Wednesday, May 6, 2015

PaperArtsy Challenge: Sprays

I have been wanting to try acrylic paint on fabric and this challenge from PA was a great time to do this and, to use my spray vessels.

 
Prepping my fabric with water, which I have done with dyes seemed a good place to start. I didn't use PFD fabric so another experiment! Then I choose 5 acrylic paints, added water to the sprayers and then a bit of paint.  Each sprayer worked differently, some splatting and some small droplets.  I used
a 10 x 10" piece of white kona fabric and several small 10" strips.

 
The larger piece of fabric was sprayed with all 5 paints, letting some dry before I applied the next.  I finished up the large piece with some sprits of a glitter spray.

I have been finishing up some workshop pieces of fabric manipulation from a Cheryl Sleboda class two months ago and thought that would be a neat thing to do with my strips.  I ruched two of the strips and then used another for some puffs, making 3 puffs into flowers and adding filling to two others. 

My piece isn't complete, but I'm running out of time.  I'm planning on adding some embellishments to the larger piece and then adding my workshop pieces to make a wallhanging......and will probably end up quilting it too!






Wednesday, April 22, 2015

mmmc April Showers "Birds and Flowers"

April Showers.....Birds and Flowers

 
On my  container's lid,  displays a tin flower painted pink, a wooden bird with yellow paint and quilled feathers, and a wooden rain cloud painted to show where the "April Showers" colorful "rain gems" came from.  On the tag I wrote:  "April Showers brighten both birds and flowers".  All are displayed on  painted corrugated paper.

 
Polymer clay was used for the bird, eggs and base for the quilled flower. I cut the nest from a woven twig ball that I added some burlap pieces and then the eggs.  A bit of ribbon was added to two of the backgrounds and the bird has a feather behind it.

 
 A quilled flower, leaves and buds displayed on corrugated paper is in one of the containers sections.  The last little section has a flower button and two butterfly charms.
 

A ribbon was added around the container and tied in a bow to hang my display.


MMMC: April Showers: "Butterflies and Flowers"

 "April Showers" is the theme this month at Mixed Media Monthly Challenge.  My "Butterflies and Flowers" display inatin show lots of butterflies flitting around the raindrops.  Lots of raindrop dots are used on the tin front and pages to show how the flowers love the spring showers too!

 
The tins outside base is painted with purple acrylic, then using a dot stencil I spread crackle texture paste over and let dry.  The flower stamp I used on the front is also used on some pages inside.  I found this lonely butterfly and gave it a coat of paint then a bit of paint on its edge, then embossed it with clear powder.

 
On the pages inside the tin I stamped flowers, butterflies, doodled and dotted with paint, did a bit of embossing, added some washi tape, a lovely silk flower and several burlap flowers with a shiny gem on each.  Both sides of the pages have this décor!

 





























I used some ribbon for an easy way to lift the pages.


Tuesday, April 21, 2015

PaperArtsy Niches: "April Showers....Birds and Flowers"

How wonderful to have just the right things on hand for a challenge.  This little green plastic container was perfect for the PaperArsy Niches Challenge!


Polymer clay was used for the bird, eggs and base for the quilled flower. I cut the nest from a woven twig ball that I added some burlap pieces and then the eggs.  A bit of ribbon was added to two niche backgrounds and the bird has a feather behind it.

 
 I also made a display in one niche of  a quilled flower, leaves and buds.  The last little niche has a flower button and two butterfly charms.
 
 
 

The container's lid displays a tin flower painted pink, a wooden bird with yellow paint and quilled feathers and a wooden cloud painted to show where the "April Showers" colorful "rain" gems came from.  On the tag I wrote:  "April Showers brighten both birds and flowers"


Corrugated paper was used as a base on the lid and in a couple of the niches.

A ribbon was added around the container and tied in a bow to hang my niche.


PaperArtsy: Niches "Butterflies and Flowers"

 
I emptied an Altoid tin for this PaperArtsy Challenge.  I have been wanting to try some tin-art,  and decided to insert an accordion folded display.

