FAMILY - CANVAS TUTORIAL

Hiya!! I hope you are all having a great week, and that you all had a wonderful first month this year!!! Today I want to share with you a little canvas I made as a gift for my Mother, and it was super quick and easy to put together. If you would like to see just how easy this was to make read through as I have put together a little tutorial for you.

'Family'

 Some details:

Here is the tutorial:

Step 1: Layer strips of washi tape on the background. You won't really see this later, it's more of a guide for where you want your elements to go.

Step 2: Cut strips of 13 arts paper and layer vertically and horizontally. 13 Arts paper is fantastic for projects like this as it really holds together and doesn't fall apart no matter how much paint, mediums, water, ect, you put on it.

Step 3: Cut and layer random pieces of lace, and glue down on your canvas with 13 Arts Gel Medium.

Step 4: paint over everything with Ayeeda White Gesso. Don't worry if you can't get it in all the gaps. It doesn't need to be perfect.

Step 5: Select some 13 Arts Paints. I have used Matte Peach, Coral, Apricot, Salmon, and a touch of Mahogany, though you can use as many or as little colors as you want. Brush them randomly over your background..... It doesn't need to be perfect.

Step 6: Spritz over the whole canvas with water. One thing I love about 13 Arts paints is that even when they are completely dry, the instant you spray them with water they liquify, turning to mist right on your canvas.

Step 7: Create a mixture of Glass Microspheres and Gel Medium, then paint the mixture onto your page creating a really bumpy, raised frame. Let it dry.

Step 8: As you can see I have turned my canvas around the other way, for some reason I just liked it better this way. Take 13 Arts White and Silver Glitter paint and roughly paint areas of your Microsphere frame. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 to touch up areas of color on your canvas.

Step 9: Knot some groups of Metallic Silver Thread and glue to the canvas beneath some 13 Arts flowers, and a few paper roses.

Step 10: Randomly brush the petals of all your flowers with 13 Arts Paints in Silver Glitter, Pearl Silver and White and Silver Glitter. You can see in the photo below how I have done mine.

Step 11: Add another small rose to your canvas, then mount the word Family between it and your main flower cluster, lifting it off the background. Paint it with Ayeeda White and Silver Glitter. Add a few Gems from the 13 Arts store around the edges of your 'frame' and you are finished.

I hope you liked my tutorial! Like I said.... Super easy to make. Why don't you pull out your fave 13 Arts supplies and make a canvas of your own!

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!!

13 Arts products used:

Paper - Timeless Collection - All The Time
Gel medium
Gesso
Glass microspheres
Ayeeda Paint - Pearl Silver
Ayeeda Paint - Silver Glitter
Ayeeda Paint - White and Silver Glitter
Ayeeda Paint - Coral
 Ayeeda Paint - Salmon
 Ayeeda Paint - Peach
 Ayeeda Paint - Apricot
Ayeeda Paint -  Mahogany
Flowers - White
Wood Word - Family

LIVE AND DREAM TOGETHER

Hey everyone!! Just stopping by today to share with you my take on the January mood-board here at Dusty Attic. We would love for you to play along with us.... It's simple just create a project using Dusty Attic Chipboard based on this months mood-board. You can pick what ever inspires you, the colors, words, or something from the picture itself. Plus there is a fantastic prize pack from Dusty Attic valued at $100 up for grabs!!! Also remember that throughout the month of January you can receive 20% off your order in the Dusty Attic store by quoting the Promo Code: Happy2015.

Here is what I came up with:

'Live and Dream Together'

I have taken my inspiration from the blue and brown/golden colors on the mood-board, though the thing that inspired me most was the Jetty in the image. It really reminded me of Dusty's 'Old Wooden Fence' chipboard, and I created my layout around this one element that I just had to use on my page.

Some close-ups:

 I have taken some of the 'Old Wooden Fence' small, painting it all white with gesso, then using a combination of Acrylic paints, Micro-bead's, and some very fine sand colored embossing powder which I glued down instead of melting, to create a weathered timber look. I have glued the rails to the back, arranging each panel in a crooked way, adding to the effect.

