DT Post: Faith based Spring Mixed Media with Infinity Engraving LLC

 It has been a minute since I've done a mixed media canvas and I missed it!  I love card-making but being creative on larger scale has it's own appeal.  I like doing irregular or unexpected shapes with my pieces because for me, it inspires creativity.  I love texture, color and purpose in my work.  With so much unrest and animosity in the world today, I wanted to project of the some love, peace and hope that I find through my faith in Christ into it.  That is the purpose behind todays piece.

I started with a 10" circle board.  These come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are made of layered chipboard.  I bought mine at Hobby Lobby.  After adding three coats of white Gesso (acrylic medium), I covered my board with Tim Holtz "Melange" Tissue Wrap using Prima Soft Matte Gel, smoothing over the surface and wrapping around to the back.  After that was dry, I went in with acrylic paint.  I laid down a coat of clear Gesso to make the paint go on a little thinner so that you could see the print of the tissue paper and to make blending easier.  I used pink and green, which are complementary colors.  Complementary colors means that if you mix them together, they make brown.  So where they met on the canvas, I was careful not to blend them too much.

 

 After the paint was dry, I applied the vellum centerpiece.  I created the wording on my computer in Word and printed it on vellum.  To make a sticker out if it, I applied Stick-It sheet adhesive to the back so that the adhesive wouldn't be visible through the vellum and used a square die to die cut it.  You could also use a paper trimmer.  My chipboard die cuts and wood heart buttons are from Infinity Engraving LLC.  I wanted the wood appearance and texture to show and just used the buttons as is.  I used spray inks to color the rose and vine die cut as well as the corner trellis.  I let those dry while I added my stenciling. 

If you want to use water-based mediums on chipboard do not prime with Gesso.  Gesso is an acrylic base medium that makes whatever it's put on non-porous.  If you want to use water-based mediums, but want a white base, use watercolor grounds instead of Gesso. 

 I used E6000, which is an industrial strength glue specific to metal, to attach my metal embellishments.  It's really the only glue I've found that holds metal; the other mediums I've tried don't hold very long, including hot glue.  The only thing to be mindful of when using E6000 is that it has a strong chemical odor and needs to be used with ventilation.  I live in Michigan and open my windows, even in winter, when using it. 

 To adhere the rest of my embellishments, I use the same Prima Soft Matte Gel that I adhered the tissue paper with.  It dries matte and clear, so you can't see it if it oozes out anywhere and holds perfectly.  All the button, seed beads and flat-back pearls are from 28 Lilac Lane Button mixes and embellishment kits.  I pour them out into a little dish and use them to fill in and around to complete the project.  With the varied sizes and finishes of all the elements, it makes it really easy to shape a cohesive look while maintaining the focus on the center.  To finish off, I added a few enamel dots here and there.

Here is the link to the video tutorial on my YouTube channel if you'd like to see how this project came together.  My supply list is below.

Supplies:
10" Circle Board (Hobby Lobby)
Dina Wakely White Gesso
Tim Holtz Melange Tissue Wrap
Prima Soft Matte Gel medium
Vellum
Stitck-It sheet adhesive
Square die
Dylusions acryilic paint in Bubblegum Pink, Cut Grass and Fresh Lime
Dina Wakely Clear Gesso
Distress Ink Spray: Twisted Citron
Dylusions Spray Inks: Funky Fuchsia, Bubblegum Pink, Bubblegum Pink Mica, Cut Grass
Lindy's Stamp Gang: Lucky Shamrock Green, Salt Water Taffy Pink
Infinity Engraving corner die cut, rose die cut and Wood heart buttons
Versamark ink
Delicata Golden Glitz pigment ink
Perfect Pearls: Pearl, Gold, Forever Green
Herringbone stencil
TH Mini Blossom stencil
Hot Off The Press butterfly stencil
28 Lilac Lane mixes in Pretty Princess, Cotton Candy, French Quarter, New Leaf
E6000
Doodlebug enamel dots

If you are wanting to try mixed media, but feel intimidated, try starting with something small.  You'll never create something you love if you never try to begin with.  As always, I'm happy to answer any questions you have, so don't be afraid to ask.  See you next time!

Much love,
Jasmine