Steampunk Mixed Media Canvas

      Hi everyone! I never really thought that my dad looked like his dad, until I saw this photo of my late grandpa. But it could also be the mischievous look he has. Lol! 

     I started this canvas for my Dad's 70th Birthday, by collaging some torn papers, and playing cards with Prima Soft Matte Gel. Then I added white gesso, and Tim Holtz Distress (Crackle) Texture Paste. Once it dried, I applied black gesso to the Stamperia (Clock & Mechanisms) Stencil. Since my grandpa was always so playful and funny, I had to include the Joker, which you can see peeking through the gesso in the photo below, above the two of clubs card. 

          My Dad's love of poker, definitely came from my grandpa, and has always been a favorite family activity. Besides the real playing cards collaged onto the canvas, I also included the cards from Mintay Papers using the Old Manor Collection, aged with Lindy's Gang (Beaver Tail Brown) Squirt and (Landlubber Green Vintage) Spray. Then I recycled some fruit netting, and anchored it and the photo with the Steampunk Pipe Corner from Creative Embellishments.

     I was so happy to see the rocking horse, also from the Old Manor Collection from Mintay Papers, and have fond memories of riding one just like it on visits to my grandparents house as a child! The other fussy cut embellishments are all part of this fabulous vintage line, including the trunk, books, and paper screws, along with the paper that also got collaged onto the canvas, before coloring with Lindy's Gang (Beaver Tail Brown) Squirt and Sprays (Landlubber Green Vintage, Marigold Yellow Orange, Steampunk Sepia, and Ponderosa Pines Olive). 

     Some of the cogs and gears were made from paper clay using the Finnabair (Mechanica) Mould, and were all finished with Lindy's Gang Sprays, and embossing powders (Cleopatra Copper and Reindeer Moss Green). Then I added even more texture with Finnabair Rust Effect Paste (Brown and Dark Olive). I also rubbed some Finnabair (Rich Copper) Wax onto the black stenciling. 

     Thanks so much for looking, and take care!

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Challenges Entered:

Lindy's Gang ~ March Color Challenge

Lindy's Gang Products Used:

 Sprays ~ (Landlubber Green Vintage, Steampunk Sepia, Marigold Yellow Orange, and Ponderosa Pines Olive)

Squirts ~ (Beaver Tail Brown)

Embossing Powders ~ (Cleopatra Copper and Reindeer Moss Green)

Art Sandbox ~ Game Cards

More Mixed Media Challenge ~ March Anything Goes with Optional Green

Try it in Tuesday ~ Use a Stencil or Two

Crafty Creations Challenge ~ #419 Anything Goes

Creative Artiste ~ #69 Anything Mixed Media Goes

February Freeze Art Journal Spread

      Before the arrival of Spring, I wanted to play with some Winter stencils and stamps, as shown on this art journal spread. However, it is full of mistakes, and much darker and messier than I was intending, which could be a lesson in what NOT to do. Lol!

     I started by collaging torn pieces of stamped papers and tissue paper, along with some recycled mail using Prima Soft Matte Gel. To create a resist effect, I stamped and embossed the icicles on top with the Grunge Icicle Border Stamp from Creative Embellishments using Ranger (Rainbow Sparkle) Embossing Powder, which was also used with the Snowflake Stencil. Then I colored it with (Hickory Smoke and Black Soot)  Distress Spray Stains. 

     I'm very disappointed in my trees, but decided to keep them anyways. With the Tree's Stencil I painted an ombre effect with Art Alchemy Paints, starting with Raven Black on the bottom, and Pearl White on top. The middle is a mix of the two colors, which made silver. Then I tried to do a messy double outline with a Black Ultra Fine Sharpie, and literally went through 4 brand new pens, that just stopped working for me half way through. It could've been from all of the texture on my page, but wanting to move on, I decided on a thicker line, using a Fine Sharpie, which was my first mistake. Not liking the harsh outline, I used a brush to blend it with (Black Soot) Distress Spray Stain, which helped a little. The masked trees in the background were done with cutouts from the Tree's and 3 Tree Stencil spritzed with (Black Soot) Distress Oxide Spray. But I forgot to shake it first (another mistake), so I didn't get that oxide effect. For a snowy effect, I splattered (White Linen) Dylusions Paint over both pages. 

     To mimic cracked ice in a river, I applied my new Emerald Creek (Silver) Embossing Flakes, which took some patience, and had to be done one at a time. But the results are well worth it, even though I accidently embossed two flakes together, resulting with the largest one on this page.

     At this point there was no use hiding my Sharpie work, so I did my titlework with it, using the Tim Holtz (Cargo) Stencil, and painted it with (Brushed Pewter) Distress Spray Stain. Then I went over it and the icicles with Finnabair (Crushed Ice) Effect Paste. 

