Italian Sage Relief Art Box for Inkpads

This project resulted in my breaking down and finally buying more ink pads. This time it's the Distress Oxide ones from Tim Holtz.

I have waaaaayyyyy too much "happy crap" in my Studio, and I've been TRYING to declutter and get rid of lots of it.

I wish I could figure out what to do with all the "projects" sitting on all my shelves around the place...but that's for another day.

This was a simple drawer box I picked up while on vacation in Minnesota - the one rainy day we went shopping.

I used the wonderful Iron Orchid Designs moulds and paper clay to create some dimension, then glued them on with Soft Matte Gel when they're still wet. If you've never worked with these moulds, you've got to try them. So easy, and very addictive....you'll want to put them on everything. Nothing is safe!!!

 I painted the entire box with a paint I picked up that I just couldn't refuse. Like I need more paint, but this was a gorgeous Italian Sage color....need I say more.

Then I kind of got lost in the process of adding a wash of black acrylic paint and water, and using the Metallique paints to accent the edges and reliefs. The older paper clay created cracks that I really liked.

The whole reason to buy the box was to create a very minimal area on my desktop to store my new ink pads. I think it worked.

Listed below are some links to Retro Cafe Art for some of the products.

I love the contrast of the golds and the scruffy, vintage-looking background that started with a simple layer of paint.

What do you think?!?!

Your Friend in ART,

Linda

Products Used:

IOD Mould-Large Flourish

IOD Mould-Baroque 3

IOD Mould-Escucheons 1

Creative Paper Clay

Acryic Paints-Black and Italian Sage

Metallique Paints-Steampunk Copper, Brass Hardware, Rusty Red

Soft Matte Gel
Crafts Direct Unfinished Drawer Box

Cherish the Children and a Chance to Help

Short and Sweet today.

This is a tag that I created using the 

Distress Oxides Inks from Tim Holtz.

I found a few of these while on vacation in Minnesota and 

decided now was the time to try something new.

Why not? They were on sale. The background was so yummy

that I really had a hard time covering it up,

BUT it had to be done.

Here's a look at the results.

I watched a couple of videos, one especially great one is from 

Thicketworks with Heather Tracy on the Graphics Fairy.

Check it out. But I also used a few different techniques of my own

to get more contrast using different inks.

I hope you enjoy the results and find time to play this weekend.

We all need to just break away from the drama of reality

and playing in my Studio is even more important today

than ever.

Now I'm off to buy candles and batteries to send to Puerto Rico by

way of Milagros C. Rivera who is desperately trying to help

her people there after the hurricane.

Sandra Evertson's post in above link tells of their need for batteries, candles,

matches and other things. A USPS Flat-Rate Box is considered US shipping.

So pack one up and send it if you can.

You can send them directly using the USPS to:

Milagros C. Rivera

B5 Conquistador Ave.

Fajardo, PR 00738-3715

Be Well and Be Good to Each Other....
We're All We Have.

Linda

The Witchy Majestic Shrine

It's my turn to post for
Retro Cafe Art Gallery!

So I decided to create a piece showing where
Witches Make Their Stand.

This is really bright and colorful with the PaperArtsy Fresco Paints

painted on a Majestic Shrine. 

The Limelight pillars definitely catch your eye.

The oranges and purples are always what I associate with Halloween

and Witches. 

I used clear stamps and black Archival Ink on the Fresco Paints. 

They are absolutely my favorite paints to stamp on. 

Graphic45 Halloween papers from different collections are used on

different parts of the shrine.

This view shows the small clock stamp on the top of the shrine on 4 

parts, and the black Dresden colored with Copper 

Metallique Paint.

I added the Black Matboard Bats to the pillars for a bit of fun with

the fantastic vintage photo of the Witches.  Use a small wooden 

block painted black to hold the ladies in place.

I decided to change out the paper Happy Halloween paper sign for

a Flying Witch Cut-Out. 

I hope you enjoy this post and find some inspiration to create a 

fun shrine of your own. 

Let's hear what you do!

Check out the links before to shop.

Linda

 Find these products at Retro Cafe Art Gallery Store:

Majestic Altar Shrine

Bat Cut-Outs 

Mini Bat Cut-Outs

Mini Serrated German Dresden

Spooky Black Cat Cut-Outs

Witch Cut-Out

Mini Dried Pumpkins

Ancestors Paper Doll Cuts

Furry Spiders

Steampunk Copper Art Alchemy Paint

Extra-Fine White Sharpie Pen

Other Products Used:

Fresco Paints from PaperArtsy

Graphic45 Papers

Black Archival Ink

Various Clear Stamps