Seahorse Gazing by Fliss Goodwin

Hi there, my project this week came about as I challenged myself to finally get the hang of working with acrylic surfaces, which I have to admit have rather scared me up to now. I think this one has helped break me in and will hopefully encourage anyone else who’s a bit nervous to give it a go too.

Ingredients:

That’s Crafty! Surfaces – Panel 1 Acrylic Stack

That’s Crafty! Clear Stamp Set – Deep Sea Divas Marina

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Paints – Primary Magenta, Cobalt Teal Hue, Primary Cyan

White Gesso

Archival Jet Black Ink

StazOn Ink – Jet Black, Olive Green

White Mixed Media Paper

Glass Paints such as Pentart

Glitter Glue – lots!

Watercolour Pencils

Brayer

Extras – Paper Towel, Sequins

Recipe:

There was a bit of serendipity involved in the creation of the back panel of my acrylic stack as I first added dots of the acrylic paints and spread the colours with a brayer. As there was a bit too much paint I blotted the panel with a paper towel. When I pulled it off, I then discovered that the paint covered paper towel looked rather more interesting than the panel due to the texture and mottled look to the paint so I glued it over the top and then cut off the excess. Serendipity definitely ruled here!

I then stamped Marina on a piece of mixed media paper, having first measured to see how much of her would fit on the panel and stamping her right on the edge of the paper at the point that worked best. I coloured her with watercolour pencils and then covered the body with sequins. I added details with glitter glue in various shades to give the first touches of bling.

I then worked on my acrylic panels, starting off with the seahorses which I stamped on the front side of the 2 inner sections, making sure to place them so that they appeared one behind the other. I then painted them on the reverse with glass paints (at the second attempt as I confess that I forgot to remove the backing and had to peel it off along with the paint and do it again!!!). When the paint was dry, I gave the seahorses a coat of glitter glue.

I stamped the seaweed on either side of the front of the top panel, adding some in the middle a bit further down to leave a slight gap. I painted the seaweed on the reverse with a slightly more hefty dose of green glitter glue than intended but it does give some fab bling.

I assembled the panel as you see, gluing Marina on at an angle and adding a flower to her hair. I think she really does look as if she’s seahorse gazing.

Have a great weekend and see you next week.

Fliss x