Sunday 26 March 2017

Canvas Board - teaching simple mixed media layers

Happy Mother's Day
........... to all you Mums, grandmothers, friends and aunties out there. I hope you have a wonderful day and hopefully receive some extra love from your precious ones. I have a Mother's Day project right at the end of this post, but first here's one I did for a workshop.

I often get asked to do a session for one of the local church groups and this time they wanted me to do something 'different' (ie not card making or gift bags, paper folding etc) so I suggested using paint and making a mixed media shabby canvas board - you know how I like these - so this is what I came up with. Bearing in mind we only had two hours there was a lot to do but I die-cut and prepped a bag for each of them so everything was at hand.


Using 5 x 7 canvas board

1. Paint canvas with gesso.
2. With palette knife randomly drag thin layer of acrylic paint and spritz with water, move the colour around a little bit - dry.
3. Repeat step 2 with another colour.
4. Repeat step 2 again with a third colour.


5. Lightly blend/daub over gesso with a distress tool and sponge.


6. Stencil over some coloured gesso and gently heat dry.
7. Add a little stamping for interest.


8. Dry brush a little of two of the other colours (not used with the gesso for stenciling) over the raised textures (I used white and yellow).


9. Adhere a small piece of scrunched cheesecloth.


10. Collect together papers, images, die-cuts, flowers etc......


11. ........ and assemble them onto the board. Note the vintage picture of the hare and chicks - I downloaded this from the internet as a free image and sized it to fit inside Tim's clock.


And do you like the butterfly? I loved stamping these, I used Tim's new Oxides - worn lipstick, peeked paint and iced spruce - and a little ordinary vintage photo distress.
So there we have it a pretty mixed media board for Easter.


And here's the one I made for Mother's day too.


Creating the same background (and keeping exactly the same colours) I then gathered different embellishments (mostly Tim Holtz products) -


For a complete change I edged everything with pumice stone rather than ground espresso or another of the brown DIs. - it's more subtle.


You can see where I slotted in the butterfly ..........

On this photo you can see I used a white pen to highlight the flowers a little. They had been stamped and cut from card dipped in worn lipstick  and spiced marmalade oxides with some fossilized amber DI added to it.


I lifted them using foam pads to create height and dimension .......


... and added some wildflowers 2 die-cuts as well as some shop bought mini blooms.


I added an easel and put it in the Packhouse.

It's lovely to have you stop by, thanks so much for the interest you show in my work, I really appreciate it.

Enjoy your day.

hugs Brenda xxx



25 comments:

Juls said...

Love this xx

Mrs.B said...

Two beautiful pieces, love the pretty colours and embellishments.
Avril xx

Monika Gulyas said...

Wow Brenda, both beautiful!!! I love your soft colours and how you arranged the layers!!! Great design! Big hugs

Evelyn Walter said...

This is absolutely lovely, Brenda! The color combination is wonderful - hello spring!
Great to see how you did it.
Have a nice sunday!
xxx

Valerija said...

Fabulous makes!
Valerija xx

Rita said...

Beautiful canvas Brenda. Your Mother's Day catd looks stunning too. Hope you enjoy a fabulous Mothers Day, Hugs Rita xxxx

Patty O'Malley said...

Love each canvas, Brenda! Thanks for the inspiration. Happy Mother's Day!

Redanne said...

Two stunning projects Brenda, I love the soft colour tones, the bunny image on the first one is beautiful and the butterflies in the Oxides are gorgeous! Hope you had a lovely Mother's Day. Hugs, Anne xx

Littlelamb said...

Love both these projects. Like the colours and always love butterflies on anything. Wish the craft group I help run would want to do something like that but the lady in charge likes everything to be CAS so no point in suggesting it. Think I will have a try at it though. Thank you fir sharing this.

Meggymay said...

Its a gorgeous canvas Brenda, and so it the card. Beautiful soft springtime colours.
Hope you have had a Happy Mothers Day.
Yvonne xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

I bet they all loved these.... I know I do xXx

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Two complete stunners Brenda....hard to pick a favourite from them!
Hugs
Donna xx

Lisa said...

Wow, Brenda, these are both stunning!! The texture is amazing!! I love the beautiful colors and layers!! Your tutorial is fabulous, too...you've made me want to make one now!! Love, love them!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Suzanne C said...

Gorgeous! I love the happy spring colors and the flowers are so lovely! What wonderful gifts for a mother!

sarascloset said...

Well, I bet that Mother's Day card flew right off the shelf! It is just beautiful! Your flowers look amazing; the colors are a lovely combination, and the overall design is fabulous! I'm sure your canvas class was a big hit! The results are GORGEOUS! After being away from my Closet for a couple of weeks, I am fully inspired by this one visit to your lovely blog! Hugs!

Unknown said...

The mix of colors on these is just LOVELY Brenda. Mixed Media on Canvas is my favorite type of artwork so these just are like a breath of fresh air to me! So SPRING. So LIGHT. So AIRY and FREE. So full of LIFE. Xj.

Gina said...

What a wonderful class...they must have had so much fun :D XXX

Julia Aston said...

What a great project for your class Brenda! Bet they really enjoyed making it and were proud when they were done! Lovely colors and techniques! Your Mother's Day card is so pretty with all the layers! Julia xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

What a wonderful workshop treat for your class! I imagine that everyone was most happy with this! I love your Mother's day card too! Oh Those Oxides……!!!!!! Hugs, Chrisx

maria's knutselplezier said...

Two fantastic cards , the motherdays card really looks amazing , I love the colours and the beautiful flowers and of course the Oxide colours!! Really amazing!!

Have fun!!
Maria

Annie said...

Loving your Mothers Day makes Brenda xx gorgeous canvas and I love the layers on your card

Huge hugs Annie xx

Jackie PN said...

Absolutely Beautiful! Both canvases!! I do love that bunny one especially!!
Happy Mother's day to you as well Brenda, hope it was wonderful!
huge hugs,Jackie

Pamellia said...

These are just gorgeous Brenda! I love the backgrounds, the colours work so well together and the touches of gold are magical! How sweet is that image of the bunny and the little chicks, I love that! Beautiful florals and foliage, the Mother's Day canvas is extra special with so many layers of lovely elements!! Wonderful pieces! hugs :)

SewPaperPaint said...

Brenda, this is oh so beautiful! I love the image and how you incorporated Tim's flower stamps. I have them and don't know if I've ever used them and why not! So so pretty!!! Hugs, Autumn

A Pink said...

Wonderful canvases! Brenda that make such lovely gifts for mothers day and Easter. Yay! I saw the butterflies and they are beauts .
hugs x