New DecoArt Tutorial

Hey  everyone!   I  have  a  brand  new  step by step  tutorial  to  share  with  you  over  at  the  DecoArt  Mixed  Media  blog.   Here's  what  you  can  find  there--

--lots  of  texture  in  this  collage  including  some  metal  embossing  and  crackle  paste--you  can  find  it  HERE.    These  collages  are  lots  of  fun  to  make--there's  no  rules  and  they  always  end  up  your  own  once  you  start  experimenting  and  seeing  what  happens.

More Fun With Metal Before I Leave....

I've  still  been  playing  with  metal,  and  I  wanted  to  answer  a  couple  of  your  questions  from  my  last  post.   I  like  to  use  a  36 gauge  metal,  which  is  pretty  much    the  weight  of all  the  different  types  of  embossing  metal  out  there.   Amaco  sells  it  in  different  shades  and   different  kinds  of  metal  that  you  can  find  HERE.   It's  not  real  costly,  especially  if  you  just  want  to  experiment.   I  found  a  large  roll at  Nasco--I'm  not  sure  if  they  still  have  it,  but  I  hope they  do,  because  I'm  running  low.   And  I  also  want  to  mention  that  you  can  cut  it  with  regular  household  scissors.   And  one  more  question  was  how  do  I  adhere  it.  I  use  extra  heavy  gel  medium  and  it  will  stick  to  anything--you  just  need  to  burnish  down  the  sides  of  the  metal  to  the  surface  that  you're  adhering  it  to.

Okay--so  I've  been  running  around  here  like  crazy  this  week  trying  to  get  some  more  art  in  before  I  leave  (later  on  today)

I  really  love  how  vibrant  the  colors  are  on  the  metal.

I  had  been  finding  these  religious  medals  this  summer  at  sales,  knowing  that  one  day  I  would  find  the  perfect  piece  for  them!

I've  also  been  using  some  of  my  faces  for  collage  again--

When  I  use  my  faces,  they  seem  to  tell  me  how  to  finish  the piece.   These  came  together  very  quickly.

So,  I'm  leaving  for  my  show--I  have  to  say  that  I  need  a  little  break--all  I'll  have  to  worry  about  when  I  get  back  is  Christmas--I  LOVE  Christmas!!

A Little Variation on Metal Embossing--So Easy!

First off,  I  was  inspired  again by Jane  DesRosier (Grittyjane).   Her  portrait paintings  are  exceptional,  but  I also  love  her  series  of  folk  art  trees  that  she's  been  offering  in  her  shop  lately,  and  I  was  inspired  by  her  to  create  my  own  version  with  my own  little spin  on  it--

I  did  it  on  metal!  This  is  a  good  size  piece--it's  on  one  of  the  wood  panels  that  I  purchased  at  Lowes.  The  size  ended  up  being  12 x 22.

I  just  love  the  texture  that  the  embossed  metal  gives.   And  I  cannot  tell  you  how  easy  this  is  to  do  and  how  fun.   And  I'll  mention  again  that  I  have  2  tutorials  on  this  technique  HERE  and  HERE.    On  this  piece  I  tried  something  just  a  little  bit  different  and  more  revised  than  I've  done  before.

I  made  another  piece  the  same  as  this  one,  and  I  took  step-by-step  photos  to  show  anyone  who's  interested.  I'm  really  happy  with  the  way  this  next  one  turned  out  also.   The  first  thing  I  did  was  cut  my  piece  of  metal  (for a 6 x 12 gallery  canvas),  and  then  applied  different  colors  of  alcohol  inks,  and  when  it  was  dry  I  stamped  all  over  it  with  a  text  stamp  using  a  Staz on  ink  pad--

Then  I  flipped  it  over  to  sketch  my  design  with  a  regular  pencil  lightly--

I  sketched  with  the  pencil  first,  because  it  will  erase  if  you  make  a  mistake.  You  can  see  at  the  nose  and  mouth  that  I  erased--this  doesn't  come  through  on  the  front.   So  when  I  was  happy  with  my  sketch  I  outlined  everything  with  a  pitt  pen  (or  marker).  This  was  something  I've  never  done  before,  and  I  don't  know  why.  It  makes  the  embossing  part  so  much  easier.   Another   little  tip---sometimes  the  metal  is  wrinkled  before  you  even  start.   You  can  just  take  an  old  credit  card  or  brayer  and  smooth  it  right  back  down.

