WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR VINTAGE CANVAS FOR MIXED UP MEDIA MAGAZINE

Hello everyone!  Happy NOVEMBER! 

Have you heard that Katy Leitch has a new online magazine?  It's called Mixed Up Magazine:  A Digital Craft Magazine With A Mixed Media Twist.  
HERE is her Facebook Page.  You really need to check it out!  It's interactive fun featuring various artists, products and submissions from all sorts of mixed media artists like you and I.

I was honored when Katy asked me to create a piece using DecoArt's Media Liquid Glass for her magazine.  I went for the obvious by creating a sweet vintage "glass" window scene on a 6"x6" canvas.

In this piece, I used DecoArt's Liquid Glass as a glue, a sealer (mosaic tiles), to create a faux porcelain rose effect and to create an old vintage thick glass effect (window panes).

So simple to do but with fantastic results! 

Please check out Katy's new Mixed Up Magazine online!  Mixed Up Magazine's November 2016, Issue 2 is now on sale!  Go HERE to check it out and get your subscription!  If mixed media fascinates you, then you will love this magazine full of fabulous articles and ideas from some amazing talent!

I'd love to take you through the step by step in creating this sweet little piece.  So grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy the pictorial tutorial!

I began with a scrap piece of chipboard approximately 8"x 10".  Using DecoArt's Media Matte Medium, I generously brushed the Matte Medium on the surface of the chipboard and covered it with old dictionary pages.  Then I brushed another layer of Matte Medium over the pages to seal them.  Let air dry or gently heat set.

When dry, I added a layer of DecoArt Media white Gesso over the top of the dictionary pages using a baby wipe.  Let air dry or gently heat set.  This step adds some texture to the chipboard and also adds "tooth" for any product that may be layered on top of this.

My next layer was applied a big brush but anything can be used to provide another layer of texture.  I used DecoArt Media's Crackle Paint.  It is a thicker substance that when dry, creates a wonderful crackle effect to the surface.  It goes on white and dries white.  Let this product air dry to let the crackle effect naturally form on the surface.

Next I began adding my color to the surface of the layered chipboard using a combination of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Cobalt Teal Hue and Titan Buff.  I applied the paint to the surface using a baby wipe.  Let air dry or gently heat set.

I absolutely LOVE DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide.  It is a transparent paint but it's effects are HUGE!  It gives a soft warm hue to any surface.  It instantly provides that feeling of age and weathering.  Because I wanted this to be a vintage piece, I applied the Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide to the surface using a baby wipe and let it air dry.  You apply such a small amount that it takes no time for it to dry. I laid the chipboard to the side and began working on the 6"x6" canvas.

I covered the sides of the canvas exactly as I had done when covering the chipboard; beginning with DecoArt's Media Matte Medium followed by Gesso then Crackle Paint (dry between each layer).

I used the same DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic paint colors on the sides of the canvas: a combination of Cobalt Teal Hue and Titan Buff.  Then I wiped a layer of DecoArt Media Raw Umber Antiquing Cream over the crackled, painted surface.  You can let the Antiquing Cream dry completely and then wipe away with a damp cloth or baby wipe or you can wipe away the cream immediately after adding it; depending on the weathered look you want to achieve.  I totally LOVE DecoArt's Antiquing Cream as it really does give beautiful weathered effects that I can completely control!

Next I found the center of the canvas and measured where my window would be centered on the canvas.  I penciled in those lines so that I would know how long to cut my chipboard into strips to create a weathered wood lap siding on my canvas.
This picture emphases the crackled, weathered look on the sides of the canvas but you can also see the penciled outline of where the window will be on the top of the canvas.

Next I cut the chipboard into strips 3/4" wide.  For either side of the window, I cut the strips into 1 1/2" lengths.  I began at the bottom of the canvas and laid a 3/4" x 5 3/4" strip completely across the bottom of the canvas.  To secure the strip in place, I used double sided ScorTape.  Beginning with the next layer, I began stacking the "lap siding" pieces.  I cut the strips into 1 1/2" lengths and added a piece of 1/4" Scor Tape to the top of each piece.  Then I measured 1/2" up from the edge of the previous strip and stuck the layered strip in place.  I continued to do that up both sides of the window; making sure that each side matched going across what would be the window in the center.  
Once I got above the window opening, I laid two more full strips of 3/4" x 5 3/4" across the top of the canvas.  

This is now what the canvas looked like.  You can clearly see the opening where the window will be placed.