 
The outside base is painted with purple acrylic, then using a dot stencil I spread crackle texture paste over and let dry.  The flower stamp I used on the front is also used on some pages inside.  I found this lonely butterfly and gave it a coat of paint then a bit of paint on its edge, then embossed it with clear powder.

 
On the pages inside the tin I stamped flowers, butterflies, doodled and dotted with paint, did a bit of embossing, added some washi tape, a lovely silk flower and several burlap flowers with a shiny gem on each.  Both sides of the pages have this décor!

 





























I used some ribbon for an easy way to lift the pages.
 


MM Card Challenge: Flowers (2)

The background for this card is stamped with a lovely butterfly stamp and a dot stamp.  I cut out paper flowers and stitched them to the card.  Along the right side is a swatch of handmade paper with zigzag stitches and a decorative stitch in the middle.

"Thinking of You" was hand printed!

MM Card Challenge: Flowers

This card started with a background of Gelatos using 5 colors and then blending them.  I cut out some fabric flowers and stitched them to this background.  The stems are a zigzag stitch and leaves a straight stitch. 

Along the right side are zigzag stitches in two sizes and in the middle a decorative stitch.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

PaperArtsy Grunge Paste Challenge (3) "Create"

I was so inspired by Seth Apter's PaperArtsy's Grunge Paste Challenge piece from March 29, I had to try it out.  I used my leftover texture paste mix from my birdhouse, both aqua and tan... glad I put them in tight fitting containers!


A 5x5" stretched canvas was the perfect size to use.  I spread my texture paste. tinted with aqua with mini beads mixed in, first and then added the tan tined paste.  I used white embossing powder while the paste was wet and then melted it with my heat gun. 

 
Next I rolled out small pieces of white clay and pressed them into a mold for the letters  All but the two E's turned out fine. I just couldn't get the E's to pop out so I etched a few lines in a couple squares of clay with a toothpick!  Looks good to me.

After the paste dried, I glued the baked, painted, varnished clay letters to my piece.  I set some eye screws on the top to use in hanging my piece and three more on the bottom to dangle my beads.

Wasn't sure what beads I wanted to use, but there sat my lonely paper beads I had made a few years ago and knew I could find some to go with my colors.....(I probably have at least a thousand left!).


I love it!  Thanks Seth for your inspiration and PaperArtsy for another great challenge!!





Thursday, April 2, 2015

PaperArtsy Grunge Paste Challenge (2) Springy Birds

My second entry for PaperArtsy's  Grunge Paste Challenge is "Springy Birds".  Using my texture paste and Gelatos, I went at it with paste and color.

I wanted to use a stretched canvas to display my birds and flower and just happened to have one on hand.  I also was excited to pull out my Gelatos I received as a gift, and have some fun.

First I worked on the flower and some grass using texture paste.  After the paste dried, I played with my Gelatos using the green for grass and a mix of 4 colors for the flower.  I love the way just a bit of water spread the color around so nicely.  Then set aside to dry.

Next was drawing the bird shapes on the canvas along with their legs.  I let this dry a bit.  Then had fun with each of the 4 flower colors on 4 different birds and then mixed the colors on the tiny top bird.  Again I used some water to spread the colors out and past some of the outlined birds.

I cut wings for each bird from some canvas fabric.  I stitched around each wing to keep the fraying contained and then used the same color Gelato on the wing and again used some water to spread.  I attached the wings with 3 French knots to the bird.

I used a large bead for each bird eye and stitch onto the canvas.  Then I matched some of the colors used in the flower with beads and glued them around the flower.

The stem is a piece of cord that I glued down, then sketched some leaves that I colored with the green Gelato.




Friday, March 27, 2015

PaperArtsy Grunge Paste "Springtime Nesting"

These birdies are ready for spring and found a nice home to nest in.  I was able to try a couple new things with this challenge:  mixing beads in my texture paste and working with clay!


