Mixed media cards

Yesterday I decided I wanted to get inky so I made a master board on watercolor paper. What's a master board? You make one large piece of art and then cut it up into smaller pieces and further embellish. Years ago when I first started card making it was called "one sheet wonder!"

I used two colors of green Distress Inks and one blue one, swiping them on my craft sheet and spritzing with water. Then I "smooshed" the paper into the watery color several times, repeating as needed to fully cover the paper and drying between each step.

Once I had achieved some pretty color, I stamped some script and numbers with black Archival ink. I also added some heavy white gesso through a number stencil and splattered watered down gesso over the cards.  The final touches were adding white floral die cuts (Tim Holtz) and some word strips (also TH). Then I edged the card fronts with black ink and mounted them on white cards.

I love how they turned out and had fun getting messy again!

Best Transfers Yet

I think I have ADD when it comes to art! I start one project, move to another and another, and don't finish anything! Actually it sometimes works to my advantage because I can move on to something else while paint is drying...

I recently discovered a new YouTuber (to me), a mixed-media artist from California named Lorri Marie Jenkins. I started binge-watching her altered book tutorials and immediately grabbed an old book to start making my own.

One of her tutorials was on transfers. I have done many transfers before and the results are iffy at best. So many factors can ruin a transfer. But, following her instructions, I made these very successful transfers on a double-page spread.

They are not perfect but about as good as any transfer could be. 

Here are some basic instructions: Cover the image three times with a coat of Mod Podge, drying fully between each layer. Paint the substrate with acrylic paint and then coat with a medium coverage of Mod Podge. Place image face down, burnish well and dry completely. Then mist the image with water and start rubbing the paper off. If there is a haze of white left once the image is dry, there is still paper pulp to remove.  Repeat as needed. I found that I could rub quite vigorously (unlike with other transfers I've done) and I had very little lift-off of the original image.

There's still more to be done to these pages, but I am happy with my transfers! And I have several other pages in the works, so will share more later.

Altered Address Labels - Tutorial

Do you get so many address labels in the mail that you don't ever use them all? Or, in my case, I keep receiving ones for my daughter who hasn't lived with us or in Texas for ten years! I was about to throw them away but then had an "aha" moment and decided to alter them! I used a few in one of my recent weekly spreads and promised to share a tutorial. So here goes:

1. Cover the label sheet with one or two coats of gesso. You can see that they aren't totally covered but the following steps will take care of that.

2. Paint with two colors of acrylic paint with a paintbrush or old key card or your fingers. (I used a hot pink and light blue which combined to make a violet.)

3. I added more pink.

4. Then more blue.

5. "Stamp" with white paint and bubble wrap.

6. Stamp with black permanent ink (I used a chevron roller stamp).

7. The black stood out too much so I applied more white paint with bubble wrap to soften it. (Can you tell that this is a back-and-forth process? Put something on, add something to cover that, add more, etc...)

8. Add small dots with pink paint and a piece of shelf liner.

9. Add more white with corrugated cardboard (a coffee cup wrapper).

10. Stamp script randomly with black permanent ink. Finished - or just keep going until you like it!

 Here are a few of the labels from the finished sheet. Each one looks different, but they coordinate.

And here are a few more I have done.

Sometimes the labels are bigger and you could even punch shapes from them.

The possibilities are endless and you can recycle and use something that would have been thrown in the trash! I hope you will give it a try!

Valentine Houses

I have now received all three of my Valentine "row" houses from the recent swap. This completes my "village." Aren't they adorable? I think I might make them into a little banner for Valentine's Day.

In case you missed my previous post, these were the three I sent out.

This was a fun swap. Love my little houses!

Valentine Row House Swap

It's a new year with new swaps to join in my online group.  The first one I've joined is for swapping three Valentine-themed "row houses."  I made three similar ones and sent to three people. I will receive three from others in return. 

The houses had to be created on heavy card stock, chipboard or watercolor paper and were to be between 3.5-4" wide and 6-7" tall.  They are due by the end of January, but I finished mine a few days ago and have already sent them on - so happy to be ahead of the deadline!

These are in a mixed media style with lots of paints, stenciling, stamping and collage. It's hard to see, but I added drywall tape behind the corrugated hearts for additional texture. The scallops are hand-cut book pages covered with gesso and some doodling.

Can't wait to see what I receive!

More Retreat Projects

The first day of the retreat, while everyone is arriving, is purely a social one and dedicated to setting up our work areas.

On the second day, we have a variety of make-'n-takes provided for and taught by members.

Jan taught this cute three-dimensional crazy birds card.  The two front sections curve out as does the firecracker.

