Love Bugs

Super Cute Critters visited our blog today. :)
Athanasia's sharing her beautiful new canvas + some really clever tricks on how to create a wire frame, make the bugs "jump out" of the page and more!

Hello everyone!

Today I want to share a canvas I created about love bugs! I really like bugs, I think they are very cute and I love... love! So, my thought was to combine these two ideas in one project:

For this canvas I used only a few embellishments, actually one chipboard piece and two die cuts from the 7Dots Studio Soulmates collection! 

In order to create the background of the composition, I used Art Basics Light Paste with Finnabair's 'Weaving' stencil and some Lindy's Stamps Gang sprays in color shades that match the photo's colors. I also did some stamping with several stamps here and there...

To create the clusters, I used the wooden sticks which come with the canvas - I haven't figured out yet how I am supposed to use them, so I had this idea to glue them on the canvas :) I also glued on them some torn tiny pieces of old pages and little pieces of canvas paper and used some gold thread.

One thing I enjoyed was cutting out the bug. I printed the same photo twice and glued the bug on the second photo. I really like this effect - it's like a real one standing on the photo and looking at its fellow! :)

For the title I used one of the 7 Dots Studio dies. As I didn't have any frame, I decided to make one of my own with gold wire. I wrapped some of it around the sticker and glued it down... I love the result and definitely am going to do it again in another project!

As a final touch, I used my ever favorite 'Blue Grass' pigment from Primary Elements on some spots to highlight them.

I hope you liked today's project and got some new ideas!

Have a lovely day!

Athanasia

 

Materials from Mixed Media Place:

Spring Magnets

With beautiful month of May just around the corner, let's feel inspired by blooming flowers and bring them home onto... your fridge. ;)

In the last few months I've been experimenting a lot with a freehand drawing designs.

I've made lots of art journal pages with my drawings, but this time I wanted to make something more "useful" and practical. I decided to make some fridge magnets - something nice and funny to "lighten up" my kitchen. :)

Spring is my favourite time of the year - I feel new power, have plenty of new ideas. I love warm cozy days and everything blooming.

Wild spring flowers on my fridge - this sounds like a very good idea. :)

All the magnets are made the same way - I used an ATC size die and a thick cardboard covered with watercolor paper.

I have my special technique... :) First, I draw my design with black markers then cover it with clear gesso. This way I can be sure that my design will be waterproof and also the gesso is a great base for paints and inks.

My favourite way is to mix different kind of media - here you can find amazing vibrant Dylusions inks, beautiful sparkly Silks paints and a bit of Lindy's Stamp Gang mists.

I like to combine matte and shiny medias - it makes a great contrast.

For the shadows I usually use Stamper Big Brush Pens from Faber-Castell. They are filled with India ink which makes them waterproof, but on a non-porous surface (like gesso) you actually have few seconds before they dry. That is a great moment to smudge them. You can use a cotton stick or... your fingers. :)

When I was happy with the results, I covered all the magnets with clear UTEE. It creates great shiny surfaces, almost like glass or resin. I wanted to have a smooth surface so I used three layers of UTEE. I hope you can see how amazing it looks. :)

I hope you like my spring flower magnets. Maybe you will feel inspired to make your own?

Materials from Mixed Media Place:

New Flight

Textures are such pleasure to create!

France is presenting her beautiful new art journal pages and also sharing a video to inspire you to join in the fun. :)

Textures can be so inspiring!

I came across a photo of yummy rusted metal on Pinterest that got stuck in my mind, so I let my mind and hands wander to recreate my take on it in my art journal.

A bit of Finnabair texture created with Art Basics and a stencil, a bit of rusted Tengucho paper, a bit of ColourArte Silks and a LOT of fun!

Enjoy the video! :)



Materials from Mixed Media Place: