Modeling Paste & Stencils...

... go together like peas & carrots, cookies & milk, peanut butter & jelly!

Great.  Now I'm hungry.

I created this canvas earlier in the year and gave you a sneak peek, but just realized that I haven't shared the whole thing yet!  It's a labour of love, using Susan K. Weckesser's whimsical papers and various mixed media supplies:

Supplies:  Susan K. Weckesser patterned paper; ModPodge; LiquiTex modeling paste; Faber Castell Gelatos; DecoArt paint; Unity Stamp Co. and Just Cre8 stamps; The Crafter's Workshop stencil; Ranger Tim Holtz Distress ink; Basic Grey and Bo Bunny rub-ons; unknown canvas; copy paper.

I began by covering the canvas with torn pieces of patterned paper and ModPodge.  Using my fingers, I added some colour, sparingly, using paint.  Once dry, I used modeling paste with the stencil on the canvas for the butterfly image.

Once the modeling paste was dry, I scribbled the canvas with Gelatos and used a paintbrush and water to blend the colours.  I love how the Gelatos give it a shimmery, metallic look!

I then added rub-ons and stamped some images using my two favourite background Unity stamps (Chicken Wire Background and Vintage Handwritten) and Just Cre8 stamp for more texture.

To finish it off, I printed out my sentiment on plain paper, ModPodged it on and finished by adding some colour with the Gelatos, and some doodling.

"Tiaras & things & butterfly wings; that's what little girls are made of."

Aili has since confiscated this and put it on her shelf in her room. :)

Have you gotten messy today?

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the other challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

September 2013 Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Sep 30, 2013)
Leave Your Legacy: Top Ten Lists (deadline:  Nov 30, 2013

Tuesdays With The Team | Jul 30

I'm up on the Canadian Scrapbooker magazine blog with the weekly Tuesdays With The Team inspiration!

Today I'm sharing my She-Art canvas that I created last month.  You can also view this blog post on the CS blog here.

Supplies used:  Graphic 45 patterned paper; ModPodge; DecoArt, Americana and CraftSmart paints; LiquiTex modeling paste; Pink Paislee stencil; Unity Stamp Co. stamps; One Heart One Mind rub-ons; Higgins india ink; miscellaneous vintage lace and receipt stubs; bubble wrap, Studio liquid ink pen.

While it's not my first canvas, it is my first one inspired by Christy Tomlinson's She-Art workshops.  I started by covering the canvas with the brightly coloured patterned papers and ModPodge, but thought that it may be too distracting for a background so I covered it with watered-down white paint.  I didn't like that much either so I started to drag all sorts of colour over it.

I then tinted some modeling paste and using a favourite stencil (another Christy Tomlinson beauty), I added some texture to the canvas.

My She-Art girl was cut freehand from old ticket stubs (face/arms), painted in a flesh colour, and bits of patterned paper.  I used some vintage lace and attached it all using ModPodge.

Just like in home decor, I think that every project needs a bit of black to "ground" it, so I dry brushed some black paint randomly over the canvas and stamped some more texture using some of my favourite background Unity Stamps (Chicken Wire Background, Vintage Handwritten, Cooped Up Notes, Distressed Grid, Love Every Inch) and ink, along with bubble wrap and paint.

 I used the india ink applicator and dropped some ink randomly on the canvas.  When dry, I used the rub-ons for more texture.

I then printed out my quote on printer paper (it's thinner and easier to print on!).  I cut it up and attached it with ModPodge.   

Quote reads:  "She knew the whole wide wonderful world was at her fingertips.  She only had to reach for it."

 I then scribbled over the entire canvas!

It's certainly not perfect but I'm happy with my first attempt!  And it's very addicting - I want to try another one soon!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the giveaways/challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
July 2013 Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Jul 31/13)
Leave Your Legacy: Pet Peeves (deadline:  Aug 31/13)

She-Art Canvas, à la Christy Tomlinson

The other night, I wanted to distract Aili from screens.

Note:   In our house, "screens" include all forms of electronics:  TV, Nintendo DS, iPods, iPads, computers, Wii... you get the idea - we are a techie family! 

So I suggested heading into my studio to create or paint something.  She thankfully readily agreed.  I handed her a canvas, gave her full access to my paints and brushes and let her do her thing.

I also grabbed a canvas and decided to try my hand at some She-Art, à la Christy Tomlinson.  I started with these gorgeous Graphic 45 papers:

Despite my love of this paper, I'm not crazy about how the background turned out.  I think it's the painting that went onto the papers.  At any rate, I had fun and will definitely keep trying to perfect my backgrounds!

Here's a quick snap from my iPhone - I will photograph it this weekend and share a full peek!

P/S... this is my 999th blog post!! Check back tomorrow for a chance to win a prize!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

Sketchy Challenge:  June 2013 (deadline:  June 30/13)
Leave Your Legacy: Pet Peeves (deadline:  Aug 31/13)

Guest Designing for Susan K. Weckesser

Today, I'm featured on {my sweet earth}, Susan K. Weckesser's blog.  I am honoured to have been asked to act as a Guest Designer for the next three months - they have a very talented design team, and Susan is the sweetest person, ever!

Here's my project:

It's going right up on the shelf in my studio... :)

You can see more detailed photos, and a brief description of my process here on the blog!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the other challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

Leave Your Legacy: Embrace Change (deadline:  May 31/13
It's a Sketchy Challenge:  February 2013 (deadline:  Mar 14/13)

Little Artist

Last month, I picked up a pack of seven 11x14 canvases, intent on using some of the skills used at my last Donna Downey class to make something to hang in our home.

Aili came into my studio as I was taking out my paints and wanted to "play" with me.  So I set her up with some paints and a canvas and let her go nuts.

This is her result:

It was her idea to paint the still life - when I asked what she would be painting, I was prepared for a pony, a princess or even a castle.  But not a "bowl of fruit"! LOL!

You can easily make out the banana, orange and apple - and to make it more "girly", she added sparkles:

Today, the hallway.  Tomorrow, the Louvre! :)

iTeam Challenge - WeScrap

It's my turn to post the iTeam challenge over at WeScrap!

In sorting through my supplies, I came across A LOT of product that I found myself repeating, "OMGosh, I forgot about that!" and "Hey, I didn't know I had that!?!" :s

So when it came time to prepare a challenge, I decided to take it old school and follow at least part of the old wedding adage, "Something Old, Something New..."

Supplies:  Canvas Concepts 4" canvas, The Stamp Barn stamp, General and Derwent watercolour pencils, DecoArt paint, Ranger Stickles and Liquid Pearls, Doodlebug Designs alphabet stickers, ribbon (unknown).

Using some of the painting techniques that I learned in the Donna Downey class that I took, with my friend Holly, I painted the backgound pink (of course) with touches of white, and added a white cloud, using my watercolour pencils to add shading.

I stamped the unicorn onto Canadian Scrapbooker SuperStock, using The Stamp Barn's Enchanted Hollow stamp.  Using my watercolours, I added shading and colour and then highlighted the mane and tail with Stickles.  I used Liquid Pearls in Pewter to colour the unicorn horn, and once it was nearly dry, I used the tip of my scissor to score the lines.

I think that I may go back and stamp another image and add some dimension by adding another layer of the mane, tail and horn - if I can pry it away from her! :)

Thanks for looking!