Roxanne taught this 8x10" mixed media canvas using Tim Holtz tissue wrap, Distress Paint, modeling paste, and Distress Inks. The tag is stamped with images from the Tim Holtz "Americana" mini-blueprint stamp set and attached to the canvas.

We also made the very popular Pinterest-inspired ribbon flags. I had previously made one for myself so this one will go to my daughter if she wants it.

And that evening, mixed media artist Rita Barakat (sponsored by Marcos Paper and Faber Castell) taught this mixed media project on sticky-back canvas using gelatos, gesso, modeling paste and texture cream paint.  I have added this to my art journal.

These projects, along with the patriotic book, were not all that we did over the weekend! There was plenty of conversation, laughter, eating and just fun girlfriend time! If you ever have a chance to go on an art retreat with like-minded friends, I highly recommend it!

Artsy Canvas Swap

I recently hosted an "Artsy Canvas" swap on an online group. The challenge was to create a "Finnabair" style canvas. Finnabair is actually Anna Dabrowska, a Finnish mixed media artist known for her elaborate, three-dimensional canvases. Her "signature" is lots of various embellishments, including lots of metal, covered in either black or white gesso and then colored with different paints and spray inks.

The canvases were to be smaller than 5 x 7" and we sent one and received one in return.

I created on a 6 x 6" square burlap canvas because that's what I had in my stash. Since I piled on so many embellishments, I added additional support on the back of the canvas by glueing on a piece of cardboard.  There were many steps to accomplishing this mixed media piece - tomorrow I will share more about the process.

I received this lovely canvas board from Shellie. It's a beautiful pastel background with lots of added embellishments.

New Mixed Media Canvas class

Coming soon to LBH buffet!

Details will be available soon - you can create this cheerful and fun canvas in any LBH buffet!

You will use several new "Totally Tracy" stamp sets from Dare 2B Artzy and the new Tim Holtz Distress Crayons, along with other media, to create this happy, textured piece.  Lots of techniques in this class! I hope you will join me.

Join me for some Mixed Media Fun!

I will be teaching this Mixed Media Art Canvas Workshop 

at The Little Blue House on Wednesday, April 6.

 There will be two sessions to choose from - 10:00am - 1:00pm or 6:00 - 9:00pm.

For those new to mixed media, or even seasoned mixed media artists, this will be a great introduction into some of the techniques and mediums used to create texture and interest on your project.  You will make choices during the creative process to create an art canvas unique to you!

For more information and to sign up, call the LBH at 817-431-7930, or check out the website: http://www.thelittlebluehouseonline.com/#!mixed-media-art-workshop/c24rv

I hope to see you in class! We'll have a fun and artsy time!

"Dare to Spread your Wings" Mixed Media Canvas

This is my latest class project for The Little Blue House. I created it on the reverse side of the canvas and the wood of the canvas forms a natural frame.

I used many mixed media techniques using Dylusions spray inks, alcohol inks, Prima Art Ingredients  and a few unexpected items!

If you are local and interested in taking the class, which is available during any "buffet," please contact the LBH at 817-431-7930. You can also see more information and closeups online at www.thelittlebluehouseonline.com.

I won!

Soon after I finished my Mixed Media Tree Canvas (see below), I saw Echo Park Paper's Project Challenge on Facebook. Since I had used "The Story of Fall" paper collection, I decided to post a photo and enter the challenge.

To my surprise, I read today that I was one of the three winners! Yippee! I'm so excited to win an entire paper collection - I chose the darling "Story of Christmas" collection. Can't wait to receive it. Thank you Echo Park! (Check out all their paper collections on their website here.)

This canvas is a workshop at The Little Blue House in Keller. If you are interested in taking the class, check out more information on the website here and stop by the store or call 817-431-7930 to sign up!

New Mixed Media Canvas

Here is my newest mixed media canvas class which I will be teaching this fall at The Little Blue House.

I used Echo Park's new fall paper collection, "The Story of Our Family." The colors are fresh and bright and very fallish without "screaming fall." It's hard to see in the photograph but there are mica products on the trunk and grass giving the piece some glimmer and shine. This was a fun canvas to create and I hope to be able to share it with many students soon.

All our new classes are on display at the store and we are taking signups even if you missed coming to our Open House yesterday. There are projects for everyone!

The Patriotic House Canvas Class is back!

Due to popular demand, I will be teaching the popular Patriotic House Canvas class at The Little Blue House again this summer. If you have created some of the other season's houses and need this to compete your set, be sure to check this out!

It will be offered during select Buffet class times. Check out the complete details on the LBH website online here.  You can also call the LBH at 817-431-7930 to sign up.

I hope you will join me in class!

New Prima Mixed Media Workshops

Announcing two new Prima Mixed Media workshops I will be teaching at The Little Blue House later this month!

