Mixed Media Collage tutorial

Have you ever started a painting just to realize half way through that it isn't going in the direction that you wanted it to go. I think it happens to us all. Or have you ever found an old painting at a garage sale or in the basement where the subject matter isn't that great but the canvas is pretty nice?

Well, if that's the case, you will love this little tutorial on what to do to reuse those canvases and create an interesting collage.

You'll need an old paint brush, some decoupage, the canvas, and papers.

The first step is to cover the canvas in a generous amount of decoupage. Use your fingers or an old brush and cover it completely.
Next, tear up old newspapers, tissue papers, pages from books and recycled papers and start to arrange them on the canvas. I let this step dry and then I come back and cover the papers in another coat of decoupage. After both of those steps are thoroughly dry you can sand down some of the rougher spots. It's not necessary, just a choice as collage and mixed media need that texture.

Your canvas is ready to paint.
I use brushes and my fingers to apply an array of colors. If you wold like some of the papers underneath to show up, just put a light coat of paint around the edges, smear a little across. Have fun and don't worry about the outcome! I even added glitter to this collage. I always paint the sides of the canvas. Now it's ready to hang.

Turned a new leaf

For any of you who have followed my blog for the past few years, it won't be a surprise to find out that I've put away my polymer clay. For some time I have struggled with this decision because it's all I've done for 32 years. But other interests were calling to me. I have been going to school for some time now and am close to getting my degree in graphic design. Because of this, I've done more designing of prints and posters, post cards and packaging and I love it. I've also discovered that I get immense enjoyment out of taking pictures, painting and mixed media.

As you can see, I've got a full plate. Every time I received an order for a cake topper or an ornament made from polymer clay, I cringed. Working with the clay became a chore so last month, in early March, I boxed up all of my clay and tools and put them high up in my closet.

At first it was agony. I have a lot of claying friends on Facebook and every time they put a picture up of something they made, I got a little sick to my stomach. But, these past few weeks have been a "healing" process for me. I blocked the clay comments from facebook and I never go to ebay anymore to look at the competition. I think I've crossed the line finally and I'm not looking back. I'm traveling down another creative road now and I hope you, dear readers, will follow along with me.

If you enjoy beautiful sentiments embedded into colorful images, if you love dreamy nostalgia and vintage style, if you like the weird and different, I think you are going to love the direction I'm taking with my blog.

One of the features I'm keeping with my blog is my giveaways. I will be having a contest in may where I will present a winner with a matted 5 by 7 art print. Stay tuned and thanks for sticking with me.

Things I've been doing lately

Even though I made a big announcement 5 months ago that I wasn't going to do toppers anymore, it's hard to turn down the requests, so I've continued making them. Sometimes an artist just gets tired or burned out and I believe that was what happened to me.

Anyway, I've been making toppers again. I've been trying to build up a nice inventory of ready to ship toppers, that way, they are more economical for the bride and less stress on me. I just recently made some sweet little toppers for the bride who wants something lightweight and cute on top of her cake.

Art Dolls

I have also been making more art dolls. These are so much fun to make and really a great diversion for me. I can express myself totally with the creation of these dolls. I love the combination of beads, yarn and clay. Look for more posts on my art dolls and a contest soon!

Graphic Art

I've also been having a creative surge designing posters, altered art, atc backgrounds and photographic images. I don't know where all of this creativity is coming from but I'm thrilled. There are not enough hours in the day anymore for me to do everything I want. I'm in a very happy "artsy" place right now!

Collage

I've also found more time to paint and do collage. I then take pictures and change the images in photoshop. I'm trying to build up a portfolio of original collage and paintings and eventually seek out an art agent. This has been a dream of mine for years, but I've neglected it. Now it's time for me to really focus on that.

Sometimes an artist goes through dry spells and I believe that for the last few years I have been trying to claw my way out of mine. Suddenly, over the few months I have found new inspiration and am more driven than I've ever felt. I feel passionate again about my art and design and am grateful for every moment I spend creating!

ATC background cards for you

I've been having a great time designing ACEO and ATC backgrounds and thought I would share a sheet with you. You can print this out and use it for scrapbooking, cards, collage, etc. Add embellishments, stickers, yarn, clay etc.

Please don't sell the sheet, but you can use it to make art with and then sell the art.

Here's a link to my etsy account where I have several more for sale.

Let me know what you think.

(My advice would be to print this out on heavy card stock.)

Click here for Free background sheet

Coffee, Birds and Art

This morning, a few minutes after my alarm woke me, my boss called me to give me an option of coming in to work or staying home. Since I'm going on vacation Saturday and I have orders to fill, a house to clean and clothes to pack, I decided to stay home.

I made some coffee and got dressed (hate staying in my pjs). Since it was so pleasant this morning, I thought I would drink my coffee outside and work on a journal project I've been wanting to do.

I have tried to keep a journal in the past, but am not really committed to the idea and my blog kind of serves that purpose in a way. Lately I've found the urge to write down the really deep feelings and thoughts, the kind I don't want to share on my blog. I've been writing everything in a cheap college binder that I scribbled on. It's really not very pretty, so I've been meaning to decorate it.

This morning was the perfect chance, so I gathered up my coffee, papers, glue, scissors and camera and sat in my little garden out back.

I applied glue to the cover and tore strips of purple and green scrapbook papers in assorted colors and shapes and placed them randomly on the cover. I love nature and chose some papers with leaves and flowers. I'm trying to be more patient and found a perfect quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson about patience.

In essence, I collaged the front of the journal. I never have a plan when I do collage, I just apply papers and embellishments where it feels "right". I may move things around several times before I get that "feeling".

When I was happy with the results, I stopped. I then took two stands of fuzzy yarn, tied them to the end of a shish kabob stick and pushed it through the wire spring of the journal. I tied the ends to the wire, making a big knot. Voila! A ragged old note binder becomes a pretty journal.

I'm going to take my papers and glue, etc. on my vacation. I think Target has their binders on sale now for .15 or 20 cents each. I think I'll let anyone who'd like to make one have that opportunity at the cabin. I know my granddaughter will want to!

This little project only took about a half hour. As I worked on it, birds serenaded me and a perfect breeze kept the mosquitoes at bay.

Other than the occasion back ground noise of a siren or airplane, it was a peaceful, beautiful way to start my day!

Free Valentine Graphics

If you've noticed, I've started to offer free graphics. Today I've made altered collage tags. These can be saved on your computer and printed on card stock. You can use them for collage, Artist's Trading Cards, gift tags, etc. Click on the picture and it opens in a new window. Then right click and save.


Here's a free polymer clay graphic for you. Use it on myspace or newsletters, personal cards.

My only requests is that you don't add any of my images to a collection of clip art that you sell.

You can use it for crafting, website design, art, etc. I'm still in the beginning stages of my graphics' techniques, and I know I have a long way to go, but this is a start. By giving it out for free, I'm hoping to get some feedback, ideas and motivation to make more.

Let me know as the months go along, how you like the freebies.