When it comes to playing with mixed media projects and home décor all I really need are some good blank surfaces, and my ranger mediums! With products that add texture like multi-medium and texture paste, to colors that blend and are easy to use I am free to play and use my imagination to dream up all sorts of wonderful projects. Today Im delighted to share with you a canvas loaded with techniques at every step, and a project style that anyone can recreate easily and have a lot of fun doing as well.
Supplies:
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Surfaces: 8x10 canvas, manila cardstock
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Dies: Tim Holtz Sizzix Winter Wonder
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Stencils: Tim Holtz Layering Stencils Dot Fade, Speckles
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Distress Ink: Chipped Sapphire
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Distress Spray Stains: Broken China, Salty Ocean, Faded Jeans, Brushed Pewter
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Dylusions Spray Inks: After Midnight, London Blue, White Linen, Squeezed Orange
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Mediums: Dina Wakley Gesso and Gel Medium; Ranger Texture Paste, Matte Multi Medium
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Embossing Powder: White
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Distress Stickles: Picket Fence
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Adhesive: Glue 'n Seal
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Embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-ology Gumdrops, Mirrored Stars, Word Bands, Snowflakes Adornments; buttons, rhinestones, holly, and twine
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Tools: Heat Tool, Detail Water Brush, palette knife
Cut shapes from manila cardstock and adhere them (glue n seal works great!) to a canvas.
To add more texture, use a stencil and texture paste to add designs to the background.
Repeat as desired this will all be colored (and covered) in the process so have fun and really get some texture going.
Another great product for texture is multi-medium. I used a mini sized multi-medium to write out let it snow. You could also add shapes or even utilize with a stencil.
Add an assortment of embellishments to the corner of the project.
Use gesso to cover the embellishments you just added as well as the manila shapes.
Allow the entire project to dry. Using a Ranger Heat Tool can help speed up the process for this.
Pull out Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stains and Dylusions ink sprays and go wild!
Spray as much as youd like you cant mess this up. Use the white spray to lighten or help blend as needed.
Tip: If you dislike the results just rinse this with water and blot with a paper towel. These two color mediums are very forgiving!
Not enough contrast? If the mediums are still damp, or even slightly tacky go ahead and sprinkle embossing powder onto your project, then set with a heat tool. On my project it gives a fun texture and snow-like effect this can also add the look of rust, sparkle, or simple pop of color depending on the shade that you use.
Tip: embossing powder wont react or blend with the fluid color mediums so it is a great choice when you want a pure color to be added without any bleeding or color mixing.
Spray more color (if desired). Once dry add a light misting of brushed pewter distress spray stain to add silver droplets that will sparkle in the sunlight.
Use the chipped sapphire distress mini ink pad to add some dark blue to the raised areas, especially the snowman.
If some parts need to be lightened, use a palette knife and gesso or white paint. Use a light touch you just want to hit the highest points to really add contrast.
Take a detail water brush filled with the blue spray medium (dylusions and distress work great!) of your choice and add pops of rich color as needed. I used salty ocean distress spray stain for this.
Picket Fence distress stickles is my #1 go-to way to add sparkle to my projects, and this is no exception! Apply two ways: directly in a thick line over the letters, and them blend around the snowman.
Tip: Need more stencil work, white, or otherwise a finishing touch with another color? This would be a great time to add another round with paint or texture paste. This would also be a great time to work in some archival inking/stamping as finishing touch accents.
To finish off my snowman I attached a bit of twine and holly, and painted his nose orange. To color the nose orange I first applied a few drops of water and used a paper towel on the area which removed all the blue. Then I used a detailed water brush with squeezed orange Dylusions ink spray to add just a hint of orange to this wintery project.
May Flaum is a craft blogger, designer, instructor, and author. She is passionate about sharing what she creates and about having fingers that have ink, paint, or mists on them. May describes herself as an all around paper crafter and lover of messy creative fun. You can learn more about May on her blog- May Flaum: No Rules, Just Happy Crafting and on her online class site Craft with May.