Using plain Grungeboard, I die cut Tim Holtz' Window and one of his Pediments pieces.  I actually die cut two of the window boxes and top pediment pieces to add more dimension to the piece.  I glued the window box and pediment pieces together and let them dry.

If the "lap siding" is old and weathered then the window needs to be old and weathered as well, right?  I removed the lower vertical piece of Grungeboard, separating the window panes.  That way, it looks like the window is open. I covered the three window pieces with DecoArt Media Crackle Paint and let it air dry. You can already see the beautiful crackle effect before I do anything else to the window.  

I first wiped on a layer of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titan Buff to give the basic window a soft, off white color.  Then I added the Antiquing Cream over all of the window pieces and wiped off the excess.  Here is my result and I LOVE it!  I did not glue the pieces together yet as I now had LOTS to do to the basic frame of the window before putting it together!

  
I used a piece of scrap cardstock and created a background to go behind my window.  I used a combination of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Primary Magenta, Titanium White to create a soft pinkish color.  I then applied Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide to soften, age and warm up the color.

Next I applied Scor Tape to the underside of the window frame; preparing it to add the Liquid Glass to create old 1800s thick glass to the panes.

Next I laid the window frame onto a piece of wax paper and filled the two window panes with DecoArt Liquid Glass.  It comes out with a thick milky consistency but self levels and dries clear.  Let air dry. Once the Liquid Glass was dry, I could remove the wax paper backing and reveal a very old looking "window".
(You can also just dab the Liquid Glass onto a surface in the shape of a round ball or whatever.  It will dry clear and leave what looks like water droplets.)

While the window glass panes were drying, I also added Liquid Glass on top of some little paper flowers.  Again, the Liquid Glass does on white but dries clear.  These little milky looking flowers will look like porcelain roses once the Liquid Glass dries!  A very cool and simple look to achieve!  Let air dry.

While the roses and the window panes were drying, I cut a little piece of vintage lace to use as a valance hanging in my window.  It was a fairly dark brown lace and did not show up well behind the window.  So, I touched DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Titanium White paint all over the lace with my finger.  I love how it brings out the design and texture of the lace!

Now it was time to start assembling the window!  See the old vintage "glass" in the window panes?!?!  LOVE IT!!

Using another piece of Scor Tape, I stuck the lace valance in place on the window.  (This is the backside of the lace, so it does not have the Titanium White paint on it).

Next I added some moss type stuff I had laying around to the backside of the window boxes using the Scor Tape.

Next I glued the moss and porcelain roses in place at the bottom of the window frame.  Then I applied small double sided adhesive pop dots to the bottom and also the top of the window frame.  These pop dots will hold the window box and the upper pediment in place but giving them dimension.

To add just a bit more detail to the upper pediment, I found a couple of little bronze colored metal pieces.  I covered them first with Titan Buff followed by touches of Cobalt Teal Hue and then I also added touches of Titan Buff mixed with Primary Magenta on the heart.  Once dry, I glued them together and glued them to the center of the upper window pediment carefully using DecoArt Media Liquid Glass as a glue.  It dries clear but it also dries glossy so be careful not to add any more Liquid Glass than necessary to adhere something.

Here is a more detailed look at the upper pediment, the old "glass" and the valance underneath.  I adore the crackled effect of the frame!

Now to add the sweet little vintage girl...I sized her to fit the opening in my window and printed her out on a sheet of semi gloss photo paper.  Rather than colorizing her, I wanted to leave her black and white with just a touch of a sepia tone to "age" the photograph.  Yet another reason why I love DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide!  I simply mixed a little of the paint with water and lightly touched a makeup sponge in the mixture and then dabbed it onto the black and white photograph.  You can see what even a tiny amount of the Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide adds between these two photographs.

Next I cut out the little girl, inked her edges in black and glued her in place in the window.  Isn't she just so sweet?  Actually when I saw her, she inspired the sentiment for this piece, "When you wish upon a star."

I found two bronze colored keys in my stash that I decided to use on either side of my window.  But I did not like the bronze color.  No problem!  I simply altered the color of the keys by touching them with my finger and DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Metallic Gold Paint.  Then I simply glued a key on either side of the window using the Liquid Glass as a glue again and let them dry.

I created the sentiment on my computer, selected a font I liked, sized it to fit across the top of the canvas and printed it out on a piece of regular copy paper.  I glued the words on top of a piece of scrap black chipboard and let them dry.  Once dry, I cut them out and placed them on top of the canvas.  I glued them in place.  I began lining the outside edges of the words with DecoArt Liquid Glass and then worked my way into the center of each word. 

