Relieving Stress by Creating ART

 Stress.....we all have it. Sometimes it's our job, or our kids, the weather, bills, our health...but at the end of the day, we ALL have stress.

How we deal with it is another thing. Lots of people use their creative abilities as a way through it all. Some play music, or draw, paint or decorate a space. Most of us just want to curl up in a ball and hide, or sleep, but working with what generally makes you happy is a much better solution. 

This project took a long time for me to finish. It started with an unfinished wooden box from Hobby Lobby and paper clay elements that I painted with black gesso.

I really loved how the clay dried with cracks and the texture of the pine box was slightly rough. It adds character and age to the unit.

I proceeded to add Opal Magics and Metallique Paints on the paper clay mould embellishments and the rest of the box.

This is a look at the first layer of paint. A dry-brush method is best on the black gesso when using these paints.

And then it sat there....for weeks, perhaps months. I knew it needed something, but I just didn't know what.  

There are lots and lots of layers and colors of paint here. Way too numerous to list. I'd be lying if I thought I could actually remember them anyway, but just know, the Opal Magics went on first so they really popped on the black gesso, and the brighter, more intense Metalliques were added last.

 A bit of German Dresden trim was lightly painted and used around the top. 

More layers of color were brushed on. It seemed like a never-ending battle to get the right colors to take the spotlight.

A few Mini Stars were thrown in to cover the ends of the Dresden on the front and back.

I added Magical Pond Sparks paint in the centers of the Lotus Flowers with 2 different sizes of Art Stones.

The Heart Key has oranges and reds, like the Lotus, in several layers of color and intensity.

It's all put together with 3D Matte Gel, Soft Gel and Heavy Body Gel.

I've been in the garden a lot since Springtime is here and Summer is fast approaching. You have to strike while the iron is hot to get those seeds planted and annuals in the ground. Now that that is done, I can spend more time in the Studio.

Today I'm also on the Finnabair blog with this Spotlight project and more insight into creating to relieve stress. So click on the link and check it out.

Hope you're inspired to create and share your inspirations and fears.

Your Friend in ART,

Linda

It’s Been A While.....

It really has been a month since I posted. But I got an iPad for Mother’s Day from my kids, and decided to see if I could post from it.

Not such an easy task....oh well. Here goes nothing.

These are tags that I made using the new Baked Texture embossing powders from Emerald Creek and Seth Apter.

I started by gluing down a patchwork of papers onto a tag, then adding layers of embossing powders until you like the results.

I added a few stamped images from PaperArtsy to fill in the blank areas. The brass pieces are from Retro Cafe Art Gallery.

This shows the embossing powders on a black tag that had Distress Oxide inks as a base.

 Love the globs of gold.

Hope you enjoy and are inspired to play.

Check back later for a couple more projects that I've made but hadn't gotten 

around to posting here.

Your Friend in ART,

Linda

My Altered Butterfly Wine Bottle

Well, I wasn't going to bother with a blog post, but the pictures turned out so much better than I'd even expected. The black backdrop really made a big difference. So now I'll have a record for prosperity. 

This is a plain green wine bottle. We learned to create a great crackle finish in 

Christine Ramirez-Campbell's class last Saturday at the Prairie Stamper's Retreat. What a great technique and terrific lady.

Having said that, you'll have to take one of her classes to learn it!!!

I did add some glazes over the crackle to create an aged look.

I knew what I wanted to create, so I made some embellishments with Iron Orchid Designs moulds and paper clay, and let them dry before I went. 

The beaded topper was amazingly easy to create, and Christine had the BEST beads to pick from. 

I had already made the chain/charm piece years ago and had no place to put it, so this really worked out great. It's using Vintaj jewelry pieces and a vintage photo. 

The Grungy Butterfly is from Finnabair as well as the Vintage Snowflake with a rhinestone center. I used a mixture of glass glitter and micro beads around the outside.

All the paints are Metalliques from Finnabair as well as the micro beads and glitter, and it's glued in place with 3D Matte Gel....great stuff, and Soft Gloss Gel for the tiny stuff.

I tried several different colors before I finally found the combination that I liked. The red was too red; the silver didn't stand out enough; the gold alone was too washed out; added some turquoise;  then some amber - soooooo just keep playing until you get what you like.

I used two pieces of rhinestone/pearls trim at the top, and some fabric trim along the bottom. Add some paint to the fabric to create some contrast.

Last thing, hit the high points with Metallic Waxes. You'll love them.

Now I'm on the prowl for some of the cool beads and the wire to make the stoppers. This is my new obsession.....

So empty out that wine bottle and put it to good use for decoration!

Your Friend in ART,

Linda