Hello
A slight departure for me as I worked with a face stencil, Lana, for this project. A stencil which I had previously worked with, only using the swirl in her hair as background pattern on a project.

Faces appear to be everywhere in the Mixed Media world at the moment and yet I have always been nervous of faces, even as far back as studying Art & Design at school.

I decided to challenge myself to use the Lana stencil and I have to say that this project was one where I learnt a great deal. The big lesson for me, other than facing my fear of faces, is that I decided to not constantly refer to what was taught in art class, instead, focusing on the features within the Lana stencil and firmly kept in my mind, this is a Mixed Media project, it is not Fine Art, it is not Portraiture.

This was one of my most freeing of projects for a long time.

Note: I used supplies I had to hand: FW Acrylic Ink, Dip Pen, Liquid Pencil... use what you have. Half the fun is experimenting with what you already have to hand.

Supplies
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set Lynne's Affirmations Set 6 That's Crafty! MDF Rounds (used 8"round)
That's Crafty! Light Texture Paste
That's Crafty! 6.5"x7.5" - Stencil - Lana TC7009
Distress Crayons: Black Soot, Ground Espresso, Walnut Stain, Hickory Smoke
Gel Medium
Stabilo Watersoluble Pencil
Waterbrush (view HERE for similar brushes)
Various Eco Dyed Papers
Golden Titanium White Fluid Acrylic
Graphite Pencil
Baby Wipes
Liquid Pencil Sepia
Scraps of Japanese Washi Paper
Dip Pen - (Substitute with Jane Davenport Mixed Media Ink-Redible Calligraphy Pen)
FW Acrylic Artist Ink - Black

Instructions

To the 8" MDF round, I adhered torn pieces of eco dyed papers (such as vintage book text, rice paper) and scraps of watercolour painted calico.

With graphite pencil, Lana was stenciled onto the panel. The features were lightly stenciled with a graphite pencil and for the sweep of hair, I used the Stabilo.

At this stage, it was simply a matter of placement of features with stronger strokes for the sweep of hair. Much of the background will be covered but the variety of textures and types of papers, etc, will react differently to the media that will be applied later, providing interesting results. It can seem a pointless exercise but it is well worth taking the extra time to prepare a panel in an interesting way. If I had only prepared with Gesso, the end result would be quite different.


Warner tones were added to the face and hair, working with various Distress Crayons and a liquid pencil in sepia. I also played around with her eye, aiming for a softness, as though she is dreaming.


What did I learn - when working with a face stencil, it allows you the confidence of placement of facial features yet you can bring your own touches, resulting in a finished project which does not necessarily equate to the actual stencil you worked with.

If you are new to using face stencils, I would say, embrace the process, at least to discover if they are something you connect with.

I am fascinated to discover, if working with the Lana stencil again, whether I can create another face or will the face above want to find her way into a second project. I will keep you posted!

Wishes
Lynne

Hi everyone,

It's Donna here today with a tag featuring one of my favourite girls, Cara.


What I Did:

First of all I cut a size 8 tag from a piece of Strathmore Mixed Media paper as I knew I wanted something that would take a bit of water. If you don't have the Sizzix die for this can then you can use a manila size 8 tag as a template for cutting around.

Next step was to step Cara directly onto the tag using black Archival ink. I then coloured her in using a mixture of Jane Davenport Mermaid Markers which were diluted with a water brush. For some reason my girls always seem to have very rosy cheeks!!

I then stamped the dragonflies (these come in the Cara stamp set too) on a separate piece of Strathmore paper and coloured them in with Mermaid Markers too, then I fussy cut them out and adhered them to Cara's rather fab swirly hair.

The next step was to raid my little box of fabric scraps to glam up Cara with an assortment of trimmings and bling which were adhered directly to the tag.

I then added the finishing touches with some doodling, a ribbon and some Tim Holtz clippings sentiments.

There you have Cara looking very posh with her rosy red cheeks all aglow too ;)

Supplies Used:

That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set - Donna's Girls Collection - Cara
Strathmore Mixed Media Paper Pad
Jane Davenport - Mermaid Markers
Tim Holtz - Clippings Stickers
Black Archival Ink Pad
Water Brush

Hope you like it
Donna xx

Hello everyone, I have something rather eye poppingly bright to share this week as the sunny weather is finally here and I felt like celebrating with this piece of artwork which was actually the first thing I created with my stamp designs. It's also my homage to the Pantone colour of the year which is ultraviolet, something I'm really pleased about as I love purple!

Step by Step 

I used an 8 x 8 white/greyboard panel as my substrate and painted it with magenta multi surface paint. I then took the lines stencil and added a pattern with violet multi surface paint. I decided to add another layer and stencilled on top with white multi surface paint using the flourish stencil.





I stamped my chosen flower and leaf several times on plainer Gelli printed papers from my stash made with diluted multi surface paints in various shades. The flower centres were made by stamping on tiny scraps of paper which I always save for this purpose. I cut all the images out to layer up as I wanted pretty colourful flowers. I added detail to one of the layers with a coloured marker pen.




At this point, I started assembling the panel and felt it needed some texture so I took one of the MDF heart shapes and used the flourish stencil with texture paste to add a pattern. I then painted it with bright green multi surface paint with a little white mixed in so that it would tone with my leaves.

I painted one of the white/greyboard plaques from the matches sets with the same paint colour and then stamped on one of Lynne's Affirmations which I thought fit my artwork perfectly.

I assembled all the elements with dimensional glue and used this to add them to the background.  



