Mixed Media Canvas... and a technology fail (for now)

I slaved over this project for a few days... longer than I expected it to take.
Then I slaved over the video so I could post it on my YouTube channel and use it as my Design Team Application for Faber Castell Design Memory Craft but the technology in my life decided it was not going to cooperate so after three attempts at editing the video I missed the deadline... oh well there is always next year.
If anyone is willing to sponsor a completely new video recording system, then all donations will be gratefully accepted and used... just putting it out there to the universe LOL.

Anyway...
In lieu of a step by step video tutorial... for now I wanted to share some pictures of the finished project... my first but definitely not my last altered canvas. I will attempt to edit the video once more having downloaded an updated version of my software... so fingers crossed it works this time. If I'm successful (and you will probably hear the hoops and hollers of joy) then I will update you with the link... if not, then I guess I won't. (You all know that right about now it's personal... it's me or the software and I'm not giving up just yet!!)

The canvas is 6" x 12".

Background colouring done with Faber Castell Gelatos - Peach, Guava, Lavender, Bubble Gum and Earl Grey blended together into a random pattern.

Heat embossed over the top with VersaMark ink and Detail Black Embossing Powder from Stamp Effects using the KaiserCraft "Crackle" clear stamp.
Edges all inked with Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Walnut Stain and Black Soot.

Torn corrugated cardboard, lightly painted with Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Snow Cap.

The sentiment (my own creation) was stamped onto white cardstock scraps which I had coloured using the same colour combination of gelatos. It was stamped with Archival Ink - Jet Black using Hero Arts Basic Upper and Lower Case Peg Stamps.

The words were all cut out individually then edged with a Tombow dual tip pen using the brush end before being adhered in place with Glossy Accents.

The polymer clay torso from Kimi at Unique Scrappiness was washed with a mix of gelatos and water.

The flowers from I Am Roses were all coloured in one of the following techniques:

• Gelatos with water to create a water colour - painted
• Gelatos with water in a spritzer bottle - misted
• Lindy's Stamp Gang - misted

The twisted stems are chenille pipe cleaners covered with florists tape which was then rubbed with Faber Castell Gelato - Chocolate and misted with Lindy's Stamp Gang Mists - Cadbury Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate Truffle.
The tag was a "Luggage Tag" from Jillibean Soup. This was scrunched up and distressed with Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Walnut Ink and Black Soot.

I included some Steampunk Metal Charms from Faith at Artistic Creationz. They were painted lightly with Faber Castell Gesso which was wiped off with a baby wipe before it had dried.

And finally close up of the two sides showing the embossing wrapping completely around the canvas... easier said than done, but well worth all the effort.

I really love the end result of this project. All the stress and technology EPIC FAILS... aside, it was well worth it and I can't wait to find the perfect spot to put it, so it can inspire me every time I look at it.

Swap - Altered Flowers

So carrying on from yesterday's post about the altered chipboard letters for the "My Favourite Things" embellishment swap on Artistic Creationz website... I've also added as one of my other embellishments some flowers I have altered/coloured to match the chipboard letters and ribbons included in each participant's bag of goodies.

Now I have to confess, I wasn't planning on sharing these... why, because you are probably sick of me extolling the virtues and raving about how much I love my Lindy's Stamp Gang mists... and I don't want everyone switching off because you are sick of my raving or just jealous because you want some too. And especially as I posted about some altered flowers earlier in the week as well. But these flowers just turned out so well that I just have to share them and also because I did something a little different this time... some more experimenting with some of my supplies.

I originally thought about misting the colours on for a change but let's be honest, two toned roses just look so much more natural. Yes the Lindy's Stamp Gang mists are two toned... but I wanted to kick it up another notch before I put them away for a few days. So I pulled out my Faber Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos and my Portfolio Series Water Soluble Oil Pastels to see if they would play nicely with the Lindy's Stamp Gang mists.

And the answer is an emphatic YES!!

I just love these even more than I loved the last bunch of flowers I coloured... and I didn't think that was possible.

So here are the altered/coloured flowers for the swap. Once again I've taken with and without camera flash photographs so you can see the difference. The only other thing is that this time I used Ivory not White roses from I Am Roses.

Don't they just look stunning!! 

Left - Base colour was a light blue oil pastel with Lindy's Stamp Gang Tiffany Lou Blue dripped on the edge of each petal.

Right - Base colour was a dark blue oil pastel with Lindy's Stamp Gang Buccaneer Bay Blue highlights.

Left - Base colour was a Faber Castell Gelato in Guava with Lindy's Stamp Gang Witch's Brew Purple on the edge of each petal. This is definitely one of my favourite colours - I love the blue shimmer in there.

Right - Base colour was a mix of dark grey and black oil pastels with Lindy's Stamp Gang Screamin' Banshee Black which also has a deep blue shimmer to it. 

Left - Base colour was Faber Castell Gelato - Butterscotch with Lindy's Stamp Gang Golden Doubloons for accents. Without the flash it almost looks creamy... but with the flash you can definitely see the beautiful golden colour that it really is.