     Thanks for looking, and take care! 

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Challenges Entered:

Creative Embellishments ~ February Challenge

Art Journal Journey ~ Heavy Metal

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog ~ Mostly Neutral

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge ~ Anything Goes

The Creative Crafters ~ #37

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

Hope Grows Everywhere Art Journal

      Hi everyone! Even though this art journal page was such a struggle that I almost gave up half way through, I'm happy with the results, and glad I stuck with it. 

      I was completely inspired by the January Challenge at Mixed Media Academy, from the colors, to the rocks, quote, and elephant!

     The background was made from torn pieces of papers, and stamping. Then I used some of my new stencils from Creative Embellishments, and played with Distress Oxide Sprays (Peacock Feathers, Rustic Wilderness, Pumice Stone, Speckled Egg, and Black Soot) for the first time, combined with Distress Spray Stains (Picket Fence, Speckled Egg, and Hickory Smoke). I painted the flowers and greenery straight from the bottles, which were stamped and embossed with Emerald Creek (Onyx Frost) Embossing Powder, and added (Pewter) Liquid Pearls to the flower centers. 

     The rocks were done with the Cobblestone Stencil from Creative Embellishments using a coat of Prima Heavy White Gesso. Then they got painted with a mix of sprays, and a few layers, before splattering with (Picket Fence) Distress Spray Stain. 

     My favorite animal is the elephant, so I had to include one, stamped with the Take Pride Stamp from Red Rubber Designs onto kraft paper that was wrinkled and colored with sprays first! The globe is a sticker with Finnabair Metallique Wax (Old Silver) rubbed along the edges. Behind it, I applied white gesso to the Medallion Stencil and colored it with Finnabair (Old Siver and Patina Green) Waxes.

     It's hard to see in the photos, but (Old Silver) wax was also used along the top half of the dark grey alpha stickers, and outlined with a black Sharpie.

      Thanks for your visit, and take care!

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Challenges Entered:

Mixed Media Academy ~ January Challenge

Art Journal Journey ~ Favorite Things (Elephant is my favorite animal and green and teal my favorite colors!)

Crafty Creations ~ #417 Anything Goes

Simon Says Monday Stamp Challenge ~ We're On A Roll! (Medallion Stencil, Globe Sticker, and rocks)

Simon Says Wednesday Stamp Challenge ~ Make Your Own Background

Creatalicious ~ #203 Anything Goes + Optional Kraft (Used on elephant)

613 Avenue Create ~ #1 January Anything Goes

Childhood Memories Art Journal

      Hello and, hope you're all doing well and staying healthy/safe! I rarely add photos to my art journal pages, but this one brings me right back to my childhood, reminding me of vacations from Southern California to Lake Tahoe and my late Great Grandma's cabin in Verdi, NV. I was always collecting pine cones and rocks whenever I was there, so I had to include them on this page, adding micro beads to represent the rocks. And I never left home without my Pooh Bear! Lol!

     The bottom layer was made with crumpled up pieces of kraft paper, and painted with Dylusions Paints (Melted Chocolate and Ground Coffee) to create a faux leather. Then I used my finger to apply Finnabair (Vintage Gold) Metallique Wax to the cracks and wrinkles, along with the torn edges of the beautiful Mintay Papers, including the fussy cut suitcases, feathers, camera, and birds, from the Harmony Collection, which I was lucky enough to win from a previous challenge at More Than Words. I also used the wax on the chipboard Pinecone Cluster from Creative Embellishments after embossing it with Distress Embossing Powder (Vintage Photo).

     The circles were handstitched with embroidery threads and a gold rayon, which doesn't really show in these photos because it's so thin, and the torn circle was colored with Lindy's Gang Metallic Magical Shakers (Glittering Gold, Antique Gold and Antique Bronze), and inked around the edges with Ranger Archival Ink (Potting Soil). A very old sticker sheet was finally used for the pine cones in between the feathers, and also happened to have the perfect quote.

     My favorite part of this page is the craft feathers that started out the color of the shirt that I'm wearing in this photo! I wet them with water first and used a paintbrush to apply LG (Blue Banff) Squirt along the feather lines. After a few coats, and letting them dry in between, I adhered them onto my page with Ranger Multi Medium (Gloss). Then I painted the feather lines with Art Alchemy Sparks Paint (Dragon's Eye), splattered some on the background, and finished the rest of the page with more Ranger Multi Medium (Gloss). 

     Strips of lace were used to create belts, and were also adhered with Ranger Multi Medium (Gloss). The buckles started out silver, and were painted with Dylusions (Ground Coffee) Paint, and finished with Art Alchemy Metallique (Vintage Gold) Wax. 

