My Word is "Inspiration" for the Finnabair CT Post

This is, by far, one of the coolest posts I've ever seen. 

We all got together, past and present members of the 

Finnabair Creative Team,

and created a project using one word that completes the thought

"I Wish You........."

I chose the word 

Inspiration.

We all want to wish you a wonderful upcoming year,

so this is our gift to you. 

It's a relatively simple tag using crackle paste, stencils, glitter, mica powder and several mechanicals layered together.

Words cannot describe how beautiful and different they all are.

Please, click on the link to see all the amazing projects we 

put together on 

Finnabair's Blog.

Your Friend in ART,

Linda

P.S. You're going to LOVE them!

An Altered Tin - Jane

Today it is my turn again on the

Finnabair Blog.

This little project starts with an Altoids tin with the lid removed. I've seen these little Works of Art created by others and have always wanted to try one, so here goes!!!

I traced the bottom of the tin onto a  piece of adhesive backed metal from Ten Seconds Studio. Cut it out and then run it through the Vagabond using the Iron Scrollwork Embossing Folder from Vintaj and Sizzix. 

I used Deep Water Mica Powder as well as Purple mixed with Soft Gloss Gel to make a paint. These 2 colors were painted onto the recessed areas of the embossed metal. 

When dry, I used a light sanding block to remove excess paint, and polish.

Black and Copper Micro Beads are glued into the indentations of the metal with Soft Gloss Gel using a Precision Tip Applicator. 

I lightly sanded the tin and then gave it a couple of coats of Heavy Black Gesso. 

Spread a medium coat of both Copper Crackle Texture Paste and Antique Silver Crackle Texture Paste sporadically on the sides of the tin. 

While it's still wet, I added Black Micro Beads and set aside to dry. 

This is what it looks like when dry. The tiny cracks are amazing. 

I tore a strip of the White Resist Floral Pattern Canvas and added color using Distress Stains. 

Remove the backing on the embossed metal and apply to the back of the tin. 

I used 2 medium sized wooden blocks to raise the Resist Canvas and glued it into place with 3D Matte Gel. 

The Gold Mica Powder and Soft Gloss Gel were used to paint the Medium Mechanical Flower. 

I glued the flower onto a small wooden block to raise the image away from the back of the tin. Glue in the tin with 3D Matte Gel with the photo.

This detail shot shows my "Glitter Stash" that's added to the bodice of the girl and bottom edge.

 This is a collection of left-over Glitter, Glass Glitter and Micro Beads that I keep in a container and use as filler. 

The Large Flower Mechanical is trimmed and bent in order to add it to the top of the tin. 

A bit of Silver wire and a vintage typewriter key J adorn the top. J is for the child I lovingly named "Jane."

The large Wings are embellished with some waxes and a vintage button at the base. 

I hope you've enjoyed this journey and are inspired to decorate a tin for yourself or a friend. 

Be Well and Happy Holidays to one and all.

Your Friend in ART,

Linda

A Christmas Charm Bracelet

I everybody!

Just a short post to show you a really simple and easy gift to make for someone special on your list.

This cute little charm bracelet is made with charms from 

Retro Cafe Art Gallery.

I used Antique Silver Christmas Stockings

Antique Silver Classic Snowflakes

Antique Silver Snowman 

Antique Silver Christmas Reindeer

and

Yuletide Metal Snowflakes

Adding them to a piece of silver chain and ending with a clasp from your local hobby or bead store is really easy.

So, check out the links, and get busy. 

Kristin will fix you right up!

Linda

Angels Angels and More Angels

I can't believe it's December already!

Here are 4 Angels from

Retro Cafe Art Gallery

that are going on the tree or to new homes.

Hope you're inspired to play.

This is my favorite, Style 3, that's hand-painted. She has Gold Rush Glass Glitter Wings and Charcoal Art Sugar on the Star.
The Star is really stunning in person. It's a dark gold, extremely fine glitter.
Her halo is a piece of the
Star Trinket Shrine.

They all have wires added to hang them on the tree, and paper clay faces using the Art Doll Push Mold.
This one has Glittered Jingle Bells on the wire as well.

I used scrapbook papers, trims, glass glitter and glitter on this little Primitive Angel. I tend to switch the wings around.

She found a new home today with Michelle.

She's a Style 4 and 4.75 inches tall. She has an Antique Brass Snowflake
in her hands and Sterling Glass Glitter Wings. 

