Mixed Media Cupcake Canvas'

Hello mixed media friends.  Today I am excited to finally sharing the 4 cupcake canvas' I created earlier in the month.  I was holding off because I felt like they were not quite finished.  I want to add some words or phrases, but never got around to it.  So I figured it was best to go ahead and share them as is for now.  The canvas' are 8 x 8 and I did them in colors to match my studio.  I'm going to arrange them in a square.

I had sooooo much fun creating them.  Of course looking back, realized things I would not do if I had to do it again.  But still found great joy in the creative process for these canvas' and I hope you are inspired to create one of your own and share it with me.  I'm including photo's of each project at the 1/2 way point as well.  

CANVAS #2

The techniques I used for creating the layered / dreamy background was learned in a class called "Art Journal Conversion" by Roben-Marie Smith.  While using these mediums were not new to me, it was the use of them that completely inspired me and is now one of my favorite mixed media techniques.  Roben shows you how to build multiple layers of spray inks with stencils, and gesso to get that dreamy effect.  I'm including photo's at the 1/2 way point of creation as well.

CANVAS #3

The cupcakes are hand drawn patterns.  I paper pieced them and then added the icing (thick tachy glue -Aleene's with glitter sprinkled on top)

I learned a lot doing these canvas'.  

#1 plan out what you are going to put on your backgrounds and visually lay it out, so you can see where you might want to place your modeling paste shapes.  

#2  I love the circles and flowers with the cupcakes ....  but wasn't crazy about the style of the 2 swirly stencils and ended up trying to cover them up with circles.  

If you have any specific questions about any of the backgrounds ..... shoot me an email.

Here's a close-up so you can see the texture the modeling paste adds !

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!  I will have so many more projects (Mixed Media, Scrapbooking, Cards, and ATC's) to share with you in 2012 so I hope you will stop by again.  If you want to receive my post via email, it's easy!  Just enter your email address in the sign-up box on the side-bar.  You can unsubscribe at any time.  

If you are interested in checking out all my Mixed Media projects Click HERE.

Projects with background tutorials can be found HERE.

I just set up a new page with a list of mixed media classes I have taken and why I liked them.  You can find the link with the tabs along the top of my blog.  If you have any classes you have taken and enjoyed .... I would love to here about them.

I have to share one more thing .... I just signed up for Stephanie Ackerman's "52 Card Pick Up" Class.  Wanna check it out??  Visit Stephanie's blog HERE.

I just set up a new page with a list of mixed media classes I have taken and why I liked them.  You can find the link with the tabs along the top of my blog.  If you have any classes you have taken and enjoyed .... I would love to here about them.

Mixed Media Project's

Hello mixed media lovers.  This is a long post, but bare with me.  I rarely share personal stuff, so I"m going to make up for some of that in this post, teehee.   My daughter, Nicole, visited us (she's away at college in FL) back in June and we had a wonderful time crafting together.  I treasure these times with her now that she is an adult and lives so far away.  They grow up so fast, don't they.  

 She is a sweet, loving, funny, crazy, quirky, energetic young women who is passionate about changing the world by becoming a teacher, teaching in inner-city schools, and reaching children who need to know how much God loves them.  And these qualities often shine through in her art as well.

I am so proud of  the young women she is becoming and how she celebrates life with all that she has!
YOU go girl!!

She is a full-time student and works part-time, so she doesn't get to create as much as she would like to.  She loves arts and crafts but has never taken any classes.  She loves to re-purpose things and we never knew what she would find at a second hand shop and bring home to turn into "art".  She just see's things that inspire her and goes for it.    Often she is inspired by a bible verse, song lyrics, meaningful quote, or something that is going on in her life.  She loved the piece I created as a result of taking Roben-Marie Smith's online class back in April and wanted to give it a try.  (You can check out my project HERE.)  She created a couple of projects and wow!  I was so proud.  She has never taken mixed media classes, so it really does show you how awesome Roben's class is.  I don't want to share all the step by step instructions, since Roben's class is still up for sale, but I will share a few photo's of Nicole as she was building her canvas.

  

Roben's class is "Art Journal Conversion" and you can read more about it HERE.

It involves lots of spray inks, stencils, gesso, modeling paste, doodling.  All the things you have probably used before as a mixed media artist.  What was different for me is the way Roben builds layer upon layer creating so much depth in the background.  I love here style and loved the class.  And it was a steal for $24.99.  The only thing I didn't own, and had to add to my supply's was oil pastels.  I got a set for about $10.  You can check out Roben's blog and projects on her blog HERE.

