Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Earth Day at Anything But Cute

April showers bring May flowers right? And also Earth Day! What do you think of when you hear the words Earth Day? Mother Nature? New growth? Earthquakes? I think of it all, but mostly what natural found items I can try to make art with. Tree branches, moss, flowers, bark and such are among the list that helped me design this reverse canvas.

Our new challenge at Anything But Cute is: Earth Day (celebrated on April 22nd). Hosted by the amazingly talented Samra of Paper Talk with Samra. Here's what she would like to see: Create a mixed media project inspired by this mood board (picture below) and the beauty of our planet. Please tell us what inspired you. Entries for this challenge can be eco friendly, or even recycled/upcycled items, or a depiction of the sea, mountain, river, forest, flowery meadow.....let's celebrate our planet! 
This is my first attempt at a reverse canvas. I placed some elements I knew I wanted to use and took a picture. Not very Earthy yet, but layers and paints and creativity will turn this into a Spring Earth Day design. :)
Now it's time to play with some paper. I trimmed out a rough shape and then cut out the middle section to leave room for my nest. I edged all sides with Ground Espresso Distress Ink and used a Rubber Dance script stamp to add some stamping. Then added some small little butterflies as well. I then used some texture paste that I tinted with Primary Elements to make it blue, I pulled the blue colors from the mood board. 
I used a bit of washi tape on the inner edges to help ground the front of the canvas and get rid of the space between the canvas and wood frame. Then added some moss, some grass (element from the mood board),some flower sprigs, and pieces of a stick. I also painted a chipboard butterfly blue (another element I pulled from the mood board).
The small eggs were made from polymer clay and then painted a light blue. The "spots" on the eggs were made with a brown Archival ink pen. 
I glued everything down with a hot glue gun just because I wanted to see the end result fast and couldn't wait for other glues to dry. Lol! 

The large chipboard in the left corner and on the bottom are painted the same way. I laid down a base of white gesso, applied DecoArt crackle glaze-dried naturally, then added the script stamp.  When the glaze was dry I swiped some Raw Umber antiquing cream over everything, heat dried it and wiped it back. Then I applied the blue paint randomly with my finger. And it is done! Show us what Earth Day means to you and remember to check out what my talented teamies have made! Hugz and Carpe Diem!


33 comments:

  1. WOW Niki!!! This is one amazing work of art!!! Love the blue eggs!!! and of course everything else about this amazing reversed canvas!!! Where did you get those pretty chipboards??? This is one amazing piece! Love it!
    Hugs
    Samra
    Paper Talk with Samra

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  2. Niki! such an incredible earthy work of art! I love how you've finished the edges of the canvas, and then added the washi tape to pull the background and the frame together visually. (Those little touches are what make your work so great!) Your chippies are wonderful and perfect for this scene; and there's another of those splurge-y frames! This is a delight, and those branch pieces are the icing on the earthy cake! Big hugs, Punkin' and a big round of applause!

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  3. Wow, that GORGEOUS scrolly chipboard really draws your eye to the fantastic focal group! I love all of your choice elements from nature, especially the feathers! And I see that you splurged on another ornate frame, smart girl! Do tell the maker of the chipboard and frame! Great project and I love the vintage vibe of yours. Hugs, Autumn

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  4. Oooooooh, Niki, your first altered reverse canvas turned out magicaly beautiful! I adore every single inch of this fantastic piece of art, especially your beautiful bird nest with those awesome blue egges and your fabulous chipboards! It's stunning! Lots of love to you, my friend! Branka xx

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  5. Absoloutely adore this reverse canvas and those eggs really pop!! I adore the colours - my absolute favourite is the sky blue and turquoises, I shall endeavour to pop over and see if I have enough time to join in with this challenge, being someone who is in tune with nature, I love the sound of this one. You are so talented and you have a new subscriber :D x

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  6. Oh my goodness, Niki, this is absolutely spectacular!! Wow, I love, love all of the natural elements you added!! The nest and eggs are so beautiful!! The chipboard pieces are amazing!! I love the touches of color and the butterfly...heck, I love everything!! It's absolutely stunning!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  7. Absolutely gorgeous. You have used lots of fun elements to create this beauty and then tied it all together with your colour palette. I must try making a reverse canvas since it reminds of the wonderful niches I saw all over Rome.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  8. PRECIOUS PRECIOUS Niki - soooo Darling. Love the background and then you found all those tiny little earth day type additions - love the wood pieces and all the 'plants'. The nest is perfect. So spring and so totally adorable. LOVE! XXj.

