ENCAUSTIC ART CAN BE VERY DISTRESSING!!!

Happy Monday Everybody!  Time for another SIMON SAYS STAMP AND SHOW CHALLENGE!  This time....it's DISTRESSING!!!  No...not literally DISTRESSING as in "suffering anguish or agony"~dictionary meaning~.  Although sometimes when I'm working on a project, I feel some anguish when the products I'm working with aren't doing what I want them to do!

But, this distressing is the F-U-N kind!

I started out with a 6x12 stretched canvas that I covered in papers from Tim Holtz' Lost and Found Paper Stash.  Then I used some thinner dictionary paper and covered the smaller canvases with it.  I did Tim's "fossil technique" to create the butterfly image on one of the larger protruding canvases.  When the butterfly "fossil" was dry, I lightly went over the it with Vintage Photo to make it pop.  Next, I wrapped the outer edge of the 6 x 12 canvas in Journeyman Tissue Tape.  After putting all of the smaller canvases in place, I applied various Distress Inks; including Fired Brick, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain to the surface of the canvases and the Tissue Tape.  This gave some extra depth and color to my piece. 

I antiqued some of the elements I chose to use on my canvas by dabbing them with a Pool Paint Dabber.  I then wiped away the excess paint and left a patina looking finish to my Clock Face and the edging I created to use on portions of my smaller canvases.  I made the edging with Tim Holtz' Stripes Grungeboard and the On The Edge Ornate Die Cut.  I then painted it with Pitch Black and antiqued it with Pool Paint Dabbers.  I added Tim Holtz' Measuring Tape along the left side of my canvas.  You can see a lot of dark colorizing on the tape.  There is also darker colorizing in areas of the canvas where I used a graphite pencil to shade and even scribble in areas for added interest.

Then it was time to encase it all in Natural Beeswax!  I have to admit, I have not done a lot with beeswax and I'm a bit intimidated by it.  But, I melted it in my extra Project Pan of my Melting Pot and began to brush the hot beeswax all over my canvas.  Then I worked and smoothed the beeswax with my heated stylus.

The last step was adding all of my elements to the canvases.  I melted Black UTEE and poured it into a molded heart.  As soon as it cooled; which doesn't take long, I added some Antique Gold Rub 'N Buff to my heart, added some little wings and glued it in place.  Then I added my little porcelain doll head (love those things) and some other Ideaology elements to complete my canvas. 

So, now it's time for YOU to get DISTRESSING!!!  

Hop on over to the SIMON SAYS STAMP AND SHOW CHALLENGE blog and check out what my fabulously creative Design Team members have waiting for you to feast your eyes on!  Then link up your creation to our challenge blog!  YOU could be the lucky winner of our most generous sponsor's $50.00 credit voucher to be used at SIMON SAYS STAMP STORE! 

If your work is exceptional, you can be rewarded with our coveted TOP 3 BLINKIE AWARD to proudly display on your blog!  So, what are you waiting for?  Better get distressing!!!