 This is what the sentiment looked like at this stage.  You'd probably be thinking, "Oh no! I just ruined my whole piece!" But no ... you have not!  What you have done is create what will look like little mosaic tiles once they dry clear.  Keep watching!

And ... just like magic!  When dry, here is the sentiment!  All glassy looking and the perfect finishing touch for this sweet little canvas.

Here is a closeup photograph of the faux porcelain roses.

Here is a close up photograph of the old vintage "glass" in the window panes.

And once again....here is a picture of the entire canvas.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and learned something you didn't already know about a product, a new technique or a different way of using a product.  Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out Mixed Up Magazine!

MIXED UP MAGAZINE ~ NOVEMBER ISSUE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE!!

Hello everyone!!  I have some exciting news to share!

Mixed Up Magazine's November 2016, Issue 2 is now on sale!  Go HERE to check it out and get your subscription!  If mixed media fascinates you, then you will love this magazine with fabulous articles and ideas from some amazing talent!

I am so honored that Katy Leitch of Mixed Up Magazine asked me to create a piece for her magazine focusing on DecoArt's Liquid Glass product.  

Here is a sneak peek of the vintage piece I created for Mixed Up Magazine.  I titled it "When You Wish Upon A Star".  I'll be back in a short bit with the complete pictorial tutorial!  In the meantime, grab your copy of Mixed Up Media magazine now!  

See you back here soon!

WITCHY WOMAN THREAD CONE DOLL

It's October ... a gorgeous autumn month and home to the Halloween holiday!

I love creating and decorating for Halloween.  

I hope that you've been enjoying the very creative and original "Witchy Woman" pieces especially for you from my Creative Cohorts at Creative Carte Blanche. 

Our adventure for this month was inspired by an old Eagles song, "Witchy Woman", I thought this would be an open ended creative adventure whether you are a fan of Halloween or just of women with an attitude!

I am wrapping up the month sharing my creation with you....my Halloween Witch Doll that started out by my using an old dark brown, drab thread cone.  I used it for the lower body and went from there.

Let's get started on the steps to create this fun gal.  She's easy to do and wouldn't she be fun to have sitting out next to your Halloween candy you'll be passing out to trick or treaters?  A real one of a kind original Halloween decoration!

Let's go through the steps now so you can create your own Witchy Woman!

First, you're going to need a vintage picture with a face worthy of being transformed into a witch.  Wha-lah!  Here she is!  I found this lovely lady a long time ago on the internet.  She is someone's daughter, mother, relative or friend. I mean no disrespect.  She just had the perfect face for my doll!

 If you right click on the photograph, you can save it to your computer. 

As I stated, I began with an old thread cone.  

I had some old black lace and soft black netting laying around.  They would be perfect for covering the thread cone.  So I cut off enough of the lace and the netting to gather and use for a "skirt".  

Using a needle and black thread, I gathered the black lace first and made a skirt.  Then I gathered the black netting, leaving enough for a fairly full skirt.  I gathered it at the top, measured how large I would need to leave the opening at the top, pulled the netting to that measurement and then stitched it together, creating a ring around the cone top.  Then I hot glued the black lace and then the netting into place, leaving the top of the cone open to later insert the doll's soft upper body.

Next I generated a face and several other elements I might want to use on my doll.  I sized them to be correct size for the doll's body and then printed them out on an ink jet computer and heavy white cardstock.

I brushed over the cardstock with DecoArt Media Matte Medium to seal all of the images.  It goes on clear and dries to a matte finish.

I cut out all of the elements and backed several of them with black chipboard for strength and also as part of the piece.  For example, the black chipboard backing on the Ouija Board and Black Cat game board look very natural.

I created a little box for the Black Cat game using kraft cardstock. I laid the Black Cat game cover down and then measured 1/4" all the way around it.  This would allow for the sides of the box.  I cut it out, folded it into a box shape, clipped the four edges so that they could be folded under, glued and create the lid of the box.  I repeated this for the game box bottom (minus the Black Cat label).  I distressed the edges using a Black Sepia Cats Eye Ink Pad to instantly age the box.

Now it was time to start working on my witch's body.  I glued her head onto a piece of black chipboard for strength.  I also left a little piece at the top that would later be hidden by her witch's hat.

Next I determined how big the brim for her hat needed to be and made a circle measuring 3 1/4" across on a piece of black cardstock.  I cut it out, folded it in the center and cut a slit for her head to poke through.  I glued her head in place with a little bead of Glossy Accents to hold the brim in place.  I'd finish the hat later but now ... on to the soft body.

