Mixed Media Sewing Cards Frosted Designs Challenge

I was so excited about this week's Fabulous Friday Challenge over at Frosted Designs.  This week we were challenged to create a card, project or layout using "lacing". 

When I think of "lacing" my mind immediately wanders back to childhood.  I spent hours "sewing" the outlines of objects on those punched out lacing cards.  In the Winter 2012 issue of Sew Somerset, Taryn Reece, wrote an article entitled "Mixed-Media Sewing Cards".  She created her own version of sewing cards using an old Sorry game board.  Genius!  I knew this was just what I wanted to use as inspiration for this weeks challenge. 

While in Las Vegas last month I found a Sorry gameboard from the early 1970's.  I packed it in the suitcase and brought that baby home!  My husband graciously cut the gameboard down into 6- 6 x 9 in rectangles on his tablesaw.  I sanded the edges to clean them up.  I then gessoed the entire surface allowing some of the gameboard designs to peek through.  I traced my design and drilled the holes with my husbands bench drill press.  I then added the painted details, collage, doodles, etc.  I laced the bird sewing card using black waxed linen lacing (found in the leather isle at your local craft store).

The butterfly and flower pot sewing cards were laced using colored jute cording.

I will likely use them as covers for journals in the future.  I had lots of fun making them.  I hope this inspires you to try your own lacing project!  Don't forget to link it up over at Frosted Designs!

21 Secrets with Aimee Myers Dolich

I started the 21 Secrets workshop on April 1.  I am having fun "Getting Lost" with Aimee Myers Dolich.  She encouraged us to recall a time in life when we were lost.  After much thought, I kept coming back to the times when I have been "spiritually lost".  Throughout my lifetime I have taken many detours.  Many of the detours were of my own doing, but some were the affects of other's around me.  It reminded me of the scripture Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight." 

What's on my desk......

Currently working on these Junelle Jacobsen inspired mini canvases. 

Frosted Designs Project

Hello All!

I hope this finds you all well! I have a special project for you this week. Like most of you, we have lots of special memories we love to display.  Store bought easels just lack character, so I made this Carpenter's Ruler Easel to display my favorite picture. 

It's super easy to make and only requires a few supplies.

I love to repurpose flea market finds and turn them into something useful around the house. I am pleased with the way it turned out.  It's going to be great to display not only pictures, but perhaps a mini canvas or mini chipboard book.  The next time you see a carpenter's ruler at a flea market or thrift store BUY IT! 

This week's challenge at Frosted Designs is rolled paper!  I hope you will link up your card, layout, or project over at Frosted Designs!

Stop by again soon!

Blessings,
Michelle

Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge-Weather

It's time for a Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge once again.  This week we were challenged to create a project, layout or card focusing on weather.

This past couple weeks have been very emotional.  On April 3, my daughter and I were rear ended by a drunk driver.  Thankfully, no one was seriously injured.  However, it sure makes you think about your own mortality.  Life is so precious.  James 4:14 kept popping into my head, and was my inspiration for this card.  James 4:14 says,  "Why you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."  I made this card for my family as a reminder of our short time on this earth.  We must not take our lives for granted.  Life can change in an instant.

To create this card, I first wet the entire surface with water.  I added a couple magenta and orange acrylic ink splotches.  The water allows the ink to spread across the paper.  I tipped the card to allow the ink to run and drip off the side of the card.  Once dry, I spread some Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paint in a couple spots.  I tore a Starbucks coffee cup sleeve and sewed it to the top of the card to represent the clouds.  Using the petal from my daisy stencil I added modeling paste raindrops.  I added more water and acrylic ink in magenta and orange letting it run across the surface. Using my Neocolor II watercolor crayons I outlined the raindrops in pink and orange.  I then used a wet brush to outline the raindrops I had colored with watercolor crayon.  It gives it a great watercolor effect.  I highlighted each raindrop with gesso.    I made a flower using a circle from the coffee cup sleeve, misc scrap papers, and added two buttons to the center.  The leaves of the flower are cut from a security envelope.  I stamped the man holding the umbrella to a scrap piece of paper and glued it to the front of the card.  I simply added the typed verse using my glue stick.

I hope this inspires you to get out your paints, inks and gesso!  Create something inky and fun!  Don't forget to link up your weather creations at Frosted Designs.

Blessings,
Michelle

Heart Mixed Media Canvas

I finally completed my heart mixed media canvas I started several weeks ago.  I covered the canvas with various collaged papers.  I then covered the entire surface with gesso.  I randomly stenciled hearts using modeling paste over the entire canvas. I then covered the entire canvas and modeling paste hearts again with gesso.  I love Liquitex Acrylic Ink.  The vibrant colors are amazing.  It's permanent and doesn't smear.  I love rainbow colors.  I sprayed water over the entire canvas and added the acrylic ink.  I love the way the colors mixed with one another.  Once it was dry I used my pilot pen and outlined each heart.  I added pops of color using Portfolio Oil Pastels and highlighted each heart using gesso.

Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge-Recycle/Upcycle

It's Friday!  That must mean it's time for Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge.  This week we were challenged to Recycle/Upcycle.  Recently, I order some art supplies, and they came in this padded mailer envelope.  It was sitting on my desk, so I decided to turn it into a mini journal.   

I love taking something that most people would consider junk, and turn it into something fabulous.  I have been asked recently to make some journals for a couple charity benefit auctions.  I will probably use this as one of the items.  I love to use what I have at hand to create something.   I am really happy with the way it turned out.

I first began by covering both sides with gesso.  I then used various SEI TumbleDye Inks and Adirondack Spray inks in yellow, sunburst orange, terra cotta, lettuce, and bottle.  I stenciled various circles using the inks.  I also added hints of acrylic paint randomly in Golden Cobalt Teal and Golden Green Gold on both sides.  I softened the inks and paint with gesso.  I then stitched "messily" around both ends, and added detail on the top and bottom of the journal.  This gives it texture and softens the edges of the journal.  I stitched lace across the length of the journal.

Because the envelope is padded, it gave it a quilted appearance.  Which is kinda cool!  I then created my focal point.  I stitched a piece of inked muslin across the lace.  I then added a piece of cheescloth and black scrap fabric.

Several weeks ago, I had made several scrappy cards.  I made this flower out of lace scraps and the center is a rolled up old zipper.  I stitched that to the front.  I then cut out two leaves from my inked muslin, and stitched it to the front.

The inside pages of the journal are made of Canson Watercolor Paper and my inked up under paper.  Using an awl I poked three holes across the center of the journal.  I then used a bookbinding needle, black wax thread and stitched in the pages.

I added a tie closure using some scrap ribbon, stitching it to the front and back with my sewing machine.

I hope this inspires you to create your own recycle/upcycle project.  Go check out your junk mail, there are lots of treasures awaiting you!  Don't foget to link up your own project at Frosted Designs!

Blessings,
Michelle