Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Art Journal Cover in the Pink MMM Challenge

Just like being a new blogger, I've also just started to Art Journal.  I have 3 journals at the present....and have a long way to go before I'm happy with my journaling!  The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge "Think Pink", made me think this would be a good time to make a cover for one journal.

 
The base of my project, besides the book, was a piece of canvas.  I painted the edges with a aqua paint dabber along the edges with extra paint on the edge that would be glued over the book cover edge.  Then I used a chevron stencil with bright pink paint dabber and put aside to dry. (the yarn tassel was added after the cover dried!)

 
A piece of brown burlap, cut a bit smaller than the canvas, was used for the next layer and as a base for my embellishments.  After fraying the burlap I covered the center with a layer of gesso. Then I used the aqua and bright pink paint dabbers on spots over the gesso and also using the chevron stencil. 

 
Using white on white fabric, backed with interfacing, I swished the pink dabber over the fabric and a aqua pen to print "cReAtInG" and fancied the letters with a little loopy edge. On a smaller piece of this fabric, I used the pink paint to swish some color.  This will be the background for my initial.

 
I dabbed some aqua paint on two pieces of metal, my initial, J, and a leafy piece.

 
Now time to add the embellishments to the burlap. I used French knots, couching, and a whip stitch to attach the 2 fabric pieces, 2 metal pieces and lovely fuzzy yarn (on the left side of top).  Two button flowers adorn the cover also using seed beads and chain stitch stems.  I used aqua and pink thread for a random straight stitch in a couple of areas and also a few French knots in lime green thread for some POP!  (I love  embroidery!)

The burlap was glued to the canvas and with the lime green thread, I attached the two together with a straight stitch around the outside.


cReAtInG Art Journal Cover - PaperArtsy Paint Challenge

Just like being a new blogger, I've also just started to Art Journal.  I have 3 journals at the present....and have a long way to go before I'm happy with my journaling!  The PA "Paint" Challenge, made me think this would be a good time to make a cover for one journal.

 
The base of my project, besides the book, was a piece of canvas.  I painted the edges with a aqua paint dabber along the edges with extra paint on the edge that would be glued over the book cover edge.  Then I used a chevron stencil with bright pink paint dabber and put aside to dry. (the yarn tassel was added after the cover dried!)

 
A piece of brown burlap, cut a bit smaller than the canvas, was used for the next layer and as a base for my embellishments.  After fraying the burlap I covered the center with a layer of gesso. Then I used the aqua and bright pink paint dabbers on spots over the gesso and also using the chevron stencil. 

 
Using white on white fabric, backed with interfacing, I swished the pink dabber over the fabric and a aqua pen to print "cReAtInG" and fancied the letters with a little loopy edge. On a smaller piece of this fabric, I used the pink paint to swish some color.  This will be the background for my initial.

 
I dabbed some aqua paint on two pieces of metal, my initial, J, and a leafy piece.

 
Now time to add the embellishments to the burlap. I used French knots, couching, and a whip stitch to attach the 2 fabric pieces, 2 metal pieces and lovely fuzzy yarn (on the left side of top).  Two button flowers adorn the cover also using seed beads and chain stitch stems.  I used aqua and pink thread for a random straight stitch in a couple of areas and also a few French knots in lime green thread for some POP!  (I love  embroidery!)

The burlap was glued to the canvas and with the lime green thread, I attached the two together with a straight stitch around the outside.



Fabric Hanging Hearts MixedMedia Challenge: Think Pink

A couple of hanging fabric quilted/beaded hearts.  These are on a tree in my foyer.

Used a 5" fabric charm square for the base and another 5" square to cut out the heart.   After sewing the heart to the base, I made a slit in the back of base fabric and stuffed the hear with fiberfill.   I layered the top with a back and then batting in between.  Then I machine quilted around the heart in an echo pattern. 

Beading was next with a chain of 7  pink beads ending with a silver heart charm at the tip of the heart.  I then used pink beads and a clear bead and stitched these in a pattern of 3 around the outline of the heart.

Last came an attached pink ribbon to hang my hearts

Lots of pink in the fabrics I used and also in the pink heart and seed beads and ribbon. 