Right - Base colour was Faber Castell Gelato - Chocolate with Lindy's Stamp Gang Dark Chocolate Truffle on the tips of each petal. 

Left - Base colour was a mix of Faber Castell Gelatos - Lime and Green Tea with Lindy's Stamp Gang Freaky Franken-Lime for on the tips of the petals. This is also one of my favourites because that green is so luscious and intense.

Right - Base colour was mix of Faber Castell Gelatos - Guava and Bubble Gum with Lindy's Stamp Gang Cotton Candy Pink on the tips of each petal to accent. Unlike the altered letter yesterday, you can really see that gorgeous pink colour on the flower here.

Left - Base colour was Faber Castell Gelato - Blood Orange with Lindy's Stamp Gang Hag's Wart Orange for total yumminess. This would have to be my favourite colour combination of all of them. I really love this orange!!
Right - Base colour was a mix of Faber Castell Gelatos - Red Cherry and Chocolate with Lindy's Stamp Gang Cadbury Milk Chocolate on the tips of each petal as an accent.

I only have a few Faber Castell Gelatos at the moment which is why I had to use some of the Portfolio Series Oil Pastels, not that they didn't do the job equally as well. 

There are a number of lessons to be learnt from all of this experimenting - 

• Don't be afraid to mix up your products and tools to get the effect that you really want
• Don't be afraid to use scrapbooking, paper crafting and mixed media art products on other types of projects, rather than just their originally intended use
• Don't be afraid to drip your mists, or add water to your gelatos and oil pastels to turn them into a paint so you can colour or alter items for your projects
• And finally don't be afraid to do something different to what everyone else is doing... it's your art, so you can do whatever you want with whatever you want!

Pretty Painted Flowers

I've been playing with my Lindy's Stamp Gang Mists to colour flowers looking for inspiration and experimenting as I do...

And I wanted to share some images of my playing. 

These all started out as plain white flowers... but now they are far from plain or white.

They are all shown in pairs - left picture is without camera flash and right picture is with camera flash. The colours change between flash and no flash but also so does the shimmer and glitter which is why I've done it this way.

All products are Lindy's Stamp Gang unless otherwise stated.

All flowers were misted liberally with water prior to painting. The colours were all either painted on using a water brush or dropped from the end of the tube of the mister.

Three layers of flat white Bree flowers. Painted with Hag's Wart Orange; Crow's Nest Copper and Golden Doubloons. The layers are held together with a gold glitter brad (source unknown) which I also coloured with the Orange dripped on.

I really love the vibrancy of the colours here. They are just stunning. The orange has a mauve/purplish shimmer to it which is just so unexpected (unless you consider that it is from the Haunted Halloween set).

 Paper Rose from I Am Roses. Painted with Cotton Candy Pink inside and Witch's Potion Purple on the petal tips. Finished with Kindy Glitz - Black Opal.

 Paper Rose from I Am Roses. Painted all over with Tiffany's Blue (Now called Tiffany Lou Blue). Tips coloured with Luminere Radiant Rain Colour Concentrate - Sky and Kindy Glitz - Crystal.

I really love this flower, though to be honest neither photo really captures the true colour. It's more of an aqua/teal than it looks in either photo. This is a colour I love and have patterned paper that has been so hard to match, so I will be using this colouring formula again for sure!

Paper Rose from I Am Roses. Painted inside with Witch's Potion Purple and tips with Long John's Silver. 

The Long John's Silver has a brown/coppery base so gives an instant Vintage look to this flower. This is one of the Moon Shadow Mists which I really adore. I will be getting more of these... they just make creating that Vintage look, so much easier!!

Paper Rose from I Am Roses. Painted inside with Don't Eat The Golden Snow and tips with Golden Doubloon.

These photos really don't show the stunning gold shimmer of this flower. The Golden Doubloon has the brown Vintage base as well so looks aged without any hard work. (It has what I would call a "Dirty Gold" look rather than a shiny New Gold look.)

Paper Rose from I Am Roses. Painted inside with Cotton Candy Pink and tips with Jolly Roger Red.

Love this flower too. Yes I know there isn't a flower I don't like... don't get technical with me. I like this because it has a very natural look to the Vintaging. It looks a little like a beautiful pink rose that is a day or two past it's prime having perhaps fallen off the rose bush and is now starting to wilt a little.

Paper Rose from I Am Roses. Painted inside with Hag's Wart Orange and tips with Witches Brew Purple.

I love this flower because it is so out there and bright and almost garish (a bit like me). I love it's moodiness and unexpected colouring - purple and orange, both from the Haunted Halloween Set. Might have to use this colour combination very soon me thinks!!

Paper Rose from I Am Roses. This was painted by my four year old granddaughter Sonia-Marie with Tiffany's Blue (Now called Tiffany Lou Blue) and Cotton Candy Pink under supervision by Nana.

I love this flower because Sonia-Marie did it, and let's be honest I think everything she does is adorable, but doubly so if it is crafting with Nana!!

