Crayon Art - Project In Progress

Here is one of those other projects I wanted to get to for the upcycled blog hop. I had SO much fun with this one, I really want to go out and get a bunch of canvases to try different color combinations!

I haven't finished this one off yet, but I wanted to show you what I've done with it so far.

Normally, I don't usually go so completely abstract with my projects. I had to let go of a lot of my perfectionism on this one. Not that I ever really follow any rules or instructions at all, this was still just so out of my element and comfort zone.

So far, this is just the start of a background for a mixed media piece. The blob of swirled color in the middle there is melted crayons, swirled together. I laid my patterned paper down with Mod Podge, added texture with mesh, puncinella (I'm 100% positive I spelled that wrong), cream and white paint. Then I took a green, blue, red, orange and yellow crayon and laid them in different places on the canvas. (The canvas is 6x12") Using a heat gun, I melted the crayons. I tilted the canvas in different directions to let the wax run. I also used the non brush end of a foam brush to swirl it around a little more, then just dabbed the wax off the brush onto the canvas. Once it cooled, I added some more paint texture. I want to work with it some more, it doesn't feel finished to me yet.

I'll add pictures, for sure, when I get it finished up. :)

What I've Been Up To

The last few weeks have been a complete whirlwind! At the beginning of the month, I was lucky enough to get to meet Teresa Collins. That woman is amazing! Seriously the sweetest, strongest woman ever. I told her about my idea for a scrapbook line and she invited me to lunch to talk about it some more. GAH! Totally one of my most favorite lunches ever. :) I started reading her blog and was so impressed by her as a person. The strength she displays, and the love she has for those around her and her love of what she does. So inspiring! I decided I wanted to make her this, as a thank you for being such an inspiration and for taking time out her insanely busy schedule to help me.

The paper in the dress comes from a TCD line. :)

She totally is strength and love. :)

I love the dimension the ribbon adds to it.

These are vintage buttons from the 1950s. I had to use some from my little stash of vintage buttons for this! They looked to good not to. lol

I've been making more things for my Etsy site as well!

I may just keep this headband for me! hahaha

I made this for a Mother's Day present for myself. ;) 3 pearls for 3 kids! I'll be adding it to the Etsy site soon.

My friend Leslie asked me to sew a bag for her to hold her portfolio pieces for her photography class. I had a lot of fun with this!

She wanted a pocket to put information cards in. I used the same fabric to line the flap.

I put together this frame for Roberts Crafts. We're doing a Youtube video featuring all the new frames that have come into the stores. I did another frame, but don't have a picture of it yet. It was a lot of fun! Think buttons and modeling paste. ;) lol

I'm really looking forward to May! Hopefully it will decide to be spring, and stop snowing on us! Also, it will be my daughter's 8th birthday! She's really excited about being baptized and turning 8. Every time we talk, she's telling me what else she wants to do for her birthday party. LOL! So far, she wants to go to the water park, have a pinata, go see Kung Fu Panda 2 (it comes out ON her birthday, May 26) and I can't even remember what else. I'm sure Pirate Island Pizza is in there too. hahaha! It's going to be a FUN month!!

Nana

Today I brought out the canvases and started on another mixed media piece. I've been wanting to make one for my mom for a while, and finally sat down to do it. :)

Mixed Media FUN

I have been wanting to get into mixed media for a LoOoOong time, and when Christy Tomlinson invited me to take her She Art Workshop, I was THRILLED! I was always a bit intimidated to get into it because you truly can use ANYTHING to create a canvas. The thought of it was slightly overwhelming, to say the least. And I didn't really know anything about different inks, paints and mediums like modeling paste. This workshop has been fantastic for learning the basics of previously unknown mediums.

So far in week 1, Christy has shown us how to create a background full of rich layers and textures. We also created a girl, which is where the "She Art" comes in. Christy creates girls in a lot of her canvases.

I'm really happy with how my first canvas turned out! 

The words say "She Lives for The AdVenTurE"

My background is an old sheet of music, and a page from an old book, Mod Podged to a 6"x12" canvas. I used bubble wrap and ink to make the circle pattern in the corners. I have a brocade stamp that I stamped down here and there on the surface, edges and sides of the canvas. I found the fleur de lis stamp and it's my new fav! The chandelier stamp came from Roberts. I found it in the clearance section and I HAD to get it. It was a necessity! hahaha I put down a border sticker from Cosmo Cricket at the bottom, then mixed modeling paste with blue acrylic paint and smeared it on to the bottom right corner. I spread it around with a card, then wiped the excess paste around the canvas. Once it dried, I took a Colorbox ink pad and rubbed it across the canvas, getting all the creases of the paper and the peaks of the modeling paste. 

Christy provides templates for the girls. I am SO glad for this! Getting the proportions correct is something that will take me a while to get down. And I'm such a perfectionist it would drive me crazy trying to figure it out on my own. YAY for templates!!

Since this girl is supposed to be me, I wanted a saying that sums me up in a few words. Much harder said than done! There are so many amazing sayings, but I think what I chose pretty much sums me up. 

"She Lives for the Adventure"

Isn't that what life is all about? Learning, growing, exploring, making mistakes, trying again, learning more and taking in all you can? 

Seriously, you don't have to be an artist to take this class. It really is for anyone! There will be another offering of the class coming up, so don't feel bad about missing the first one. It's only $35 to register. You can't beat that! So click the link below and follow Christy's blog. Cause she pretty much will rock your world. She's so fun to watch in the videos, too. SO cute! Click the picture below and it will take you straight there. :)