Mixed Media-What's In A Name?

 

So... this canvas was made with... not leftovers... but extras from my last canvas project.  Originally that was going to be a four panel project.  The base of this one though was noticeably different and just didn't belong with the project so I set it aside.  (This happens to me a lot... if I listen closely, the things I make kind of just happen and make themselves).    I was wishing a young long lost family member a Happy Birthday and this came to mind.  At the time it was just the painted base that read "Live".  I decided it would be perfect for my young cousin.  So when I was making my butterflies and flowers for the Dia De Los Muertos project, I made extra.  After I finally finished that project I knew I'd better get this one done.  I'm averaging at least a month late for birthday gifts...lol!  (Although I myself love late cards/presents/lunches because it spreads out the celebration). 

 

I can't decide if what I'm making would really be categorized as "Mixed Media".  I mean... I'm definitely using mixed mediums however, does this fit the definition.  I guess I don't care.  I mean, I love them and it doesn't really matter what they are categorized as, right?  It's art.  I love this saying:

 

 

So, I guess I've decided I agree.... I don't care... I'll call it Mixed Media because I guess if it has a name that is it... and I'm just gonna keep making what I love.... and love it or hate it... call it art or crafts... it just doesn't matter.

 

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #118

 

It's time for Challenge #118 at the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge!

 

I may have gone a little overboard again, but if you look closely you can see the sketch back there.  In my head this was a much simpler card, but I had so may new things I wanted to use it just exploded from there.  The paper is Close to My Heart's Blossom and the sentiment and little birdie are from various CTMH sets.  The adorable little girl is Emma from PaperSweeties.  I've been trying to decide which little paper doll stamp set to get from them and I settled on Emma because one of the design team members mentioned that with the little pigtails, you can cut them off and move them anywhere... so if she's wearing a hat, you can place the pigtails lower coming out of the bottom of the hat, etc.  I did purchase the stamp with the die, and it works great, however I ended up cutting around her anyway because there is a bit of a white border and for this card I didn't want that.  But you know I don't mind cutting.  I stamped the dress (from another PaperSweeties set) on one of the Blossom prints and loved the way it came out.  I colored her in with Shin Han markers.  The sequins are from Paper Sweeties as well-if you get nothing else from them... get these sequins-they are flower shaped and shiny and adorable and come in all different colors.   The ribbon is dyed seam binding ribbon; the bunny is from a cheap set I got at Hobby Lobby (and although cheap... so cute and it works good enough for the little stamps that are on it) and I got some doilies while I was there so I can just grab one when I want it instead of getting the Cricut going.  The vines and leaves are cuts I had leftover from playing with Taste of Summer papers and stamp sets.  Nothing ground breaking here, but I think she's so cute and this will be the perfect card for someone special who is going through a rough time.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  And don't forget to check out all of the other artwork at Atlantic Hearts and hope you join us this week!

 

This is Michelle's awesome sketch for this week that inspired me!

Another Work of Heart

 

This one has taken me weeks to finish.  It's a gift for someone and I just got stuck and couldn't proceed for a while-until I found this awesome sugar skull stamp at PMC Connections.  It's an unmounted rubber stamp and it was perfect!

Again I used many of the old Just Blooms paper butterflies and flowers from CTMH.  I used various paints to color them and then embossed the butterflies with holographic embossing powder.  I dry brushed over the flowers with metallic gold paint and then distressed everything with black.

 

I started with a blank canvas and glued on some shapes and added some texture paste with a stencil.  After that was dry, I painted over everything with gesso.  Then I used a circle stencil and CTMH White Daisy pigment ink to add a bokeh effect to the background.  Then it sat... and sat... and sat....

 

Finally I decided on the sugar skull and went searching.  Once I found it and it came in I was inspired again.  I stamped it on the canvas and it turned out pretty distressed looking which was good.  I decided at this point I better spray some fixative over the whole thing so I could do some embossing.  After that was dry, I embossed in pewter using the Universal Backgrounds stamp set and smeared some versamark on the dragonflies and embossed them in pewter also.... and then in black using the flourish from Enjoy Life.  Then I glued on all of my flowers and butterflies and added various baubles.  My favorite is the free glass cabochon that came with my stamp set (it's on the panel with the sugar skull).  It was the perfect coloring and almost like someone already knew what I'd do with it!  I love it... I hope she does.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Versatile Card Workshops!

 

Just a quick post... remember the Blossom card workshop I did a few weeks ago.  I used one of the card workshops from the Wishes book and I had an extra set of cuts (the cutting guide cut 20 cards, 2x10, but I only used 10 for the workshop).  I took out one of those extra card cut packages and flipped the papers around and added some different embellishments and I have a completely different card.  I did replace the black mat for a smoothie one, but that was it as far as the base.  I cut the wreath from Artfully Sent and the Hello tag from the new Artistry Cricut cartridge (SNEAK PEAK ALERT!), added some really cute flower sequins from Paper Sweeties and some old Just Blooms butterflies (that for a very limited time are available at a discount in the While Supplies Last section of my CTMH website along with a bunch of other awesome stuff) that I painted, and then embossed.  Oh... and some leftover dyed ribbon...