So  after  I  put  my  initial  sketch  in--I  embossed  it--

and  here's  the  right  side--

 (I embossed the word imagine on the front--I really can't spell backwards : )

So  another  new  little  thing  that  I  did  was  add  no  more  embossing   Usually,  I  emboss  the  entire  piece  of  metal,  but  I  just  wanted  the  main  image  to  pop  out.    Then  I  got  out  my  regular  acrylic  paints  (I  really  recommend  the  artist  grade  acrylics  for  this  step)  and  started  painting--

....lots   and  lots  of  layers  on  her  face.   I  wanted  to  completely  block  out  the  background  color.   But  then  for  her  dress,  I  just  painted  in  the  daisies  (I  wanted  to  tie  this  in  with  my  tree  piece)  At  first,  if  you  try  this,  it  seems  like  that  the  paint  will never  cover  the  metal,  but  it  does,  and  I  love  the  texture  the  acrylics  bring  with  all  of  the  layers.  

It's  a  little  tricky  trying  to  get  a  good  photo  with  this  metal,  because  it's  so  reflective.  I  always  add  a  gloss  varnish  to  it  after  I  spray  a  workable  fixative  on  it.   The  color  REALLY  pops.   I'm  very  happy  with  these  pieces!

And  now  I'm  off  to  do  some  Christmas  shopping--I  like  to  go  Christmas  shopping  with  all  the  crowds--I  really  mean  that  too!

Embossed Metal & Steampunk--a Great Combination

I've  been  using  my  Graphic 45  Steampunk  Debutante  papers  again  (still  my  favorite  ones  that  I  have)  and  this  time  I've  added  a  little  metal  embossing  with  them--

and  I  added  these  fun  embellishments  to  this  piece--

This  is  where  I  have  to  thank  garage  sales  again  for  the  light  bulbs,  knobs,   and  the  old  alarm  clock  that  I  took  apart.....and  also  the  frame.   It  was  a  mirror  in  a  plain  wood  frame  that  I  found  for  50 cents.   As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  had  2  of  them--



The  best  way  to  do  steampunk!

And  speaking  of  papers,  I  just  got  some  new  ones  in  the  mail  on  Saturday  from  Stampington  that  are  SO  awesome--I  will  be  doing  something  with  them--so  stay  tuned.....

Some More Sunshine--and--Bird's Nest Update

Kristin,  can  I  tell  you  how  much   fun  I'm  having  with  your  Summer  of  Color??!!    This  week  the  color  is  yellow,  and  I  had  so  much  fun  making  my  sun  on  my  last  post,  that  I  decided  to  do  it  again!!

I  even  used  a  map  again  from  the  same  atlas  book  that  I  had.   And  another  cool  thing  about  Kristin's  weekly  prompts  is  that  she  has  a  giveaway  if  you  participate....plus  your  name  is  entered  twice  if  you  decide  to  add  another  element  that  she  suggests.   This  week  it  was  anything  metallic  incorporated  into  your  piece.   So,  I  decided  to  add  some  metal  embossing  with  it.   This  piece  is  on  a  cradled  wood  panel  with  deep  sides,  and  this  is  how  I  finished  off  the  sides--

Metal  embossing  is  very  easy  to  do,  and  you  get  such  great  results.   I  actually  have  2  tutorials  on  my  blog  that  you  can  find  HERE  and  HERE,  and  if  you  really  want  to  learn  but  want  more  help--all you  have  to  do  is  ask  me!

And,  actually  the  sun  face  is  collaged  on  metal  too.  It's  on  copper  and  I  didn't  emboss it.   I  just  stamped  on  it  and  added  alcohol  inks--

....very  cool  effect

And  here's  the  finished  piece--

I  would  never  never  have  thought  of  making  this  piece  this  way  if  Kristin  hadn't  of  suggested  the  metal....so...thank  you  Kristin  again   for  that  spark!

And  you  know  what  I'm  going  to  say  next....go  on  over  to  the  Summer  of  Color  to  see  more  yellow!

And  remember  the  nest  I  found  last  Wednesday  with  the  1  lonely  little  egg  in  it?   Well,  the  next  morning    this  is  what  I  found--

.....and  on  Friday  morning  I  found  this...

...Saturday...

...enough already!!

And  on  Sunday??

This  is  ridiculous!!

So  that  was  yesterday  morning.   I've  left  it  alone  since  then.   I'm  a  little  afraid  of  what  I  might  find  now.   Now,  mind  you,  I've  been  working  with  the  parents  here--everyday  I  take  it  down,  and  very  carefully  water  the  plant,  take  my  photo,  and  then  put  it  back.   They've  been  very  lenient  with  me.  I've  been  doing  some  research,  and  these  birds  are  called  house  finches  (thanks  Regina  for  telling  me  what  they  could  be,  because  that's  exactly  what  is  nesting  in  my  basket)

  They're  so  cute!--very  small,  and  I  read  that  they  hook  up  in  the  winter  time  and  remain  monogamous--so  cute!!  The  one  on  the  left  is  the  male  and  the  more  color  they  have  on  them  is  what  attracts  the  female  to  them.   Gee--you  learn  something  new  everyday! 

