Finnabair Classes in the USA

After all the begging and pleading, Finnabair is coming to the Midwest...yes people, you can go to this amazing Artist's classes that are taught all over the World, right here.

She'll be at 

Cafe Crop in Merrillville, IN 

with these 3 classes.

I'm taking the Sunday classes and would LOVE to meet you.

Everything....and I mean lunch, snacks, drinks and supplies are included in the package.

(These classes are SOLD OUT in Canada.)

Saturday's class is a Journal...cover and inside pages...full of metal, decorative papers, crackle, textures and techniques galore. (see the top 2 pictures.)

Sunday you have your choice of 2 different canvases. Paints, found objects, shimmer and beads...WOW! I'm taking this one and cannot wait to play with the Master!

And the 2nd canvas on Sunday is the Time Capsule. Just look at the texture from the stencils, paints, flowers, beads, and more metal!!!

I'm in this one, too, and I just keep staring at the pictures.

So give Cafe Crop a call

219 661-1624

or register online, 

and join us for a Creative Experience.

Take just ONE or take them all!

I'd love to meet you there!

Linda

A Flaming Heart Ex Vos II

This Heart stole my heart. 

It's just one of many wonderful pieces from

 Sandra Evertson 

that you can find at 

Retro Cafe Art Gallery.

It is a Relics and Artifacts piece in the Flaming Heart Ex Votos II set here.

I painted it with several DecoArt Fluid Acrylics and added some of

 Andy Skinner's fabulous Dirty Wash mixture. (The man is Genius)

I used Coral Red Gilder's Paste Patina and Gold Inka Gold  as well. 

The center is a Rub-on from the Tim Holtz Apothecary sheet. It worked out really great!

There is a hole in the top of the Heart so it can be used as an ornament or in my case, I added a jump ring and a piece of black ribbon to create a pendant necklace.  Or, how bout a piece of this cool new

 Beaded Pearl Rosary Chain?!?!

So many possibilities!

Thank for stopping by.

Linda

It's Time for a FINNABAIR Blogpost Giveaway!

This is my tag on the 

Finnabair Blog

today.

I'll give you a little step-out with the stamps....

I had a tag with a Distress Ink background just sitting here, calling for some stamped images to join in.

 You've got to LOVE the new Cling Stamps shown here. The Chickenwire is my absolutely NEW favorite background stamp. I used Snowflake Fresco Paint here with it and another stamp from Net and Wire.

The main stamp here is from Dream On set. See how it stamps so cool over the background Chickenwire??? 

Dream On

Then I added the new Cheese Clear Stamp. (I must admit I thought it was Bubbles when I first saw it, hence the use of it going up in the air like "thoughts" on my tag.)

Cheese Clear Stamp

These clears stamps are PERFECT for adding small spots of stamping. I used red Archival ink and then added some white accents with a pen.

All of Finn's Phrases are easy to stamp and cut out for adding around your projects.  These 2 are from the Dream On set. 

And THIS, my friends, is the PRIZE you could win!!! PLUS, there's 3 other projects there from the Finnabair Creative Team!!!

 So what are you waiting for? 

Jump over to the 

Finnabair Blog

 and enter a comment to win a chance on this fabulous stamp prize!!!

Your Friend in ART, 
Linda

Journey Treasure Box

Hi to everyone! It's my turn on the 

Finnabair Blog! 

I love every little piece of this project. It's so totally what I love to make.

It's Vintage, and it's Metal and Paint. What more could you ask for???

I started with a plain white slider box - 3x5 inches - that I found in my stash.

I wanted to create a framed vintage picture in a large metal Mechanical. So I looked at 2 pieces and decided I could cut out the center section of one. I then used a jeweler's hammer and bench block to pound it flat. 

I've seen many ways to add tissue paper to book covers and frames on the internet. So I used the knowledge of them to create my version here. Thanks to all those who post these tutorials.

I tore up a sheet of plain gift tissue paper and started adding it to the box in small sections with Soft Matte Gel. Just have fun and make sure you get it all covered and stuck down well.

When it's dry, add a coat of Heavy White Gesso. This will seal it and let you add paints or inks and keep the color true.

I started with Distress Stain, but when it dried I didn't like how flat the color was, so I used a mixture of Brown Umber Acrylic paint and Acrylic Glaze to make the next layer a bit brighter and shinier. The Stain is not permanent so it will blend into the glaze. It's OK, it'll work.

