Saturday, January 10, 2015

Butterfly Canvas

Hello!  I'm back again today to share a "canvas" I've made almost entirely of Christmas leftovers, and with a few old favorites and new things sprinkled in. I knew I wanted to try a canvas for my first project of the year, and the first thing I laid eyes on in my Closet was a plastic-y, rubbery lid I was trying some heat embossing on for my "Christmas-y Things" gift box. This could be my "canvas". That's as far as it got--I hit a creative block. When I heard that Pamellia over at Our Creative Corner was hosting a challenge for us to use our Christmas leftovers, and I had JUST thrown out a wadded up ball of white tissue from a late arriving Christmas package, I just had to go dumpster diving!

This is what the lid looked like prior to altering. This is shown on a base which I did not use for this project.

So there's my substrate--a technique I've never used before, but I've seen many others do, so why not give it a try.  Gel medium and tissue applied with lots of wrinkles--pretty cool so far.  Now what???  I'm thinking a butterfly...but what colors will I use?  I'm still stuck on Christmas-y colors.  This is the longest creative block I've ever had in my LIFE!

I have to say with ALL sincerity my kitty picked the color palette for this canvas.  To explain,  I was putting  away some pretty sparkly tissue that my sister had wrapped her late Christmas gift to me in (most of my family members are ready for Christmas around New Years!).  My furball pulled these gold and white and sparkly bright papers from the box. Aha!  Roger got those creative juices flowing again! From there this project just grew and grew, and I've never had so many ideas pour into my head!  I tried them all!  Some got tossed, some used on my last project and some for the future.

That's my crafty cat, Roger! He has a "thing" for tissue paper and pipe cleaners!

I can't go through every step that I did, because this post would be way longer than it already is going to be (and I can't remember it all--happened too fast).  I can say that I used the white gift tissue paper on all surfaces, front and back of the gift box lid. I used Distress stains in the assigned color palette chosen by Roger followed by some stamping (Tim Holtz) with Archival ink. (I used my new Picked Raspberry stain)  I cut the text from the printed tissue, selected by my kitty, and applied with Gel Medium.

                                                


When completely dry, I used a TCW stencil with Crackle texture paste.  Some of the stain bled through, but not enough for my liking. So when the paste was fully dry, I used coordinating Distress inks rubbed into the cracks.  Still not bold enough, so I used some Perfect Medium applied randomly and dusted on  Pearl Ex in Duo red/blue.  Now that's what I was going for! Beautiful, bold color!

Next some new Glue and Seal and clear micro beads to leave a magical trail, as butterflies do!



To finish my background, I used Perfect Medium on a new Studio 112 stamp and dusted with Perfect Pearls in a bold blue. I applied a spray fixative, because the Pearl Ex was rubbing off. You should see the shimmer in person!


All staining, stamping, beading,  and texturing was wrapped around all 4 sides.

The completed background.

Now onto my butterfly-- die cut from Tim Holtz' Layered Butterfly and embossed with the included embossing folder.  If you haven't added this to your pile of dies yet, I strongly recommend you do!  You will use it over and over! For the record, this is the first time I've used the embossing folder that is included, so this is new, too!

I cut two butterflies from fabric, which were embossed with the folder inked up with Distress stains and misted with water.  I applied some gel medium to the backs, and when dry, ran them through the embosser again. I cut the wings off and discarded the body.  I creased wings, and dipped the edges in Distress stain on one set and added micro beads and Pearl Ex to the other.

I cut two additional butterflies--one from a piece of the Christmas tissue Roger selected, and another from a piece of glassine-like wrapper from the Christmas pears from Harry and David (a fruit from Heaven).  Both were cut  and embossed in conjunction with waxed paper, so they have a bit more "body" to them. I removed and discarded the body. The backs were dusted with Pearl Ex, and the pink also had Pearl Ex added to the front. I used Crystal Stickles wiped on with my finger to both and a couple of dots on the wing tips on the pink.

Wrapping from pears received as a Christmas gift.

The Pearl Ex Duo Red/Blue really shows up on the pink wing in this photo.

Lots of pretty layers!

Antennae are made from ornament hook.

The Butterfly body is made from grunge board, textured with Crackle texture paste, dried and colored using a spray made from watered down Distress paint (I don't have the Distress sprays yet--so I'm being creative here). Metallic rubs were rubbed into the cracks.  When fully dry, I added clear micro beads to the edges.