I fashioned a "body" out of a piece of white cardstock to lay under the head for the purpose of getting the correct size body for my doll (plus a little extra length that would be gathered and shoved down into the thread cone opening).

I laid some old looking black fabric right sides together, drew out a pattern for the body and arms and cut it out.

Then I sewed a small seam all the way around the body; leaving the neck, sleeve holes and bottom open for stuffing.

Next I placed the material body over a long craft stick that I had added wire arms to and glued in place.  I left a piece of the stick sticking out at the top to represent a neck and help support the head once it was glued in place on the stick.  The wire would represent arms that could bend and move.  I gathered some fluff fill and began filling the body, using a pencil eraser end to move the fluff down the sleeves with the inserted wire first.  Then I moved to the main body and stuffed around the craft stick in the center.

I wanted to create some wild gray hair for my witchy woman so I took some of the white fluff fill and sprayed it with DecoArt Media's White and Black Shimmer Sprays.  I kept lightly spraying until I got a cool gray color.  I then kept dabbing off the excess color with paper towels until the "hair" was dry.  Next I hot glued the back of the witch head to the craft stick and then covered that up with the gray hair.  Perfect!

Time to add some skeleton hands (from some cheap little plastic skeletons I get at the craft stores around Halloween). I kept part of the skeleton's arm attached to the hands and then hot glued them up inside of the sleeves.  I then added some decorative gathered black netting (the same as on the skirt) around the neck and sleeves.  I sewed them into place.

Next I gathered up the bottom of the witch's soft body and wired it tighter.  Then I hot glued around the inside opening of the thread cone and shoved the body in place.  I added a long piece of black ribbon (wrapped around the body twice) and tied it in a bow in the back of the doll.  Then I added a spooky cape made out of the same black netting; tore it on the ends and then tied it in place.  I added a couple of hot glue drops under her hair in the back and under the tied knot in the front to hold the cape in place.  I love how she is draped in the black netting.  It gives her a spooky vintage yet not scary appearance.

Now she is really coming together!! Time to finish the witch's hat!  I created a cone shape for the top of the hat using a piece of black cardstock. I glued the cone in place using 1/4" Scor Tape double sided adhesive tape.  Then I cut the bottom of the cone to the length of hat I wanted.  I hot glued the top of the hat into place on the brim.  

I added some more soft netting to the top of the hat and around the brim to hide where I had glued the hat together.  Then I added Black Diamond Stickles to give the hat a magical glow.

The basic cone doll was finished now and I just needed to add the embellishments.  I hot glued the Ouija Board and Witches' Dance sheet music to the right hand and the Black Cat box and game board to the left hand.  

Here are closer up photos of the embellishments for better detail ...

I hot glued "Happy Halloween" to the hat and one of Tim Holtz Ideaology Spider Charms to the bodice of her dress.  I still have little labels if I would decide to add little bottles or other things around her but for now ... I really love how she turned out!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you've been inspired to join in on the fun over at Creative Carte Blanche with our "Witchy Woman" theme this month!  It's still not too late to join us!  Please link your creation to our blog so that everyone can see your creativity and your process in creating your piece.

Next month, the lovely and talented Annette Green will be hosting our next adventure!

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!  It'll be Thanksgiving before you know it!

GOD ONLY KNOWS ALTERED PLAYING CARD

Hello Creative Carte Blanche Community and every one else who's stopping by my blog today!  I'm so glad you're here.

This month, the lovely Linda Ledbetter is hosting our unique adventure.  For your inspiration, please check out THIS VIDEO on Youtube.  It's an amazing conglomeration of visual delight and various talented musical artists coming together to recreate that old Beach Boys 1966 classic "God Only Knows".

We are asking you to stretch your imagination and use this musical video as your inspiration to create something; anything related to the song and link it up to our blog.  It will be fascinating to see everyone's personal "take" on the lyrics, the sights and the sounds you will view on this video.

As I was viewing this video, I was overwhelmed with the bright colors, the whimsical flowers, hot air balloons and cloud like images that seemed to be pouring out of my computer screen. Combined with the wonderful lyrics, the song began to take on a whole new meaning for me and I tried to express that through the symbolism of my card.

For me, it's not so much a song about love between two people but the love we should have for all people.  In this modern world, we are all so interdependent on each other and wouldn't the world be a far better place if we thought about how "God only knows what I'd be without you"?  Thus the symbolism of my piece.

