Studio Time Tag and Footrest

 Since we've moved into the new house, I haven't had much time to create anything in my studio. I've spent most of the time finding things and sorting out drawers of product and treasures. 

Finally I think the chests are arranged and the pictures are hung.

I decided to create just a simple, one dimension tag with paints, stamps and pens.

Nothing fancy or elaborate.....Ha! As if I could know when to stop.

Here's the tag with PaperArtsy Fresco Paints and Lynne Perrella stamps. The finishing touches are with a white paint pen and a fine line black permanent ink pen.

Just lay down some paint on a large tag and then start stamping. The images aren't perfect, but I don't care. It felt good to be playing. 

This kept me busy for the afternoon and off the internet. A good day. 

This project was also fun. I've used and old "in box" turned upside down as a footrest since I have short legs. It helps to keep my legs level under my desk. Best for long episodes of working without being smart enough to get up and move periodically. Guilty.

This plain box was painted black and then stenciled with icing paste from Finnabair. The color is Fire Ruby that has hints of gold when the light shines just right. Amazing colors. 

The stencil is Dandelions from Finnabair.

I added some metal tape that I'd embossed using a Tim Holtz folder with black paint in the recessed areas. Now it's a bit more decorative and it kept me off the streets for a bit during the process. 

Good times again.

Be well and find time to do something you love every day. That saying hangs on my wall in the studio and I should remember to do just that....every day.

Your Friend in ART,

Linda

A Chunky Steampunk ATC

Hi everyone, and welcome back to my neglected blog as a long-lost Design Team Member! 

I decided to get some Chunky Dimensional ATC kits from Retro Cafe Art Gallery, and play around. Here I have used the one that's .75" thick.

(All links are highlighted throughout so you can see them as you go. Just click the link.)

I also used the Limited Edition of Large Steampunk Gears and Steampunk Gears II, to load up on the ATC base. You can also see the Vintage Pocket Watch Key on the very top. 

I used a small lightbulb, a vintage bead, and a Finnabair Mechanical - Antique Label. 

TIP: Rub a bit of black gesso into the phrase to get it to stand out more. 

There are Steampunk Gears, Sprocket Gears, and Mini Gears on the bottom of the legs and around the ATC. 

This is a piece of Ten Seconds Studio turquoise metal that I embossed ages ago. I added several layers of Metallique paints to it on the raised areas. Mermaid Teal, Hazelnut, Brass Hardware, and Flame. The sides have embossed metal that's been painted as well. 

 If you haven't lost interest yet, I'll lead you through a few more steps now.

This is how I like to lay out things before I glue them together or paint. Just trying to get a design concept in mind. It's all subject to change, of course.

Unlike how I generally work with the Retro Cafe Art Gallery kits, this time I glued it all together first and then painted it with heavy black gesso. I added various colors of Patina Effects pastes, some Mini Art Stones and regular Art Stones.

These are a few of the supplies and a shot of the project with more layers of paints applied. 

I started with these Rust Pastes and built up with paints. (Blue, Mint Green, Red Rust, Brown Rust, and Brass.) 

Layers, layers, layers.

Next I started to think about the back of the ATC. Originally I was going to hang it on the wall, but with this piece of embossed metal I found in a collection, I decided I'd finally found a place for it. So I added more layers of paint to the images. (Brass Hardware and Flame Metalliques)

     

What's a Steampunk project without metal??? Since I have lots of gears hanging around, I decided to use some of Seth Apter's amazing Baked Texture powders on a couple. These are the coolest embossing powders to play with...IMHO. (Chunky Rust, AncientAmber and Patina Oxide)

Just couldn't leave the piece alone, so I added some more vintage ephemera and metal gears to the layout. Still not all glued down yet. Always a "walk-away and look" process. I'm slow, but deliberate. 

It looked like it had a bit too much Flame Metallique paint, so out came the darker colors and some darker paint layers. 