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Mixed Media Challenge Feb "Think Pink" BOX OF CHOCOLATES

 
It's hard to throw away some boxes and tins that have held something special, or those that I'm sure will hold something special in the future.  The heart box that last year held some yummy chocolates was a perfect size to try some newtome techniques and paints.

First I spread gesso over the top and bottom of the box, then dabbed some pink, green and purple paint to cover each.  Then I used my new crackled texture paste.  I tinted a small amount of it red and after spreading in somewhat of a heart shape on the center of the top, tried to imprint a stamp.  It didn't work, but the texture created when I lifted the stamp worked for me.  I set it aside to dry overnight and was pleased with the cracked surface the next day.


Then I was ready to use my embossing powders from about 10 years ago, VersaMark pen, and heat gun.  I used gold powder on "chocolates" and 5 hearts and white pearl on squiggles on the cracked heart.  On the back, I used red, gold, silver and pearl powder for the embossed hearts.  So nice some craft stuff seems to last forever!  I had to throw out some other old craft items just the day before :(

Silver metallic paint was used around the front and back edges.  Then I used the same silver on a couple of torn cardboard pieces that after the paint dried, I embossed "Love" and 3 hearts with red powder.  I used some pieces of matt board under these two to give them some lift.

Finally a heart bow was glued on the edge of the box and a silver heart glued to the center of the bow.


Tuesday, February 3, 2015

PA Challenge 2 Shiny stuff - A Box of Chocolates

A Box of Chocolates
 
 
It's hard to throw away some boxes and tins that have held something special, or those that I'm sure will hold something special in the future.  The heart box that last year held some yummy chocolates was a perfect size to try some newtome techniques and paints.

First I spread gesso over the top and bottom of the box, then dabbed some pink, green and purple paint to cover each.  Then I used my new crackled texture paste.  I tinted a small amount of it red and after spreading in somewhat of a heart shape on the center of the top, tried to imprint a stamp.  It didn't work, but the texture created when I lifted the stamp worked for me.  I set it aside to dry overnight and was pleased with the cracked surface the next day.


Then I was ready to use my embossing powders from about 10 years ago, VersaMark pen, and heat gun.  I used gold powder on "chocolates" and 5 hearts and white pearl on squiggles on the cracked heart.  On the back, I used red, gold, silver and pearl powder for the embossed hearts.  So nice some craft stuff seems to last forever!  I had to throw out some other old craft items just the day before :(

Silver metallic paint was used around the front and back edges.  Then I used the same silver on a couple of torn cardboard pieces that after the paint dried, I embossed "Love" and 3 hearts with red powder.  I used some pieces of matt board under these two to give them some lift.

Finally a heart bow was glued on the edge of the box and a silver heart glued to the center of the bow.



Sunday, February 1, 2015

PA Shiny Stuff #2 Challenge - Hugs and Kisses to my Sweeties

I have been working on this "Shiny Stuff" piece for about 2 weeks, not being really happy with it.  I came up with another great "Shiny Stuff" idea and thought I should finish up #1 and post this first (I like the finished piece!)  before finishing up my #2 Shiny Stuff" project.

Hugs and Kisses to my Sweeties

Dedicated to all my Sweeties....you know who you are!

I found a frame I thought would be good from my frame stash I have on hand from my quilling art pieces.  After sanding the frame, I used metallic paints to spiff up and bring some shine to
the lovely gold base.  The white shiny hearts were added to further alter the frame.

Finding a piece of metallic cardstock (also from my former quilling stash), I cut it to the size needed and machine stitched some lovely patterened pink fabric I cut with a neat scalloped edge rotary blade in the shape of an X.   I spritzed with some Glamour Dust on the X and background cardstock.  Liking things so far!

Brought out my embossing hearts and found one I liked.  I used metallic thin cardstock to emboss the hearts. Then, cut them out and used for the background of my shiny "jeweled" X and O charms which I attached to the cardstock with lovely variegated thread.  Next was selecting 2 metal wrapped glass beads and attaching them to the cardstock.

The frame was coated with a glaze to add some protection and a shiny variegated string tied in a bow was added.