She used the same techniques to alter a journal cover

   

Add because this post is all about my daughter and her art, I am going to share a few more pieces she has created over the years.  Not always the best photo's (she took them herself) and often her idea of a good background was the grass in the backyard, teehee.  I hope you see something that inspires you!  

She likes to take models from magazines, adhere them in her art to use as a base, and then paint over them. This one makes me laugh, it says "How can a woman be expected to be happy with a man who insists on treating her as if she were a perfectly normal human being"

   

 This is one of her cats.

" He who accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it"  "I have a dream that for little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judges by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."  "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"  MLK, Jr.

"But hold on to what you believe ... in the light ... when the darkness has robbed you of all your sight"

"I know my call despite my faults and despite my growing fears"

  

"Tonight I'm going to bury that horse in the ground"

  

I thought this one was an octopus at first, teehee.  But it's a mouth with words coming out of it.

"There's nothing else we can do.  We have to speak about the things we've seen and heard"

  

  "For we can not but speak the things from which we have seen and heard"  Acts 4:20

This is a series of 3 long canvases.  Across the bottoms of the dresses "I'm tired of striving to be, who You already say that I am.  I am Yours"  "All I know is beautiful in me is You.  Every good thing, every true thing.  Beautiful in me is You".  It's so wonderful and encouraging  to know there are young adults out there who are not consumed with this world, and desire to serve God.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

If I do not love, I am nothing.  1Cor 13 1-3

Not just your art, but your life and who you are is an inspiration to me my sweet girl!

Live, laugh, love!  Mom

Mixed Media Project - Roben- Marie Smith Class

6" x 9"

Hello Paper Crafters.  I recently finished a mixed media class by Roben-Marie Smith called "Art Journal Conversion" and wanted to share my first two projects with you.  This one just makes me smile.  I still need to add the journaling, but couldn't wait to share it.  I seriously can't believe I made this!!  I LOVE Roben's style and I'm so excited that she has classes to teach the rest of us how to get that wonderful layered look.  I really enjoyed the class.  It used a lot of products I already owned and honestly, the techniques were not new to me (spray inks, stencils, modeling paste, doodling).  What I gained from the class was the inspiration to add MANY layers of spray inks and gesso so that you create a depth.  So much is going on in the background, but it is so subtle that it doesn't overwhelm.  The medium I was introduced to was using oil pastels.  LOVE them.  It really allows you to add shading.  Be prepared to use your fingers,  A LOT, in this class.  If you don't like a mess, then this is not the class for you. 

The stencils I used were : Plaid (diamond pattern), Layers of Color (swirly), Crafter's Workshop (dots), and the daisy is from Hobby Lobby HERE, sorry I didn't save the package.  The larger circles are from a Drafting Stencils that has a lot of circles with different sizes, but they are graduated.  So it's a pain to use.  HERE.  I wish someone made one with lots of different circle, in differnet sizes, randomly. 

Here are a list of sites that I found that have really cool stencils though :

Crafter's Workshop

Martha Stewart at Michaels  - I LOVE this one, but haven't seen it at my local Micheals.  Will have to see if I can order it.

Plaid  check out the Folk art catagory.  Their store is a little weird to navigate.  Once you get to the Folk Art section, then you have to look to the right and you will see smaller photo's of options and can arrow over.  Then click on the stencil you want to see.  REALLY cool stencils.

I-Stencils - I linked you to the background stencils but check out the left column for other choices.  You can order from their online store, but I don't see any shipping details.

Stencil Ease

Wall to Wall Stencils

Cutting Edge Stencils

Options for Spray Inks :

Adirondack

Dylusions

Glimmer Mist

Ranger Perfect Pearls

Mister Huey

Inkadinkado

And I'm liking the less expensive RIT liquid dye (liquid, already mixed).  I purchased an .99 cent spray bottle from the artist section at Hobby Lobby and just poured the color in.