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  9. Love your wonderful and FABULOUS canvas, BIG wow! Hugs, Valerie

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  10. Oooh, I love your first attempt at a reverse canvas Niki, it is quite stunning, I really love the way you coloured and applied the texture paste, your nest and eggs are fabulous too. The chipboard corner decoration is wonderful and the butterfly is just the perfect finishing touch. A magical creation! Hugs, Anne xx

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  11. Gasp!! Niki, this is truly AWEmazing in every way!! What talent you have!! Enjoy your day!! Hugs, Darnell

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  12. what a beautiful forest scene inside your frame - love the nest, the moss and pieces of wood - so whimsical and delightful!

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  13. A robin's nest - so perfectly Spring-y. Your project is lovely.

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  14. WOW WOW WOW!! Doc, you are blowing me away with this beauty!! I am loving that big delicious flourish you used and those pops of blue on the frame are mad genius!! I real the authentic bits of nature you included, such an earthy feel to your inside out canvas! What an incredible take on Samra's moodboard, I LURVE IT! hugs :)

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  15. Gorgeous, Niki! I LOVE your little scene - and that flourish - wow!! Beautiful take on the reverse canvas for sure! xxx Lynn

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  16. This project is soooo beautiful. It says Spring in the most lovely way. Love it all. Thanks for traveling with us here at A Vintage Journey.

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  17. Wow, this is awesome! That bright blue is just perfect with the neutral exterior pieces... Just like spring with bursts of brightness! And where did the bluebells come from??? Those are AWESOME. Very excellent tribute to spring and earth day.

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    1. I FULLY CASEd your bluebells... I don't know how you did yours, but I used Wilton stamen and sprayed them with color. Thank you for the inspiration. Again: where did you get yours, or how did you make them? I love yours! LOVE.

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  18. Love your creation, looks fantastic
    thanks for joining our challenge over at
    http://creativeartistemixedmedia.blogspot.com.au/
    Debbie Dt

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  19. I love all the layering and detailing in this beautiful nature assemblage. That miniature nest makes the perfect focal point. Blessings!

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  20. A gorgeous reverse canvas. The authentic natural touches are wonderful and the elements and details you've added look fabulous.
    Thank you for joining in with the April challenge "Anything Goes with Chipboard, Stencils, or Flowers Options " at Creative Artiste Mixed Media and good luck x

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  21. This is such a gorgeous canvas ! thank you so much for sharing it with us at The Artistic Stamper
    WIshing you good luck to win beautiful stamps !

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  22. Your canvas is just awesome.. Beautifully designed and well executed .. Thanks for giving wonderful idea :)

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  23. I just loooooove your reverse canvas! It was awesome! You did a great job With builing up elements and details. I wish you good Luck of the draw ☺
    Thank you for participate on Rubber Dance April Challenge ♥
    Hugs, DT Anita

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  24. Love your piece Nikki! Once again another fabulous piece! Thanks for joining us on the Southern Ridge Trading Company Blog!
    -Katelyn DT member at Southern Ridge

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  25. such a great piece of art! Thanks for playing with us at Creative Embellishments!

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  26. LOVE this canvas NIkki!So many beautiful details and layers !!Thanks for playing with us at Creative Embellishments!

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  27. Gorgeous project ..... love all the detail. Thank you for joining in with the Craft Stamper challenge xx

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  28. Wow, I love all the details on your creation! Thank you for playing with us at our Rubber Dance April Challenge ♥

    Hugs, DT Majo

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  29. Hi Niki! Love your work, just FAB! Thank you for joining our April challenge at Rubber Dance ♥

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  30. Very pretty and so perfect for Eath Day. Thanks for joining in our challenge at Creative Embellishments.

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  31. Exceptionally beautiful Niki! LOVE the way you've built up the layers around the nest on this reverse canvas. Thank you for joining us at A Vintage Journey xx

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