Tuesday, April 21, 2015

ME...Princeton Artist Brush Company, and Art Anthology


Hi Everyone

I'm so excited to finally be able to share this with you.

I've been keeping a big secret...
I was asked to create a project using Princeton Art Brushes and tools, and Art Anthology Inc. products...

Below is a picture of the tote I made and I've provided a link to a pdf with instructions on how to make your own.



Here's the link to a 4 page PDF...

FREE BUTTERFLY TOTE PROJECT PDF

Hope I've inspired you to try something new and also be sure and get yourself some of these amazing products from both companies...

Thanks so much
x0x0x
Monica

Art Anthology and Viva Las Vegas Stamps pair up

Hi Everyone

Monica Downing here...

Thanks so much for joining us this week...Art Anthology and Viva Las Vegas Stamps partnered up for a week of awesomeness...

Be sure and check out the Art Anthology Blog daily to see what my other Design Team members have created...

Also check the Viva Las Vegas Stamps Blog

I have a really fun project to share with you...

I make Artist Trading Blocks and decided to do my Art Anthology/Vivia Las Vegas Stamp project on one.

The blocks are the same size as an ATC (Artist Trading Card) 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 but this block is almost 1-1/2 inches thick...all the more room to create on my dears.

I cut them myself.
Here is a picture of the completed block front and back.





















So the first thing I did was use the Art Anthology Gesso to prime the wood block. Then I picked the colors I wanted to use and I used the awesome new gemstone colors in .......... and ..........
I also created 2 Gelli prints on my Gelli Plate to use as a background on the back side, and also for some added color on the sides of the block.

While that was drying I got busy with my stamp

The Viva Las Vegas Stamp I used was a 3x5 Day of The Dead- Dia de los Muertos stamp
I painted a piece of cardstock with the Art Anthology sorbet in Tuxedo.











Next I used a white craft ink pad by Stampin Up and ink'd up my stamp really well. I stamped the image onto the cardstock I had painted black. I then used white embossing powder and my heat gun to emboss the entire image.











I then chose and cut out the parts of the stamp that I wanted to use on my Artist Trading Block.
I used pink orange green and blue to color in areas of the large skill in the middle of the stamp that would be going on the front of the block. I added color to the other images I cut out as well.













I used Art Anthology Dimensional Crystals in the green and orange and pink to add some more color and dimension to the front of the block that I had previously painted blue. Once this dried, I applied the stamped and cut out images to the front of the block using pop dots.













Using the dimensional crystals, I added some texture and designs to the gelli print then cut a piece to fit to the back of the block and glued it on. I applied the stamped images to the back with pop dots as well. I cut strips from the gelli print and glued them along the sides and the top of the block. I then cut a piece of cardstock in an arch (2) and used letter stickers to spell out Dia De Los Muertos which I put on the top of the block on the front, and Day Of The Dead on the arch on the top of the back side. I then strung some beads on jewelry wire and drilled holes at the top and glued that in between the arches. I used the Art Anthology Dimensional Crystals all over this project, including inside the skills eyes, to give it more color and dimenstion.
























For the skulls on the bottom I used clay and formed it in the shape of a skull and baked it in the oven per the package directions. I then colored in the eyes and did some doodling then glued them to the bottom of the block. The little wood discs under the skulls are wooden wheels I picked up at Hobby Lobby.








I love how this project turned out and I hope you are inspired to try something different with your stamps.







Have a great day and thanks for stopping by my blog to check out my project.
x0x0x
Monica

Thursday, April 16, 2015

SHAKE IT OFF

Hellooo Gorgeousess...

Woohoo...thanks for stopping by today...

I'm excited to share with you my first post as a Certifiable Gauche Alchemist...

Wow...did you check out the April mood board over on the Gauceh Alchemy Blog???? If you didn't...you really need to because it's AWESOME...I freakin love it because I am all about color and I love neon and just...WOW...this hit home for me...

click this linky link and go have a look see...
Gauche Alchemy April Mood Board

Ok...so my take on the mood board...Bright, colorful...POPPIN...

I did my project on a 12x12 chunky canvas.

First thing I did was slather it with black chalkboard paint, 2 coats letting it dry in between coats.

I knew I wanted to incorporate a lot of colors so I got out my Gelli plate...I use this tool all the time and I love it. I love the mixture of colors and patterns and that you never pull the same print twice.

I laid down a few different color palettes and ended up using a couple of them.

The stencil I used (The Crafters Workshop) was given to me a couple of years ago by a friend, and I've never used it before but I knew it would be perfect for this project.

I outlined the shape from the stencil onto my favorite gelli print of the day, then cut it out. I then decided to use the negative as a second element on my project.

Next I cut some of the other gelli prints up into 1 inch strips, folded them in half, and glued them down to the edges of the canvas.

I grabbed my white signo pen, and wrote the lyrics to Taylor Swift's song Shake It Off...













I used pop dots to adhere the girls to the canvas and give some dimension to the piece.

I have had to shake off some bad **it over the past few months, Liars, Haters, Fakers...and how it negatively impacted my life, so this song and this layout were perfect for me to convey a message.