 

The original design is on the right below:

Thanks for stopping by and come back for more sneak peaks from upcoming products!

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #117

 

Welcome to Sketch #117 at Atlantic Hearts!  This was a fun one... I added a few extra items .. lol... but the background is the sketch... the rest is just .. well...

 

This card is for my sister in law.. she loves western décor and all things country.  I got some Miscellany packages by October Afternoon from Peachy Cheap a little while ago and one of the packs had a vintage western theme (which I also love).  I knew right away I'd use some of the items on her card.  The color scheme was perfect with the old CTMH paper pack, Jubilee, which I never got a chance to play with much.  And it was also perfect for this month's Inspiration Challenge over at Paper Sweeties (which is where I got these fantastic sequins).  Oh!  I got the feathers from Peachy Cheap as well... they are from Petaloo.  Loooove the feathers!  I had a lot of fun making this one.  Join in on the fun and try out this week's sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge!

 

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #116

 

 

It's time for challenge #116 over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge Blog.  It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating #100!   Another very versatile sketch this week created by Michelle-just love the way they get me started on a day when I might otherwise sit and stare at my paper...lol!

 

Last week, I cut these leaves to use on my AHSC project and loved them so much I cut extra.  And then I decided I liked the negative space so much I cut that strip off of the glitter paper as well and hung onto it.  Then as luck would have it, this week's sketch was perfect to use that strip on.  I will often cut extras of a shape that I think I'll use a lot or a shape that is included on a CTMH stamp set.  I store the random shapes in baggies in a photo box of extra cuts and I store the CTMH shapes in the envelope behind the stamp set they go with (idea from my good friend Susan Fogle!)

 

This card uses the Brushed paper packet and complements.  The flowers, ladybug and sentiment frame are all from the vellum complements.  I stuck them on paper and cut them out so they wouldn't be transparent and popped them up.  I also added a few layers of liquid glass on the ladybug to make her more dimensional.  The zig zag and sentiment are from the zip strips from the pack.  Cute little flower shaped sequins are from Papersweeties and the ribbon is some dyed seam binding.

 

Don't forget to check out all of last week's artwork from both players and design team and join us at Atlantic Hearts!

 

 

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #115

 

So, I was a bit lazy this week when it came to the sketch.  My card is full of stuff as usual, but most of it is premade which is not the usual for me.  I just needed to get it done fairly quickly.  And... for me... I did.  I used Blossom papers and complements.  I used some seam binding ribbon I had dyed a while ago for a different project and had left over.  I used a bunch more acrylic nail flower embellishments, a metal flower from the Brushed assortment and a badge button from Hopscotch.  I guess the most work I did was choosing some leaves (not from CTMH) to cut from the Cricut for the effect I wanted. 

 

So, hop on over to Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge Blog and check out all of the great artwork.... make this the week you play along with us.  I can't wait to see what you do with the sketch!

Confetti Wishes Scrapbook Layout Workshop

 

 

Join me in my home on Saturday, July 25th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm for a three page scrapbook layout workshop.  We will put together one two-page layout and a separate one-page layout using the Confetti Wishes paper and various CTMH Cricut cuts and embellishments.  There are 5 spots open.  Sign up and pay by Thursday, July 16th.  The cost is $15 and includes all supplies shown including pre-cut papers.  You bring your own adhesive and a good pair of scissors.  Upon registration you will be sent additional details via email.  Email me at bzscrapper66@gmail.com to sign up.

 

These layouts are great for those photos that aren't all cropped close and are maybe a bit smaller.  Or use bigger photos, but less on a page.  Bring your photos and I can help you decide how to place them or just put together the main pieces of the layout and add your photos at a later date. 

 

Hope to see you!  We will have a fun afternoon of creating, chatting, snacking, learning new techniques and if you wish, shopping.

Three Amigos Blog Hop July

Out with the Old

 

In with the New

Welcome to the Three Amigos Blog Hop for July!  This month our theme is "Blast From the Past".  For me this meant pulling out an old favorite card that I couldn't part with and updating it a bit.  Although I loved the cartoon feel of it, there were just some things I wasn't happy with.  I removed some of the parts.  I replaced paper flowers on the tree with acrylic flowers that were intended to be used on fingernails and some awesomely cute sequins from PaperSweeties.  I removed the balloon which I am not sure, but I think was hand drawn and I didn't like the dark color of it and of course, I added an owl.  I also replaced the clouds with a better version (balloon and clouds are from Lifting Spirits).  I removed the button and added a badge.  I removed the sentiment and added a bunch of new items.  I think I'm finally ready to send this one out into the world.  I had a lot of fun recreating it.  Now head over to Donna's and Susan's Blog and see what oldies but goodies they have in store for you!