I started with a wooden birdhouse and used textured paste thru a new stencil.  Then I mixed some aqua paint with my textured paste and added some mini beads for added texture.  I spread this in spots on all four sides. 



Next I mixed a light brown with some texture pasts and spread in spots on the sides.  Into the brown paste I stuck a few bronze beads so they could give the house a little shine.

 
The roof got a bit of the brown texture paste with beads added. I mixed orange and white to soften some of the roof and highlighted with orange.  Orange highlights were used around parts of the house as well as some aqua paint.


I used white clay to make the birds.  After they baked, I painted each with the aqua and gave them some orange highlights.  A thin glaze added a nice finish.  Beads were used for their eyes.

 
To attach the bird to the roof, I put a hole in the bird and also on the roof top then stuck a piece of wire in and glued him down.  Mama bird was glued to the base.





MixedMediaMonthlyChallenge Birds of a Feather(2) "Springtime Nesting"

These birdies are ready for spring and found a nice home to nest in.  I was able to try a couple new things with this challenge:  mixing beads in my texture paste and working with clay!


I started with a wooden birdhouse and used textured paste thru a new stencil.  Then I mixed some aqua paint with my textured paste and added some mini beads for added texture.  I spread this in spots on all four sides. 



Next I mixed a light brown with some texture pasts and spread in spots on the sides.  Into the brown paste I stuck a few bronze beads so they could give the house a little shine.

 
The roof got a bit of the brown texture paste with beads added. I mixed orange and white to soften some of the roof and highlighted with orange.  Orange highlights were used around parts of the house as well as some aqua paint.


I used white clay to make the birds.  After they baked, I painted each with the aqua and gave them some orange highlights.  A thin glaze added a nice finish.  Beads were used for their eyes.

 
To attach the bird to the roof, I put a hole in the bird and also on the roof top then stuck a piece of wire in and glued him down.  Mama bird was glued to the base.










Thursday, March 19, 2015

MIxedMediaMonthlyChallenge "Birds of a Feather"

My "birds of a feather"  was inspired by my new Gelatos set of yummy bright colors.  I used the wonderful selection of pink, red, and soft orange  to make my birds look like they were of the same species, tho I've never seen a pink bird!

I wanted to use a stretched canvas to display my "Springy Birds" and just happened to have one on hand.  I also was excited to pull out my Gelatos I received as a gift, and have some fun.

First I worked on the flower and some grass using texture paste.  After the paste dried, I played with my Gelatos using the green for grass and a mix of 4 colors for the flower.  I love the way just a bit of water spread the color around so nicely.  Then set aside to dry.

Next was drawing the bird shapes on the canvas along with their legs.  I let this dry a bit.  Then had fun with each of the 4 flower colors on 4 different birds and then mixed the colors on the tiny top bird.  Again I used some water to spread the colors out and past some of the outlined birds.

I Cut wings for each bird from some canvas fabric that came with my Gelato set perfect for a wing.  I stitched around each wing to keep the fraying contained and then used the same color Gelato on the wing and again used some water to spread.  I attached the wings with 3 French knots to the bird.

I used a large bead for each bird eye and stitch onto the canvas.  Then I matched some of the colors used in the flower with beads and glued them around the flower.

The stem is a piece of cord that I glued down, then sketched some leaves that I colored with the green Gelato.

Love my Gelatos and if I don't win some with this challenge....I'll definitely buy more yummy colors!



PaperArtsy Deconstruction2 Challenge: "Spring Vases"

My second entry into PaperArtsy's Deconstruction Challenge is "Spring Vases".  Using mini jars, I altered them with painting the insides.

My first attempt at painting the insides of my mini jars was a bit disappointing.  The paint didn't move as I expected it would, so I added a little water to thin it.  Still didn't move or cover the glass very well.  I tried some other acrylic paint and it moved much better!

I "picked" some silk flowers and a ribbon for the vase neck and also made a little pad for each vase to sit on using felt and embroidering around the edges. 

My vases are sitting out next to some family pics.