Hearts Have All Things

Hello and Happy Friday!! Jennalee here today with a collaged assemblage featuring the Doodled Cage with Solid Back. This cage was the perfect jumping point for the whole piece.

Start by prepping the cage. Emboss the front of the cage using Ancient Amber Baked Texture powder. Heat random spots a second time and sprinkle on Patina Oxide Baked Texture powder and heat set. 

Paint the back of the cage and add random bits of Patina Oxide Baked Texture. 

Make a copy of a vintage photo booth photo and add a layer of Vintage Beeswax Baked Texture powder for the perfect vintage touch. 

Adhere photo to back of cage. With sewing machine stitch down the top of the cage. 

The bottom of the cage ripped a bit when I was stitching it down. I love the added texture and detail. 

Begin building layers for the collage under the cage. As I was looking for the perfect pieces I stumbled across this bit from a vintage cabinet card folder. I added a bit of lace with my machine and some hand stitching with a needle and Tim Holtz's Craft Thread. 

Heat emboss a key and key plate from the Keys and Plates Shape Set with Burnt Copper Leaves powder. Punch holes in the key, the key plate already has holes and attach to top of collage with mini brads. Attach chain piece to other side of key and key plate with mini brads. 

Add sentiment sticker to bottom of birdcage. I used a sentiment from Tim Holtz's Clippings Stickers. 

I really enjoyed this project. It was one of those pieces that I didn't think and just followed where it took me. I hope you enjoyed this quick tutorial. Thanks for stopping by!! 

~ Happy Creating ~ Jennalee 

Going to the zoo, zoo, zoo with Betsy Skagen

Coming to you straight from my vacation dockside are these zoo tags.

 First there is the Pretty in Pink flamingo nestled within his cage. The` second tag features Mr. Tiger.

 Cat got your tongue? This cat certainly got the poor zookeepers tongue (and entire head) when the zookeeper found himself on the wrong side of the fence.

Tutorial how to make the Zoo Tags

1. To make these altered zoo tags, begin by running white cardstock through a honeycomb embossing folder several times. Cut out the shape of two large tags, approximately 7.5" by 4".

2. Cover the tags with Quinacridone Gold acrylic paint.

3. When dry, rub a soot black distress ink pad over the surface.

4. Use a silver paint pen to paint both the cage and the wrought iron fence silver. Then rub Soot Black Distress Ink along the edges to give the bars an aged look.

5. Next print out one copy of the digital image sheet A Trip to the Zoo #1, A Trip to the Zoo #3 and two copies of In the Garden - Bird Cages. Cut out the zookeeper, tiger, flamingo and text messages from the Zoo Sheet and cut backgrounds to fit the fence and cage from the Bird Cages Sheet. Cut additional flowers from this sheet as you see fit.

6. Adhere tiny bits of bling to the background sheet. (I forgot to take a picture of this before I added the bird and cage)

7. Use 3D foam adhesive to adhere your flamingo to the cage background.

8. Then ink tiny pieces of chipboard to create dimensional blocks for your cage and place these between the cage background and the cage to add depth.

9. Add tiny flowers, greenery, your text and ribbon to complete the flamingo tag.

10. Use a similar process to make the tiger tag. However this tag uses a second tag in the background. Begin by blending several ink colors onto a manila tag. Then use acrylic paint with different stencils or stamps to apply two to three patterns. When dry, adhere the tag to the second of your larger honeycomb tags.

11. Adhere the fence to the colorful tag.. Then add tiny bits of pink bling before gluing on the tiger, the zookeeper and the zookeeper's head (muahahaha).

12. Add your text, greenery, flowers and ribbon and both your tags are complete. I hope you get a chance to enjoy some summer fun, whether it be visiting a zoo or hanging out on a lakeside dock.

-Betsy

Great Stuff

GSLCuts items used:Mini Wrought Iron Decorative Fence 

Doodled Cage with Solid Back

Honeycomb

Alpha Stamps A Trip to the Zoo #1
Alpha Stamps A Trip to the Zoo #3
Manilla tagIn the Garden - Bird Cages
Quinacridone Gold acrylic paint
Silver Paint pen
Acrylics in assorted colors
Beacon 3-in-1 Adhesive
Embossing folder
Ribbon
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads in assorted colors

Beacon 3-in-1 Adhesive

Alpha Stamps Flowers & Greenery 

Perfect Faith Mixed Media Canvas

Hi everyone!  Barbara here today with some more mixed media canvas art.  I cannot think of anything better for my focal images than the beautiful selection of laser cut chipboard from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.  There is so much to choose from and I  find it so easy to get a project started using the GSL Cuts as my starting point.

Here is what I mean.  Instead of starting with that scary, blank white canvas, just choose some chipboard you think you might use and start laying out the pieces.  Voila!  No more scary, blank white canvas.  Now I have my jumping off point.

Next, I adhered my chipboard to the canvas and then gave it a quick coat of white gesso.  The little bird on the cage has not been adhered yet, only gessoed.  I may need to change my mind about placement.  Let gesso dry. 

Place canvas inside a box to catch the extra spray from the misters.  Use ColourArte Shimmering Mists to add color to background, as follows:

Bashful Blue

Teal Zircon - Upper Half of Canvas

Fern - Lower Half of Canvas

Seafoam - lower half

More Bashful Blue - upper half

More Fern - lower half

Even More Fern - Lower half

Mists dried naturally

Paint chipboard as follows:

Tree branch - Burnt Umber H20

Leaves - Rainforest H20

Birds - Beachouse Blue H20

Bird Cage - Ancient Coin H20

Leaves - Key Lime H20, let dry, add Crazing Collage Medium

Bird Cage - Bronze H20

Birds - Water H20

Spritz background with water, manipulate colors with brush

Bird Cage - Patina Gilding Wax

Add shading beneath branches, leaves, birds, and bird cage with charcoal pencil and smudge with finger or blending stump

Closeup of patina gilding wax

Glue standing bird to front of bird cage

Computer generate the quote using a font of your choice onto parchment card stock.  Here is the actual quote I got my wording from.

“The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.”
―  J.M. Barrie,  The Little White Bird    

Cut apart and test pieces to fit in open areas.

Adhere card stock to slightly larger black chipboard that has been painted with the Ancient Coin and Bronze Twinkling H20s ...

... and adhere to canvas.

Use a stencil brush to add a light brick background with Moss gilding wax through brick stencil.  

Edge canvas with Black Gold gilding wax and the same stencil brush.  Blend wax out with your fingers, if necessary.

Finish off canvas with flowers and leaves around the bird cage, and a butterfly just above the cage.

And a few closeups from different angles.  I really love the dimension from the chipboard.

Supplies Used:

GSL Birds Shape Set
GSL Doodled Cage with Solid Back
GSL Leafy Branches with Birds (contact store)
ColourArte Radiant Rains Shimmering Mists
  Bashful Blue
  Teal Zircon
  Fern
  Seafoam
ColourArte Twinkling H20s
  Key Lime
  Rainforest
  Raspberry Wine
  Ancient Coin
  Bronze
  Burnt Umber
  Beachouse Blue
Tim Holtz Brick Stencil
Miss Lillian's Gilding Paste (Moss, Black Gold, Patina)
White gesso

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you feel inspired to make your very own chipboard embellished mixed media canvas.

Have a wonderful day, and remember to take time to play!

Barbara