Sunday, February 1, 2015

Colour Arte Design Team Hopeful

I've been working on a mixed media painting using stencils, it's layers of fun!

This post is also an application for the Colour Arte Design Team. You can learn more about Colour Arte, their products and helpful tutorials on their website: http://www.colourarte.com/.
Join a creative community on their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/ColourArte/231602303702224

 
SUPPLIES:
16 x 20 canvas
Acrylic Paint: (EcoGreen Crafts) Pistachio,  Zucchini, Forest, Blueberry, Eggplant, Leaf Green, Periwinkle, Lake, Pure Gold, Stone, Black, Sand
Decorative Stencils: (The Crafters Workshop) Botanicals TCW80, Flutterby TCW206, Harlequin TCW202
Flourish Stamp (Hero Arts)
Versamark Pad and Pen (Tsukineko)
Embossing powder: Gold (Ranger Ink)
Pigment Powder: Gold (Ranger Ink)
Gel Medium: Clear (DecoArt)

Tools and Other:
Paper towels, heat setting tool, paint brushes, mini spray bottles, 

Directions:
1. Paint the bottom 2/3 of the canvas with random areas of Pistachio and Zucchini paint.
2. After the area is covered, spritz with water and dab with a wadded paper towel to soften the brush strokes.
3. Let dry completely, a heating tool may be used to speed the process.
4. Paint the remaining background of the canvas using Lake and Blueberry paint. Spritz with water and dab with a wadded paper towel. Let dry.


5. Mix 1 oz of water and 2 tsp of Eggplant paint in a small spritzer bottle. Add 1/8 tsp of gold metallic pigment powder.  Shake until mixed.
6. Place the Butterfly stencil over the canvas, shake the spritzer before spraying over the top butterfly in the stencil.
7. Mix 1 oz of water and 2 tsp Forrest paint in a small spritzer bottle. Add 1/8 tsp of gold metallic pigment powder. Shake until mixed.
8. Spray over the remaining areas of the stencil.
9. Remove the stencil carefully and let dry or heat set.



10. Stencil Botanical leaves in the lower right corner with Leaf Green and Pistachio paint.
11. Stencil Botanical flowers in the lower left with Stone paint. Once dry, add details with Periwinkle.
12. Place the Harlequin stencil in the upper right corner and apply blends of Lake, Stone and Gold. Let dry.
13. Place the Harlequin stencil over the same area but shifted to the areas that were not stenciled previously. Apply blends of Blueberry, Lake and Sand paint.
14. Stamp Flourishes with Versamark Pad and emboss with gold embossing powder. If the canvas is stretched over a frame, the use of shims behind the canvas and large wood blocks to keep the canvas from moving is very helpful :o) If you still have "skips" use the Versamark Pen freehand to fill in the blanks and re-emboss.
15. Mix Gold pigment powder with black acrylic paint and paint the butterfly bodies.
16. Using any and all colors listed to add details and color to the butterfly wings. Use water to thin the paint to help blend easier and to give a more translucent effect.
17. Mix Gold Acrylic paint with Gel medium. Paint the edges of the butterfly wings and accent the bodies.
Randomly "dry" paint areas of the background.


I hope you enjoyed this project! It's fun and very easy to create colorful art with the help of stencils. If you have questions, please ask.  Then, PAINT ON!

Becky




Sunday, January 4, 2015

Sin City Stamps! DT App

Today, I am sharing a way to customize the details of your decor.
This is a fun stamping project that can be adapted for use with many products that may have unattractive packaging. Make it pretty and make it match your style and home furnishings.

This post is also a Design Team Application for Sin City Stamps!  Check out their awesome stamp designs here:
Website:  www.sincitystamps.com
Blog:  www.sincitystamps.blogspot.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SinCityStamps

I love Aveeno lotion and the convenience of the larger bottle with the pump, but it sure does look gaudy.  (grins)  This cover can be reused on the next bottle too, just unlace the sides, put it over the new bottle and lace again!


I made two sides that are different, so when I move it to another room, it will still go with the decor.

SUPPLIES:
Brown craft paper
Acrylic Paint: Pistachio, Lake, Storm, Zucchini, Pumpkin, Mulch, Sand (EcoGreen Crafts)
Pigment Ink: Chocolate and Clear (VersaCraft, VersaMark)

Dye ink pads: Purple Twilight, Espresso
Embossing Powder: White, Gold (Ranger Ink)
2 shades of green alcohol ink pens: CG4, DG3 (Spectrum Noir)
Scrap of brown cardstock
Mini Brads: Brown, Lavender
Gossamer Stretch Cord: Clear (Cousins) -or fishing line

RUBBER STAMPS:
Cherry Blossoms, Large Flourish  (Hero Arts)
Small Flourish (Stampin UP)
Butterfly (EcoGreen Crafts)
Branches (Stampers Anonymous-Tim Holtz Collection)
Pine Tree (Art Impressions)
Fern (The Angel Company)

Instructions: (Side 1)
1. Trace the outline of the bottle onto brown craft paper. Flip the bottle up to allow for a base, then roll down onto the other side of the bottle and trace.
2. Cut out the pattern for the cover, cut 1/4" to 1/2" outside your lines to allow coverage for the sides of the bottle, as desired. Trim the bottom portion close and exact.
3. Paint the first side, blending both blue acrylic paints.
4. Stamp the branches with Chocolate VersaCraft ink. Heat set.
5. Stamp the pine trees with Zucchini acrylic paint.  To stamp with acrylic paint, apply a light coat of paint to the stamp with a brush or sponge, don't over load or it will blotch.
6. Stamp more pine trees with a blend of Zucchini and Pistachio paints.  Stipple while wet to blend.  Let dry.
7. Blend a lighter shade of green with both Zucchini and Pistachio paints, stamp ferns. let dry.
8. Lighten the last batch of blended paint with more Pistachio and stamp the last layer of ferns. let dry.
9. Stamp Cherry Blossoms onto white paper with VersaMark pigment and heat emboss with white embossing powder.
10. Use a dauber or piece of felt to apply Purple Twilight ink to the flowers; darker at the center and blended out.
11. Color the leaf areas with 2 shades of alcohol ink markers, blending.  let dry.
12. Cut out the stamped image and adhere it over the fern area, as shown.

Instructions: (Side 2)
1. Using both flourish stamps and VersaMark pigment, stamp the entire background with flourishes. Heat Set.
2. Stamp the Butterfly onto brown cardstock with VersaMark pigment and emboss with gold embossing powder. Trim closely to a rectangle.
3. Add small dabs of Pumpkin acrylic paint throughout the wings.
4. Apply Chocolate VersaCraft pad to paper over the butterfly and wipe away with a paper towel. Heat set.
5. Add more accents with Pumpkin acrylic paint throughout the wings.
6. Mat the brown cardstock onto brown craft paper and ink the edges with Chocolate VersaCraft. Heat set.
7. Adhere the matted butterfly to the flourished background.
8. Using a small brush, add small dots of mulch acrylic paint to accent flourishes on the background.



Assembly:
1. Use a piercing tool to poke holes approximately 1/2" to 3/4" apart on all four sides.
2. Put a mini brad through each hole and fasten.
3. Cut two 36" pieces of Gossamer Stretch Chord.
4. Use a temporary adhesive to hold the sides up to the bottle to make lacing easier, wrap the gossamer around the bottom brads, tighten and criss-cross (just like ice skates!), then wrap around the 2nd brads, etc. until you reach the top.
4. Tie at the top or knot and trim excess.

I hope this project inspires your creativity, keep on stamping!
Becky