Friday, June 19, 2015

Possibilities

Hi everyone! 
It's been busy around here as usual!  Teaching last weekend at The Creative Escape in Los Gatos, CA was a great!  Sold out classes, great students, FANTASTIC classroom at the new location, and a friend who joined me to help out (none other than Richele Christensen).  Richele and I always have a great time together and this was no exception.  If lots of laughs means a great time, then it was a huge success!

Well, on to today's project.  I really had no idea what I was going to make when I started but I am super happy with the end result so all is well in the craft room today!  Follow along and I'll show you what I made.

I'm using an 8 x 10" canvas board for the project today.
I chose 4 colors of Distress Paint to work with; Abandoned Coral, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Tumbled Glass.  As you can see, I just swiped the paint onto the canvas in random stripes.  You can make the stripes as large or small as you wish.
NOTE:  I added a layer of Dina's White Gesso over the canvas before painting.

I used a paint brush and filled in the area between the colors, blending them to make a smooth transition from one color to the next.
Use a wet wipe to pounce over the paint, moving a bit of color from one area to another.
I squeezed a puddle of Picket Fence Distress Paint onto the craft sheet and used a Mini Blending Tool to add the paint over the "Splotches" stencil until the entire surface was covered.
Using the Mini Blending Tool to add the Distress Paint is a great way to get an even, thin layer of paint.  I like that a hint of color can still be seen through the top layer. 
While the canvas was drying, I went to my computer and in a document format, I created a square that is 8 x 10" to match the canvas size then created an oval shape inside.
I cut out the oval shape and used it as a template to draw an oval onto the canvas board. (save the oval cut out for later)
Since this came in the mail yesterday, I couldn't help but use it, right?  Hickory Smoke, where have you been all my life?  You are the perfect foil to the bright Abandoned Coral and Twisted Citron!
I pounced Hickory Smoke paint on the edge and painted around the oval shape with a paint brush.
This is what it looked like when I was done.  A bit like an Easter egg right now, but I'm going to turn it on it's head, so no worries on that.
Once the paint was dry, I lightly sanded the Hickory Smoke edges with the Sanding Grip, revealing the colorful paint beneath and the actual texture of the canvas.
Next up, I wanted to add a message.  To do that, I'm using the Block Talk Sizzix die to cut letters from Sticky Back Canvas.  Save the negative pieces too!
I picked the message, "Today is full of Possibility".  The Sticky Back canvas is self-adhesive so you just have to peel and stick.
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know how much I like Dina's White Gesso.  I'm using the gesso today as a sealer for the the Sticky Back Canvas and to unify the letters and the background.  I just used my fingertip to add the gesso over each letter.  If I you get too much gesso on the background you can wipe it up with a wet wipe or a wet Q-tip.

I added a bit of Distress Paint (again, with my fingertip) over the dry gesso.
Once the paint was dry, I added a drop shadow around the letters with a Hickory Smoke Distress Marker and smudging with my fingertip.
Back to the jar of gesso...just needed a pop of white over the top.
Cover the center of the canvas with the oval paper again.
Using the Mini Blending Tool, add Picket Fence Distress Paint over the Lace Stencil.
The paint is very bright and I'm going for a more subtle look, so I will remove some of the paint with a paper towel.
Just by pressing a folded paper towel over the paint.
I worked around the canvas one area at a time, following each step until it was complete.  Then moved to the next area until the canvas edges were covered.
I wanted to add a flower to the canvas, so I embossed one of the Flower Garden images with White Embossing Powder onto Ranger Watercolor paper.
I colored each of the images with Distress Markers (abandoned coral and mustard seed are a match made in heaven).
Once the images are colored, they can be cut out.  The embossing lines makes this very easy.
I used the Gathered Twigs marker and the Distress Marker Spritzer to add dark speckles over the images.

Now just add the flower to the canvas with Multi-Medium.  Notice I cut the flower to the length I needed?  I also moved the leaf on the left, to the right side of the stem.
Once the flower is in place and the Multi-Medium is dry, you can add the drop shadow under the flower with the Hickory Smoke marker.

You can use the Distress Marker Spritzer to add more speckles over the canvas.  

Please note that if you use Distress Marker over the slick (non-porous) surface you will need to spray the canvas with a Fixative designed to protect artwork.  You can find it at most craft stores.

I added a couple Remnant Rubs to the canvas with the new Remnant Rub tool.
Gotta have numbers!
Gosh that flower really makes the piece.  I can see why that stamp set is so popular.
I had an 8 x 10" frame in my stash that I believe I picked up at Michaels.  Great way to finish it off.
I think I found a great spot for it!

click on picture for full size image

now carry on,
paula


45 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. thank you so much Crafting Queen - super fun to work with all the bright colors!

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  2. Oh my word! This is a fabulous project! What a great use of Hickory Smoke, too!

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  3. LOVE!!! I learned some good things from this, thank you. I love what is hanging above the new canvas, also. Did you make that?

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  4. LOVE!!! I learned some good things from this, thank you. I love what is hanging above the new canvas, also. Did you make that?

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    1. Marci that is a piece by Cori Dantini. She is a favorite artist of mine and my husband bought this original for my birthday last year. Love that she uses vintage paper as her backgrounds. You can find her on Etsy.