Let me know if you think of any others I can add to the list

I started shopping around looking for other options for spray inks.  Glimmer Mist are so pretty, but mine often clog and for what I'm paying for them, I find that frustrating.  Roben used some SEI Tumbler Tie-dye inks, so I decided to check out the tie-dye section of Jo-ann's where I noticed the RIT dyes.  SOOOO much cheaper than Glimmer Mist ($7.50 for 2 oz).  I bought them pre-mixed in a bottle (8oz).  I think it was around $4.  Then I picked up some inexpensive spray bottles at Hobby Lobby and poured the color in those.  So I decided to give it a try.  The orange you see in this project is the RIT.  I will definitely try some of the other colors.

I didn't want to start out working in my art journal, because I figured my first project might not be so good.  So I did this piece on 6" x 9" 140# watercolor paper and decided to hang it on my 7 Gypsies Photo Display Stand.  I don't have any photo's on mine.  It's dedicated to mixed media projects.  Here is a picture I posted in the past :

I spray painted mine black.  I use extra large eyelets in the top.

2.5" x 3" Artist Trading Card

This one is a mini.  You can't really get the depth on such a small peice, but I like how it turned out.

If you are interested in taking mixed media classes, here's a list :

Christy Tomlison

Roben-Marie Smith

Donna Downey - tons of free video's on her blog HERE

and in her store HERE

Creative Workshops

Alisa Burke

Free video's at Cloth, Paper, Scissors HERE

Interweave

Traci Bautista

Julie Prichard

If you know of any that aren't on my list, please share!

You can view my other :

 Faith Art projects HERE.

Collage / Mixed Media projects HERE.

Artist Trading Cards HERE.

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Challenges

Project #1

Cupcake Craft (mon) - texture (flowers and circles are modeling paste)

Ribbon Carousel (tues) - lots of color

For Fun (wed) - anything goes

Let's Ink it Up (monthly) - distressing

Crafts 4 Eternity (fri) - try something new (new mixed media class - style)

Corrosive (sun) - from a bottle  (spray inks)

Project #2

Word Art Wed (wed) - Habakkuk 3:18

Fairy Fun Friday's - flower

OOzak's (monthly) - anything goes

Abby's Scripture Thur #25

GinaK Designs "Springtime Silhouettes"

I have received several fun GinaK sets the last few months and just didn't have time to play with them. So that is my goal this month.  The cards I'm sharing today are designed using a set called "Springtime Silhouettes".  It's a fun set that includes images and sentiments for lots of occasions.  I love that the stamps are solid.  So you can whip up cards really quick.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Melisa

You can view all of my GinaK Designs projects HERE.

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Project Details

Card #1

Stamps : GinaK Designs "Springtime Silhouettes"

Ink : Tsukineko Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate

Die : Cheery Lynn Designs "Mega Fanciful Flourish"

Scissors : Fiskars Deckled

Adhere card to a larger piece of brown cardstock and trim around edgs with deckled scissors.  Trim patterned paper, ink edges, and adhere.  Cut 2 brown vines.  Cut 1 apart and use to add an extra swirl and leaves to the first one.  Stamp images with brown ink on cream cardstock, trim, and adhere.  Stamp sentiment.

Card #2

Stamps : GinaK Designs "Springtime Silhouettes"

Ink : Tsukineko Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate and Pixie Dust

Stencil : Crafter's Workshop

Border Punch : Fiskars

Stick Pin : Making Memories

Embossing Folder Cuttlebug

Trim brown cardstock and adhere to card front.  Trim cream cardstock, emboss, ink edges, and adhere to card front.  Trim cream cardstock, emboss, ink edges, and adhere to card front.  Trim cream cardstock 3 1/4" x 4".  Apply pink ink over polka dot stencil, then ink edges with brown ink.  Tie a knot and wrap ends of brown ribbon around edges of panel.  Mat on pink cardstock.  Cut brown strip at least 3 1/2" wide and punch scalloped border on 1 end.  Adhere other panel and then trim 3 edges with deckled scissors.  Stamp sentiment with brown ink.  Stamp image with brown ink on cream cardstock, trim, and adhere.  Embellish with stick pin. 



Artist Trading Card / Mark's Finest Papers

2.5" x 3.5" Artist Trading Card

I'm back today using "Pucker Up".  This time I created an ATC.  I also used one of my new stencils by Crafter's Workshop "Mini Swiss Stamps".  I sprayed some "Daffodil" Glimmer Mist over it onto water color paper.   This is a FUN set!

I hope you haven't had any lemons thrown your way this week!

