Mixed Media Tutorial

My Mixed Media Tutorial that is my design team project for the June Challenge over at Rhedd's Creative Spirit can be found......HERE

Picture Star!

Just a couple of Atcs I have made..using Artistic Outpost Stamps...

Using the"Picture Star" set I made 2 different Atcs...the stamps are to versatile and for anyone that know me, they will know I love Artistic Outpost Stamps.

So these are just right to enter in to the challenge over at 

Artistic Outpost Challenge

If you have any of their fab stamps, why not pop over and enter their challenge.

"Sound of the Sea" Altered Domino

This is a new altered art form for me...altered Dominoes.
I've envied some beautiful altered Dominoes for quite some time now and decided recently to have a "go" at altering them for myself.
I scoured Amazon and Ebay for some genuine dominoes, well, the ones that resemble the genuine ones that is and I did find some crystalline ones which are perfect..I did try with MDF and some plastic ones,but they really don't look as good as I didn't like the squared edges or the thinness of them.
I also found the alcohol inks work a treat on the crystalline dominoes.
This is my 2nd project using them, the first I am unable to show until the 1st July as it is a design team piece for the challenge over at Rhedds Altered Spirit.
My stamp for this project is by Artistic Outpost Stamps...this and one other stamp I was very fortunate to win from their May Challenge.

So I am entering this piece in to both challenges...one because it's a game piece and the other is because I love Artistic Outpost Stamps...

               So here is my entry for the challenges over at
           Domino Art Challenge and Artistic Outpost

I used Ginger and Mermaid alcohol inks for the background, although the ginger colour was used very sparingly as I just needed a hint, as it turned out the photo really dosen't pick that colour up very well.

My new stamp,"Sound of the Sea" which I recently won from Artistic Outpost, was used for the image, I just used a section of the stamp, then again using other sections of the stamp I decorated all the sides of the domino in the shell pattern.

To finish I brushed with gloss modge podge, left it to dry overnight,then added the bale and ribbons.
So if you fancy altering a Domino or any other game piece, you can find this fab challenge here at......Dominoart
If you own any Artistic Outpost Stamps...then pop over to their fab challenge here at....Artistic Outpost

Retro Road Trip...Tag

I had my Road Trip set of stamps still lying on my work top...I'd used them for project I did a couple of weeks ago, but hadn't got around to putting them away.
Then I noticed the challenge theme over at Tagalong and my stamps were perfect for their theme "Road Trip"

I do love the Tagalong Challenges because they are just for Tags and the themes are always different, so I do like to join in whenever I can.

This set of stamps is by Artistic Outpost...I just love their stamp sets and as I said, these were spot on for the Tag challange.

The challenges run weekly, so why not pop over for a look....you can find it here at 

TAGALONG

Swimsuit Girl

Isn't this stamp fun...I've had it quite sometime, in fact I have 2 of them, how that happened I have no idea, it's unusual for me to have doubled up,lol.
This Tag is for the monthly challenge over at Lost Coast's Portal to Creativity  & their Stamp Release Event

Reading the rules relating to the challenge, which have changed slightly, you can now use other stamp companies on your entry as well as Lost Coast Designs & Carmen Veranda stamps which has worked really well for my Tag's theme, which is Numbers. ( the 81 on the beach hut and the bingo numbers on the top of the tag )

I have used the Lost Coasts Swimsuit Girl stamp, isn't that quote great, it is part of the stamp.

So if you fancy a challenge, pop over to

Lost Coast Portal to Creativity & their Stamp Release Event

Luckily for me,this Tag is ideal for the challenge over at  Tagalong...why not pop over for a look,there's a great challenge every week..

Sandie's (aka Rhedd) Mixed Media Canvas Tutorial

Here as promised is my Mixed Media Canvas Tutorial....it is a long post and picture heavy, but I hope you will enjoy it and take the time to leave me your comment at the end...Enjoy..x

Everyone's style is different and this is just the way I do mine...I'm not here to teach, I just wanted to share "my way" with you all.

