Saturday, February 28, 2015

Mixed Media Monthly #10 - Birds of a Feather

It's March! Happy March! Such a promising month as it brings the first day of spring! The new challenge at Mixed Media Monthly Challenge brings some wishful thinking with the March "Birds of a Feather" challenge!


We have an amazing amazing sponsor this month! One of my absolute favorite companies, Faber Castell Design Memory Craft, is offering TWO great prizes! One winner receives a Mixed Media Gelato kit and another winner receives a Card Making Gelatos kit.



I created an art journal collage filled with images of birds and my favorite Design Memory Craft products.


I used a DCWV "hot buy" stack I found at Michael's (for $5!) that was filled with beautiful bird and flower images. I cut them out to be the focal images of my journal.


I started by applying this houndstooth tissue paper (from the packaging in my paperissues.com order!) using a coat of matte Mod Podge.


Once the Mod Podge dried I added some Cracked Pistachio Distress Paint. This color combo immediately made me want to continue with a retro vibe and color scheme.


I cut some Mango Gelato and mixed it with Whipped Spackle. I ran the colored embossing paste over the dotted stencil to add texture. I also added Mango and Metallic Mint Gelato directly onto my page.


Next I focused on cutting out a variety of images from this Ciao Bella DCWV stack. I cut out more than I needed, but I will use those on another page later.



One of the first things I did when I started mixed media was to color a printed image with PITT Pens and Stamper's Big Brush Pens. I still use that technique a lot, and I have photos for how to do it with my main bird...


I always start by coating the image with a very thin layer of Glaze or matte Mod Podge. This gives a non-porous surface for your artists pens to work on. For the bird image above, I colored White in all the dark red areas.


Now I want to brighten up the bird. I added yellow and orange Stamper's Big Brush Pens to the belly. I smear the ink with my fingers to blend and add more color as needed.


I added more blues and teals to the wings of the bird. Again, I smear the ink with my finger for shading and add the darker colors as needed.


Lastly I added greens to the leaves and accented in black. Once these inks dry they are PERMANENT so I can cover the image with other mediums and the color won't smear.


Since all my images were cut and colored and the background was finished, now I just had to add the collage pieces. Above you see my finished bird with some Glass Bead Glitter Gel added to his wings.






What if I fall?
Oh, but my darling...
What if you fly?

Please join the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge throughout the month of March. Add your Birds of a Feather projects to our gallery for a chance to win the fabulous Faber Castell Design Memory Craft prizes!

Love,
Rachel
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Thursday, February 19, 2015

Unity Hop!

Unity Stamp Co is on their way to 60,000 Facebook friends!! If you haven't already, go LIKE Unity on Facebook! You know there is a huge SALE to honor this big milestone. But first I need to share a couple cards I created with some NEW releases!


The adorable "Hello Birdie" stamp kit will be FREE after a $60 purchase. I just love love love the happy birdie and that happy flower. This is such a perfect stamp kit for spring and summer. 


My card even made it on the Unity sale graphic! I think this is my first time being on a sale banner, so I'm pretty excited about it :)


I stamped the flower first and piled the birdies on top of each other. I colored them with Copic Markers and added detail with the Copic Colorless Blender (0). The 0 marker actually takes color away so it leaves behind the white spots. I fussy cut the whole image together.

Like that fun bright polka dot paper? It's BRAND NEW from DCWV called "Chick Chat" and will be available at Michael's stores very very soon!


My next card uses a brand new Angie Girl Unity stamp. It will be perfect for birthday cards...


She's so cute with her party banner and cupcake! I also colored her with Copic Markers. I matted the HB2U sentiment and cut the heart banners with the same DCWV Chick Chat paper.


Now time for some big sales! There are a LOT of freebies this weekend. With every $10 you spend you get a free sentiment stamp (up to 6 free stamp at $60).



We have TWO amazing Unity filled prize packages to giveaway.  Leave a comment on EACH blog in the hop (including the Unity blog) for your chance to win.  The winners will be announced Monday night on the Unity blog. 

Now keep on hopping for more inspiration! And happy shopping!

Love
Rachel


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