Truest of Friends

Hello Friends,

What a fun time I have had working on this collage.  In fact, I cannot wait to start another!  This all began with one of the blank canvas boards I painted last week when I was in a funk and couldn't think of anything to make.  I'm now down to only one canvas from everything I painted, so I guess painting structures to challenge myself is working.  Today's post about this collage is informative but there are so many variations, from color to stamps, that I hope you take this as more of a jumping off point for your own work.

 

I gathered a few supplies for todays project.  I saw Cassie use this Media Marks 2 set (or maybe the smaller version - Mini Media Marks) on a card she posted and it really inspired me to use it today.

As I said, last week I painted a 9 x 12" canvas board along with a few other substrates.  It was easy to go into the craft room today and pick this up to start working.

I adhered a long strip of vintage ephemera across the center with Collage Medium.  This came from an old attendance book.

I used my rotary cutter to cut random sized strips of Memoranda paper.  I'm using the page at the back of the pad with four, 6 x 6" papers.  I chose this because you get different papers when you cut it into strips.

Adhered them above and below the ephemera.
I also painted a wash of Picket Fence paint over the Tumbled Glass paint.

Once it was dry, I used Hickory Smoke Archival Ink to stamp the image of rings from "Halftone and Rings" stamp set from Stampers Anonymous.  I could have gone with black ink but I don't really want the rings to be the stand-out.

Distress paint...haven't used it a while other than base painting but after Tim's Facebook Live on Saturday, I was inspired to get it out and use it.  I know I have picked some bright colors but many layers will be added so not to worry if that's not your jam.  I squeezed a little paint onto a piece of deli paper (easy clean up) then used my fingertip to add a large dot in each of the stamped images.

The hardest part is waiting for it to dry! uggg...you can't rush paint!

I decided to add a large Velum Scene to the canvas.  These are normally meant to be used with lights behind them to illuminate the velum but I decided to add it here to create a backdrop.

Please beware, the velum is quick to bubble over glue.  I've done this technique twice, once it was perfect and this time I went to dig in the drawer to find my brayer (novice move on my part).  When I came back, I had a bubble down the center.  90% of bubbles dry completely flat in 24 hours, but because I walked away from it I got a permanent bubble.  With that said, have your clean brayer out and ready to go before gluing.  If you don't have a brayer, I'd suggest a big heavy book or two.  Lest you think a bubble will stop me, it will not.

So I still had the painted space at the bottom of the canvas to work on but I didn't want to repeat the top "candy dots" so I went with stripes.  I hand cut small strips of paper and added them with Collage Medium in a random fashion.  I used stamps from Media Marks 2 to add details in between the strips of paper.  I thought I should add some color to match the top so I just painted some stripes with skinny paintbrush and used a cotton swab to add the dots of color in the stamped circles.

Can you see how small the print on the paper is?  I cut up paper at the back of the Memoranda Paper Pad which has 3 x 4" images of each paper.  Everything is scaled way down, which is great when you need small scale prints.
*Walnut Stain Distress Crayon was eventually added to match the top of the canvas.

So you know I couldn't leave the candy colors as they are right? 

1.  The first layer is Walnut Stain Distress Crayon.  Scribble it on and use a damp paintbrush to move it around.

Again, I always follow crayon work by pouncing over the top with a wet wipe.

2.  Picket Fence Crayon was added to each color circle on the center left and rubbed in.
3.  Walnut Stain Crayon was scribbled on the glass mat and picked up with the water brush and added to the right side to give the appearance that the dot is now a sphere.
*I will add more color and dimension once I finish the rest of the piece.

This stamp is also from the Media Marks 2 set.  I stamped with Archival ink onto Plain Collage Paper.

Then used the Detailer Water Brush to cut away each stem from the paper.

I added the leaf to the canvas with Collage Medium.

This is a great way to add images, especially when going over uneven surfaces where stamping could be a problem.  The added numbers came from Collage Paper Typeset.

I added a few more pieces of Collage Paper before moving on.

You could leave the stems as they are but I decided to color them with Peeled Paint Crayon and the Water Brush.

Use a Distress Splatter Brush to add flecks of white paint over the canvas.

Then the center piece...the three girls from Paper Dolls.  I created the pattern on the dress of the girl on the left by pouncing the tip of the Water Brush over the dress.  You know I love coloring the Paper Dolls and making patterns makes me even happier.  I used Dusty Concord for the dress and Fossilized Amber, Stormy Sky and Aged mahogany for the flowers.

The Paper Dolls were added to the canvas with Collage Medium.  I did not put Collage Medium over the top.  Clipping Stickers were added and well as marks using a white Posca paint pen.

You know I love the Clipping Sticker Book.  It's just so convenient to create short phrases using the stickers.  It's my favorite part of every project.

Now back to the candy circles.  I did two more things to the circles.
1. I still had lots of Distress Crayon colors scribbled on the palette of my Glass Media Mat.  I used a paintbrush to pick up some crayon and dry brush over each circle.  You can see that Aged Mahogany was used over the Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers circles to add a contrast of color.  This is where working on a canvas surface is cool because the texture/weave of the canvas helps keep the contrasting color on top.
2. Use a Stabilo pencil to doodle and add pencil lines.

 They are not just candy dots anymore!