Prima Technique Tags Workshop

Create 6 artsy tags while learning lots of techniques using new Prima texture pastes, 

crackle, beads, mica and more!

Tuesday, June 23

10:00 am - 1:30 pm

or

6:00 - 9:30 pm

$35.00

Prima Mixed Media Canvas Workshop

Create beautiful dimension, texture and color with Prima Art Basics and Art Ingredient

 products in this fun mixed media workshop. Surface is a 12" x 12" canvas.

Friday, June 26

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

$50.00 

detail

More photos of both projects and complete details can be found on the LBH website or call 817-431-7930 to reserve your seat.

I hope you will join me for some fun, messy, artsy play!

One Little Word - 2015 - What's Yours?

In 2006 Ali Edwards started a tradition of choosing a word for her focus for the upcoming year. Her "One Little Word" has become very popular and has grown into yearly workshops.  Choosing a word to focus on, meditate on and think about all year can have a huge impact in your life and decisions you make all year. Do check out her website and blog to learn more.

I have never done this before so I decided to jump on the bandwagon this year. After much thought, I have chosen the word "GROW."

I want to grow this year - in my spiritual life, my artistic process, in my personal relationships. I want to learn new things, try new artsy techniques, make more personal art. As a second (and related) word, I could have chosen simplify as by simplifying my work space and my time, I will be able to better achieve my goals to grow, especially artistically.

So many people are choosing their own words that this will be the focus of my next Mixed Media Workshop at the Little Blue House on February 6.  Students will create an 8" x 16" mixed media canvas to coordinate with their own word which will be custom-cut.  Here's my sample canvas and the information for the class.

          "One Little Word" 
           Mixed Media Workshop  

 Do you have one little word that you start off the new year                  with... or even just a favorite word? We are introducing a new Mixed Media Workshop called "One Little Word" with Susan Tidwell--- Come express & explore through Art.... Customize your 16x8 Canvas and Pick a Word of your own in this Workshop!
          Class Details:
            One Little Word Mixed Media Workshop

         Friday Feb. 6th 10am-1:30pm or 6pm-9:30pm
Cost: $40.00 
               Call or Come by to Sign Up for this upcoming Workshop! 

Hope to see you in class!

"Mixed Media Masters" Workshop

 Are you interested in Mixed Media but don't know where to start? Come join me at the "Mixed Media Masters" Workshop on Saturday, November 1, from 10 am to 3 pm (lunch included!) or Wednesday, November 5, from 10 am to 3 pm at The Little Blue House.  

Mixed Media is an all-encompassing term to define an art form that includes many different surfaces, media and techniques- the more “mixed”, the better.

In this class you will create a unique 7x24 home décor piece while learning some new tricks and techniques. You will use several different three- dimensional media to build up the surface of the acrylic “Family” frame. It will then be colorized using Distress Stains, Art Anthology Sorbets and the amazing VerDay Paints. No prior experience necessary- I will take you through every step and by the end of class you will be a Mixed Media Master!!

More information and several close-up photos are located at http://www.thelittlebluehouseonline.com/#!mixed-media-masters-workshop-/c1lv6

Call the LBH now at 817-431-7930 to reserve your spot and join me for a fun, artsy day!

My newest Mixed Media Canvas class offering

Do you love crosses? This is the latest canvas I have designed for The Little Blue House. It will be taught starting next week during any buffet, so call the house or drop by to see it in person and sign up then.

The canvas is 12" x 16" and neutral in design so as to work with most home decor styles.  You will learn some fun textural techniques and use a variety of "lotions and potions" to create your masterpiece. No prior experience necessary!

Hope you will join me in class soon.

New Halloween/Fall Class Projects

The last few weeks I've been busy creating lots of fun Halloween and Fall projects for our new classes at The Little Blue House. They debuted at our Open House last Saturday.  I will show my projects here, but be sure to head over to the LBH blog to see all the wonderful projects available!

First a layout - "Fall is Simply Delightful"

Last year we started making "treat jars and lids" for every season.  You create the jar once and then the lids and wraps are interchangeable.  This is the new Mummy Lid and Wrap for Halloween and the Scarecrow Lid and Wrap for Fall.

The pumpkin mixed media canvas is a companion to one I did two years ago. That one was round and done on a 12x12" canvas. This pumpkin is taller and done on an 11x14" canvas.

And, back by popular demand, is the Halloween Haunted House canvas from last year. This was the first in a series of four seasonal house canvases I did. Many people didn't start until the spring house and wanted to finish out their series. This is actually last year's sample - the new version will be very similar but will use current papers.

So many projects! And next week we'll be starting our holiday/Christmas ones. Can you see why I've not been blogging?