Life is not a movie: August challenge inspiration

Hello my dear crafty friends and welcome to my August challenge inspiration for our VLVS challenge.

First let  me show you our gorgeous August inspiration:

This inspiration is SO MUCH ME!! 

Even as a new DT member I already own most of the stamps on this inspirational photo and I love them.

So here is my art page made with this inspiration.

I made it in my usual Mixed Media style using lots of mediums, paints, stencils and ... stamps, sure.

Also this inspiration is in black and white, I thought that adding a bit of color on the corner can be interesting. So I used stencil to make the texture over stamped Dictionary page  (keeping the main image of Businessman  Silhouette on the corner). The Film strip that was on the inspirational piece gave me the words of my art piece: Life is not an old movie, but a new rainbow dream.

Totally my own quote, believe me... 

The quote was made with my very old letter stickers and as those became totally non adhesive, I added a thin line of glaze to keep them in the place.

And now for some close- ups too:

I used Sepia black ink and not the  real black one, so you see a bit of dark brown on the background stamping. The man image was outlined with white paint around to make it " standing out".

The word life is a die cut  that I glued on my piece.

And here is a full sentiment  (you sure can use it, but remember me if you do so)

And here is a list of stamps I used for this inspirational piece:

 Businessman Silhouette Item 19418 Plate 1440

Film strip Item 18921 Plate 1428

Dictionary page Item 19015 Plate 890

Other products:

Stencil- Tando Creative

Die- Cherry Lynn Designs

Letter stickers

Paints, mists, gesso : Ranger

So now it's your time to play with our inspirational challenge!

Who knows- you can even win!!!

Mixed Media ATC's

Mixed media, in visual art, refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed. 

One thing I love about making ATC's is that you can use alot of the supplies that you already use if you scrapbook, art journal, do canvases, project life, etc...  I also find it's a great way to use up all the little paper scraps we seem to accumulate (I get a ton!!).

To make this first ATC I gathered up some odds and ends that I had lying around

as well as the treasured Line of Chevrons stamp and the Showgirl with baton stamp and made this ATC

 I also found another overlay as well as some pom poms and miscellaneous items and added them as well, but that's what makes the ATC have more depth and interest.  Don't be afraid to layer on the items!

I also made this ATC

using the Lady tilting head stamp as well as a chipboard piece, rub ons, some pattered paper and a rhinestone.

And last but not least this fun ATC using the Lady dress flying up stamp

 using a project life card glued onto cardstock, some rub ons, a transparency, rhinestones and pattered paper.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my ATC's and that it has inspired you to dig into your stash and layer on the supplies! 

 

Journey to your soul, Art Doll

Hello and Happy Monday!  Tina here today with a off the page, mixed media project.

My creative style and design evolve and change over time.  To be honest, I get bored with myself when I create the same project type design frequently.  I believe that change keeps my creativity flowing and I embrace the change instead of fight it.

One of my current creative obsessions are Art Dolls.  I love the free form, whimsy appeal and love the serene, deep feelings that are often evoked from my dolls.

Using products from some of my favorite companies, including VLVS of course, I created my next Art Doll.

My Art Doll base is actually a failed mixed media project.  I had been playing with several Stencil Girl stencils and Shimmerz paints with the hopes of creating a mixed media canvas for VLVS.  I'm not sure if the color palette or design wasn't working, so I started over.
(the original color palette on my base was blue and purple, and had text texture all over the piece).

I covered the blue/purple wood canvas with a coat of gesso and began again.

Once the gesso was dry, I used the Fractured Glass Stencil  from Stencil Girl, with Shimmerz Texturez to create my new background.  I added several shades of Shimmerz sprays to build my color.

I also applied the same technique to a blank wood piece that would 'hold' my Art Doll in place.

Now it was just a matter of building the individual pieces of my Art Doll, with paint, embossing powder, spray mists and stamping.

The 'throne' that my Art Doll rested on, was created using the Dictionary Page stamp, (a must for any mixed media artists) over a piece of vellum.  I love how you can subtly see the background through the stamped image and vellum.

Stamping does not have to be 'in your face' to get the impact you are looking for.  For my Art Doll wings, I stamped embossed the wings with Filigree Heart.  I LOVE how this looks on the wings.  The embossed stamped image adds to the whimsy feel I was looking for.  I also added a bit of the same technique on her halo.

I completed my Art Doll, using bits and bobs from my stash.

Oh yeah...I forgot to show the sides of my wood canvas.  I also stamped embossed the sides of my canvas using Lacy Lines.  This stamp is a perfect compliment to the stencil used previously.  Perfect!

What do you do to keep your creative MOJO flowing?  I'd love to know any tips or hints you have to share!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Sneakers In Da House!

They say that women LOVE to collect shoes!  But did you know that a lot of men LOVE to collect sneakers!!  I found these words, and found it a great creative resource for designing a wood frame.

This is my soon to be son-in-law's rack of sneakers!  Sure some maybe for sports, but most are for styling.

VLVS Images:

19292 Star Sneaker
19233 Grunge Plus sign
19171 One Way
19186 Pulse Rate
19232 Pylon
19175 - 2 Hands Pointing (one hand used)
19129 Star Pin
1067 Screw

The wood frame used was inexpensive, as such, there were a lot of rough edges.  Use a fine grit sand paper to sand the wood the way you like it.  For this project, a lot of texture was left to show through the wood.

Gesso is painted on the frame as a base coat.  This seals the wood so you do not waste a lot of your expensive paint.  One coat was used, again because the texture was wanted.  Normally, 2-3 coats works well.

Paint, stain, stenciling, and collage techniques before stamping.

Some stamp images are stamped right to the wood, and others are stamped, cut and layered on wood.  Further paint, and accenting with Gel Pens, Paint, stain added.

UmWow Chevrons added for dimension, texture and directional ques.

Pulse Rate image is genius!  Fits with the theme of music playing and adds so much to a collage!!

Sneakers used to be boring, but now they are a part of stylish fashion!!!!

Cre8tivelea Yours - Lea