These tiny little black chipboard Art Angel Dolls were so fun to decorate.
They're only 3 inches tall with their halos
 made from Santos Halo Cut Outs and Glitter.

The gal on the left has Silver Micro Beads all over her skirt,
 but they don't shine well here.

And Noel has a mixture of Gold Rush and Sterling Glass glitter on her wings.

Both have a Christmas Word Collage sayings on the front.

So get out your papers and paint and get started.

They are addictively fun to create!

Linda

Snowflake House for SYWA Vol. 6 with Finnabair

Today it's time for another
Spread Your Wings Academy vol. 6
over on the
Finnabair Blog.

Mine is here, too, but there's 3 more you'll want to see over there using some
of our
favorite products.

I chose Snowflake Paste.

I start with a plain wooden birdhouse from

 Hobby Lobby that I painted with 

Heavy Black Gesso and an Art Basics Brush. 

Using the Grungy Grid stencil I added 

Snowflake Paste to the roof. 

When dry, I sprayed with a few Mica Powder+Water Sprays

 for a bit of shine.

Here you see the sides with several colors. 

The black Gesso makes them come alive.

 The bottle shown is Opal Magic Gold in water.

I added more Snowflake Paste with my finger

 to have it look lumpy like real snow.

The Bottle Brush Trees and Tiny Wreath are amazing when you add
 the paste to them.
For a little bit more sparkle,
I sprinkled a bit of White Art Sugar over the paste.

The Ornate Fleur cut out and a Fancy Round Fleur 

cut out are decorated with Antique Silver Art Sugar

and 2 colors of Gold Glitter from the Luminous Set 

mixed together. 

Soft Gloss Gel in a bottle with a 

precision tip applicator bottle

 is perfect for adding glue for the glitter. 

After painting more Tree cut-outs I added Snowflake Paste and the
  Wire Net Clear Stamp to the door with archival black ink.

Add as many embellishments as you like to your house.

This detail shot shows the sparkle in the Snow.

The Windows and Door were sprayed with 

Gold Mica Powder+Water Spray 

that gave a vintage or distressed look to the masonite pieces. 

The roof was trimmed with

Red Faux Rhinestone Mesh Ribbon.

I glued all the pieces on with 3D Matte Gel.

I hope you're inspired to get started on some decorations for the upcoming Holidays.
 As always, comments and questions are welcome!

Now jump over to
  Finnabair,
and see what Gayle, Athanasia, and Olga have to share!

Linda

Wings of Silver and Gold Articulated Angel

Yes, it's that time of year again.
If we don't get started now, the time will quickly slip right by us and our creative moments will be lost.

Or so we think, right?

Anyway, it's more fun to make things when there's still lots of time left,
 than the night before you need them.

Here's an Angel Ornament that you can get started with from
Retro Cafe Art Gallery
and
Finnabair.

This has several products that I'll create links to throughout the post.

This is the "laying out" stage with Holly Leaves and Berries, 

an Articulated Angel Ornament Style 1,

 a Vintage Victorian Christmas Collage Sheet,

  Sterling and Gold Rush Glass Glitter, 

and Gold Leaf Mica Flakes. 

I wanted to create a "vintage-looking" set of wings, 

so I mixed the 2 colors of Glass Glitter

 and added the Gold Mica Flakes to resemble feathers. 

After base-coating my pieces of the ornament white, 

I added the Fresco Paint colors. 

When dry I used pens to add leaf veins and other markings on the holly. 

The images from
Finnabair Collections
  Old Town 

and Now Is the Right Time 

were stamped using black archival ink. 

The small flourishes are from Graphic45 Christmas Emporium set.

I also sprayed lightly with Gold Mica Powder+Water spray. 

The Heart and Center of the round stamp were covered with Glossy Accents

that really made them come alive.

 Lots of pen dots, 

and a few hand-painted areas were added.

I strung gold wire through the holes in the wings,

 and added Star brads colored with Inka Golds. 

The Holly and Berries have Inka Golds and Glossy Accents in spots as well. 

I kept making the "bouquet" smaller so it didn't obscure the green center.

This shows the spray and Inka Golds on the leaves and the white dots.

The Round Stained Glass Window Cut-Out 

is covered with Luminous Gold Glitter and added as a halo behind

 the Art Doll Head Cut-Out 

that already had the Holly and Berries in her hair. Bonus! 