This was my first time to alter a playing card.  I had so much fun!  This is one of those pieces that came together in no time.  It's a small work surface so that helped but I tried to create a lot of meaning, detail and dimension in that small space that shared the feelings I experienced while viewing the video. That was a bit more challenging.  But I did it and here is my finished altered playing card ...

I used primarily DecoArt Media products but you can use whatever acrylic paints and other mediums you choose.  Here's the steps in creating this altered playing card:

I began with a regular playing card, a die cut of Tim Holtz' Vintage Globe (cut from plain Grungeboard) from his Movers and Shapers Vintage Fan and Globe set, and some die cut mini people from Tando Creations.   

I painted a healthy coat of DecoArt media Gesso over the surface of the playing card and also over the surface of the die cut globe. 

I heat set the Gesso on the playing card and purposefully got the card a little too hot to make the Gesso bubble on the surface.  I liked the texture it created!

Once the Gesso was dry, I added DecoArt Media Modeling Paste to the continents of the globe to create dimension and more texture.  Then I let that air dry.  

Note:  Clean your brushed immediately after using the Gesso and Modeling Paste!

Next I began to create the outer space realm for my planet to rest on.  I used brush and lightly painted on a combination of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Cerulean Blue and Titanium White.

For more depth, I wiped just Cerulean Blue onto the card using a baby wipe.

To begin to pull the color into the center and create a definite darker blue edge to the card, I added Phthalo Blue around the edges using a baby wipe.

Finally, to further define the edges of the card, I added a touch of Paynes Grey using my fingers around the edges.

While the playing card was drying, I painted six of the mini people in different colors; representing different races and genders and orientations. Let dry.

Now it was time to bring "life" to planet Earth. I began by painting the oceans with combinations of Titanium White, Primary Cyan, Prussian Blue Hue and Cerulean Blue.

The water was created, now it was time to create the land masses and give them more of a realistic appearance.  The first layer was Yellow Oxide followed by shadows of Burnt Umber and highlights of Titan Buff.  Let all of this dry.

I added a bit more white to the background of the playing card behind the area that planet Earth would sit.  Then I glued the globe in place followed by the six mini people.

I painted Diarylide Yellow followed by Primary Yellow onto a piece of heavy white cardstock and gently heat set it.  Then I drew little flowers of varying sizes onto the yellow and cut them out to create layered flowers to add to my altered playing card.

I dabbed a bit of Glossy Accents onto the bigger flower and let it dry.  Then I added the top flower (using a dab of Glossy Accents on the back) to create a little bit of dimension. I then glued the flowers onto the green stems and let them dry.

For more detail and a "cloud like effect", I added a little Glossy Accents onto the card surface and sprinkled White Flocking over the glue then shook off the excess.  It left little puffy white clouds!

Across the bottom of the card, I glued my flower stems in place.  These would soon be covered by a "cloud" cut out of white cardstock and coated with the White Flocking.

Here you can see the added cloud and the computer generated "God Only Knows" title along with some little musical notes I drew onto the card.  Finally, I added Glossy Accents to the centers of the flowers and over the mini people to add a bit of gloss and also dimension.

Throughout the month, my insanely talented and creative cohorts will be posting their unique art to our Creative Carte Blanche blog.  You won't want to miss those! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope that my little altered playing card has inspired you to join us at Creative Carte Blanche for our September art adventure.  Just add your creation to our community by using the Inlinkz button.

MARGIE KEMPER, YOUR SUNGLASSES ARE READY!

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog!

Last summer I had the pleasure of traveling to New York City with my daughter and a dear friend.  While there, I got to hook up with my super talented art buddy and one of the nicest people on the planet, Marjie Kemper.  

She met up with us and we toured some of the city, stopping for lunch at the Boat House in Central Park.  While there, Marjie's "very expensive" (being sarcastic) pair of sunglasses popped a lens.  She trashed them but little did she know I fished them out of the trash because I had a sinister plan for them!

Well, I was FINALLY able to put the plan into action a few days ago.  I completely transformed Marjie's poor old broken trashed sunglasses into a new, improved pair of rockin' steampunk shades!

Since Marjie is also a member of the DecoArt Media team, I thought it would be appropriate to share them on the DecoArt Media Blog and give a complete pictorial step by step tutorial.  Now, you can use the simple techniques I share for these sunglasses to alter anything!  Just a few simple steps and you're on your way!

So Marjie....this one's for you!  Rock those glasses, girlfriend!

Check out the entire frames HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!  Your comments here and on DecoArt's Media blog are always appreciated!