I've really enjoyed experimenting today, even though it may look like I didn't really achieve a lot. I don't have projects for any of these, so they will be going into my stash of flowers for the time being, but I will definitely be using them on projects at some stage.

Post Number 350

I can't believe I've finally made it to blog post number 350.
This one has been hanging over my head for a few weeks and it's not that I've been avoiding writing it, reality is I've just been too busy to step anywhere near the blog and I apologise for that.
Last weekend was the SENZ Craft Expo here in Auckland. It was the 10th anniversary, though their 13th craft show, so was kind of a big deal all around.
It was a really big deal for me, because this year I was sharing my stall with two of my dear friends who I met online through Artistic Creationz forum (formerly Crafting Passionz) - Faith from down in the Waikato and Kimi from Australia. Faith talked me into the craft stall this year as I had been umming and ahhing over whether or not I should do it. And then once the decision had been made the suggestion was jokingly made that Kimi come over from Australia to help out. Obviously not so much of a joke...
Both of these ladies are incredibly talented. Kimi's creations can be found on her blog Unique Scrappiness and YouTube channel by the same name. Faith who is equally talented can be found on her YouTube channel nzaquarious2008.
More on these talented ladies and our crafty weekend in another post. In this post I wanted to share the fruits of my labour for the craft show and my new company name for the display. (Well same old name, but new display.)

 The completed display name for my company on the wall at SENZ Craft Show 2013.

And now a close up of each letter and the clustering of colour on each flower.

The base of each clustering is tapes - washi, self-adhesive, coloured sellotapes etc and these are topped with flat and dimensional flowers of the same colour and accented with coordinating rhinestones.

Most of the dimensional flowers will soon be available on my website - www.scrapfx.co.nz.

 

Fancy A Cuppa?

Here's the second part of Mum's birthday present. I totally love this and very nearly kept it for myself.
I'd seen the lovely ladies on Artistic Creationz make these for a swap and I couldn't do it at the time they all made theirs, so I've just made mine (umm I mean Mum's) now.
I picked up the cup, saucer and plate set at the local Hospice shop for only $5.00 (Don't tell mum I only paid that much for it). I loved the colours and knew they were mum's favourites as well, so figured I was onto a winner. I altered the cup set into a pin cushion.

I half filled the cup with some hobby fill. I cut a circle from some leftover mauve satin I had in my stash, gathered this up and  filled it with more hobby fill. I adhered the satin "ball" in the top of the cup then glued a length of ribbon around the rim of the cup. I added a length of mauve crushed velvet ribbon around the back of the cup and then liberally covered the area with flowers from I Am Roses... which will be available through my shop. I really love the way the cup turned out... and so does Mum, though she did complain that when she finally got it the pins I had added for the photo where not included so I may need to raid my stash to keep her happy (as a good daughter would do :-).

Layout - Dance

Project 2 - Dance Layout

I took these photos of my granddaughter Sonia-Marie dancing in the new dancing dress I bought her in mid-January of this year. She has always loved music and dancing and as a former dancer teacher I want to encourage her love of dance (and music and crafting and reading...). I found this outfit in K-Mart and just couldn't resist. As soon as we got it home she put it on and began dancing around in our (messy) lounge. She loves the pretty flowing skirt and the way it moves when she twirls around.
I just have to add... I really love the sports function on my Canon camera, especially for moments like this!!!

I started with a base of Bazzill White Cardstock. I placed a Butterfly Stencil from KaiserCraft in the bottom right corner and misted the area with Tattered Angels Mists - Abominable Snowman, Pink Poodle and Trunk Bay. LOVE... this colour combination and how delicate it looks with this stencil!!!

I cut some Teresa Collins patterned paper Posh: Butterfly Script and Posh: Posh Butterflies to size then distressed the edges with a edge distresser. I layered these onto the cardstock so as to highlight my lovely misted butterfly.
I added the photos which I had cropped tightly and then sanded to focus solely on my granddaughter. I overlapped them slightly so they would fit on the page better as well as adding a movement and flow across the page to better fit the theme of the layout.

I love this Dusty Attic chipboard scroll border and knew I wanted to add this to the page. I painted it with Tim Holtz Paint Dauber - Picket Fence, then covered this with a mixture of Making Memories Pink Lipstick paint and Reeves Iridescent Medium. I finished this off with a coat of Iridescent Medium on its own to give it a real sparkle (though it doesn't show that well when photographed).
I adhered the chipboard scroll in place with Ranger Glossy Accents along the left hand side of the layout.
I added some handwritten journaling with a black journaling pen then adhered some white glittered flowers I received in a swap from Gail in Australia. (A girl can not have enough bling or glitter in her life... especially a little "big" girl.) I added a self adhesive clear rhinestones into the centre of each flower.
To finish off the layout I added a title using Making Memories Mini Shimmer Alphas - Blue Metro.

Close up of the painted chipboard.

Close up of glittered flowers (they are just so cute!!!)