This dried a darker and richer color, but I wanted more contrast, so I brought out the Inka Golds to add some more shine. Here I used the Green Yellow and Gold on the tops. I really created a great contrast.

I had some plastic corners in my stash that I painted black. Then I added them with 3D Matte Gel that I applied with a pick.

This shows the antique brass door pull I added to the end of the drawer with brads. You can stuff some ivory tulle into the drawer and add a few treasures, vintage keys, a button hook, etc, to save or give as a gift.

I've had several vintage brass labels for years. They're very heavy and really beautiful. I wanted to use one as the base.

First I flattened the large silver Flower with the hammer and spot glued it to the plate with 3D Gel. Then I wrapped brass 22 gauge wire around the two to secure the flower. The large brass Flower with the center cut out was added with 3D Gel.

The crystal glass dome was glued to the vintage picture and trimmed. I sealed the back of the picture with Gel to keep it from warping when you add it to the collage. When dry, add a dollop of Gel to the back of the dome. Glue this to the box and add the Special Screws over the holes in the brass plate. Then let it dry over night. That 3D Gel is amazing!!! It's solid.

The "Journey" Mechanical was added as-is; it was perfect the way it was. The last thing I did was add some more Inka Gold to the edges of the box and the corners to make them pop a bit more.

I hope you've enjoyed this little "Journey" with me. Be sure to check out the links below. As always let me know if you have any thoughts or questions. I'm here to serve!

Your Friend in ART,

Linda

Products Used:

Prima-Art Basics-Soft Matte Gel

Prima-Art Basics-Heavy White Gesso

Prima-Art Basics-3D Matte Gel

Prima-Junkyard Findings-Special Screws

Prima-Mechanicals-Plate and Label

Prima-Vintage Mechanicals-Large Flowers

Other Products Used:

White Paper Mache Slider Box-3x5 inches

Viva-Inka Gold-GreenYellow and Gold

DecoArt-Acrylic Paint-Burnt Umber

Golden-Satin Acrylic Glazing Medium

1" Crystal Glass Dome

22 Gauge Brass Wire

Graphic45-Antique Brass Door Pull

Collections-Vintage Photo

White Tissue Paper

Antique Corners

Vintage Brass Label Plate

Studio Time Just for Fun

Hey everyone! It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd share some Studio Time with you.

When I was away at Artiscape, Judy and Jo took me to a really great Blicks to shop. I was in a class where the instructor used Golden High Flow Acrylics and wanted to get some. They are highly concentrated paints that have gorgeous colors and light-fast qualities. 

I also saw my dear friend Maria McGuire, a wonderful designer from

StencilGirls,

 and agreed to get to play with some of her fabulous new designs.

These are e pieces I came up with. Each on different. Crazy busy, crisp and clean, and simple designs. 

 This one is my favorite because I love to doodle and go crazy.  I used 140 lb. watercolor paper that I wet first and then squeezed on just 3 colors of paint. (Opened tip and just added color into the wet paper) I sprayed with water and blotted here and there, but the colors kept their great deep, rich, colors. 

I used Quinacridone/Nickel Azo Gold, 

Dioxazine Purple,

and Phthalo Green (Blue Shade)

I used waterproof Pitt pens and other permanent pens to add the black stenciled images. I also added more subtle stenciling with Sepia and Jet Black Archival Inks and a Sponge applicator.

This one is the less "busy" but still vibrant with color. 

This is the 2nd piece of paper that I used to "blot" the color from the still wet first page. Your second generation piece is always less intense, but still holds some great color.

Just a few stenciled marks make for a piece that focuses on the background, but brings your eye to the intense black images.

I used Maria's stencils S266 Doodle It Inchie,  L347 Doodle It Bigger, and L348 Doodle It Borders. 

Thanks so much Maria. Check out the links and give it a go. You know what I always say...

It's just a piece of paper!!!

Your Friend in ART,

Linda

Finnabair Santos Doll for Prima Blog

There's nothing like a gorgeous stamp to make me really, really happy!

I'm a true Stamper at heart and the Finnabair stamps just make me smile.

I used these gorgeous cling stamps to showcase a piece that you can put on your desk or mantle and enjoy every day.

Here's my contribution for the 

Prima Blog.

  

All stamped images are done with VersaFine Onyx Black Ink on Specialty Stamping Paper for a beautifully permanent and crisp image. This cling stamp fits perfectly on the small Mermaid Santos Doll. The Wood-mounted stamp is just a bit smaller, but would still work. 