 I have added a Mini Birdcage #2 beneath my photo, mounting it up on a flower. I have used my finger to dab gesso on, then sprinkled some gold embossing powder into the wet gesso. I also added a touch of 13 Arts Gold Glitter Paint. The leafy stem coming down next to it is actually the smaller of the 2 frames in the Vine Frames #2 set. I decided that it was the perfect size to cut into smaller pieces, creating small leafy branches which I have used around the page.

 I have taken the words 'Live' and 'Dream' from the 'Live Beautifully...' set and painted the white with gesso before dabbing on some mist with my finger. I have placed the word 'Live' above the fence, whilst placing 'Dream' below, layered on top of a small corner scroll from the Elegant Swirls #3. The scroll has been painted with Egyptian Gold Twinkling H2o's, and 13 Arts Gold Glitter paint.

 Here you can see a Seagull I have painted with Acrylic paints to make it look a little more realistic, tucking it amongst the flower cluster to the left of my photo.

 I have added the largest frame from the 'String Frames small' set around the photo, with one side sitting above the photo, and the other half sitting behind. I have simply painted it white with gesso.

There is also a really small section of Chicken Wire Panel beneath the flowers and papers above the photo. I colored it in black with a marker.

Lots of dimension as always!! I love building up layers and layers with papers, flowers and gorgeous pieces of chipboard tucked in!!!

That's it from me today. I hope you have enjoyed my post and found something here to inspire you!!! You can check out more of my work on my blog here.


Dusty Attic Chipboard Used:

Chicken Wire Panel

String Frames Small

Seagulls

Live Beautifully.....

Elegant Swirls #3

Vine Frames #2

Mini Birdcage #2 

Old Wooden Fence Small

THE SPACE IN MY HEAD...... CHALLENGE AT 13 @RTS!!

Hi guys!!! You all looking forward to the Australia Day long weekend? I sure am though I must confess I don't actually have any plans for it other than sitting around at home!!

Just wanted to quickly share with you my layout I created for this months challenge over at 13 Arts! I have been trying to get this post up since the reveal on the 13 Arts blog a couple of weeks ago, but we have been having dramas with the computer which has made it difficult.The theme of the challenge this month was 'The space in my head', and whilst I tried, I really couldn't figure out a way to get out of scrapbooking myself, so I eventually gave in!!!

Here is the mood-board and challenge theme:

You can find the rules of the challenge, along with some amazing creations from my team members in the challenge reveal post here.

I have taken the hot pink from the bridge of her nose, the turquoise from her eye-shadow, and the gold from her eyeliner to use as my color palette. My approach to this was quite bright, as the space in my head lately has been all about, hot summer days, colorful summer clothes, swimming in the pool, days out with Jet, getting Ice-creams at the beach...... All the fun things you like to do with your kids in the summer.

'Lovely'

When i began this page, I was constantly worrying about how the finished page would look as I rarely use 2 colors that are just so opposite, and when I do its only a touch of blue on a mostly pink page or vice versa. It actually came together quite well though, and I love the final result!!

 Some details:

Some beautiful flowers, layered with some chipboard and mica flakes.

 I have used a white gel pen to trace triangles onto the background randomly with the Color Basics Triangles Mask. The 2 Polaroid frames have been painted with Ayeeda Gesso, then lightly painted with Ayeeda Gold Glitter paint. Whilst it was wet I randomly sprinkled some chunky gold glitter on them, and wrapped gold thread around the smaller frame before layering on my page.

I have dry-brushed my flowers with gesso and gold glitter paint.

I have framed my photo with a Polaroid frame from the Maggie Holmes Open Book Collection, which also doubles as the title, however I have also given it a light brushing of Gold Glitter Paint.

You may have begun to notice that I am rather obsessed with it at the moment, and use it on almost everything. It is one of my favorite all time products, and looks especially fabulous when painted thinly on anything white.

I finished off my page with a few enamel dots, and crystal stickers.