She's all ready to mail out as a gift for a friend, 

or keep to hang on your tree. 

So click on the links and get to ordering your fun projects from 

Retro Cafe Art Gallery

to get a jump on making gifts.

Linda

Vintage Wooden Houses

You all know what it's like when your "Muse" leaves you...you got nothing...no ideas, no thoughts...NOTHING.

Well, that's where I was. And then, sitting there, looking at the walls of my Studio, seeing projects that I really love, several seemed to have a general "theme". 

HOUSES

It's what I started with 8 years ago, and so today, I go back to my roots and create what always makes me happy....Little Assemblage Art Houses.

Hope you enjoy.

My husband and I spent several days tearing apart a bunk-bed to upcycle it into a laundry basket cabinet, so we had lots of leftover wood scraps. I asked Bill to cut 3 houses with different heights and roofs plus a base.  Here's how they were created.

I start by covering the houses with Heavy Black Gesso on all sides.

Then I look through my Vintage Collectibles for pictures and papers to use. The Soft Matte Gel will work to glue to the houses.

Next I lay out some Mechanicals, Wood Icon pieces, a Vintaj piece, a pipe fitting brace, and other ephemera for a start. As always, some will stay, and some will go, but this is a starting point.

I used a punch to cut out the picture of the little girl, and 3D Matte Gel to glue into the Pendant. I also add color and shadows with pens to the children's pictures. 

The Sunrise Sunset 6x6 Paper Pad is perfect for this project.  Here I used Distress Inks to add more color and one of the Lace and Doily Clear Stamps. 

Each piece is cut, Distress Inked, stamped and edged with Glaze Pens. I cut the papers just a tiny bit smaller so a black border is created on the blocks. The Clear Stamp Doorway is on the front section, and the tiny Doily is from the Lace and Doily set.

This was cut one of the Post Cards from the Ephemera Pack Papers that has Distress Inks and Mica Powders+Water sprayed on for some shine.

The Ruler in the Wood Icon set is so cool when you add various Orange and Brown Distress Ink. It looks very old and vintage.

This is some sort of pipe fitting (I think) from my stash of found objects. The paper is one of my favorites from the pack.

This shows what a difference several layers of Distress Inks can do to a piece of rather white paper. On the left is the before....the right is the after.  You can make any paper the color you want with just a bit of ink.

Here is the paper from the Collectibles that I cut the little girl from. The other 2 children are just too sweet for words.

More Distress Inks and gathering of objects from my stash. The clear stamps Notes and Messy are stamped here....plus lots of Distress Inks are used.

For the metal pieces I paint them with Black Gesso first and them use Soft Gloss Gel+Mica Powder as a paint to add color. Here is a snap and a grate from Plated Labels.

You can see the Wings Mechanicals, a child from the Vintage Collectibles and a piece of a Wood Icon here that I covered with Mica Powder+Soft Gel paint and some Inka Gold. The Vintaj-Deco Window Filigree creates the frame. I also rubbed Copper Inka Gold onto the Wings. 

 Blue and Purple Mica Powder+Soft Gel paint and Inka Golds are added to the metal pieces for more color. The Plated Label Explore is left in it's original color. 

I placed the 3 houses on a scrap of wood that I added some Distress Ink color to, and painted the edges of the piece with Black Gesso. The Ruler is glued on with 3D Matte Gel. It really looks cool with the black coming through the cut-out numbers. 

That's it for today. Check out the links below for the products I used, and as always, ask any questions you have as well as leave your thoughts here and on the 

Finnabair Blog.

Be Well,

Linda

Finnabair Products:
Brush Set

Heavy Black Gesso

Mica Powder - Blue, Deep Water, Teal, and Copper
Clear Stamps - Doorway, Stamps and Adverts, Sunrise Sunset#4, Lace and Doily, Lace Doily

Clear stamp 960841, Wire Net, Notes, and Messy
Cling Stamp Set - Net and Wire
Ephemera-Vintage Collectibles
Mechanicals-Wings, Plated Labels, Pendants, Star Brads,

Sunrise Sunset Wood Icons

Sunrise Sunset 6x6 Paper Pack

Other Products Used:
Vintaj-Deco Window Filigree 
Distress Inks
Sharpie White Extra Fine Poster Paint Pen
Jet Black Archival Ink
Inka Golds-Turquoise, Copper, Green Yellow, and Gold

Prima-Natures Garden 6x6 Paper Pack