Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Britta - A Collaged Tag


Sometimes it seems like too large an undertaking....to create a Journal spread, or a scrapbook page, or canvas wall hanging.
But we can all make a tag....seriously....we can ALL make a tag. If you don't like the first background.....IT'S JUST A PIECE OF PAPER!!!
Throw it away, and start over. You can DO it. Remember - Just a piece of paper.


 I'll try to take you through it step by step. You can stop at any point where you think you've had enough. It's your project, make it however YOU like.
That's what I always told the students in my class. Don't copy me, make it your own. You bought the supplies, make something that makes YOU happy.

  
 This is a piece of 12x12 Corona paper from Finnabair and a #10 Manila tag.

Pretty simple.


 I added Soft Matte Gel to the back of the tag and glued it to the section of the paper I liked. Trim around the edges and use black thread to add some stitching in different parts of the tag. Leave your end threads long and uncut.

I ran out of tread and found this happy accident made some fun holes in the tag. Embrace your mistakes.


 I used some Cobalt Turquoise Golden Fluid Acrylic and Modeling Paste to mix up some color to use with the Honeycomb stencil.


  Add the paste randomly in spots with a palette knife.


 When dry, add Vintage Variety Lace and Doily, Fishnet, and Sunrise Sunset #2 stamps with Sepia and Jet Black Archival Inks.


 I also used the the Harlequin stencil and the white modeling paste. When it dried, I sprayed Dylusion sprays in various bright colors and water to let them run. Fun! 


 The water really makes a difference in making the colors run.


  I used Mechanicals and several were painted with the Heavy White Gesso.  When dry I sand off the top layers of Gesso to let you see the silver or, as on the flowers, gold metal underneath. Polish with a soft cloth to make them shine.


The Roman Numeral and Number are gessoed and dusted with a bit of Gold Metallic Archival Ink and a small brush.

The Linen Ribbon has been brushed with Soft Matte Gel and sprinkled with Antique Silver and White Art Sugar.

You can see the Mechanical Tassel is perfect with the Clasp hanging from the double bow.


This shows the Medium Flowers painted with Gesso and a Bottle Cap loaded with Glass Beads. The tiny paper flower was dipped in White Art Sugar.

You can also see that I added white and black pens as a layer.

Laying the piece out with a button and a key clip lets me see where something else is needed.


Out came the pearls, a snap, and the alcohol inks....love it or leave it. The choice is yours.

I used Perfect Labels, a Small Clockface, Medium Flowers, Mini Flowers, Washers #1, Sunrise Sunset Button, Star Brads, and Mini Numbers. I sprinkled some Junkyard Findings here and there, too. I layer my tags onto black mat board for stability.

The lovely little lady is ...Miss Britta. Love her to pieces!

Be sure to check out the links here to
 Finnabair's Mixed Media Place.

 And another cool note, Retro Cafe Art Gallery here in the States now carries several of these great products!!

Linda

Friday, September 19, 2014

A Special Place for a Skeleton!

 I found this cool little box at Hobby Lobby and just had to have it. I seem to collect anything wooden that looks remotely interesting.
 
Anyway, it looked like a perfect little Halloween box to decorate! 

 

This is the front with German Scrap on the bottom with my little wooden Punkins that I painted.
 
The Candelabra and Cat are Masonite cut outs from Retro Cafe Art Gallery...of course, as well as the Bat on top.
 
The papers and stickers are all from Graphic 45.


You open the door and Viola! Here's what you get!

With a little adjustment, the Skeleton fit into the box...bend carefully and the chipboard will be OK. 

The Pumpkins are colored with 2 colors of Inka Gold. and the Spider is painted and penned.
 
Boo is from the Newsprint Word Collage Cut Outs.


I love the checkered papers along the sides and tops. Perfect fit here.


You can see the different layers of UTEE on the Bat Cut Out and the Purple Glitter Glue on the Spider.


I painted the Candelabra white and added Sharpie Markers in blue and purple. Mr. Cat has Black Distress Stickles on him.
 
The Orange German Scrap was sanded and then the Inka Golds were added.
 
Black Cats and Happy Haunting are stickers from G45.

The little wooden Punkins are fun to paint with Liquid Pearls, and their faces are added with a fine black Sharpie pen.

 
 
And this is the back.....Gotta LOVE those pumpkin letters!!!
Check out all the great products at
Retro Cafe Art Gallery...Kristin will fix you right up!

That's it for today.... this little box needs a Special friend....I think I'll send it on it's way.

Linda

Retro Cafe Art Gallery Products:
Inka Gold-Copper and Green Yellow

Monday, September 15, 2014

Finnabair Creative Team Post Time!!!

 Well, the time has finally arrived when I can show you a project I created for the new
Finnabair Creative Team!

I am soooooo honored to be on this team with these uber talented ladies. And Ania's kindness is unsurpassed. The box of goodies we received left me speechless...and that takes a LOT!
So without further ado, I give you my take on Finnabair's
 Every Monday and Friday there will be a project with either videos or picture tutorials on her blog to teach you all about Finnabair's "new babies" here. 