I will be back in a few days ad I have lots of things I have been working on that I still need to share so stay tuned!!! I hope you all have a great weekend, and for all my Aussie pals remember to stay safe this long weekend!

Hugs!

13 Arts Products used:
 Gesso
Modelling Paste
Ayeeda Mist - Pastel Turquoise
Ayeeda Mist - Pastel Blue
 Ayeeda Mist - Pearl Turquoise Light
 Ayeeda Mist - Pearl Navy Blue
 Ayeeda Mist - Pearl Pink
Ayeeda Mist - Pearl Gold
Ayeeda Mist - Chalk Light Blue
Ayeeda Mist - Chalk White
Ayeeda Paint - Gold Glitter
Color Basic Collection - Papers
Color Basic Mask - Triangles 
Cozy Evening Stencil - Winter Flowers
Flowers
Adhesive Gems

A NEW YEAR AND A NEW BEGINNING WITH 13 ARTS!

Hi everyone.... Before I get started I just want to let you all know that the New Year has brought an exciting opportunity for me!! Aida has asked me to be an educator at 13 Arts and I am very excited to be starting in my new role today!! I have so many things I wish to share with you, but we have lots of time, and today I thought I would start out simply and share this step-by-step tutorial of a layout I made just before Christmas using lots of beautiful 13 Arts Papers and Mediums. 

'Love This'

Here are some close-ups:

Here is the tutorial I have put together for you:

Step 1 and 2: Take a sheet of 13 Arts paper, I have used some from the 'Timeless' collection, and spread gesso on your background down the left of the page, and coming to a point at the right center. Then using 13 Arts paint in a color of your choice, I have used peach, use an old credit card to scrape some paint on randomly.

Steps 3 and 4: Add modelling paste through a stencil to your background roughly in the areas of the gesso and paint. Let it dry. Next spray your entire stenciled area with Ayeeda Pastel Mist in Antique Cream, then while it is still wet add a few random sprays of Pastel Salmon, and some drops of Orange Ink. Tilt the paper slightly in all directions letting the colors blend together, then tilt upright to create some drips.

Steps 5 and 6: Next I have used Chalk Dark Brown Mist to create big splats using a mask on the background, turning it over and stamping off excess mist, then add some stamping. When my mists had completely dried I decided that it was a little too bright and bold for what I wanted, so I have taken a small paintbrush wet with water and 'scrubbed' some of the darker brown areas, using paper towel to deb off excess water and help lift some of the color out.

Steps 7 and 8: I then spread small amounts of gesso around the background, blending it in to soften some areas. I have added a strip of gold chevron washi tape to the top and bottom of the page, along with a small piece of gold glitter tape.

Steps 9 and 10: Next I have created my photo mat using a variety of papers from quite a few different collections. I always distress the edges of my paper for texture and separate each layer with foam tape for dimension. When all my papers were stuck down I added some distressed calico and a large circle of waxed cord, before mounting my photo above it using foam tape, so that it does not dip in the middle. I then add some more waxed cord and bakers twine, along with some splats of mist to blend the papers in with the background.

Steps 11 and 12: Now comes my favorite part..... Embellishing!! I have taken a Chipboard Polaroid frame from the Color Basic Collection, and painted it white with gesso. I have added a resin piece to the top right corner, and added some flicks of gold mist. I have also painted a chipboard swirl from Dusty Attic with Ayeeda Pearl Gold Paint and Gold Glitter Paint. I have glued this to the bottom pieces of my photo mat, then layered the Polaroid frame above it, adding a few flowers underneath on the right to help keep it level with the papers. I have also added some flowers in the bottom right corner of the photo, a few pegs on the top left and chipboard clock painted white on the bottom left, and some brown mica flakes underneath the Polaroid frame.

Steps 13 and 14: Continue building up your embellishments. I decided to move my pegs to the top right of the photo. They have been painted white with gesso and Ayeeda Paint in Gold Glitter, very lightly. I have also layered some flowers at the top of the photo. I have covered some chipboard banners in paper from the 'Color Basics' collection and added some modelling paste to the edges, layering them with foam tape beneath the photo. I continue to build up my flowers around the photo, brushing them all with gesso as I go.

