A Good Reminder

Now that I have started my vacation time, being mindful is what I need right now as I attempt to unwind. Today's index card for ICAD2020 is a reminder that the first step is to... just breathe. That slow deep breath does wonders to calm a tense body and spinning mind.

Creating helps me be mindful. I am a slow crafter. I like to take my time as I create. I find the process relaxing and a sense of joy and fulfillment when I create something that didn't exist until I created it. 

For this mixed media index card, my colour medium as I join in Kathy Raccosin's the Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge is both watercolour and acrylic. As to the colours, I was inspired by the rich emerald gem tones of the Mixed Media Place's June Moodboard. When I saw the colours it reminded me of a pretty baby wipe that I had saved after creating an ICAD with those colours from a previous year. When you think of watercolouring, upcyling a baby wipe used in cleaning up watercolour splattering likely doesn't come to mind but I thought that it would make a great base for what I had in mind and keep me on track for World Watercolour Month. Think of the background like a watercolour abstract painting. The watercolours came from the lots of splatters using Prima Watercolour Confections from the Classics and Tropicals sets when I created this previous background.

To start, the index card base was stamped with a Prima background stamp, blended with a blend of Tim Holtz Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress ink along distressing the edges and then edging it with Distress Ink. After adhering the baby wipe with Matte Multimedium Gell and letting it dry, I used a Brown Stabilo All watercolour pencil dipped in water to draw my leaf sprig. Once that was dry, I took it to my sewing machine and used embroidery thread to outline the sprig. Next, I switched up the thread to a more common standard weight brown multipurpose thread and stitched around the outside adding in some zigzag stitches for rule of 3 and framing interest.

Once back at my craft table, I stamped the Finnabair Messy Writing onto it with Coffee Archival Ink. Initially I thought I would be done at that point, but looking at it, I felt the leaves needed to stand out more so I painted the lower part with Finnabair Mermaid Teal Metallique paint and dabbing it off as I went to lighten and blend it. Next, I painted the top portions as highlighted areas with water-downed Finnabair Gesso. Again, dabbing off as I went to lighten and blend. I completed the painting part by added some tiny splatters of the gesso. Lastly, I distress inked the sentiment strip before adhering it with some cut pieces of cereal box board to pop it up for a little added dimension.

Here's a look at the ICAD again:

Supplies: Index card (Staples), IOD Text background stamp, Finnabair Messy Script stamp, Finnabair Mermaid Teal Metallique paint, gesso, Finnabair Sentiment sticker (Prima), Tim Holtz Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress ink, Coffee Archival ink, Multi Medium Matte (Ranger), Brown All pencil (Stabilo), brown embroidery thread (Aurifil Mako'Ne), brown thread and baby wipe (misc.)

Here is the Mixed Media Place moodboard. Oh, so pretty!

I am also playing along with:

Mix It Up Challenge - #39 Anything Goes + Open Technique

Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge - #62

A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge #119

TTFN,

Shine - Mixed Media Canvas

Trying out some new techniques using Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities III. I followed the technique for altered surfaces on page 45 in creating this canvas for Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge #33 over at Studio L3. This month's generous prize sponsor is Inspiration Emporium.

Supplies: Tim Holtz burlap canvas, Framed, Random and Newsprint Alpha Parts, Alpha Tiles, Corners, Trinket Pins, Paper String, and Patterned Paper (Advantus), Tim Holtz Distress inks, Distress paints, Glue' n Seal (Ranger), Tim Holtz Harlequin stencil (Stamper's Anonymous), gesso (Golden), antique mother of pearl buttons (Misc.)

My theme was inspired by the Creative Gym Exercise #10 - One Important Word over at Mixed Media Place. I love stars and what they represent. The one word that resonates with me in regards to a star is "Shine".

So many layers and textures on this.

I love how this one turned out and it has found a place proudly displayed on my mantel.

TTFN,

Winging It

Hee, hee, hee... please pardon my punny title... I couldn't resist.  Yes, the  Creative Gym - Exercise #3 over at The Mixed Media Place this month is about things with wings.  I chose to created a mixed media watercoloured tag with a bird.

Supplies: watercolour paper (Canson), Tim Holtz Distress Inks and Paints, Archival Ink (Ranger), Tim Holts stamps and stencil (Stamper's Anonymous), prisma glitter (CTMH),  ribbon (misc.) Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), vellum, lace and metal charm (Dollarama), Ashland shell spring filler (Michaels), gel medium (Faber-Castell)

After stamping my initial bird, I stamped another using black Distress Paint on vellum, sprinkling it with prisma glitter, fussy cutting it and partially adhering it over top the original to create some dimensional effect.

For the background, I went with this week's Inky Background Challenge on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog and created it with multiple Tim Holtz Distress Ink colours applied to a stencil, water spritzed, and then transferred to the watercolour paper.

I coloured the ribbon with Distress inks to match and the lace with spray ink, and added the shells which are actually pre-coloured vase fillers that I repurposed. I picked through the bag to find small flat ones that would suit well providing texture without too much bulk.

I liked this tag so much, I will not be gifting it. It has found itself a home as a bookmark in my lastest edition of Flow Magazine.

TTFN,