Then I decided it needed to be taller. So I found one of my favorite keys ever, the vintage pocket watch key, and then I thought it needed legs. Sooooooo, open the drawer of wooden pieces and the Unfinished Wood Spools looked more like pipes than anything, and the choice was made. I wanted a bit more pizazz so I opted with the Lime Peel with the Brass Hardware and Hazelnut. They're finished off with stamped images using black archival ink. 

A couple of more gears on the bottom of the Spools, and they were done. 

The last step was gluing it all together and hoping it still stands upright!!! It worked out well and it does stand up. One last look at the little guy. Hope you're inspired to play and enjoyed the journey as much as I did. 

As always, let me know what you think, or if you have any questions. I love to hear from you.

Check out the supplies at Retro Cafe Art and get your Steampunk on!

Be Safe. Stay Well. Love to all.

Linda

Finally Another Project to Share

Oh, it's been so long since we chatted. So much water has gone under that bridge. After looking at houses for years in our old stomping ground, we fell into a deal where all the planets seem to have aligned. We've since sold our house and are nearly done building a new one 100 miles north in the small town Bill grew up in. So, in other words, we're going home. We're thrilled. However, packing away all my art supplies aka "happy crap" (my daughter's term) it became too hard to find time or supplies to create any reasonable art....until Finnabair , our friend Anna Dabrowska, came out with a new release that showed up just when I needed it. All these lovely products can be found at Retro Cafe Art in the States and Finn's site Mixed Media Place in Ireland.

This is almost exclusively done with Finnabair products. (and a bit of chipboard)

This is the wonderful goodie box I received from the lovely Finnabair. She has new matte waxes and the most gorgeous stencils. The beautiful decorative papers, aka tissue papers, are detailed and easy to work with. 

 I started with a house shaped chipboard piece that I painted with heavy white gesso. Then I used a UHU glue stick to add the tissue paper Notes and gently smooth it down. I trimmed the edges and rolled them to the back. This has the pretty red writing at the bottom .

Next I added Plaster Paste with the new Laurels stencil on the majority of the house. The antique staining is already part of the tissue paper and it looks gorgeous at this stage....I always hate to cover up backgrounds......

The next step when the plaster paste is dry is to add color with the Liquid Acrylics and a spritz of water to get them to run and blend. Just drop in the color, spritz, and let it move around. I added Old White Matte Wax, Rusty Brown and Charcoal Black to the edges and high points.

The Art Alchemy Liquid Acrylics here are Carmine, Tiger Orange, Deep Turquoise, and Umber. 

The girl was cut from the tissue paper and painted with acrylics on the back. Then she was glued to a smaller piece of chipboard that was painted with Mint Impasto Paint. I used stamps from Now is the Right Time and Dream On from Finnabair with black archival ink. The little lace stamp at the bottom is a long ago clear stamp from Finn.

The wings were cast using paper clay and the Wing and Locket silicone mould months ago and sealed with heavy black gesso. Then comes the magic adding the Patina Blue, Patina Green, and Old White Matte Waxes. When they're dry, add a bit to Brass Hardware Metallique paint for some highlights.

The Keys and Keyholes mould created the key, and the star is from the Stars and Moons mould. The Heart, from the Anabelle mould, is painted with Metallique Rusty Red paint and distressed with the White Matte Wax. 

This is how beautiful the Notes Decorative Paper really is. 

And this is a full shot of the Laurels Stencil. They are all truly gorgeously detailed.

Put it all together with a bit of 3D Matte Gel and layer it onto a piece of black chipboard. I think I've covered it all. It's been quite a while since I've written a blog post. If I've missed something, or you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave me a note and I'll try to answer it. 

Now I'll get back to all the wonderful things that have to be figured out to pack up and move to the new house.  Yesterday we put together 4 new bar stools and 2 lamps. Tomorrow it's a headboard.  Here's the latest outside picture, the door will be red and the Craftsman pillars white. My little Studio has the arched window! And soon we'll have some sod. (fingers crossed for early spring)

 Hopefully all the selecting colors and doorknobs are done. It's been exhausting, but fun none the less.

Be Well and Be Good to Each Other. 

Linda

Retro Cafe Design Team Member 

and

Finnabair Ambassador