Steps 15 and 16: Now that all your flowers are glued in place you can begin to work on your finishing touches. I have added more brown mica flakes to my layout, adding them beneath the banners at the bottom, and around the flowers at the top and on the left. I have then added the 'Family St' sign at the top, a key beneath the orange flower on the left, a metal drop the says 'bliss' to the banners, and a bow on top of the flowers beneath the Polaroid frame. I finished of my page by using Gel Medium to glue glass microspheres to the tips of some of my flowers, as you can see in the photo on the right. I love doing this to my flowers. It makes them look like they are covered in either ice, snow or water droplets, depending on the light, and its very beautiful.

Thanks for joining me today! I hope you have found something in this tutorial to inspire you!!

Products Used:
 

 GessoModelling Paste
Gel Medium
Ayeeda Mist - Pearl Gold
Ayeeda Mist - Pastel Antique Cream 
Ayeeda Mist - Pastel Salmon
Ayeeda Mist - Chalk White
Ayeeda Mist - Chalk Dark Brown
Ayeeda Water Ink - Orange
Ayeeda Glass Microspheres
Ayeeda Paint - Pearl Gold
Ayeeda Paint - Gold Glitter
Ayeeda Paint - Matte Peach
Timeless Collection - Papers
Color Basics Collection - Papers
Frosted Life Collection - Papers
Cozy Evening Collection - Papers
Color Basic Words - Chipboard 

 

MY FIRST SHARE FOR DUSTY ATTIC!!!!

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful new year and are ready for 2015. Before I get started I just wanted to say thanks to Jen Hedger and Jen Burns for having me here.... I can't tell you enough how thrilled I am to be a part of this team. I have been using Dusty Attic for many years now, I believe since the company first began, so its a huge honor for me, and a dream come true.

Today I would like to share with you a layout I made using a variety of fabulous chipboard pieces and also a few Dusty Blooms.

'Completely Love This Smile'

The photo I have used for this layout was taken of my Son on his 3rd birthday, laying on the grass beneath my Aunts legs. So when I began I wanted to express the fun of the photo, and at the same time express my adoration for my Son. 

Close-ups:

I have painted a little 'Mini Birdcage #2' white with gesso, then added highlights with gold mist and gold glitter paint, layering it on top of some flowers to add dimension. The small 'Vintage Flourish' next to it has been painted with gesso using my finger to dab it on, giving it the raised texture. I have also broken off a very small piece which I have used in the flower cluster on the other side.

I felt my page needed just a little something to remind me that this photo was taken at a party, so I have cut 2 banners from the 'Banners #1'. Both have been covered with coordinating papers and edged with texture paste. I have tucked them into the paper layers beneath the photo.

For my Title I have taken the 'Love Completely' from the 'Live Beautifully.....' set. Painting both white with gesso to prime them. I discovered that the word 'Love' fit perfectly inside a small 'Polaroid Frame' I had covered with chunky gold glitter. I really loved how this looked when all put together so I glued it in then painted the word 'Love' gold. I left 'Completely' white, however I wrapped the 'C' in sparkly gold thread.

Framing my photo is something I almost always do, as it tends to get lost in my layouts if I don't. This time I decided to place the larger of the 'Vine Frames #2' behind my photo embossed white with UTEE, while placing the middle frame from the 'String Frames Small' set on top of the photo. This was painted completely white, then lightly brushed with Gold Glitter paint. I love the subtle sparkle this gives!!

My 2 things I must have on finished layouts are layers and dimension, and I love how you can build chipboard into your work, and layer it up for stunning effect.

That is all from me today. Thank you so much for stopping by!!! I hope you have found some inspiration here to kick start your own creative journey for the year!!

Dusty Attic Chipboard used:

Vine Frames #2

Polaroid Frames

String Frames Small 

Banners #1

 Mini Bird Cage #2

Vintage Flourish

  Live Beautifully....