That's Crafty! Multi Surface Paint  I used Lavender, Light Blue and Light Pink
That's Crafty! Flat Matte Spray  I used Rose and Bluebell
That's Crafty! Lustre Spray - Lilac 
Tandi Art Stamp set ID44 (for the background stamped leaves)
(Extras; Sequin stars, sticky gems, wire, beads and TandiArt Stamps - Tandi Christmas)

I love the 13 Arts range that That's Crafty! now stock and was particularly intrigued by the transparencies. I liked the thought of layering up paper, paint, transparency and then cut out images as for the card below:

You can see from this photo that this is really heavyweight acetate and will stand up on its own, even with the addition of chain and beads. This allows you to make some really interesting cards.

Hello


Nudging handmade books to the side, for this week anyway, I am sure one will make an appearance again very soon!

For this week, I am sharing a face on one of the fabulous MDF Rounds, using the Lana stencil.  Yes, this is a version of Lana. I worked with a similar process as this project HERE this time, flipping the stencil over to provide an outline for her features on both sides.

Supplies

That's Crafty! 6.5x7.5 inches Stencil Lana TC7009
That's Crafty! Surfaces MDF Rounds 8"
That's Crafty! Light Texture Paste
That's Crafty! Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit (Rice Paper, Teabag Paper)
Distress Crayons: Black Soot, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain
Palette Knife
Old Book Pages
Fluid Acrylic: Golden Titanium White (HERE is a substitute)
Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Ink Black, White
Dip Pen/Bamboo Pen
Watercolor Brush (Studying the range available at That's Crafty!, I would suggest this brush)
Black Watersoluble Pencil (I worked with Stabilo All Surface)

Instructions

Prepare the MDF Round by adhering torn pieces of book pages, Rice Paper from the Mixed Media Paper/Card Kit and stained TeaBag paper from the same kit. With some areas overlapping, it will create interest on the face but I noticed that during the process of working on the face, especially as I worked with water, layer upon layer, some of the papers began to murl/crumble but I actually liked this - I know, that won't come as a surprise to you!

I only have a few process photos to share. I nearly decided not to share them, only sharing the completed project but it can be interesting to have an insight into a process and also, I wanted to show that I did actually work with the Lana stencil as it might not be instantly obvious.

After loosely outlining features, with the aid of Lana, I also sketched her hair, focusing more on an outline.

Then, dipping a palette knife into Light Texture Paste, I again, very loosely, formed her hair, applying the paste and then using the tip of the palette knife to create the wavy texture.


Allow paste to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step, enjoying the process of taking the time to discover the face that will appear through the loosely, stencilled outline and texture paste hair.
This was a lovely project to work on, I would work on it, lay aside and return periodically. I enjoyed laying down the Distress Crayons and then pushing back with a baby wipe or for more detailed areas, a wet paintbrush to remove the crayon. Trying to achieve depth to her eyes, I discovered it was the same process as for the overall face/hair, the looser I could be in my approach, it allowed me to get as close as I could, with my limited ability with faces.

You can see that I extended the line of the eyebrows and created a neckline which allowed me to form tendrils, to soften the face/neckline.

To add highlights, I used Acrylic Ink. With the white ink, I applied the almost dry end of the dropper, scraping it onto the panel, using this mostly on the mouth, mere touches on the eye and around the nose.

On the hair, I added definition of a few tendrils by drawing them using the dropper from the black acrylic ink. The more light-handed tendrils and waves were from a dip pen, dipped into the same black acrylic ink.

Why go to the trouble of the layers of papers on the MDF and not simply stencil then paint onto the plain MDF? The papers all react differently to the application of the media and water and this in itself creates an interesting surface to work on, instantly bringing a textural quality and on the completed face there will be areas were those papers, especially the book text, peek through.