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  5. Paula I am totally enchanted by this project! you're always an inspiration, whatever you produce, is important for me and you help me in my growth as an artist!I am really grateful to you from the bottom of my heart for what you teach me in every post! For me it is a difficult time but I hope to overcome it as soon as possible and flood my heart and my eyes with your art, always makes much good to my soul! Thanksfor sharing your creativity! BArbarayaya

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    1. thank you Barbara, you are too kind for words. Thank you for being such a supporter of my blog. I REALLY appreciate it. love to you..

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  6. Oh it is fabulous! All those wonderfully soft colours and then the Hickory Smoke! I knew it would be a fabulous colour to work with and you show just how well. Mine is the post so I can't wait. I really love how you put this hanging together with so many wonderful techniques and ideas. Thank you Paula and have a lovely weekend. Jennie x

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    1. thanks Jennie for the nice words! Makes my heart happy!

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  7. Another amazing project, Paula! This is so understated and beautiful!

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  8. Oh Paula, what a wonderful and inspiring piece of artwork! The colours you've chosen to use are so beautiful against the Hickory Smoke and I just love each and every technique you've shared! Beautiful work as always...

    Have a great weekend! Emma....

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    Replies
    1. thanks Emma! Appreciate the encouragement today!

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  9. Love this project!!! Can't wait to play with the new distress color :)

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    1. thanks Jenn! Hickory Smoke is great - you will love it!

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  10. wow Paula...this is amazing...love the soft colours and the gorgeous flower xxx

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    1. thanks Kath! Had to do something with that stamp set after seeing all your inspiration over the last few weeks. You have been making such great stuff with it!

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  11. I like the way you used the positive and negative letters.

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    1. thanks Patty! I leaned that from Mou Saha, one of my favorite artists.

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  12. Your project is simply gorgeous Paula, I love how you muted the colours down with the stencil and the Hickory Smoke looks wonderful on the border and as the shading on the words and gorgeous flower. A stunning piece. Anne x

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    1. thanks Ann! appreciate your comment - you are always an inspiration to me!

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  13. Such a pretty creation! Thanks for showing all the how-tos. But I will say that I really did not need to know about that fabulous flower stamp set. Sigh...another item for the ol' want list! ;)

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    1. It's a MUST BUY Renee. Just add it to the list, right? I think the embossing powder really makes it easy to look like your a professional too. At least it did for me.

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  14. Another wonderful home decor piece! Love the color combo. The sanding step adds some cool texture. I hadn't even thought about using white embossing powder on these flowers. Thanks for that tip and all the steps. So appreciate you.

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    1. thanks Sharon! I think that white embossing powder makes it so easy! You have to try it!

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  15. So BEAUTIFUL ... I told you I LOVE the colors of that flower already... such a pretty color combo... and that yummy hickory smoke ; love how you did the lace stencil flowers around the oval ... just beautiful !!! Oh and the letters OMG ... your work makes me smile ... love the details !

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    1. thanks Rea' appreciate the love today! Put that Hickory Smoke on your list of "must buy". It's great.

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  16. There I was thinking hmmmm not sure about this one, usually I can figure out where yore going and think OMG awesome! but then I saw the finished product and tadah!! OMG its stunningly amazing! It just works, its brilliant! So are you incidentally ;)

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    1. no worries Meg. I wasn't sure where I was going either! lol Glad you liked the final result. p

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  17. This is wonderful Paula! I love the colors, the texture and that gorgeous flower. I got my hickory smoke today, and I just may have to make one of these for myself :)

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  18. Love this!! The colors are fabulous. I just bought the stamp set and got my Hickory Smoke yesterday... Going to have to play around on this rainy day... :)

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  19. Great tutorial Paula! There are so many wonderful layers on this piece. The hickory smoke paint is a beautiful gray, I can't wait to get my hands on it. TFS!

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  20. Absolutely stunning Paula! Nikki xxx

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  21. Your creativity continually amazes me! LOVE this project. From the colors to the layers and layers ... all the way down to the speckles. :) Thanks so much for sharing all your knowledge.

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  22. So Beautiful, Paula! Such a wonderful statement and such a beautiful way to share the optimism!! XOXO-Shari

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  23. Wow - as I was following along I was think it was too busy after you did the circle work but this turned out amazing!!!! love the detail with the gesso and they smoked hickory marker! Beautiful Paula!

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    1. thanks Kat! you never know with me where it's going to go because I never know, lol! I do like the way it turned out...looks great on my wall!

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  24. Paula, we made your canvas and you can see it on my blog. We had 8 of us at my house making this lovely canvas but unfortunately I forgot to get a photo of everyone's. There is a photo of mine which I still plan to sand a little and shade the flower and put those speckles on it. I did have all the supplies you had but we made it work and we all loved it and it will be treasured! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

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    1. I love it that you got together with friends to make the canvas! I'm popping over to your blog to check it out!

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  25. The above comment should have read - I did not have all the supplies that you had but we made it work. Sorry about that.

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  26. Fantastic Artwork !! Is is really gorgeous, and I love it all! Hugs.

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  27. So many wonderful details and such beautiful results xxx

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