TIME FOR PRESENTS!! AND HOPE!!

Today I am going to start off by sharing another layout from my eldset son Robert's birthday.  I used Let's Get Sketchy Team B September Week 4 sketch.

Here he is opening one of his presents!

and here are a few close-ups!

 Lot's of fun stitching!

 great 3D embellishments from Paper House!

The other project I'm sharing is a very simple canvas I made for a friend that is struggling very badly with chronic pain from surgery gone bad and other health complications.  

I started with a 5x7 canvas that I covered with a layer of black gesso.  I applied it using an old credit card so that there would be a bit of texture.  Next I took one of the photos I had from that spectacular double rainbow that I saw this summer.  The rainbow is a promise from God.  I mounted it on a bit of purple cardstock and attached it to the canvas.  Finally I added an acrylic sticker that says "Never give up hope".  I thought that was a good sentiment to encourage her combined with the rainbow making it a promise from God that she should count on when she is feeling doubt and pain.

I am going to share my canvas in challenge #203 - Anything Goes over at Word Art Wednesday.

I hope that you have enjoyed these and now I am going to publish and head back to creating so I will have something to share with you tomorrow!

Please leave a comment to let me know that you stopped by and what you thought of what I created!

MY SATURDAY SHARE

Happy Saturday! 

Today I am here to share with you one layout and one special project that I really enjoyed creating.

First for the layout. I chose Team B May Week 2 sketch from Let's Get Sketchy.

 

I rotated the sketch 1/4 turn counter clockwise.

and the layout!

with a few close-ups.

fun fabric ribbon with stitching

and then my stitched circles

Next up is a really fun project.  I've recently joined a Facebook group called Addicted 2 Paper Dolls. The Monthly Contest just closed.  The Theme for this month was April Showers bring May Flowers.  Of course with it being a Doll group you would create something using the theme that would include a Julie Nutting or C-thru the Woods doll stamp.

I decided I would make a small canvas. I started by using some white chalk paint that I add a few drops of re-inker to and painted my canvas.  I had a few sheets of paper, chipboard and sticker embellishments that were just perfect for the theme from an old Crate Paper collection.  I fussy cut the clouds from one of the sheets of paper and used some chipboard raindrops and flowers. I created my dolls and chose an inspirational sticker to finish it off.

and now for my close-ups...

some flowers

some raindrops

a great quote

Adara

 Toby

I'm also going to enter my canvas in challenge #183 over at Word Art Wednesday.

I hope that you have enjoyed my Saturday Share. I'm off to create something new! Thanks so much for stopping by.  All comments greatly appreciated.

NEW CANVAS

This morning I opted to work on a 5x7 canvas.  I started with some liquid watercolors which I spread with my wet finger.  I used this week's colors for Twinkle Twinkle Summer of Color orange and hot pink.

Next I took a word art scripture from Word Art Wednesday challenge #85.  I ripped it and added pink and orange chalk to it and edged it with Raspberry Distress ink.

I added the scripture, a piece of transparency and some flowers to the canvas.

Next I took Distress Crackle Paint.  THIS was a huge mistake.  It did not crackle at all and gave it a flourescent glow.  Definitely NOT what I was hoping for.  To tone that down I used some Snow Cap Distress Stain.

I added some bling and a coat of semi gloss regular gel.

In person it's still a bit bright so I tried toning it down a bit with some Distress Ink Walnut Stain.

Not exactly how I envisioned it but...I can't think of any other way to change or add to it so at least for now it's done.  What I was really envisioning was closer to Step 3 before the Crackle Paint.  I have only used it twice and neither time did it crackle and neither time did I like it. 

I am also entering this in this month's Flying Unicorn Mixed Media Inspired challenge.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope that you are enjoying your weekend!

THE MAKING OF MY FIRST MIXED MEDIA CANVAS

Today I started my first Mixed Media canvas.  It is going to be a gift for a friend.  I started with a 14x18 back stapled traditional canvas.  I coated the front and sides with gesso.  And now the fun begins...

I took out some of my favorite Crafter's Workshop templates and my all time favorite medium - Dry Dex Spackling (yes as in for walls, got it at Home Depot!)  I put a blob of it down and pushed a corrugate cup holder into it for design.  Then I took the cup holder and pushed that down for the reverse.  Next I played with all of my templates.  I wanted to have a varied texture, varied patterned look.  The idea is that everything is perfect just the way it was created.

Here is step 1:

When the spackle dries (which is what I love about this product - it goes on pink and turns white when dry) I will add my first layer of paint in my main color - cobalt blue.

I actually waited much longer and then added both of my main colors - Cobalt Blue and Christmas Red, as well as misting some Adirondack Denim Blue Color Wash.  I just squired the blue and red out of the bottles onto the canvas.

Step 2:

I had anticipated using a sea sponge to work the colors in but wasn't able to find it.  Instead I used my usual standard - smearing with a credit card.  I realized why I wanted to do the blue first and then the red as I did not want them to mix - I wiped the card in between colors but some were close together and the red was darkened.

Step 3:

My next step was to add Distress Ink in Faded Jeans, Salty Ocean, Barn Door and Festive Berries using an ink blending tool.

Step 4:

I found a piece of my sea sponge and used that with the blue acrylic paint to go over most of the canvas.  I then took red paint and flicked it on with an open spray bottle.

Step 5:

I think my next step will be to add some other dimensions and possibly more red.

For the dimension I started with adding some Liquid Beadz.  I have decided that I don't really care for them much.  They did not apply as well as they implied they would.  I splattered more red acrylic paint and then added a variety of buttons using Glossy Accents.

Step 6:

I need to do the sides of the canvas which I will probably just do with the paints and sea sponge.  And the next and possibly final step would be some collage which I think I am going to do with words.

OK...I did the sides the way I figured that I would.  I also added several other touches to the front inclujding blue glass beads, seashells, pieces of red trim and words of affirmation using miniature scrabble tiles.

Step 7:

I think that I am ready for a sealing coat of glossy spray!