Mermaid Card

Hi everyone! Melissa here with a design team project for the Mixed Media Warriors Challenge Blog.

To make this 7 x 6 "card I took watercolor paper and glued on a piece of textured ribbon that looks a little like seaweed. I painted gesso over it, and put on the rest of the embellies. The flowers are from Prima. I gessoed and painted the chipboard with Tibetan Poppy Teal by Lindy's, and Tattered Angels Rich Mocha. I layered on a thick coat of Rock Candy Crackle, and let it dry overnight. I fussy cut the mermaid from paper by Kaisercraft.

To add visual interest I added a little texture paste, sequins, rhinestones, shells, metal,bling, metal glitter, micro beads,white embossing powder,wire, and ribbon.

Thank you so much for looking, and have a great week!

A Vintage Card

Hi everyone! Melissa here with a design team project for June's Mixed Media Warrior moodboard. I was inspired by the soft pastel colors. I really like vintage photos, so I included one.  

To make this card I used watercolor paper and added layers of items. The bottom is ribbon type mesh material, I painted it white with gesso, because it was yellow. The lace with the black printing on it is from Hobby Lobby. I applied some gauze for extra texture. I have a die cut doily on the bottom, followed by a piece of chipboard from Blue Fern, and the pointy ones at the top and bottom are Dusty Attic. The little pieces right under the lace are Scrapiniec.  The pink ones under the butterfly wings are Tim Holtz that I painted with gesso, Finnabairs Art Alchemy Opal Magic in Aqua Rose, then Ranger clear crackle. The blue green butterfly wings are Tim Holtz die cuts that I made 24 of last year with mica powder and things. The other die cuts are from Spellbinder's, Gold Corbels and Accents.  I put on a thin layer of LSS Rambling Rose on the card, and a little green that is a mix of LSS Bells of Ireland Green, and Mission Bells Brown. 

The white lace with sequins is from Hobby Lobby. The tiny sequins are from some Easter decor I have, little eggs that were covered in them.   The safety pin is from 7 Gypsies, the ribbon through it is silk from my LSS. The flowers are from 49 and Market. The tag and sticker are from 7 Dots.

Thank you so much for looking, and have a great week!

A Moment in Time

Hi everyone,Melissa here a 12 x 12 layout as my entry for the More Than Words May 2017 Main Challenge, MOTHER  & FLOWERS!  I chose this photo of my sister-in-law and her son because she's a great mom, and has always inspired me.

I've used some 7 Dots paper and stickers, Prima flowers, and Lindy's Stamp Gang colors.

To make this page I painted a piece of watercolor paper and put the photo on. I sponged gesso onto the 7 Dots paper with a cosmetic sponge, then applied texture paste through a stencil. I only used part of the stencil, you can't see it too well at the right of the flower above. I added two more dragonflies from the stencil on the page with just paint.

I took a thin strip of cheesecloth and spread it over the background, stuck it on with a few dabs of glossy accent, then spread gesso over it.  To add more textural interest I applied a variety of things, micro beads, pearls, stars by Little B, butterflies from Graphic 45 Nature's Sketchbook, confetti stars, Tim Holtz rub ons, mica flakes, tulle,metal glitter,bling,Ranger blue distress glitter, and more.

The Man in the Moon image is a Tim Holtz rub on. 

The gold paint is by Firefly,it's a nice thick acrylic paint. You can also see some jump rings and pieces of gold embroidery floss here.

I outlined areas with Derwent Inktense Watercolor pencil in bark, and softened the lines with water.

I put some mini bottle caps on. There's a gold rub on here by Little B.

As a final step because I thought the page looked too busy I painted gesso on different areas where I'd already applied colors.  Thank you so much for looking, and have a great week!

Entered in the following contest:

Rich By a Fountain

Hi everyone! Melissa here with my entry for the Dusty Attic April Mood Board Challenge. I was inspired by the gold and green colors, and the rustic feel of the mood board.  I took this photo of my husband Rich in San Francisco by the Ghiradelli Square Fountain.  We were driving from California to New York for a job transfer, this beautiful city was one of our stops.

To make this page I first decorated the Dusty Attic chipboard with beads, gold paint, mica flakes,micro beads, glitter, and clear crackle.I applied some gauze to watercolor paper with a little gesso, then  painted a watercolor mat with Lindy's, and put the photo on. I made some layers underneath with 7 Dots papers and corrugated cardboard. I glued on the chipboard. 

With a wide paintbrush I painted on water over the whole page,then applied stripes of Lindy's and water I'd mixed. I wasn't happy with the results, it looked too busy, so I dabbed and painted on gesso. I tried misting with Tattered Angels but it was still too busy looking, so I put on more gesso.  I rubbed on green brocade Finnabair's opal magic wax, and dry brushed on some gold paint. The texture of the paper shows through the paint.

I used 49 and Market flowers, a little Tim Holtz metal,and some 7 Dots stickers.

Thank you so much for looking!

This is my entry for the Dusty Attic April 2017 Challenge

Ryan at the Beach

Hi everyone, Melissa here with my DT team page for the Mixed Media Warriors April Moodboard Challenge! My sister-in-law sent me this photo of my nephew Ryan years ago,it was taken at Eaton's Neck,Northport, NY.  I thought it would be good for this month's project.  