To start  I collected all the items I needed for the first stage as you can see in the photo below. My canvas is 12"x 12", but if you have never attempted this style of mixed media on a canvas before, it would be better for you to start with a smaller canvas. I would recommend using a deep edged canvas as once they are finish they can be quite heavy, the deeper edged canvas tend to keep their shape better than the thin or cheaper ones. It is worth paying attention to that as it will be something that you will want to keep or sell.

You can use the textured or smooth Gesso, it's up to you, I actually used both. Wipes are a must to wipe your hands between stages and you will also need them when spraying your inks at the end.

I have used a genuine photo on my canvas (my godmothers wedding,from way back in the early 50's)

I used mod podge to adhere the photo to the canvas, then left it to dry overnight...of course you don't have to use a photo, you can use anything as your focal point. You can also photo copy a photo and use that rather than a genuine photo, make sure that it is completely dry before using it though otherwise the ink will smear.

The next stage was to lightly brush over the photo with mod podge, ensuring the edges of the photo get a good seal...again this was left for a while to dry completely...before adding another coat.

 (Tip....The edges of the photo must be sealed so your inks don't run underneath and cause air bubbles under the image.)

While I was waiting for the mod podge to dry, I collected the bits and pieces that I would be using on my canvas, although I did add extra bits as I went along...

Here you can see the lace,beads button,flowers,pegs,all sorts of stuff, including bits of jewellery.

(Tip.... if you use any metal items that may be prone to rust, then give them one or two coats of mod podge to seal them.)

Here I have started to add the scrim/cheesecloth, using mod podge, then added some chicken wire shaped grey board.

As you can see by the photo above, I have now added some lace and trims...I actually used my hot glue gun to adhere them to the canvas and then dabbed over it all with mod podge,

Now it's time to add all the treasures, this is such a fun part....you can use a strong glue of your choice to keep the pieces in place,or like me use hot glue.The pieces must be secure and not wobble about.

( Tip....personally I try to keep my pieces mainly horizontal or vertical as too many curves can make the finished canvas look untidy )

As you can see I have added more pieces to my canvas, I wasn't happy with the large paper clip that I had on the left side,so removed it at this point.

(Tip....I left my canvas on an easel in my lounge for a few days, this way I can see if I needed to add anything else...or remove any pieces.)

Now I am completely happy with all the elements on my canvas, I gave it a coat of  gesso, making sure I got in to all the small areas where items have been glued.....I also used some of the textured gesso and stippled it in some areas.

I left it to dry overnight, then gave it another 2 coats of smooth gesso,making sure it was dry between coats.

I chose Silver and Raspberry Cosmic Shimmer Mist sprays and I also mixed up some Mica Powder in Mustard Gold for the main colours for my canvas. I also used  Artiste Spritzing Ink in White, it has a gorgeous shimmer to it and covers a bit better than the white shimmermist.

I scrunched up 2 baby wipes and covered my photo, these sprays do tend to go everywhere.

I sprayed from the top right down to the bottom left  and then sprayed the opposing corners in the mustard gold. I did use a heat tool to help with the drying, please be careful not to get too close as the gesso under the spray inks can bubble and blister.

I then resprayed the same areas....once dry I did spray for a third time.

Again once dry I added the silver spray to the corners, note the corners where the Raspberry colour is has now gone a lovely mauve shade, while the gold/green corners have gone silvery grey.

(Tip...drying between 2 different colour sprays,stops them from muddying)

(Tip....you will need to change the wipes covering the photo as they will have got quite inky...if you find any colour on your image,you can remove it with a clean wet wipe, the wipe won't affect your photo as it has been sealed with the mod podge.)

Leaving my canvas overnight to allow the inks to finish drying, some areas like under the flowers etc tend to stay a little damp even after using a heat gun....I then covered the photo with wipes and went all over the canvas with the Artiste White Spritzing Ink...I laid the canvas flat to dry for a couple of hours.

The edges of the canvas can be painted, or inked,the choice is yours...I dabbed mine with a sponge soaked in the same inks that I used for the front.

