A Vintage Scene

Hi everyone, Melissa here with my entry for the May Color Challenge - Lindy's Stamp Gang. I used a mix of Bachelor Button Blue and Sweet Violet Purple Teal for the purple blue color. For the blue color I used Tibetan Poppy Teal, and for the green I used Sea Mint Green.

I used a stencil to apply texture paste on watercolor paper, then added a variety of things for added visual interest: microbeads, a cherub and a bird from Graphic 45 paper, a metal heart from 7 Gypsies, Martha Stewart stickers, and some gauze.

The doves are confetti.

The image is from Pion Designs.

I used colors from the following sets:

Prairie Wildflower-Magical Shimmer Powders

Victorian Bouquet-Magical Shimmer Powders

Mermaid Seashells-Magical Shimmer Powders

Autumn Leaves- Magical Shimmer Powders   

I have entered this in the following challenge:

Lindy's May Color Challenge

Thanks 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:

Hi everyone! Melissa here with another design team inspiration page for the May moodboard here at Mixed Media Warriors.  I felt like making a very feminine page, so I used a vintage wedding photo along with Blue Fern paper.

To make this page I applied texture paste with a Gabrielle Polloco stencil over gesso onto some Blue Fern paper, glued on some gauze, then applied embellishments. The little chipboard pieces are all Tim Holtz, the little hearts I had to make myself . I took the old Tim Holtz chipboard where the heart was already punched out, traced an outline with pencil onto watercolor paper, and cut it out. I prepped with white gesso and added Alchemy Opal Magic acrylic in pink/green, then topped it with a thick coat of clear crackle.  I let the pieces dry overnight.  

I added color with LSG and Faber Castelle watercolor crayons, then added more gesso because it looked too busy. I have to stand up from my desk to figure out a balance with all the items and paint. When the gesso was wet, and to add visual interest I added micro beads, seed beads, confetti stars, and mica flakes. I also painted all the items with a little gesso,then topped with watercolor, to sort of  tie everything together. 

I was fortunate to have this paper to match the colors for the month, and also my vintage pic.

I brushed on some thick acrylic gold paint by Firefly to some of the gauze, this seemed to warm things up.

As a final step I rubbed on Opal Magic wax in Green Brocade by Finnabair, to warm up the pale white, and dry look of the gesso. After the green I rubbed on gold wax in random spots.

The pink flower is Prima.  The little flowers are by Little B. The metal pieces are Tim Holtz. The word stickers are by 7 Dots, it's wonderful being able to find something to say that fits all on a sticker!

Thank you for looking, and have a great week!

A Mermaid's Tale

Hi everyone!  Melissa here with a design team page for May's Mixed Media Warriors moodboard.

I've used papers from Blue Fern, Seaside Cottage because the colors were the ones I wanted to use.  I've always liked mermaids, so that was my starting point. 

To make this page I used gloss gel to glue the page to a piece of cardboard, to help prevent buckling from the media I planned to use. I applied modeling paste with a  Prima stencil. I applied a piece of gauze with heavy gesso. I used two layers of foam core board underneath a mat I made out of watercolor paper.  I painted the mat with Lindys Stamp Gang - LSG with 3 colors. To create more visual interest I used the following: a pink flower by Prima, two white ones from Dusty Attic, a rhinestone key from Tresors De Luxe, stickers from 7 Dots, gold seahorses and silver starfish charms from Hobby Lobby, Tim Holtz and Little B rub ons, and more.

I painted around the stencil work with LSG and Derwent Inktense Pencils. 

I sponged on Prima Heavy Gesso to make the page less busy looking.

I outlined a lot of areas with a Bark colored pencil by Derwent.

The tiny coral flowers are stickers from Martha Stewart. 

I put white gesso on all the embellies and then paint on top to sort of tie everything together.

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

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

Dream

Hi everyone, Melissa here with a 12 x 12 layout as my entry for the More Than Words April 2017 Main Challenge, Dream & Black/White + 1.     I was inspired by the elegant color combination of the challenge. I wanted to do something kind of lacy, and a vintage wedding photo seemed to fit the bill.

To make this page I used paper from the 7 Dots Writer's Block collection. I appied gauze and gesso, then added seed beads, micro beads, vintage metal glitter,lace, stamps, Tim Holtz rub ons, pearls,mica flakes, and rhinestones.  

I applied some texture paste with a stencil but it's kind of hard to see, it's in the middle of the page.

My plus one color is gold.  The title work is made up of Tim Holtz letters.

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

Entered in the following contest:

Family

 Hi everyone, Melissa here with a page for my Mixed Media Warrior design team post. I have used a photo of my son and his fiance taken on New Year's Eve.

To make this page I glued a 12 x 12 piece of watercolor paper to a piece of heavy cardboard using mod podge.  I wanted to make a nice solid base that would stay flat. I put a piece of gauze on with heavy gesso. I painted a watercolor paper mat with LSG and put the photo on top. Using glossy accents I applied flowers and butterflies.

I added layers of LSG and more texture, including 7 Dots stickers, micro beads,seed beads,pearls, stickers, some metal corner stickers by Martha Stewart,jump rings, rhinestones, and bling.I added two Tim Holtz chipboard hearts that I painted blue over white gesso, and topped with a thick coat of Ranger clear crackle; I let them dry overnight.  I brushed on white gesso on all the embellishments as a base for more color. You can see a lot of gold paint,it's acrylic by Firefly. It's pretty thick, and easy to dry brush on raised up parts.   The Family chipboard is wood, I can't remember what brand it is.  

To create a balance of color between the photo and background, I needed to put in some dark shades. I used a bark Inktense watercolor pencil, some coffee Tattered Angels mist, and a black watercolor crayon.  I had started off with just a purple blue mix of LSS, Blue Bachelor Button, and Sweet Violet Purple Blue. 

Towards the end of the project I added a mix of LSG teal, Bachelor Button Blue and a lot of water; I brushed it on several areas. The gold chain and gold with rhinestone heart are from Hobby Lobby, and the pear shaped blue rhinestone I think is from Michaels. On top of the 7 Dots sticker I used Tim Holtz blue distress glitter. I glued on champagne metal glitter by Stampendous on the background in a few areas.

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