This blog is about creating mixed media projects and maybe a card or two, while also having fun along the way. I hope to make you laugh out loud and enjoy the art we create. I may share some info about pets because I am an avid animal person and also a Vet Tech.Happy Crafting!Carpe Diem!
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Sneaky peek-Anything But Cute Tutorial
Hello lovelies! I hope today finds you all in good spirits and with a happy smile on our face! I am sharing a few tips and tricks over at Anything But Cute for our Spotlight Artist post today, using a most wonderful medium for your mixed media makes! Find out more about this tutorial by visiting here! The picture below is just one of numerous ways to use this product. Enjoy!
And don't forget to join our current challenge "Celebrate Your Style" that runs until June 4th! Our awesome sauce sponsors Alleystamp, Emerald Creek and The Funkie Junkie are giving away some FANTASMIC prizes! Hugz and Carpe Diem! ~Niki
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Mini Anxiety Art Book
Hello lovelies! Today is the middle of the month reminder for our challenge over at SanDee&Amelie's Steampunk challenge. You can create anything industrial/steampunk. Let your mind go and have fun! Here's what I came up with.
I wanted to share a new idea I had and also tell you a little bit about myself in the process. This idea was generated because of a recent diagnosis that I got. I knew I was having problems breathing and my heart felt like it might run right out of my chest, not to mention the sweaty hands and constant barrage of questions in my head. I felt hopeless and confused because I know I am a strong person. So what in the world was happening to me? My wonderful DH convinced me to go see a Doc. That was an event in itself and a story for another day. The 3rd Doc I ended up going to (all in the same day) told me I had anxiety and was having a full blown anxiety attack. We talked for a bit and she mentioned medication and also possibly seeing a therapist. I declined the therapist and asked if I could do something else. She said sure. So I can up with this idea to do an Anxiety Book. This is a small enough (3.5x2.5) book to carry around with me and I can draw in it, write in it, scribble, or even throw it. Lol! Now you know where the idea came from and here's the process.
I started by cutting some brown leather paper and then embossed it. Then I cut some pages down to size. I don't measure stuff with a ruler, mostly by eyeballing it. I made 4 signatures and then got to binding my book. It took a few mistakes that had to be corrected but I get er done.
Then out came some distress inks and metal elements. The silver flourish frame was brushed with Frank Garcia Artisan powder-La Chapelier ,as were the gears piece.
I added some springs the the metal pieces. A couple of stencils from Andy Skinner and some stamps on the inside cover. The corner pieces were bright silver stickers that I applied Alcohol ink to.
And a small closure that I sewed to the back with a Finnabair mini knob on the front to keep the book closed. Below is a picture of the binding.
I have only done 1 page in my anxiety book. I used a TH stamp and cut the heart out and raised it with small foam dots. I hand wrote the word Brave in pencil, not totally brave enough to write it in pen yet, but I feel brave sharing this and brave going to the doctor.
I plan on sharing this design with these amazing challenges:
I used real hand stitching on the Coptic binding and to add the elastic closure.
Remember to Steampunk it up and have an amazing day! Hugz and Carpe Diem! ~Niki
Monday, May 9, 2016
Blood and a Zombie Barbie
Interesting title? I think so. I wanted to create a layout that featured an amazing and inspirational lady I know. Her name is Rheanon Nicole, also known as Zombie Barbie. She is a fantabulous and beautiful person, inside and out. She is also a TV Host, a published author (Broken Halo), a model, and a mother. As you can see, she wears many hats! Hehe! So for this layout I tried to include some of her favorite things.
The black fabric stuff reminds me of a web so I used it and also threw in some random pieces of red and white thread. The flowers echo the flower headband Rheanon wears in the picture.
Here comes the pop of color with the red. I used DecoArt media mister and randomly sprayed. The drips were created by diluting the red with water and letting it run down the page. Looks like blood right? That's the idea and keeping with the Horror movie elements. What's your favorite horror movie? I can't pick just one!
There are about four different stamps used in the background as well. The picture above shows the embossed skull and the brick chippies (those were heat embossed with Snow and Black EP) Fun stuff!
