DecoArt Mixed Media Snowmen Canvas

For several months I've been pining that my friend Barbara was out of the country, well she's home and I couldn't be more excited!  She is my painting buddy!  Together we have the best of times getting messy.  We got together and each made these fun mixed media paintings with some favorite DecoArt® products.  We've both taken Christy Tomlinson's mixed media classes and were inspired by her paintings found HERE.

I started with a base of scrapbook paper adhered to canvas boards with DecoArt Decou-Page Glue under and over the paper.  Next I went all out with the chevron stencil and using Dazzling Metallics® Teal Metallic Craft Paint.  This paint leaves the prettiest metallic finish, perfect for a winter scape.  I used bubble wrap to stamp DecoArt Americana Gloss Enamel in white randomly along the canvas.  Then used more Decou-Page to adhere die cut snowflakes cut from sheet music.

I love the effect the bubble wrap leaves, so perfect with the printed scrapbook paper showing through.

The entire piece was stamped randomly in black with a variety of stamps.

 

I drew out some templates for our snowmen and decided to make a pair for my canvas.  Mama and Daddy snowmen - awe - I know, so cute!  I lovlingly cut each hat, scarf, carrot, and buttons from cherished Basic Grey papers.

I brushed a light sweep of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic in Violet here and there for some extra sheen.  It is so pretty when the light hits it.

This little section is my favorite part, the rub-ons added for shading.  They are also Basic Grey.  I added a good bit of hand drawing as well.  

And there she is - I hope you like it!  It was so much fun to make, especially with a good friend by my side.  Love you Barbara!

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary this week, but were sick as dogs all week.  He still took the time to send me flowers - so beautiful.  I brought them home from work to enjoy on my art table today.  So much creating going on here - I'm raring to go now that I'm feeling better.  What a mess!!!  ;0

I'm entering the following challenges:

DecoArt: Winter Wonderland

Stamplorations: Stencil Sunday

More Mixed Media Challenge: Blue

Happy Little Stampers: Mixed Media Challenge: Stencil

SSS: Stencil It

TTCRD: Anything Goes

DIY Mixed Media Reindeer Christmas Ornament

I am so excited to be announced as one of the newest design team members of the Stamps & Stencils Challenge Blog today!  Head on over and see the announcement HERE!  I am over the moon!

 

Though I don't start until January, I just had to participate in this month's awesome challenge theme, Grungy Christmas.  I love me some grunge people!  I've still been on a DIY ornament kick, so I decided to make another mixed media creation for the tree.

My design was partially inspired by Tim Holtz December 2015 tag, but I love this tag so much I am sure I'll be creating another.  I picked up some oval dies at Tuesday Morning last weekend.  I really wanted to use them to cut some thin chipboard, so I tried it with my new metal plate in my Big Shot and it worked beautifully!  YAY!  It did not work with this Reindeer die, however.  On the oval I rubbed red pigment ink all over it, then embossed with red tinsel EP.  I LOVE THIS!  Will absolutely be doing this again and again.  For the deer, I used bronze pigment ink and black powder so that some of the bronze would peek through and make it look more dimensional.  I sponged the edges of my hymnal page and the burlap shape with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.

I added the greenery and some flowers, then used a Cosmo Cricket sticker, mounted over scrap sponged chipboard, as a focal point.  I added the two jingle bell brads for interest.

I really loved how Tim stenciled a pattern in red over this month's tag, but also loved the glitter on my oval frame, so I decided to try embossing a stamped image over the burlap.  I used a dotty stamp and the same tinsel powder and it worked!  The design isn't perfectly clear, but I love the look!  So much less messy than sprays.  I can't wait to try out some other designs.

I'm linking up to the Stamps & Stencils blog HERE, to Anything But Cute for their It's Ornamental Challenge HERE, to Tim Holtz December 2015 Tag post HERE, That Craft Place for their Anything Goes challenge HERE, Mixed Media World for their Anything Goes challenge HERE, Frillie & Funkie for their 'Tis the Season challenge HERE, and Emerald Creek Dares for their Holiday Creations challenge HERE.

Mixed Media Christmas Ornament

 I have been trying to think of a way to make some mixed media Christmas ornaments with things I already have.  I decided to cut some large die cut shapes from cardboard.  I glued two pieces together to make it extra thick.  Next, I painted the shapes with gesso, then applied texture paste through a stencil.  I gave them a spray of aqua and yellow.

For my focal point I stamped and embossed the flower and leaves in black, then gave them a wash of the same inks watered down.  

 I rubbed a pigment ink around the edges of the shape and embossed with gold EP.  I love how this highlights the stencil paste!

 I decided to use the letters from Tim Holt'z sentiment die.  To line them up straight I used the cast off of the die.  I applied a super thin strip of mounting tape to each letter, then carefully lined them up in the holes.  I hope you like this very nontraditional ornament.  I really had fun making it!  Hope to share the second with you soon, just ran out of time last night.

Sharing the ornamental love with Mixed Media World for their Anything Goes challenge HERE, with Anything But Cute for their It's Ornamental challenge HERE, with Mixed Media Place for their Christmas Inspiration challenge HERE, with MMMC for their Texture challenge HERE, and with SSS for their Christmas challenge HERE.  I'm also entering the Prima 12 Days of Christmas challenge #8 - Color Bloom Sprays HERE.

Quick and Practically Free DIY Football Wreath

The idea for this super quick and practically free DIY football wreath came from these lovely flowers that a friend sent to me when I started my new job.  I knew saving the ribbon would come in handy!

I decided that football season called for a little craft project.  I figured the best way to get a sturdy football shape, without the use of power tools, was to use cardboard.  Besides, who will be able to tell from the road?  We rarely use our front door for entry.

I drew my shape, then painted with brown craft paint.  Next I penciled in the letters and grip.  I painted them white with a long pointed brush because they hold a lot of paint.

I used hot glue to attach a string to hang and to attach the bow.  Here it is on my door.  My husband loved it!  To him this is art!  How about you, do you do any fun crafty things for the men in your life?

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