 
After removing the back, I painted parts with Heavy White Gesso.  Then I added a swath of Copper CrackleTexture Paste with a palette knife. 


When the crackle was dry, I used Fresco Acrylic Chalk Paints to add various blues to the white gesso areas. I also added some Distress Inks and Perfect Pearl Mists. 


Then I stamped the Fishnet Clear Stamp randomly with black archival ink. Heat-set. 


Finally, I added stenciling with the Prima stencil Flourish using a foam square and black archival ink, and a bit of Gold Metallic Alcohol Ink. I also sealed it at this point.


 I painted Heavy White Gesso with a splotchy pattern around the outside of the clock.   



Then I added more Fresco Paints in the turquoise family. 


When dry, I used a sponge brush to add Copper Crackle Paste blending the edges with the blue paint. Let it dry.


 Next add the Threading stamp around the clock with both black and coffee archival ink.  Don’t put it on a block, just roll it here and there stamping a small portion of the stamp. 


Using the back of your clock, trace it onto the White Resist Canvas-Scales and cut out. Glue to the back with Soft Matte Gel. Add distress inks in the orange and yellow colors to the canvas area. Note the “resist” area will not take the color. This is so cool! 


Stamp a background using Stamps and Adverts and Adverts with black archival ink. 


I added a bit of Heavy Black Gesso to the Large Clockface and the edges of 2 wooden blocks. The blocks will be your base for the picture of the children. Then I spread some Soft Gel around the circle (the distress inks all blend and bleed together here) and sprinkled a bit of Luminous and  Ebony and Ivory Glitter into it. 


The next step is to put together the collage inside your clock.
 
I cut around the picture of the children from Found Relatives by Tim Holtz and edged with a pen. The medium size Bottlecap is filled with Soft Matte Gel with more at the edges. The wooden button with waxed linen tied in a bow is added to the center, and the edges are filled with Plum, Licorice and Zinc Glass Beads. These are so gorgeous!!! 

I used Mini Flowers, a Washer #1, and a Numeral 5 with some Junkyard Findings that I glued on with 3D Matte Gel. This stuff REALLY is great for gluing heavier pieces. Now you can add your children that will sit on top of the 2 wooden blocks. 


I picked out some Prima flowers and leaves to add to the outside. They seemed to want to be sprinkled with something….so I broke out the Art Sugar!  I used a small brush to add some Soft Matte Gel and then dipped them into the jar. Shake them off a bit and you’re done! Here I used the White and Charcoal Sugars. 


I bent the larger metal pieces to the shape of the clock and glued the embellishments together with the 3D Matte Gel. I love adding the Junkyard Findings to the larger pieces. 


The outside is decorated with Mechanicals from Leaves 1Leaves 2Mini Flowers, some small Junkyard Findings, and a Lady Bird Butterfly.  I also added a bit of Black Sand Texture Paste  just to see how it worked. It's a white and black texture on the outside. VERY cool stuff. 
 

The 3D Matt Gel is amazing! It's so easy to use and boy, does it work!!! Those metal embellishments are not moving! 


I must say the new Art Sugars on the flowers and leaves are stunningly gorgeous!!!
The Beads and Art Glitters inside along with stamps were perfect ways to add a bit of glitz.

So if you want to see all amazing work from the other Designers, go to 

Finnabair's Blog

 every Monday and Friday for great projects with all these wonderful products. Don't forget to leave them some love!

You will not be sorry!

Your Friend in ART,

Linda
         

Monday, September 8, 2014

A Little Pumpkin Witch and Friends

Look at this Witches Green eyes! That's what made me decide to put her little face on my Articulated Victorian Pumpkin Art Doll.


I added a few things.... a mat board Cat Cut-Out,Candelabra Cut-Out, a Halloween Word Scroll Cut-Out, and a friendly Furry Spider at the base. All the rest come with the kit.


 The base is painted with Fresco Paints and stamped with Archival Jet Black Ink using the Halloween 3 stamp set. The Candelabra is painted with Distress Metallic Paints, Frescos and Sharpie Markers.


I used Graphic45 Happy Haunting paper on her dress to add color, and her neckline trim is German Dresden Border that I brushed with brown Distress Ink.

I love the face from the Fairy Art Doll Head Paper Cuts II. I trimmed it up a bit for the hat to fit right.

The last thing is to add some white and black pen marks to accent the pieces.

I'll let you in on a little TIP to get the BRIGHT orange colors. It's a Snowflake Fresco Paint basecoat, then Tango, Smoked Paprika and London Bus. A couple of you say your paints aren't as bright. That London Bus added last REALLY makes that orange bright!!!

The greens are added onto a white base, using Guacamole and Limelight....again I can't stress enough the need for the white basecoating.

Have fun and give yourself a little project for the season.

Linda