Melisa

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Project Details

Stamps : Mark's Finest Papers "Pucker Up"

Spellbinders : "Standard Circles", and "Lacey Circles"

You can view all of my ATC's HERE

Mark's Finest Paper's Pucker UP

Today I'm sharing another card I designed using "Pucker Up" by Mark's Finest Papers.  Isn't this a cute sentiment.  I used Glimmer Mist - Lemongrass with a Crafter's Workshop stencil (Mini Swiss Dots) to create the polka dot background.  Then I soaked up the excess with the crepe paper.  I used water color paper and sprayed one area solid yellow to use for the lemons.  Then I added a darker shade of yellow with a water color crayon to add some depth.

The lemons on the inside were cut from a copy of my master board.

Hope your having a crafty week!

Melisa

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Project Details

Stamps : Mark's Finest Papers - Pucker Up

Pattered Paper is from one of my My Mind's Eyes 6 x 6 paper pads

Glitter Mist Lemongrass

Glitter Glue over flowers

Ribbon - unknown

pearls - Hobby Lobby

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Challenges

Mark's Finest Papers - spray mist

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

ABC - 2 of something (2 lemons)

Published in CardMaker!

It is always fun to open up a magazine and see your name!  I was blessed to have 3 projects published in the May issue of CardMaker magazine and this is just one of them.

I used Layers of Color Botanical Swirls art stencil and Butterfly Collector art stamp set.

You can read all the details in the May issue of CardMaker!

Thanks for stopping by!

Melisa

Clean and Simple

Good Morning Papercrafters.  Today I am trying to keep it clean and simple.  You could whip up these cards in no time at all using Layers of Colors art stencils and stamps.  They coordinate so beautifully.

Stamps : “Butterfly Collector“ and “Sent With Love” by Layers of Color

Stencil : “Botanical Swirls” by Layers of Color

Glitter : Stampendous 2-Way Glue pen by Zig

Create A2 card with kraft cardstock. Mask of 1/3 of card vertically.

Stencil vine pattern with green ink. Stamp butterfly’s on front of card

and on another piece of kraft paper. Trim butterflies (except antenna’s)

and adhere over butterflies on front popping up wings slightly.

Embellish butterfly bodies with glitter. Stamp sentiment on kraft paper

and cut with oval punch. Ink edges. Pop off front of card. Ink edges of

card with black ink. Add ribbon.

Stamps : “Backyard Birds“ and “Sent With Love” by Layers of Color

Stencil : “Natural Flourish” by Layers of Color
Ribbon : Double-sided - Offray

Create A2 card with kraft cardstock. Stencil on flourish with green

ink. Stamp sentiment. Stamp bird on front of card and again on another

piece of kraft. Trim just the birds body (not the branch) and adhere over

bird on front of card.  Add Ribbon.

Stamps : “Warbler“ and “Sent With Love” by Layers of Color

Patterned Paper : Canvas Corp

Ribbon : Double-sided - Offray

Create A2 card with kraft cardstock.  Adhere 2" x 4.25" polka dot paper across bottom.  Stamp bird/branch image and sentiment on front of card with black ink.  Stamp bird/branch image again with green ink. Trim just the bird body and adhere over bird on front of card, popping up

head slightly. Adhere black ribbon across card.

Stamps : Victorian Frame cling art stamp, Sent With Love and Backyard Birds art stamp sets by Layers of Color

Patterned Paper : Canvas Corp

Spellbinders Nestibilities Labels Fourteen

Ribbon : Double-sided - Offray

Create A2 card with kraft cardstock.  Stamp Victorian Frame and bird on kraft cardstock.  Trim frame using Spellbinders Nestibilities Labels Fourteen and Grand Calibur.  Stamp sentiment.  Trim bird.  Adhere 2 1/4" x 5/5" polka dot paper across bottom of card and add ribbon.  Adhere frame and bird.

 

 

Stamps : Nature Walk and Sent With Love art stamp sets
Patterned Paper : Basic Grey
Ribbon : Double-sided - Offray

Create A2 kraft card.  Draw a light pencil line across bottom of card at 3/4" from bottom of card.  Mask off below line with paper and stamp flourish.  Stamp sentiment.  Add ribbon.  Stamp floral images on red patterned paper x 4.  Trim all 4.  Cut along side of petals to flower center on 2 of them.  Shape each petal by pinching sides and rounding.  Adhere these on top of the other 2 and then adhere to front of card.
Thanks for stopping by!
hugs,
Melisa