     The strip of lace in the middle was the same light blue as the top one, but got dyed with a few coats of Lindy's (Banff Blue) Squirt.

     Thanks for looking, and take care! 

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Challenges Entered:

More Than Words ~ December Main Challenge

Art Sandbox ~ KoloroTon #30

Art Journal Journey ~ The Meaning Of (Childhood Memories)

Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge ~ #67 Anything Mixed Media Goes

Moving Along With The Times ~ #125 Summer or Winter Vacation

Mini Milk Carton Houses

      Don't throw out your milk cartons! Just give them a good wash, and they'll be ready to recycle into houses. I used the small cartons on this trio, taking my inspiration from the colorful Victorian houses found in San Francisco, California. 

     I started by cutting 1/2" strips of white cardstock, and used a stiffer brush to apply a coat of clear gesso. Once dry, I colored them with Distress Crayons (Peacock Feathers, Chipped Sapphire, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, Shaded Lilac, and Wilted Violet), smudged them with my fingers, and added (Black Soot) around the edges. After cutting out the doors, I layered and glued them around the carton like siding on a house. The windows were stamped and embossed with Emerald Creek Boho Blends (Wrought Iron) Embossing Powder. Then I colored them with the same Distress Crayons using a brush and water for a softer effect.

     I used my leftover scraps from the siding, to make the bottom halves of the doors, by cutting the width of the 1/2" strips in half, and piecing them back together. Small brads were used for the knobs, and the doors framed with pieces from a cereal box. The framing, window sills, (cut with the Cricut Expression using the George and Basic Shapes cartridge), and scallop stamping along the eaves, were embossed with Ranger Mixed Media Powder (Bone). 

     The roof shingles are actually the centers of a flower stamp, that reminded me of a peacock feather, and were embossed with Emerald Creek (Black Cherry) Aroma Embossing Powder. 

     Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Challenges Entered:

Mixed Media Academy ~ November Challenge (I've been in the mood to create little houses lately, and wanted to make haunted ones for Halloween, but instead went Victorian, which was perfect for this color combo)

The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog ~ Home is Where the Heart is

Try it on Tuesday ~ Embossed

Bleeding Art ~ October Challenge

A Vintage Journey ~ Pairs, Trios, and Sets

Country View Challenges ~ November Anything But a Card

Creative Artiste ~ #66 Anything Mixed Media Goes

Fall Fairy Art Journal Page

      Fall is my favorite season, so it felt good to finally play with some leaves in my art journal! 

     I started by adhering torn dictionary pages, a crossword puzzle, and textured cream papers to my page, along with touches of white gesso. Then I applied black gesso to the birch Tim Holtz Mini Stencil (Set #21). Once it all dried, I colored it with Lindy's Gang Sprays (My Mojito Green and Autumn Maple Crimson) and Magicals (Tears on my Pillow Tangerine, Bratwurst Brown, and Aged Copper). I didn't like the colored trees, so I went over them with Lindy's Gang Sprays (Sidewalk Chalk and Cafe Au Lait).  The branch was a leftover die cut that I embossed with Lindy's Gang (Midnight Copper) Embossing Powder. Then I stamped the leaves with Palette Inks, which are permanent, and did the edges with (Black Soot) Distress Ink. To mimic fairy dust, they were finished with a coat of (Copper) Stickles.

     To add more texture, I colored some cheesecloth/gauze with Lindy's Gang Sprays (My Mojito Green and Sea Mint Green) and (Bratwurst Brown) Magical Shaker. I also added small pieces of copper to resemble dirt, adhered with Ranger Multi Medium Gloss. The foliage on the bottom was stamped and embossed with Lindy's Gang (Midnight Pewter Obsidian) Embossing Powder.

     I printed the quote onto cream cardstock and colored it with some of the same Lindy's Sprays and Magicals. Then I backed the strips with black cardstock and embossed the edges with Lindy's (Midnight Copper) Embossing Powder. 

     
     I think the quote is perfect for this chipboard Sitting Fairy from Creative Embellishments! After a coat of black gesso, I embossed the trunk with Lindy's Gang (Midnight Copper) EP, and the fairy with (Midnight Pewter Obsidian) EP, adding (Copper) Stickles to her wings. 

     Thanks for looking!

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Challenges Entered:

Creative Embellishments ~ November Challenge (Inspired by the trees and colors)

Try it on Tuesday ~ Embossed

Art Sandbox ~ Gauze/Bandage

More Mixed Media Challenge ~ October Anything Goes with optional Orange

Bleeding Art ~ October Challenge

International Art & Soul ~ #95 Fairies and/or Elves