(I didn't use the tail, wings, or water, but you can always do whatever you like)

The Butterflies are stamped and cut out along with the Finnabair image. They are then colored with water-based pens that I blend with a waterbrush. 

The base is one of my favorites from the Trust the Magic collection. 

All the Masonite pieces of the Santos doll are painted with Fresco Chalk paints and stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink. I added the background stamp from Rust& Dust with Geranium Archival Ink.

The phrases from each of the collections are perfect for the legs of the doll.

I trimmed down the stamped image to fit the doll base. 

I stamped butterflies from Don't Forget to Fly and Rust & Dust using large and very small stamps. The little ones and the flower are added with 3D Matt Gel.

The larger Butterflies are taped to a piece of invisible thread and hung from the center base slot.  White pen dots make a bit of a statement for contrast.

Prima paper flowers add to the Spring feeling of beauty.

Don't forget to jump over and see the other 

Finnabair Creative Team 

projects on the 

Prima Blog. 

They are too gorgeous for words....I promise you!

A Treat for the Senses!

Linda

Prima Products Used: 

Prima-Cling Stamps-Don’t Forget to Fly , Trust the Magic , Now is the Right Time , Rust & Dust , Tea on the Deck 

Prima-Art Basics – Heavy White Gesso

Prima-Art Basics – 3D Matte Gel

Other Products Used:
3D Articulated Mermaid Santos Doll-Small
PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Paints
VersaFine Inks
Ranger Archival Inks
Ranger Specialty Stamping Paper
Tombow, Sharpie, and Distress Pens
Brush Water Pen

The Archangel Michael

Today I'm showing you a couple of shots of the weekend project I made for 

Retro Cafe Art Gallery

using the wonderful new products from 

Prima and Sandra Evertson Relics and Artifacts.

I've take one of the Archangels and used a brown antique glaze on him with a bit of water.

I used an open back canvas to create a niche for the sculpture. The paper was cut, corner to corner, to open up and roll back over the edges.

I added Copper Micro and Zinc Glass Beads in the background in a layer of Soft Gloss Gel.

The red painted Stars and Pearl Ribbon Trim are added with 3D Matte Gel on the edges. I painted the rolled-back paper with an bright gold paint.

You're gonna love these Resin Pieces from Prima. The possibilities are endless.

Check out the links and get to creating!

Linda

New ART for My Kitchen

Hi everyone! If you follow me anywhere, you may have seen that we were tearing up the kitchen, taking down wallpaper, and getting new countertops and appliances. But the real fun was getting some new Wall Art.

I'm pleased to share a few of my pieces with you today....it was an amazing journey, but I'm soooooooooooo glad it's pretty well done. (one more spot to make a picture or something.)

This is may canvas I made to go along with the cool wall clock I found. Lots and lots of layers and texture here.

The top section started with the Finnabair Netting Stencil and Modeling Paste. 

I used a Mary Beth Shaw Gears stencil for the center section of the canvas with some Finnabair modeling paste. 

Layers and layers of paint glazes over the Prima Flourish Stencil and a last layer with a large Chicken Wire stamp from The Artistic Stamper.

The metal strips I've had forever. I just added paint and waxes to them to change the colors.

Next I had these rather greeny resin wall plaques that no longer went with the kitchen, so out came the black gesso, and on goes the Guilders Paste I bought from Magdalena Muldoon in Ohio. Love this stuff.

The before the Guilders Paste is on the Right, and the after is on the left. REALLY easy transformation of a piece.

I found several Sayings that I really loved and added them above the clock and on the soffits.

Next came the mirror that Bill made for me. It had an ivory background with hand-painted grapes and stenciled vines.........had to go.

So, White Gesso, Stencils, Modeling Paste here we go!  Paint and sand down, add more color and wipe away with a baby wipe. Add more color and sand it down again....lot's of scrubbing and rubbing off only to add more color again. 

Taking a picture of a mirror is strange, to say the least, but the frame really makes me happy now. You can see the different Finn stencils.  I used the Grungy Grid, and the Harlequin here with a Tim Holtz Lattice Work stencil as well.

I added several different brands of paints and waxes and finished with a few rolled script stamps from Lin Brown's 06 collection that says "Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen." 

So, after several weeks of hard work, mostly from Bill....he's a keeper, I'm truly happy with where Bill cooks!!!

It should say Welcome to My Husband's Kitchen!

Thanks for stopping by and humoring me. Talk soon!

Linda