Friday, February 19, 2016

CREATIVE CARTE BLANCHE - MY FIRST POST!

Welcome to Creative Carte Blanche everyone!  I am so excited to be presenting my first post for this wonderful new adventure with some of my dearest friends - Linda Ledbetter, Candy Colwell, Annette Green, Cheryl Grigsby, Hels Sheridan and Yvonne Blair!

We had so much fun working together in the past that we decided it would be a terrific idea to create an artistic blog- a place where artists of all skill levels could meet and come together as an international community and share new artistic adventures!  Our group of "creative instigators" will lead you with a monthly "prompt".

This month's prompt is "Anything Goes!" However, we would like you to try a new technique that you haven't attempted before or use a product new to you to create your artistic piece.

Without further ado, here is the piece I created:


I used techniques that I have been wanting to try but was too nervous to actually do!  This month's prompt encouraged me to try it.  I started with a canvas that I prepped with DecoArt white gesso.  I was also determined to use paper scraps that I had been saving forever.  This is how it started out:


I attached all the paper scraps with DecoArt matte medium.  After I questioned my sanity in undertaking such a project, I gave myself a pep talk and kept going.

Unfortunately I didn't take a photo at this point, however, I decided I wanted a soft look to the piece, so I used Ranger's Picket Fence white paint and watered it down slightly on a craft mat.  I applied the paint over all the paper.  Then I placed an acrylic block behind the canvas so that I could easily stamp the Poppies Alone image by Yvonne Blair for Impression Obsession onto the canvas.   I cleaned the stamp and stamped the small flower again onto the canvas.  I then used a small paint brush and Bundled Sage Distress paint to add color to the leaves.

The two flowers from the stamp were stamped onto an extra piece of cream cardstock.  I cleaned the stamp and then re-stamped the small flower onto cream card stock.  I used Scattered Straw, Fossilized Amber and Wilted Violet Distress inks to color the flowers.


After cutting out the flowers, I decided that they were too bright in comparison to my canvas, so I applied a bit of Picket Fence Distress Paint over the top of the flower with my finger.  Better!

Using DecoArt matte medium, I affixed the cut out flowers to the flowers previously stamped onto the canvas.


To be completely honest, I didn't like this canvas at all!  However, I decided not to give up - it just 
needed something else, but what?

Ah, back to the paper scrap bin!  These paper strips were already scalloped!  


Now I needed some color added to the various pieces and, of course, some lovely butterflies from the small butterfly trio byYvonne Blair for Impression Obsession!  I laid everything down loosely to see if I liked the composition.



Okay, now for the addition of Wilted Violet Distress Ink to the different pieces - the color did the trick!

The butterflies also had a touch of Picket Fence paint applied to them with my finger to tone down the colors and were affixed to the canvas.  One more touched still needed...


The addition of a strip of orange-gold card stock behind the two scalloped paper strips made the piece  come together and pop!  I am happy!  What a process - goes to show you not to give up on an art piece!  

Hope you will feel brave and try something new as well!  You won't regret it!

Susan




19 comments :

  1. Really pretty Susan! Great tutorial and photos! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks so much, dear Candy! Working on those tutorials!

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  2. Honey, this is such a wonderful piece! The colors are gorgeous and all that glorious texture takes it into the stratosphere. I absolutely love it (and you!).

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    1. You are so sweet, Linda! I am blessed to call you a dear friend!

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  3. I love the composition... it's wonderful! The colors are yummy ... that orange gold popped ; and the wilted violet ... swoooon !

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    1. You are so sweet, Rea! Thanks so much for your comment! I am soooo glad you are joining us at Creative Carte Blanche! Love your work!

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  4. Susan this is wonderful and I loved following your process! So glad you did not give up along the way. Each new steep really brought it closer to this fantastic end result. A truly wonderful canvas!

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    1. Thanks so much for such a kind comment, Asstrid! I really appreciate it! I am so glad you are following us at Creative Carte Blanche! Love your work!

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  5. Susan this is wonderful and I loved following your process! So glad you did not give up along the way. Each new steep really brought it closer to this fantastic end result. A truly wonderful canvas!

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  6. Wonderful watching all the layers build into such a beautiful canvas. Great tutorial too.

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    1. Thanks so much for your kind comment. I have been working on those tutorials - it's a process! I usually get into the project so much I forget to take pictures! So glad you are joining us for Creative Carte Blanche!

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  7. Oh wow Susan... this turned out just stunning. The colors are so lovely and it was so fun to see how you progressed to a BEAUTIFUL finished project. Very encouraging... you had GREAT SUCCESS... it's just WONDERFUL. j.

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  8. Oh wow Susan... this turned out just stunning. The colors are so lovely and it was so fun to see how you progressed to a BEAUTIFUL finished project. Very encouraging... you had GREAT SUCCESS... it's just WONDERFUL. j.

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    1. Thanks so much for such a kind comment, Joi! I am glad you liked the finished project too! We are thrilled you joined us for Creative Carte Blanche! I look forward to seeing lot of your wonderful work!

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  9. Wonderful Susan, beautiful colours and composition and love the beautifully coloured poppies that you added! Thanks so much for sharing it, Deb xo

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  10. Thank you so very much for your lovely comment, Deb! I really appreciate it! Thanks so much for joining us at Creative Carte Blanche! I look forward to seeing all your work!

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  11. This is a wonderful piece of Mixed Media art Susan! Thank you for visiting me!
    oxo
    Susi

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  12. So, SO pretty Susan! I love that you shared your experience along the way. Your feelings, thoughts. The ones we ALL seem to have as we create. I'm so happy you kept forging ahead because the end result is wonderful.

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  13. Absolutely beautiful piece! Love your tutorial! Yes, I remember your folio with your family pictures, it was amazing! thanks for your kind words on my blog!

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