I made this using a 12 x 12 sheet of watercolor paper. I added a layer of gauze in the shape of a giant C with gesso, then stenciled on texture paste with a few different stencils. I spread some on some paste as it were cake frosting in a couple spots. I painted the page with thin layers of LSG,and added the photo, followed by the embellishments.  The photo is on watercolor paper, the bottom two layers underneath are cardstock. I put  two layers of foam core board between the layers to give the page some dimension. I brushed on gesso to try and unify all the pieces, then added more LSG.  I decided everything was too shiny, using my face powder and the brush I apply it with, I put on a layer of it. 

The sea horse is by Tim Holtz, I painted it blue, put a thick layer of crackle on, and let it sit overnight.  I brushed on gold acrylic by Firefly, I got it at Tuesday Morning. The little stickers are from 7 Dots.

I love to collect scrapbooking supplies, can you tell?  

The button with the bee on it is Prima, the black letters are Tim Holtz, the chipboard is from Blue Fern I think. The butterfly is fussy cut from Graphic 45.

The braided metal bracelet is from my sister, she gave me an a stash of jewelry she didn't use anymore a few years ago.  

Thank you so much for looking, and have a great day!

                                         

A Fairy Tale Mind

Hi everyone, Melissa here with a small wall hanging for Mixed Media Warriors Design Team! I'm going to hang this on a wall in my scraproom, it'll look cute with all the other projects I've put up. 

I drew a rose using a photo from a book about flowers as a reference and put a little texture paste on top with a stencil. The rest of the watercolor paper has a few layers of Prima Heavy Gesso.To add visual interest I added a lot of embellishments around the edges: the white flowers are from a local scrapbooking store, the baby photo is from Pion, Grandma's Attic Papers. The stickers are from 7 Dots, the pink paint is Rambling Rose by Lindy's Stamp Gang.  The green is a mix of sap green and burnt umber from Winsor and Newton. The brown is Derwent Inktense Watercolor pencil.  I used micro beads, seed beads, a tiny brass lock by Vintaj,a little bird from Graphic 45, a rose from Bo Bunny, a fairy from an old Christmas card,tiny butterflies die cut from Sizzix, tiny Prima stamped butterflies, and the metal wing is from Hobby Lobby.

I used Rock Candy Crackle paint and brushed brown and pink on the dried surface of it, on top of some brown chalk.

I put gesso and then green paint on the white roses.

There are two layers of watercolor paper under the top one. On top of the second layer is tulle, under the bottom one is pink,then green ribbon. The crinkle ribbon is by Tim Holtz.

The little pigs are wood that I put crackle and paint on.

Thank you so much for looking, and have a great day!

Beautiful Girl and Spring Colors

Hi everyone! Melissa here with my Design Team take on the March Mood Board, at Mixed Media Warriors. Spring is the best season here in Texas, and we're right in the middle of it now. 

  I have used a photo of my son's beautiful girlfriend,Aron. 

I used the color palette in the bottom middle photo of the moodboard.

To make this page I took a sheet of 12 x 12 watercolor paper and put some gauze on with gesso. I put homemade texture paste on with a few stencils. I painted it with a mix of white acrylic paint and Lindy's Stamp Gang. I painted over some of the page with white paint to create some negative space,  then used a brush to apply texture paste to several areas.

To add visual interest I put on flowers, pearls, die cut sizzix leaves and butterflies,micro beads,seed beads,and bling.

I ran a bark colored Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencil over the surface by holding the pencil sideways,I wanted to make the gauze texture more visible.

I used several kinds of Prima and Petaloo flowers.  I made the chiffon purple one.

Thank you so much for looking, and have a great day!

Together, My Family & I

Hi everyone, Melissa here with a canvas I made for the More Than Words February challenge, 2017! 

The photo is one of my family together, and I used an AMPERSAND as part of  the title.

This was taken at Fort Davis, near Big Bend National Park in West Texas. Three other families went also, it was one of the best vacations I ever had. Big Bend is an amazing place, we rented a cabin and with our friends, explored  different areas of the park, hiking, and taking a lot of photos.

To make this canvas I prepped it with gesso, put some gauze on with gesso, applied home made texture paste with different stencils, and painted with a variety of products. Among them were Lindy's Stamp Gang, Windsor and Newton Watercolors,Vintaj Patina Paint,and Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils. All the gold you see is mica powder applied with a brush or rubbed on with my finger. I layered paint with layers of Prima Heavy Gesso. There is some Prima Art Alchemy paint too.

To create more visual interest I added a variety of materials, Mica flakes, glass glitter,seed beads, micro beads, Vintaj metal, Tim Holtz metal, Prima flowers, Sizzix butterflies,metal chain, and more.

I splattered on Lindy's in teal.

The words are from Tim Holtz.  The AMPERSAND is from a craft store.

The little gold tags are from Art C.

The stamp I used is by Prima.

 The little owl is by Vintaj, the compass metal is Tim Holtz

I put a thick layer of Ranger Clear Crackle on the AMPERSAND,and let it dry overnight.

You can see some druzy quartz at the lower right corner.

The big key I got at Kirkland, a store that sells things to decorate your house with.

I'm putting this on a wall in my craft room. It has a lot of the embellishments and paint that are a part of scrapbooking and mixed media work that I love,and the photo is so evocative for me, of a time and place that I love.

Thanks so much for looking, and have a great week!