Because of Covid-19, I couldn't go out to get a frame so I used the next best thing, a frame I found when I cleaned out the closet in my office last weekend.  It had glass, which I disposed of.  I glued the canvas directly to the mat that was already in the frame.  Who knew a canvas panel I chose at random last week, would work with a frame long forgotten in a closet.  Perfect.  Like it was meant to be.

I hope you can glean some inspiration from todays project.  I'm grateful for the extra time to be creating more and sharing more!  

Now carry on,
paula

Destination Divided Box

Hello friends,

Today I am sharing a project I made for Creativation.  This was one of my favorite makes from the show and I toyed with teaching it as a class this spring...well as we all know flying somewhere to teach or even being in a group is out of the question so I've decided to share it here instead.

I started with a Divided Box, one of my favorite substrates because it is adaptable for so many projects.  I drilled a hole in the back of the center section for the Tiny Lights that illuminate the center section of the box (you could use an awl if you don't have a drill).

I painted the front edges as well as the inside of the top and bottom compartments with Weathered Wood Distress Paint.  After I waited for the paint to dry, I used Collage Medium to add layers of Worn Wallpaper to the sides of the box, overlapping as needed.  No rhyme or reason to the layering, I just used the paper I liked.  Once the Worn Wallpaper was added to the box,  I added a coat of Collage Medium over the top to seal the paper.  Do not skip this step because the Crayon needs a slick surface to work effectively and the Collage Medium will provide that.

Once the surface was dry I added Texture Paste Crackle to some of the edged of the box.  NOTE: Be sure NOT to add the paste to the center area because the Velum Scene will be glued directly to the center section.

Once the Texture Paste Crackle is dry, you can begin to add the Walnut Stain Distress Crayon over the surface.  Use as much or as little as you want.  I scribble it on and then use my finger to rub the crayon over the surface.  A small damp paint brush can be helpful to get it into the Texture Paste.  And I ALWAYS have a wet wipe near by to pounce over the surface to remove the excess.  

I threaded the Tiny Lights from the back of the tray to the front (so the on/off switch is on the outside of the box).  From there I wound them around in a circle and used scotch tape to adhere them to the back of the tray. NOTE:  I completed the rest of the box before adding the Velum Scene to the center section so I wouldn't get glue on it!  

Inside the top compartment are large wood numbers from the new Number Blocks pack.  I painted each of the three numbers a different color, then sanded them back once the paint was dry.  They are thick enough to stand up by themselves which makes them easy to stack.  The photo comes from Photobooth and the tiny name comes from the new Clippings sticker book (it now contains not only new sayings but many names).  Of course the popular Tiny Clip is holding the name in place.  The Mushrooms are from the Field Notes Ephemera (as well as the Specimen tag on the Finial).
I painted the Finial with Weathered Wood Paint and added the Texture paste just as I did on the box itself.

You may not even notice the tiny crown (from Adornments Treasures) in front of the photo.  I love that little crown and it just seemed to go there.  I've added more ephemera from Field Notes onto the background as well as the cute bird button from the Vintage Flair Pack (one of my favorite new products).

On the bottom right compartment I created a little garden scene.  First, Worn Wallpaper in the background with added Ephemera.  The bingo card is from Junk Drawer, which is a Baseboard product, meaning it is thick board that won't bend.  The butterfly from Field Notes was the perfect addition to the center.  I used bingo chips on the back to pop it out from the back of the box.

The Metal Gate was added after painting, adding Alcohol Ink and then bending until it broke into two pieces (it sounds hard but it's not).  I scribbled a bit of Walnut Stain Distress Crayon onto my mat and picked it up with a damp paint brush.  I used the brush to add the crayon over the Heirloom Florals as well as the inside corners of the box.  It ages the Worn Wallpaper and the Weathered Wood paint to marry the two together.  I had a stick on my desk so I broke off a small piece.  After gluing the fence into the box, I added the tiny piece to the one end as if it was the garden gate.  It was only AFTER I did this that I went looking for a Clipping Sticker to use under the butterfly.  I think what I found could not be more perfect for the scene...

On the bottom left I used an awl to create two holes for yet another stick.  You could absolute use a drill here but I just didn't want to walk out to the garage again.  I know...stubborn.

I created a bunch of embellishments with some random idea-ology pieces from my stash, a bit of chain and some jump rings. Idea-ology jump rings come in two sizes.  I used the larger size to go through the chain then slide down the twig.  

Here is the list of charms used (left to right):

key - Locket Keys

clover - Adornments Treasures

no.247 - Story Sticks

glass bottle - Tiny Vials

letter G - Type Chips

bird - Adornments Treasures

pen nib - Pen Nib

heart - Adornments Treasures

spoon - Adornments Silverware

stylized cross - Milagros

hand of friendship - Milagros

*all words from Clipping Sticker book

I used a bone folder to add the Remnant Rub to the Vellum Scene. It was only then that I added Collage Medium around the center compartment to adhere it to the box.  Three sizes of scenes come in the pack, this being the largest size of the group.  Each scene is different with both horizontal and vertical choices.

Well, I hope you were able to get the gist of this piece.  It's not hard to make, just very detailed so give yourself time if you try it.  I looks so cool when the light is on during the evening.

Thanks for stopping by!

Now carry on,
paula