A Tribute to my Mother...... (Picture heavy post)

I have been sitting on this make for weeks,now at last I can show you all my very first multi media canvas.

This is my design team piece for the challenge over at   http://alteredeclectics.blogspot.co.uk/ The first of each month sees a new challenge, always "Anything Goes" challenge and it  is specifically for altered art.

I've always wanted to create a canvas like this and as I was sorting through a box of photos I acquired after my father died last year,I found this photo of my mother aged 18...there was my inspiration. So I set to and collected all sorts of bits, enlisting a bit of help from friends for chicken wire and bolts etc. I was delighted to find in one of my dad's old tins a brass key with 18 stamped in it, just perfect to put next to mum...there are several small pieces on the canvas that belong to my dad, so this canvas was becoming really extra special.

It was my daughters birthday on the 10th July and I gave her this canvas as part of her birthday gift ,as a child she was close to her grandparents, also I know she will treasure it forever. Needless to say she felt very emotional when she saw it.

Below are some photos of the different stages and some sections from the whole canvas...

 Started adding and gluing items to canvas. Moving and adding pieces until I was happy with it.

 After attaching items to the canvas,I then  applied modge podge to the photo ( photo was coated several times)
Once dry, I covered the photo with a baby wipe and then gessod everything.

 Again, once everything was completely dry,I then added colour and sheen with Cosmic Shimmer Mists....drying with a heat tool (not too closely) in between so I could build the colour up.

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 After everything was dry, I used Inca Gold to highlight some areas on the canvas.

I'm now in the process of collecting some more items for my next canvas,not thought of a subject yet, but I'm sure something will come to mind....it is surprising though just how much you need for one of these creations...