Supplies:

That's Crafty! Surfaces White/Greyboard - 8 x 8 Panel With Rounded Corners
That's Crafty! Surfaces MDF - Heart Size 8
That's Crafty! Surfaces White/Greyboard Matches - Fanciful Flowers Set 1
That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Sets - Fanciful Flowers Set 1 and Set 2, Lynne's Affirmations Set 6
That's Crafty! 8 x 8 Stencils - TC8035 Lines, TC8024 Flourish
That's Crafty! White Texture Paste
That's Crafty! Multi Surface Paints
Gel Press
Extras - White Cardstock, Dimensional Glue

Hello


Today I am sharing a 6"x6" Chunkie.

This project began life, not related to That's Crafty! D.T. project. The element on the right side of the Chunkie, the layers with the bird image, that was the initial springboard, a fabric/paper collage where I utilized many scrappy pieces of previously, Infusions stained found papers and textiles, in other words...leftovers.

Looking for a way to take the completed collage one step further, I happened to spy the 6"x6" Chunkie which I had previously assembled.

Sometimes, it is good to share the behind the scenes story as to how a project came about.

Supplies

That's Crafty! Surfaces MDF 6"x6" Chunkie (Two Pack)
That's Crafty! Multi-Purpose Craft Adhesive
PaperArtsy Infusions (Rocky Road, The Sage, Rusty Car)
USArt Quest Mica Tile Brown (substitute with Indian Amber)
Memento Ink Tuxedo Black
Gesso (That's Crafty Gesso)
Mister Bottle
Extras
Twigs
Sewing Machine
Black Thread
Collage Image (Red Lead Paperworks)
Rice Paper (which had been Eco Dyed)
Scraps of Fabrics/Found Papers, all previously stained with Infusions
Loose Threads from Calico
Walnut Ink

Instructions

As I wrote in the intro, the fabric collage was made first, the springboard for the Chunkie.  If deciding to make the collage, either gather together, as I did, previously stained fabrics and found papers, machine stitching the layers or to start from the beginning... stain scraps of textiles and found papers with Infusions, misting generously with water. Once they are all thoroughly dry, machine stitch the layers. For the focal, select a collage image, scrunching in your hands and grungy with ink pad or as I did walnut ink, leaving to dry before layering mica tile over the image and machine stitching this focal to the collage.

Lay the collage aside for the moment.

Tear pieces of stained rice paper - this had been part of an erosion bundle, there are some lovely rusted areas on the rice paper which worked well with the colour of the collage image. Cover the Chunkie, including the sides with this paper, adhering with the That's Crafty! Multi Purpose Craft Glue.

Onto the Chunkie, repeatedly stamp the PaperArtsy Eclectica EAB quote ensuring you stamp off much of the ink before stamping onto the Chunkie.

Next, ink up the stamp once again, stamping onto rice paper which is layered onto scrap of Infusions stained book text.

Adhere to the top edge of the Chunkie, a twig and below, on the face of the Chunkie, a small twig. I spied loose threads from some calico I had torn so simply decided to wrap it around one end of the smaller twig.

This photo shows some of the layers of the fabric collage. I chose not to stitch the bottom edges, I like when elements remain free especially anything with a nature theme.

The Chunkies are a wonderful addition to any Mixed Media artist's supply of substrates and the fact that they are sold as packs of 2 (other than the ATC size which is sold pack of 5) make them great value for money.

Until next time.
Lynne

Hi everyone,

It's Donna here today with a card featuring a fab little character from Rubber Moon called Lucy.



What I Did:

The background was created by applying a mixture of Fresco paints to my Gelli plate, pressing a That's Crafty! 8x8 stencil into it, removing it and then pulling the print. You don't need to be too fussy with what paper you use for it but just don't use anything too thin to hold the paint.

I put that aside to dry while I stamped the little Rubber Moon character, the dragonfly from Cara (from the Donna's Girls Collection) and one of the sentiments from Lynne's Affirmations. These were all stamped on a sheet of Strathmore Mixed Media paper with black Archival ink and then cut into rectangles or whatever shapes you call them!

I coloured them in with some Mermaid Markers which were then diluted with a water brush. I absolutely love these although you have to be careful with them as they are very potent!

Once that was done, I adhered the stamped images onto the Gelli print background and doodled with a black fine liner pen for some finishing detail.

I then mounted it onto 5x7 white card stock to complete it.

I can see this quirky little character being used a lot in the future ;)

Supplies Used:

Rubber Moon Stamp - Lucy
That's Crafty! Clear Stamps - Donna's Girls Collection - Cara
That's Crafty! Clear Stamps - Lynne's Affirmations - Set 1
That's Crafty! Stencils - 8x8 (I used Random Ovals)
PaperArtsy - Fresco Paints
Gelli Plate - 6x6
Mermaid Markers
Strathmore Mixed Media paper pad
Water brush
Black Archival Ink

Hope you like it
Donna xx

Another fanciful flower creation from me this week, this time on one of the surfaces that I know will be a firm favourite of mine now, the That's Crafty! Chunkies! They can take a lot of texture as they're made from MDF and in this case had a lot of layers thrown at it.

Step by Step









Supplies

That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Sets - Fanciful Flowers Sets 1 and 2
That's Crafty! White/Greyboard Matches - Fanciful Flowers Set 1 and Set 2
That's Crafty! Surfaces - MDF Chunkies 6 x 6
That's Crafty! 6.5 x 7.5 Stencil - Distressed Harlequin
That's Crafty! White Gesso
That's Crafty! Black Gesso
That's Crafty! Multi Surface Paints - Bright Orange, Lime
That's Crafty! White Texture Paste
That's Crafty! Crackle Glaze
Ranger Archival Jet Black Ink
Other - 3D Glue