Mixed Media....Dare to Dream

I started the first page in my art journal. I got messy with some mixed media products and some MFT goodies.  It all came together after stumbling across Mona Pendleton's new Mixed Media color challenge.
 If you remember, I loved her Cr84Fun challenges and was even on the design team for a short time before she ended those challenges. Little did we all know at the time....she had something BIG in the works. It was her line of stamps, Die-namics, and Mix-ables with My Favorite Things. 

Mona is uber talented! I love everything she creates. So I'm super excited about this new challenge blog she has started. You can check it out HERE.  And here is the first challenge-pink, silver, and black. Seemed easy enough. 

I started my page, by first tinting some white acrylic paint with my Bubble Gum re-inker from MFT. I think I added about 5-6 drops to a glob of the white paint. I mixed it up and then brushed some onto my page. It gave a soft, pretty color for my backdrop. 

 Next I decided to try out some of the new stencils MFT just released. This one is the Square Motif.  I used some modeling paste to add some texture. I found it interesting that the modeling past picked up some of the color from my background and turned pink when it dried. I wanted it white, but like how it ended up with a tone-on-tone texture for my page. A happy accident! 

I did not use silver, but I pulled in the grey color by cutting some SU Basic Grey cs with the Large Leaf-filled Flourish. I softened the cardstock by brushing on a thin layer of white Gesso. 

I cut a handful of butterflies from Lisa Johnson's new Blissful Butterflies Die-namics. The small ones were cut from designer paper and I brushed on some Gesso and then sponged on some Bubblegum ink to the edges once they were dry. 

I did cut the large butterfly from Pink Lemonade cs and stamped the matching Blissful Butterflies stamp in Bubblegum Ink. I then spritzed it with the new Sheer Shimmer mist. 

I added in the black from the color combo, with the Art Expression Text Stamp.  I used it without an acrylic block. I inked it up with my Big Pitt marker and then pressed it on my page here and there. 

I added the Dare to Dream stamp, from Dandelion Wishes, along the bottom. I thought it was a beautiful way to start my journal, reminding myself that I can dream and create however I want. 

A few last touches I added were the fabric roses. I picked them up from Stampin' Up! a few months back and thought they'd be pretty with the butterflies.  I sponged the edges with some Bubblegum ink so they would flow with my design better. 

I also added some flicks of Steel Shimmer Mist. I wasn't brave enough to spritz my whole page. I find I have more control if I use a paint brush to add my splatter.  So, I sprayed some into a plastic paint pallet and then I used a paint brush to pick up the mist and then I tapped it a few times to splatter the color across my page. 

I'm so proud of myself for diving in with my new journal. I look forward to filling it up with pretty things! I hope it inspires you to try something new. Have a Great Day!

Mix-ability card-{handmade rolled flowers}

I had a lot of fun with last week's Mix-ability-10 challenge over on SCS. The challenge was to make handmade Circle flowers, no dies allowed!!! I adore my rolled flower Die-namics from My Favorite Things, but it was fun to add a real grungy, shabby chic feel to them, by tearing and hand rolling them. 

I used some scraps of Seen & Noted paper and ripped them into three circles. LOVED not having to get everything exact and nice and neat.

•  After I had them tore into circular shapes (okay...this one is more oval-ish, but it worked), I carefully tore along the edges and followed the circle, creating a spiral of paper. 

• Then starting at the outer edge, I began to roll them. I did use my quilling tool to get started. 

• After I rolled the flower up tight, I then let it go and let the flower unravel a bit on it's own. I used some glue dots to hold it together. 

I ended up adding some Distress Paint to the edges. I got dirty and just used my fingers. The challenge also asked to make the handmade flowers glittery. So I  quickly touched the edges with some liquid glue and then dipped the flowers into my Rock Candy Distress glitter. I tucked in a little bit of pretty to these flowers by cutting a leaf with the new Roses and Leaves Die-namics and adding the matching stamp from Sweet Roses Stamp set. 

I used the Insta Frame Die-namics to frame up my flowers and sentiment. I cut it from Smooth White cs.  I love the open space in the middle of the die cut. I was able to add more stamp detail and more paint to the background. The Chevrons from Spring Background , stamped in Blu Raspberry ink was  just the right accent to add.  This was also a great space to stamp my sentiment (with MFT Black Licorice ink).

When working with mixed media, I seem to be drawn to adding some splatter effect. I used a few drops of Blu Raspberry refill ink to a paint brush and gave it a few taps on the side of my finger. I also swiped more of the Distress Paint onto the Kraft cs. It neede just a little more "something" so I also added some White Gesso to help with the balance of the card. 
The finishing touches were added last. I added a few sequins (my new obsession!!) for added shine.  I also wrapped some twine around the bottom of the frame for another pop of color and more texture.

A new mix-ability challenge went up today. You can see that, and this challenge (and all the other Mixed Media challenges) over in the SCS Forum. 
thanks for your sweet words. I hope you like this one. I just started the Behind the Art Class by Christy Thomlinson, so I KNOW you'll be seeing LOTS more mixed media in the very near future. 
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A Poppy Gift Bag with Gesso

It's another mixed media projecIt. This one was for the Mix-ability challenge on SCS from the other week. The challenge was to use newspaper and gesso. I made a pretty panel to add to the front of a kraft gift bag. 

 I tore up some strips of SU's First Edition designer paper and adhered them to a piece of cardstock. I then gave it a light coating of white Gesso.  I am not so good at patiently waiting for things to dry with mixed media, so I went ahead and used my heat gun to dry it. I have read that you need to be careful with this, since gesso can burn easily if it's heated too much. 
I added some Distressed Diamond stamps for some texture. I stamped them with MFT Kraft ink. I then made a pretty patch of grassy leaves with the stems and leaves from the Pretty Poppies stamp set. I used more MFT ink in Sour Apple and Jellybean Green. I touched the edges of my panel with some Broken China Distress Paint. 
Then I created a 3-d flower with the Poppy Builder Die-namics. The Electric Red card stock is so rich and yummy! I did the center with Black Licorice cs and a touch of Rock Candy Distress glitter.  i got out my Glue Gun and added my Poppy to the panel with it. I also used the glue gun to adhere my finished panel to the stamped gift bag. 

I decided to accent the bag a little bit more by stamping a larger harlequin print from the Distressed Diamonds stamp set, but this time in Black Licorice ink. Then I brushed on some random strips of Picket Fences Crackle Paint. 

One final detail was a tiny, Decorative Circle Die-namics, layered with a Circle Stax 1 Die and i turned them into a sweet tiny tag. I added more of the same stamps and tied it on with a Electric Red Grosgrain Bow and black twine. 

Thanks so much stopping by today.  I am having a lot of fun playing with these mixed media projects. I am excited to start THIS class next week. Christy Thomlinson is my Mixed Media idol. I just LOVE everything she does. Will you join me??

You will also begin to see more mixed media projects, more regularly here on my blog. So stay tuned and share with your friends. 

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