Hey bloggers - welcome to day 1 of the #LoveSummerArt collaborative project with YouTube Artists around the WORLD! The event runs from July 17 - 20th. To find these artist, just type #LoveSummerArt in your YouTube search bar.
This is a super fun way for you to discover new artists on YouTube, and be inspired by their work. All genres of art are participating - Exciting Right! I've already met some super talented artists, just in the planning stage.
Today, I'm sharing with you a Mixed Media Tag that I've created using up some of those pesky scraps and "one hit wonders" that I have laying around on my desk. My tag base is a pair of my husband's old jeans - trust me - they have never looked this pretty, EVER!
My project was actually inspired by the Wander Philosophy Tags from Tim Holtz. In the Summer you should always "Wander" or "travel" and explore. What better to illustrate this philosophy than a Dragon Fly - Right? Here in Florida, we have these black dragon flies that have this beautiful teal iridescent colors, but at first glance they look black. I wanted to duplicate this effect on my tag. I used Lindy's Stamp Gang, Vellum and an IndigoBlu Dragonfly stamp. In the video I will show you how I created this handsome little fellow to mimic the ones in my garden!
Here is the video showing how I created this tag from Start To Finish
WOW - what a fun class. I know I keep saying that, but we had a full house with lots of new faces tonight. So it was fun meeting you, and I hope you had a great time. Look at all these fantastic prints that we pulled tonight. We had enough time to create 2 cards, but we pulled a dozen or so prints.
I also showed you guys how simple it was to give some interesting color patterns to your die-cuts, while making interesting patterns for your backgrounds.
I think this was one of my favorite prints. I didn't have time in tonight's show to make anything with this, but check back each week this month, and I will create cards from all of these prints and the colored die-cuts from tonight's show.
Here is the recording in case you didn't make it to the show live.
Thank you to everyone who came to watch the show live. I had a great time tonight. I can't wait to start making cards for you this month. Don't forget to check back! Our next Ustream will be August 3, 2015 at 8:30 p.m. EST.
Tonya
Supplies:
Gelli Arts® Gelli® Plate - 8x10
Gelli Arts® Gelli® Plate - 3x5
Cardstock - 110lb White
Cardstock - 80lb Black
Hymnal page
Plaid - Apple Barrel - Bimini Blue
Plaid - Apple Barrel - Pink Parfait
Plaid - Apple Barrel - Kiwi
Plaid - Apple Barrel - Yellow Flame
Sizzix - Tim Holtz - Alterations thinlets Scribble and Splat Die
Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans. Today I wanted to bring you a little canvas that I created yesterday for the Gelli Arts® Stars and Stripes Challenge.
I've prepared a step out process of how I did the background image.
Step 1: You want to use full bodied paints for this project, because they allow you more time to work since they dry slower. Start by braying on the red. Tape off your flag with masking tape. Don't forget to tape off the star section in the upper right hand side of the plate, so that when you pull the print the stars on the left. I'm using a 110lb white cardstock for my print, and an 8x10 Gelli Arts® Gelli® Plate.
Step 2: Create your star background. I started by painting a 3x5 Gelli® plate with Ultramarine Blue Paint. Then using the Crafter's Workshop Balzer Designs Mini Punchinella stencil, I removed paint through the stencil with a baby wipe. The stars only cover the bottom section of the plate, so I moved the stencil up and repeated this step for the top area. I know there are more stars here than are needed for an American Flag. But the general concept was here, and I felt it too overwhelming to count out 50 stars, JUST go with it! (LOL) . Also note: It is not necessary to use the 3x5 plate for this project. You could use any size plate that you have, and easily use the taped area as a guide from the previous step. But I had this plate so I decided to use it.
Step 3: The photo above is what the plates looks like after the stars are lifted. Using the plate like a stamp, press it into the area on the print you pulled of the stripes.
I just love how this flag is starting to look. It is rough - but that is really what gives it character.
Step 4: To help the stars really stand out, I applied a coat of Texture Paste from Prima Marketing. This paste must dry before going to the next step. When it is dry, the paste crackles leaving my stars looking more distressed and yummy!