The cameo necklace is part of an old necklace I tore apart. The blood red flowers were once orangish white, I just sprayed those with red and black paints. The little red stones are Mini Prills. The last bit was to splatter the entire page with black and red paints (I was going for a blood splatter effect). Viola, done!
I wanted to only use three colors (black, white, red). She loves horror movies and the horror genre. I started with a plain 12x12 page and then added some black DecoArt modeling paste through a stencil. I marked out where I wanted the picture and kept that spot blank. Then added some Versamark through an Andy Skinner skull stencil and heat embossed it with Snow EP. Next, I laid out some elements I thought would be used, of course everything changes as the process continues.
I would be thrilled to share this design with these lovely challenges:
I have Blood, Barbie, Black, and beauty
I am hoping this darker art design is okay since it is an Anything Goes challenge
I used this definition of collage-a piece of art made by sticking various different materials such as photographs and pieces f paper or fabric onto a backing (I did all three)
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Celebrate You!
Hello lovelies! Today is a super special day because it is our 1st Anniversary over at Anything But Cute! We have an exciting challenge in store this month and want to CELEBRATE! I wanted to create something that I have never tried before and also use one of my favorite movies as inspiration so I came up with this design. Meet my version of Jack Skellington and his dog, Zero!
As we celebrate our First Anniversary at Anything But Cute, we want you to celebrate what you do best...mixed media! This is your chance to do it your way, in your favorite style...so pull out those inks and paints and show us what you're made of! You can make anything you want, in any theme you want and any style you want, just as long as it has some mixed media products on it and no cute images. HAVE FUN!
We have some special treats for you this month. Along with our design team projects, we have invited our Favorite Artists from last year to come and celebrate with us. You don't want to miss the incredible line up of inspiration they have provided for you!! We also have a wonderful line up of prizes from some amazing sponsors...lots of chances to win some goodies, so don't miss out!
Zero was easier to sculpt and his collar was painted with red acrylic paint and his nose is orange acrylic paint. Yes, I added shoes to Jack. Hehe!
I then started on my background while everything was baking in the oven. I tried a tag background with different designs but wasn't feeling it so I decided to create a tombstone. I drew out my shape on regular paper and used it as a template to trace onto thick matboard. I wanted the tombstone to be one sturdy piece to hold all these wonderful elements (I even add a kickstand to the back of the tag so it would stand on its own). The edges of the tombstone are made from a mold (I only used a section of the mold). You can see in the picture below what the stones and bricks are made from: I hoarded some of these foam pieces but for the life of me, I can't remember what art supply they came with. It's left over packaging of some sort. Any ideas? I think it is from dies.
I cut the foam and made my bricks/stone and glued everything (including the molded boarder) with TomBow Multi. Then at this point everything was painted with black acrylic paint. The texture sand in the picture below didn't end up showing up because of where I placed Jack. Oh well. Hehe!
I used so many different paints and daubers to get the stones/bricks the color I wanted, then I applied white acrylic paint in certain spots to highlight areas. The inside of the tombstone was inked up with a stencil just for some depth.
Then I started adding all the pieces together one little detail at a time. Some Spanish moss.............
A new clock mold and the pillars are new molds as well. All three were painted grey then antiqued. A few pumpkins, and a black branch looking thing.
And finally some closeups of Jack and Zero! I did paint Jack's name on the bottom step of the tombstone but you can't really see it.
We have some special treats for you this month. Along with our design team projects, we have invited our Favorite Artists from last year to come and celebrate with us. You don't want to miss the incredible line up of inspiration they have provided for you!! We also have a wonderful line up of prizes from some amazing sponsors...lots of chances to win some goodies, so don't miss out!
I started this design by sculpting Jack. He has a wire armature inside him because I wanted his arms to move and they do, although I did accidentally break his arm off, and had to fashion it back together! Sorry Jack!
I then added his legs, his bat bow tie, his eyebrows, his hands, and got to painting with acrylic paints.
Some pumpkins and art stones that were painted with acrylic paints, a few bats...........
Jack's head moves, as well as his arms.
I know this was a long post and thanks for reading until the end. Don't forget to check out what my lovely teamies have designed! Hugz and Carpe Diem! ~Niki
I would like to share this design with:
My "doll" isn't paper exactly but he's a sort of doll.
I went LOC with a Halloween design.
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