Altered Hinged Canvases - "Friends"

This one took me awhile to complete. I was actually waiting for some inspiration for things to attach to the frames that surround the pictures and to find some hinges that were the right size. One of the ladies from a group that I belong to called "Contributing Artists" an ATC group sent me some hand made ornaments for my birthday this year (and last). Ahah, there was the idea. I attached three of them to it (the beads are also there). The cherub is from my mom and the other stuff is scrap stuff.

The frames are actually reversed and I worked on the back sides. I still did a wash over the "front" side and stamped on it. This side is covered with Light Molding Paste from Golden to cover up the unevenness of the wood versus canvas and the staples. Then I did a light blue wash over it, then rubbed dye ink pads over that in different colors and finally (after stamping some words with StazOn) I decided to go over that with some Moon Glow embossing powders.

Masks

This happens to be my first time posting to 4 x 4 Friday and I hope I do myself proud. This creation was done using Encaustic Wax, a JudiKins mask stamp, an After Midnight word stamp and brads to affix the semigloss paper to a 4 x 4 coaster for stability.
I stamped the image and word first with permanent ink and let them dry, then loaded the Encaustic iron up with various waxes and went to town. The flowers, leaves and lips were done with a Stylus iron (for more control of the colors).

Painted acetate over Oil paints

I did this card for my niece and her husband for their birthdays (they are only a couple of weeks apart). I have been wanting to give oil painting a try and this was the perfect opportunity for me. The very back is a piece of canvas card that is covered with gesso then painted with the oils, which, of course, took almost a week to dry. I decided to "slap" some VersaMark on it and emboss it with clear powder, just to make sure that it is preserved. The 2 acetate pieces are stamped with StazOn. The middle layer with Cherry Pink (sun) and Azure (bird), then I colored the back with Sharpies. The couple on the front layer is stamped with black StazOn and the bird, again, with Saddle Brown. I then painted them with acrylics. To bring the piece together, I used foam tape between the layers and roof flashing tape for a frame. I also put silver corners on it for a splash of style.

Metallic Ink Transfer - Pure

I thought I would have some more fun with transfers. This one is a Dover image that I transferred using Folk Art's Metallic Pearl White, of which I then I highlighted using various other paints and some Crystal Effects. I also used some Soft Gel Medium to glue down some older lace I got from my mom, then I painted it with some Turquoise Lumiere. I also decided to add some "aged" stickers and glued on some gemstones.

Catch a Painted Pony

I created this birthday card and posted it to one of my Yahoo groups, and a few of the group asked if I would explain how I did it. Well, I decided to post it here. It is called the painted pony and it is really simple to do. I requires making a reverse mask.

To begin, stamp the pony onto your card stock and then onto a piece of scrap paper the size of the card stock of the original stamping. Using an exacto knife, cut around the inside of the pony's body where you want to stamp, this is your reverse mask. Next, line up the mask with the fisrt stamping and decide what other stamps will work inside the mask to create the "painted" effect.

I also masked the legs and hooves and stamped the grass, sand and yucca plants using markers on the stamps.

The pony stamp came from B & J Art Stamps of which I have a link here on this site.

New Book - Altered Surfaces

While at my favorite rubber stamp store the other day, I purchased this book. I was not sure what it would have in it, but I am always out for more info. Boy did I ever get it. Chris Cozen, the author, uses the "Golden" line of products and her info is fab!! I am now to the point of raiding one of my city's best art supply stores for more of their goodies. They have some stuff called "Glass Bead Gel" that makes images covered by it look frosty, and if you tint it, you get suprising results. You can even use it for transfers (yes, madame Queen). Then there is "Fiber Paste"... I could go on, but I think I will let you all judge for yourselves. Besides, I have some Golden products that I have not used because I was not sure what to do with them, now I need to find the time to work with them...

Missing Mom

I made this in early November, that tells you how up I am on posting anywhere, to post to Technique Junkies, however, I was having "issues" with finding a good spot to use my digital camera in the house (lousy lighting). I think I have solved that problem, now for the scanner...

This canvas has many different acrylic paints and sprays over torn music paper (peeled paint style). I used a couple of graduation pictures of her and her Rosary from school. Although she went to a Catholic school, she did not practice it later in life. She was, however, a very wise and wonderful woman and I miss her very much.

Who is She??

This is one of my favorite pictures. All we know is that she is a relative on my dad's side of the family. The box is antiqued with Sophisticated Finishes and topped with some spare papers and lace I have. The copy of the picture was gone over with Encaustic Wax of various light colors. The pose and calmness of her makes me jealous for times like that.

I got the nerve up...

Well, after seeing other "junkies" giving this a try, I decided to jump into the pond also. Although I haven't a thing, recently to show, I have one of those wooden mannequins I altered awhile ago.. Painted with dye reinkers and metalic paints, embellished with gemstones and beaded ribbon and topped off with a mask from After Midnight rubber stamps she is ready for anything.