( click on the photo to enlarge it )

(Tip... to finish you can highlight areas with gilding wax,which I haven't done on this one,but have done on other canvas's that I've done.)

So here we are, my finished canvas, sorry about the background view, it was such a bright day that the light in my kitchen was better for the photo...

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and I am so pleased you read through to the end...

Don't forget we still have 2 weeks left in our June Challenge...which you can find here at

Rhedd's Creative Spirit

                             

Generation Redux

I seem to working in slow motion recently, thanks to suffering with Fibromyalgia...this flare up is making me extremely tired and it's driving me nuts...I just want to get on and do things, lol.
This afternoon I did make these arches for the challenge over at Artistic Outpost
I do enjoy entering their challenges...and even though I was the winner last month, it won't stop me from entering their challenges...
So here is my entry.....

I have used the Generation Redux set of stamps, I have had this set for quite a while now and they are just so versatile,as are all their stamps.

The arches were cut from grey board,using the arches die. I cut 2 sets so I could make them thicker and sandwich the washi tape.

I covered the fronts ,coloured them, then added the background images.

Then I stamped the main images,coloured and cut them and added them to the arches...added the crown just for fun, kind of suits her don't you think,lol.

So if you own any Artistic Outpost Stamps,why not enter their challenge...you can find it here...

Artistic Outpost

Book Page Tags

Just dropped in to share some Book Page Tags I've made for a swap...

A group I am in on Facebook had a Tag swap and I signed up for it.

The idea was to make 3 x 3 sets of different sized Tags,cover them with book page print,then add a stamped image...

I'm hoping my swap partner will like these...note, I have omitted the hole and the tie so my swap partner can adapt them for herself.

Haunting...

I rather enjoyed playing over at the new Dream in Darkness blog last month...I found out yesterday I came 2nd in the challenge too. Feeling quite pleased with  myself as I entered a digital creation, something I don't do very much.
So I thought I would enter this months challenge too, again with a image I created digitally.

This is a piece I created for an online magazine, which sadly closed down before getting published.

The image of this beautiful girl was a vintage freebie, but the photo of the Tomb was an actual photograph taken by my friend, who very kindly let me have free reign over several of his images.

The sentiment is one that I created....I wanted to get a "haunting" feel to my image and hopefully I have succeeded in doing that.

You'll either love it or hate it, or as a fellow crafter said to me the other day...it's eerie, but good,lol....

So this is my entry for the 2nd Challenge over at....

Dream in Darkness

Mixed Media Canvas

So today is officially the start of the Summer...what happened to the last 6 months, didn't seenm that long ago and it was Christmas,lol.
The June challenge over at Rhedd's Creative Spirit has launched...as always altered art only.

This is my design team piece, my mixed media canvas....the photo is actually my godmother getting married,circa approximately 1948-1950.

I am only showing you the one photo of my canvas for now...the reason why is that each design team member creates a mid month tutorial and this month it is my turn....

If you would like to see how I have created my canvas, do pop back here on the 15th June....as well as seeing it over at Rhedd's Creative Spirit

A Pretty Girl

It's the 1st June...which to me,signifies the first day of summer...and I can't quite believe how quickly the last 6 months have gone.
The challenge over at Altered Eclectics is now under way...and as I am part of the fabulous design team there, this is my project for my design team piece.

I stripped back some cardboard to the corrugation underneath and swiped that with white acrylic paint. Once dry I punched two holes and added the eyelets and hanging wire.

For the focal part I stamped this gorgeous stamp from Crafty Individuals on some board that I'd lightly coloured in pink and purple.

The top section was stamped using a part of a different stamp, the size was just perfect for this.

 I coloured that piece blue,then added some pink around the edges.

I found a piece of lovely lace in my stash that matched perfectly and added that to the base of the stamped image and then overlaid the lace with some clear plastic bead trim.

Finally adding a few flowers and a little sparkly heart.

If you like altered art and fancy a challenge, why not pop over to the blog here at Altered Eclectics