I know how it feels to have people drag you down and suck the life out of you. Try to shake it off...cuz you are so much better than that...

This canvas makes me happy and will be a reminder to SHAKE IF OFF anytime I need to.
SHAKE IT OFF 1
SHAKE IT OFF 4
SHAKE IT OFF 3
SHAKE IT OFF 2
This canvas makes me happy and will be a reminder to SHAKE IF OFF anytime I need to.
Now...go put on your tutu and your crazy leggings and dance around the house, cuz I know you've got that song stuck in your head now...HEHE!!!

x0x0x
Monica

Monday, April 6, 2015

Mermaid Altered Bottle

Hi Everyone...

I'm so glad you are here today I have something really cool to share with you.

I have had this bottle for quite some time. I have been envying the altered bottles that I see on Pinterest and have so wanted to do one. To be totally honest I have been intimidated by them. I finally decided to just go for it and it was so much easier than I thought it was going to be...

So let me share my process with you so you can go make your own altered bottle. I mean seriously the possibilities are endless and it can be done in any theme...I personally love mermaid's and I just had this vision in my head...so here we go.

I used a Absolute Vanilla Vodka bottle but you can use any bottle that you have or like.

Art Anthology Products

Art Anthology Gesso
Art Anthology Paints in
Veridian (Sorbet)
Fiji (Velvet)
Tango (Velvet)
Chocolate (Velvet)
Blue Topaz (Gem Stone)

Art Anthology Colorations
Fern Leaf
Cinnamon Toast
Studio Blue
Peacock Feathers
Lark
Grass
Guacamole
Fern Leaf
Juicy

Other supplies.

Gauze
Crochet Doily
Moss (got mine at Walmart)
Miscellaneous Shells (I got mine at Walmart)
Various bits and bobbles, gems, and metal embellishments.
Hot glue gun
3-in-1 Glue

Here are some pictures of the extra little supplies I gather up and used on my bottle.



























Ok...so let's get started...you want to layer a heavy coat of gesso on the entire bottle.
While the gesso is still wet start layering on your gauze...pull it apart and place it on the bottle overlapping in some areas. Apply more gesso to the top of this. The gesso is your glue at this point and also your base coat of course.














 In this next photo you will see the gauze applied to the bottle and I've left a "window" uncovered by the gauze because this is where I am going to glue my image. I knew the basic shape I was going for and I didn't want it to be perfect.













Next I cut up a vintage crochet doily I've had. I invisioned it looking like netting and it totally worked. Still using the gesso as a glue I applied it around the top and bottom of the opening I had left and the gesso also covered up the colors on the doily.













I let this sit overnight to dry because I used a lot of gesso and I wanted it thoroughly dried.

Now...let's add some gorgeous Art Anthology Color to this...
I started with the greens. Misting Guacamole, Grass, and Fern Leaf randomly around the bottle, but really concentrating it around the opening I have left..

Next I grabbed Peacock Feathers and Lark. Misting all around the bottle.
I used Blue Topaz and Veridian on the neck of the bottle and in random areas on top of the misting to add depth and dimension.

There's no right or wrong way to do this. It's a matter of layering the colors to YOUR liking.














The sand color you see is Cinnamon Toast. With the Gesso down it went on pretty light. After that dried, I grabbed my Chocolate and painted the netting. This took roughly 3 coats.














I did the chocolate heavier in some spots to give some variation in color.
Once you are happy with the color on your bottle, grab your printable or whatever you want to use as a image decoration on your bottle. I rolled the gauze and doily back a bit and cut my image to fit, then used 3 in 1 glue to glue it down. I then rolled the gauze back over the edges of the image.

My next step was to prepare some of my embellishments. I pulled apart some of the moss pictured above so that it looked like coral.
I painted this in Tango.
I had also picked up a small package of buttons that had seashells and some star fish and sand dollars. I used wire cutters to snap off the button loops from the back and I painted the starfish Tango, and I painted the shells and sand dollars with gesso.
I wanted to prep all of my embellishments so once I started adding them I didn't have to stop and do it.

Using my hot glue gun, I started gluing on the embellishments. I started with the coral pieces, then added the shells and the glass rounds. I just kept layering them on until I was happy with the placement.

Again, there is no right or wrong way to do this...it is a matter of layering your embellishments to your liking.
Here are some photo's of how I laid mine out.































These leaf beads are super cool and they came in the large package of beads I picked up at Walmart. They really worked nicely as a frame around the image.

This next picture is the neck and top of the bottle. I used a wine bottle cork since the bottle was originally a twist off...
I got the blue open thread material on clearance at Walmart and also wrapped it with the green hemp cord. I sprayed that with some cinnamon toast before wrapping the neck of the bottle to tone down the brightness of the green.
The round beads around the rim are also from that package of beads and I brushed them with Chocolate after glueing them on to dull down the shine.




















For the back of the bottle I found this cool Mermaid Water Spell and printed it out and glued it to the back. I inked it up a bit to make it look worn




















Here are some completed images of the bottle
















































I know this was a long post and I sure hope you are inspired to go make a beautiful altered bottle.
Thanks so much for stopping by today and checking out my project.

Have a wonderful Day

x0x0x
Monica