Silver and Gold Mixed Media Art Challenge

Tis the season! It's December 1st and Christmas music is playing everywhere. Can't you hear it? Silver and gold... silver and gold... And at the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog, our theme is "Silver and Gold" (just make something using these colors, or one of them). What fun!!

We are thrilled that IndigoBlu is our sponsor again for December.

IndigoBlu is also an huge online craft and mixed media store. They manufacture a full line of mixed media art products and supplies including the amazing products MegaFlakes and  FlitterGlu, stamps, paint and stencils. Be sure to check out their store for a huge selection!

We are so happy that IndigoBlu has supplied our design team with a ton of their products that we have used on our projects this month. And guess what? One lucky random winner will receive this AMAZING prize package provided by IndigoBlu! (Just for participating!)

I couldn't wait to try the MegaFlakes and FlitterGlu. I went to youtube and found a couple of videos demonstating how to use them which I found very helpful.  I used the Megaflakes with both stamps and stencils as well as just applying it by itself.  Here are some progress photos of my project.

I created a background of collage papers, and then stamped with the FlitterGlue and added the flakes.

In the above photo, you can see some of the gold. I used a stencil with the FlitterGlu. Then I painted the shape of my angel.

In my finished project, you can see that I applied more MegaFlakes to the edge of the wings.

I used IndigoBlu products: Manchester Tart Flakes, Flutterglu, Collage papers,paint, stamps, stencils. Also various scrap patterned paper,die cuts, chipboard letters, fabrics and rubons. Size is 8" x 10" .

I hope you are inspired to participate in the Silver and Gold challenge. Here are the rules (which are also on the main blog)

Rules must be followed to be eligible for placements and prizes. Entries without our Challenge Graphic or Link Back to us will be deleted.

* You must use our challenge graphic in your challenge post.
* You must comment on at least 3 design team member's blogs. 
* Your post must link back to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge post
* Add a link to your direct post, not your entire blog, a YouTube Video or a Pinterest Board
* You can combine with up to 4 other challenges. 
* No Backlinking allowed! Any back-linked entries will be deleted.
* You can enter up to 5 times, create whatever you want, and HAVE FUN!

You have until 11:55 pm EST on December 31 to enter!

I can't wait to see all the wonderful projects from all the entries.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

December Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

Tis the season to be........... busy!!!

My daughter is busy rehearsing for a Christmas show at the local theater, and I've been trying to get finished with my painting commissions and still find time to make small gifts. Speaking of gift items, I had the bright idea to make a series of mixed media angels - and they were a huge hit. The first one I made is the one I'm using for the December Mixed Media Monthly Challenge. This month's challenge is "Tic-Tac-Toe"

The challenge is to create from any three across or diagonal. I chose "star, patterned paper, and ribbon"

Here's my angel "Hope".

She is 8" x 10" on 1.5" deep sided canvas. I used papers, paint, stamping, gold leaf, and whatever else I found in my papercrafting stash.

Play along with us! Our prize for this month's challenge is a $25 gift certificate to Inspiration Emporium. 

To play, link your project to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog. Thanks for stopping by and have a merry Christmas season.

Queens and Wings Mixed Media Inspiration

I had such a blast teaching a mixed media class. We met once a week for six weeks. I met some truly wonderful ladies and even got reunited with a friend I has not seen in years! Most of the ladies ended up creating a "girl" of some sort, personal to themselves, and included an inspirational title, quote or sentiment on it. I am so amazed at their sense of adventure to jump in and go for it!

I posted last week about the girls we were doing with some pics. Here is the girl again.

After I painted my girl and started defining spaces, her wonderful dress magically appeared. It was noticed by one of my students. A perfect lesson about letting the painting create itself! 

The sheet music I used on her was about chasing rainbows, so I played on that and chose a phrase that went with the theme. Again, going where the painting wants to go.

I used two sets of alpha stamps for the words.

I used the same method with my second girl. I layered the papers and then painted her on top. The papers on this piece seemed to have a more softer feel, so the second girl was given wings. 

One of my students found some tissue paper on clearance with Mothers Day items that was cream with black inspirational words on it. She gave me a sheet. I used it for the wings. I felt they were symbolic of women... We all seem to have invisible wings... Sort of like super powers. 

And what do wings do? Help you defy gravity. 

I auctioned these pieces on my facebook page. Follow me so you don't miss out on fun things like this! The lady that got both of these pieces told me they are for her twin daughters who just got their own rooms. How cool is that?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

A is for Angel Mixed Media

I am half way into my summer mixed media workshop and just demonstrated using textiles in mixed media. The students are enjoying creating mixed media surfaces using papers, stencils and paint.

Here are a couple of photos of student work in progress.

I am so proud of and inspired by these ladies! They have each absorbed what they were taught and applied it to their own ideas and just "let it go" (the theme of our adventure).

I had prepared this background in our previous class and brought it back to show them the steps I take in building my images after the first layer.

I have a pack of mini alphabet cards that I have decided to put to use. I have had them forever. I decided to use "a" for angel.

I lightly drew my angel girl, then outlined her with black. While she was drying, I added paint to the background. Next, I adhered cheesecloth to her dress with Golden's matte medium. I had brought a paper doily that I thought would make great wings, but I also had some leaf shapes, so I was trying on her "wings" when one of the students said, "Use both"! What a great idea, and in the spirit of "letting it go" , I did, and I love the look. I also didn't stress about perfectly placing the "wings" and as you can see they are not symmetrical, which I think adds to her charm. 

Next I mixed some paint to make a flesh color and painted her skin. I stopped at this point so the students could create. A few days later I pulled her out and even though I liked her at this point, I wanted to adjust her legs and do a few more things.

I used paint, stencils and rub ons to finish her up. I took the rest of the doily and out it on top, and fond a chipboard glitter heart in just the right size to add to her hands. She now awaits a new owner.

Our class has been enjoying various art products, but especially those provided by Golden Paints Seconds Program. No matter what age my student are, I introduce them to high quality art products because it truly does make a difference. 

The Downtown Gallery Crawl in Monroe and West Monroe is June 5. I recently became the secretary for this Downtown Arts Alliance, the hosts of the crawl, and am excited about the wonderful things on the horizon. If you are in Northeast Louisiana, come out. You can even shop because the Antique Alley Association shops on Trenton Stree will be open till 9pm as well as have artists displaying in their stores. The trolley will be running for free to take you to all the galleries so make a night of it.

Thanks for stopping by!