Step 5: Sorry there is no photo for this step - but I added a thin coat of Matte Medium to the entire paper. NOTE: Use Matte Medium, because it is looser than Gel, and you can get a really fine coat. Allowed it to dry before going to the next step.
Step 6: Make sure your print is dry from step 5. Then crumple it into a loose ball. Then flatten the paper out again, to see the texture. Clean off the 8x10 Gelli® Plate.
Step 7: This step will create a stain for our flag. Bray on some light brown paint with yellow ocher, and Golden Acrylic Glaze. Pull another print directly onto your flag. Be sure to press firmly so that the glaze gets past the crinkles in the paper. Sorry I forgot to get a picture, because I had to work super fast and my hands were messy. But I promise, this will look super scary. The entire flag will be a horrible brown color. Allow the glaze to sit for about 30 seconds, Then using baby wipes, begin to remove the brown color. This glaze will stick to the cracks in the stars, and around the negative areas of the stars, and along the crinkles. JUST LOVE THE LOOK!
Step 8: Look at how beautiful my flag looks. I trimmed it down to an 8x10 removing the boarder around the outside. To make your stripes white again, simply apply gesso with a cosmetic sponge. Don't worry with the red or blue, because the off color helps the red and blue areas look antiqued.
Step 9; I prepped an 8x10 canvas with Matte Medium, then applied my flag to the top. Squeegee it well with your fingers, and press hard to make sure there are no air bubbles. I also applied the Matte Medium to the top of the flag.
Then comes the OOPS! That little opportunity for additional embellishment!
Step 10: Never fear! This actually turned out to be a blessing. I combined the Matte Medium with some of the Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Vintage Photo and painted it into the areas where the paper had peeled back. NOTE: Mixing the Matte Medium with the Distress creates a varnish and seals the distress so it doesn't run when liquid is applied. Now my flag looks as if it were painted onto wood. Once the entire Flag was completely dry! Then take an archival or permanent ink pad in brown in and lightly rub it over the surface of the flag to further enhance the texture.
All that is left is to embellish the flag - unfortunately I did not have time to create a process video and do the editing. So I do not have the step outs for that process. But if you have followed me for a long time, you will know how I did everything in the embellishment clusters, as it is techniques that I use often.
In this video - I will talk you through the embellishment clusters and other details about the canvas.
Here are some close up photos of the other sections of the canvas.
I decided to use Psalm 33:12 for my chalkboard: "Blessed Is The Nation Whose God Is The Lord." I used chalkboard paint to paint a piece of foam board. Several coats were needed. Then I sketched my design with a pencil, and traced over it with a White Gel Pen from Marvy. Allow the ink to dry, then spray with a fixative. I used Clear Acrylic Spray Paint to add a fine mist to protect my drawing.
The Hymnal I chose was "God Save America" by William G. Ballantine The second verse really spoke to me, and I wanted to include it. "God Save America! Here may all races mingle together as children of God, Founding an empire on brotherly kindness, Equal in Liberty made of one blood! "
You can really see the texture in the stars. I used a pair of old Jeans and the Tim Holtz Jumbo Tattered Floral's Die from Sizzix to cut out flowers for my embellishment cluster. Then of course I added my mixture of Finnabair - Clear Beads and Glass Glitter to Glossy Gel Medium to fill in and add a little sparkle.
Thank you so much to the men and women who serve this country in the military, and to the loved ones whom lived without them while they served for our freedom. Your selfless acts have given us our freedoms.
To get more details about the Gelli Arts® Challenge, please visit their Facebook wall! Thank you for visiting.
Now I'm signing out to go celebrate the 4th!
Tonya
SUPPLIES:
Gelli Arts® - 8x10 Gelli® Plate
Gelli Arts® - 3x5 Gelli® Plate
Speedball - Brayer
Daler Rowney - Acrylic Full Bodied Paints - Ultramarine Blue
Daler Rowney - Acrylic Full Bodied Paints - Light Brown
Daler Rowney - Acrylic Full Bodied Paints - Yellow Ochre
Daler Rowney - Acrylic Full Bodied Paints - Scarlet
I love seeing things you create using my tutorials or project shares. Please use the following handles/tags in social media to insure that I get to see your creations:
