summertime

Hello! :)

I love summer. Always have. As a child, I loved the warmth, the freedom and the fireflies. As a teenager, I loved the freedom from school and long, lazy days spent by the pool. In my youth, summer always symbolized freedom.
And even now, as I look longingly out the window at the beautiful July day, summer is freedom. Summer is freeing. There is more time (longer days!) and more happiness (how hard it is for me to be sad when the sun is shining!). There is tanned skin and sun-kissed hair. There is warmth and joy and a slowness that calms everyone just a little bit.

Here you are… my summertime inspired canvas!

First I applied White Texture Paste on my wooden frame. I let it dry overnight and I got a beautiful antique-looking, crackle effect!

In the meantime I started work with my base. I used a piece of paper from Vintage Vanity collection and I usedModeling Paste with Grungy Grid stencil.  It took me just a short moment to dry the texture with my heating gun.

Then I used Newspaper Black Resist Canvas. I cut it into small pieces that I stapled together. I added some pieces of paper and lace.

I decided to decorate with Micro Beads and Glass Beads.

I also couldn't do without a small accent with the wording. I used Messy stamp and stamped it here and there with back Archival Ink.

I used some Mechanicals elements to create my little watch. A small metal brad was just perfect to put everything together. I glued my watch to the canvas using Soft Gloss Gel - a medium that will surely keep it in place.

Finally, I reached for Color Bloom mists but instead of spraying them, I used a paintbrush and very gently applied the colors - a mix of turquoise and mustard with a hint of black pepper (splashes with black Ecoline watercolor).

I hope I made you feel like celebrating the season. :)

Happy summertime creating!

Monika

I used:

vintage

 Hello,
I'm so excited to show you my newest mixed media project. I created a small canvas. I'd like to show you that you don't need many fancy tools or products to create a mixed media background. Use some paper bits, coffee stain and here you go...

First, I applied Modeling Paste through a Lace stencil. It took me just a short moment to dry the texture with heating gun.

My next step was to cover my piece with a layer of Heavy White Gesso. Next, I started layering my doilies and paper paper from Sunrise Sunset collection – I cut it into small pieces that I stapled together.
I used plenty of paper scraps, some cut-outs and other leftovers which I could find on my desk.

  
Then, I added a thin coat of gesso.

I glued all my elements in the desired place. I added some Mechanicals embellishments to complete my composition. When everything was dry I picked stamps form Vintage Vanity collection.

For my final touches, I added some color using a tea bag, strong coffee and couple drops of red ecoline. 

Big hugs!
Monika

It's a man world

Hello,

Celebrating man! That's right! It's high time we focused on those men in our lives! Since Father's Day is coming up now is a great time to pull out your Finnabair Art Extravagance products to create a textured, masculine masterpiece! Just check this Prima's post and enjoy!

Today I've got another art journal page for you - so simple and fun to do.
Everything started with one of my most favorite vintage photos.

I started with two coats of Heavy White Gesso. After the gesso was dry I grabbed the Alpha stencil and Modeling Paste.  I found myself adding more and more layers and patterns.

I have used new cling stamps Dream on and Never too late to create some interest to my page.  I also have looked through my boxes and selected a couple of embellishments. I mixed some tiny pebbles, gems, Mechanicals, old clock faces, Micro Beads, and nail heads from the Junkyard Findings collection.

I mounted them all using 3D Gloss Gel. I've covered embellishments with a thin coat of Art Basics Black Heavy Gesso to make it darker and prime it before painting. As my final touch I used Gold Crackle to outline dimensional elements. Rather than using it as paste and I gently painted my metal elements with Gold Crackle using very small brush. As my last step I added my vintage photo. This way my textured and multi-layered journal page was done!
I hope it will inspire you.

Prima Products: 961404 Light Paste, 961442 Heavy White Gesso, 961381 3D Gloss Gel, 962630 Micro Beads – Splash, 961558 Texture Paste Gold Crackle, 961107 Mechanicals – Pendants, 961053 Mechanicals – Gear, 961046 Mechanicals - Leaves 2, 960377 Mechanicals - Jump Rings, 960346 Mechanicals Washers, 961992 Cling Stamps – Dream on, 961985 Cling Stamps – Never to late, 961893 Clear Stamp – Messy, 891657 Junkyard Findings – Nail Heads, 891770 Junkyard Findings - Water Pipe Frames, 962296 Prima – Stencil - Alpha