And  for all those celebrating--Happy 4th  of  July!!

To Sum It Up

In these last couple of posts, I've just given a general idea of what is involved  in  selling  your  art  at  shows--there's lots more, but  if  anyone  is interested in more, just  let  me know. So to sum  it  up  about  shows--you're always learning  new  things  about  them  no  matter how long you've  been  doing  this.   Anywhere from set up, what to bring, how much, and the list goes on.  So  what  have I  learned  this year so far?  Well, I found that people like mirrors!

I guess you could call this functional art--right?  People have to check themselves out before they leave the house.  (Boy, did I have a hard time taking this photo.  I ended up putting a piece of wax paper on the mirror, but it worked.)

And embossed metal is very popular--

Along  with  sun faces or a flower face--however you want  to look at it.

And, also to my surprise--Hippie art!

Everytime I take this Hippie girl with me, she never comes back--somebody always takes her home. I think that she might be getting a little tired of going alone from show to show--I think she needs another  Hippie   friend--what do you think?

And  I've  also  learned  not  to  put  my  wood  blocks  on shelves, but  hang  them all  up so  people stop trying  to  open  them!  I'm  leaving  tomorrow for just  a  one  day show on  Saturday.  It's  a tough set-up  in the morning, but it's  a  good  show.  I did  it last  year for the first time and  I  loved  it.  I  hope  to take photos, because  it's  right  on  the main  street,  and  it's  such  a cute  little  town.

A Metal Embossing Tutorial--My Way

I don't know if there is a right way to emboss metal, but this is the way that I emboss metal.  And let me tell you, it's SOOO easy, and you probably have most  everything you need for it already, including the metal. The picture inside of the frame is all embossed metal--

I've shown metal embossing before, but it's been a while, so I decided to show you with a little more detail on how I go about doing it.  I use the aluminum  metal foil (36 gauge) that I get at Dick Blick, but  you can also use the aluminun pie tins or any aluminum tray that you can get at the grocery store.  You can  just wash the ones that you bought  that had food in them--they're just as good.  And I've purchased a few embossing tools, but the one I always go back to is either the other end of a paint brush or a dull sharpened pencil.  The metal usually rips for me when I use a stylus.  The foil is pretty durable, but you do have to be careful, and it can be cut with regular household scissors.  After I sketch my design lightly with a pencil, I start embossing (you can emboss on either side)--

I knew that I wanted a rooster, heart, and sun on this, so I sketched it on. After that I just doodled with my paint brush tip or whatever my choice of embossing tool that I'm using at the time.  You don't even have to sketch anything on--you can make a zentangle--or just emboss whatever comes to mind.

After that, I always put some alcohol inks on it first and when the inks are dry, I apply a black craft acrylic paint quickly, and then wipe if back off again.  Just don't wipe too hard, because you'll get right back down to the metal.

Then when that's all dry, I just paint in my design with acrylics, but I recommend the artist's acrylics, because they're much more vibrant.  The craft paints are too thin and it's hard to cover the metal.  So when all of the paint is dry, I always spray a couple of coats of a workable fixative on it--the paint will come off if you don't.  And then when the fixative is dry, I put a gloss varnish on it, so it has a nice shiny look to it.

It's very hard to get a good photo of the finished piece--it's much better in real life.  So the frame--well a couple of  months ago, I went to the wholesale show in Columbus, Ohio, and I showed everyone these barnwood frames that I purchased there--

These frames had glass inserts in them.  So I kept the glass in it, and just adhered the metal piece with extra heavy gel medium right on the glass--it always works!  And I hadn't cut the metal just right to fit inside the frame, so I camouflaged the side with textured wallpaper--

I hope I covered everything, but if you have any questions--just ask.  So next time you bring one of those trays home from the grocery store, don't throw it out--try this--it's fun.

And here's some  more rooster love--

FUN!

I also wanted to show you what I treated myself too.  When I saw these earrings on Sharon's blog

Livewire Jewelry

I knew that I had to have them--these are me, and I just got them yesterday (very quick service!) I love them Sharon--these particular earrings were published in the magazine Bead Trends, but this isn't the first time that she's been published.  Go check out her blog--she's also a very talented mixed media artist.

I hope that everyone has a great holiday weekend here in the U.S.--I know I will--the weather is looking beautiful!!!