I know there are so many flaws in this face and it would be so easy for me not to share this as a D.T. project but by sharing it, this pushes me outwith a comfort zone. Although I worked with media which I am comfortable with and drawing isn't alien to me, I have never been one to embrace faces, they are an Achilles heel to me. Maybe because, unless sketching an actual person's face, I always have the sense that we give something of our inner selves when drawing/painting a face, even a Mixed Media face which incorporates a stencil.

Until next week,
Wishes
Lynne

I first painted all the MDF pieces for the shadow box with Bright Magenta paint and when this was dry, I stamped what would be the inside edges with the Script stamp. I then assembled the shadow box and left to dry.

Taking a sheet of the 12x12 Aqua Flora paper, I stamped the Scrip stamp randomly on the sheet and then Light Texture Paste was scrapped through the Roses stencil. When this was dry, I sprinkled over some Rainbow Color, spritzed with some water and then moved the paper around so I got some nice runs with the Rainbow Color.

I stamped the long border stamp from the Numbers set twice on the upper part of the paper to form a half frame, this was then embossed with white embossing powder. I added some collage paper to the Aqua Flora paper too.

I then covered a greyboard ATC with a piece from the co-ordinating 6x6 Aqua Flora paper pad and stamped with the Script stamp. I added some white splashes by tapping a Posca pen over the top.

The long chipboard pieces are the waste from the Aqua Flora chipboard sheet and the ends were dipped into watered down Rainbow Color. As this is beermat board, it sucks up the Rainbow Color, sort of like a wick, if that makes sense? Anyway, it gives a great effect and using a paint brush I dotted on some watered down Rainbow Color to the other pieces of chipboard. The word 'Imagine' was left plain.

I then added all my pieces to the greyboard ATC, using the metal butterfly as the finishing touch and then the finished ATC was glued into place on the 12x12 sheet. When this was all dry, I finally glued the finished sheet onto the inside of the shadow box and then added the word 'Imagine' using silicone glue.

Supplies Used:

That's Crafty! Surfaces MDF Shadow Box - 12x12
13Arts Aqua Flora 12x12 Paper Pack
13Arts Aqua Flora 6x6 Paper Pad
13Arts Chipboard - Aqua Flora
13Arts Stencil - Aqua Flora - Roses
13Arts Stamp Set - Script
13Arts Stamp Set - Numbers
13Arts Rainbow Color - Lilac
13Arts Craft Adornments - Butterflies 
Archival Ink - Jet Black
Versamark Ink Pad
White Embossing Powder
That's Crafty! Surfaces Greyboard ATC
That's Crafty! Light Texture Paste
That's Crafty! Multi Surface Paint - Bright Magenta
That's Crafty! Multi Purpose Glue
White Posca Pen
Water Spray
Silicone Glue
Tim Holtz Collage Paper

What I did

I began by giving the MDF round a couple of coats of white gesso and then randomly some pink, blue and lavender paint, leaving a little space, then applying the sprays both on the pain and in white space. Then using the Dinky stencils and Texture Paste added the snowflakes and leaves details, giving texture and contrast. I then stamped the hearts, clouds and leaves directly on to the round and coloured the hearts and clouds using watercolours. The deer and tree were stamped on white card, coloured with watercolours and adhered in place.

What I used

That's Crafty! Surfaces MDF Rounds
That's Crafty! Light Texture Paste
That's Crafty! White Gesso
That's Crafty! Dinky Stencil - Leaves
That's Crafty! Dinky Stencil - Snowflake Background
That's Crafty! Multi Surface Paint  I used Lavender, Light Blue and Light Pink
That's Crafty! Flat Matte Spray  I used Rose and Bluebell
That's Crafty! Lustre Spray - Lilac 
ABStudio TandiArt Stamp ID115 (the deer)
ABStudio TandiArt Stamp Set ID45
ABStudio TandiArt Stamp Set ID44

(Extras; ABStudio TandiArt Stamp Set ID114, the Christmas Tree)

Next Wednesday I shall reveal the completed triptych! Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope I've inspired you a little. Wishing you a lovely day, Sam xx