

     The titlework was done with Word using this simple tutorial to print onto black strips. 

     Some of the cogs and screws were made with the Finnabair Mechanica Mould using Paper Clay, and painted with Dylusions Black Marble Paint. The other gears are Tim Holtz metal ones that I covered with black gesso. Then they all got colored with Prima Waxes (Bronze Age, Vintage Gold, Brushed Iron and Old Silver) along with some more Rust Pastes. I just LOVE the result!

     The clock on the left was embossed onto clear acetate with Emerald Creek (Hammered Metal and Black Cherry) embossing powders, allowing the background to show. 

     Finally I raised my print with some cardboard, and framed it with some Tim Holtz chains, that also received touches of Rust Pastes. 

     Thanks for looking, and see what's new at FotoBella.com! 

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Challenges Entered:

Art Daily Cafe ~ April Challenge

Splashy Mix Challenge ~ Rustic Mixed Media

Bleeding Art ~ April Add Stenciling

 Dream in Darkness 

Happy Earth Day! ~ FotoBella DT

     Happy Earth Day! To celebrate our beautiful planet, I made an art journal page with an assortment of recycled items and some mixed media from FotoBella.com.

     I started by adhering a white napkin to (opened up) to my page with Prima Marketing Soft Matte Gel. Then I added torn strips from an old dictionary, the magazine images (the tree and Pacific Ocean in Northern California), and netting leftover from some fruit, and coated it with Prima Marketing Gesso (White and Clear). The clear gesso was applied to the circle stencil, and painted with Art Alchemy Paints (Deep Waters, Emerald Green, and Raven Black).

     Before adding some old stickers for the title, I painted the sky with Art Alchemy Sparks (Magical Pond).

     To blend the image with the background, I used a stipple brush with Prima Marketing Rust Pastes (Brown and Red) and (Dark Olive and Brown) from the Camouflage Set. Then I gave it some touches of Art Alchemy (Ginger Magic) Sparks Paint. I also used the pastes on some of the plastic greenery, which along with the grass, has been in my stash for awhile, and feels good to use up. 

     The bottom part of my page was painted with Art Alchemy Paints (Fairy Wings and Green-gold) before embossing with the Stamperia (Meadow) Stamp. Originally I was going to paint the globe from the Stamperia Wooden Frame (Around the World), but decided to keep it natural instead. 

Thanks for looking!

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Challenges Entered:

Art Journal Journey ~ Having Fun 

Frilly and Funkie ~ Re-Purpose, Re-Use, Recycle Challenge (Recycled napkin, dictionary pages, fruit netting, and magazine images)

 Bleeding Art ~ April Add Stenciling

Sweet Stampin' ~ Recycled Elements