Another Christmas leftover was used for the butterfly antennae --a forgotten ornament hook found by who other than my cat--this time, the ever-playful Biskit. Good idea, Biskit!  I bent them into a whimsical set and added my new Glue and Seal and the new-to-my-use Cloisonne High Gloss Granules (I've had these in storage for ages, but just found out how to use them--see previous post)and blasted them with my heat gun.  When still piping hot I dipped them into gold embossing powder and blasted them again.  The gold does not show up well on the camera--but it's there!

Now all assembled and ready to enjoy! Thanks for helping me out, Rog.




Thank you for stopping in to have a look, and as always, for your treasured comments!

I would like to enter this in the following inspiring challenges:

Frilly and Funkie "Anything Goes"

Mixed Media Place Creative Gym Exercise #3 "Wings" Lots of butterfly wings!

Our Creative Corner "Christmas Leftovers" Tissue paper, gift tissue, and printed gift tissue,  wrapping from Christmas pears, ornament hook, and an altered lid from a previous Christmas craft project "experiment piece".

Artist Trading Post Exchange "Fresh Beginnings" My Stamped images:  Tim Holtz  and Studio 112 New products, new way to choose a color palette, new ways to use leftovers, etc.

Country View Challenges "Use something New to You" New products in bold text, new way to choose color palette, and new ways to use an old "experiment" piece.

Fashionable Stamping Challenge #88 "Turn Up the Heat" I turned up the heat with my heat gun on the antennae to melt the Cloisonne granules and the embossing powder.

The Artistic Stamper January's Challenge "New Beginnings" Stamped images: Tim Holtz and Studio 112.  New products used in bold text, new techniques, new uses for old objects/products.

Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge #133 "Anything Goes"

Inspiration Journal "Fresh Start"  I've got a fresh start on my creative juice from my cats--of all things!

Crafting By Designs "Month Long Anything Goes in January"

46 comments:

  1. Great conversion of the lid into a canvas and what a gorgeous crackle you've acheived. Lovely shimmering and sparkly additions make for a very pretty creation. Thanks so much for joining us at ATP Exchange...Ruth x

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    1. Thank you, Ruth, for your very generous praise! :)

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  2. Wow, I can see what fun you've had with this Sara, lots of wonderful colour and texture, love it. Hey you found the Followers gadget and people are signing up to follow you too, brilliant. Enjoy your weekend xxx

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    1. Thank you for your help with this gadget, Brenda! And thanks for becoming a new follower! Yes! I had great fun with this canvas! Hugs!

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  3. Wow! You do gorgeous work! I love looking at how you've created your mixed media pieces. Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your lovely comment. I'll be back here to visit, I'm really blown away by your talent!

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    1. Wow, Jenny! You've made my day! Thanks for visiting!

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  4. First of all...how excited was I to see the Followers gadget up top there...took me less than a microsecond to click that bad boy!!

    Secondly...HOLY FRICKADOODLES!!! This is absolutely spectacular Sara!! I cannot believe the transformation this lid went under! I have just added Picked Raspberry spray to my list! Those colours are incredible and I'm soooo glad you tried the tissue paper technique, it's one of my favourites!! Your butterfly is out of this world (you are costing me a fortune, I just added that to my list as well) lol Love the microbeads on the butterfly body, what a wonderful detail and Christmas ornament hooks for antennae...pure creative genius! I just love every bit of this!

    I am just so impressed with your use of Christmas Leftovers, you have really embraced the spirit of my challenge theme and I thank you so much for sharing with us at Our Creative Corner! Big hugs to you, Pamellia DT :)

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    1. ...and I'm also totally stoked you joined us at Frilly and Funkie for our 'Anything Goes' challenge! Hugs, Pamellia DT :)

      Sorry, I was distracted by all the scrumptious-ness!

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    2. Hi Pamellia,
      You are so sweet and always SO OO OO generous with your praise! You've put a great big smile on my face with this lovely comment! (thank you for saving me on that Picked Raspberry; I've always thought it was Pickled Raspberry, and thought, what a weird name!)

      I need to add every spray to my list--still only have Vintage Photo!!! And a few hand poured stains. That list never ends!

      Christmas Leftovers was a great theme for a challenge! Very unique!
      Hugs!

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  5. Awesome altering. I enjoyed seeing all your photos of the stages. the textures and colours look fabulous. Thank you for joining us at ATP Exchange this time.
    Yvonne

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  6. Completely Fabulous, Sara!! Talk about using your Christmas Leftovers!! Way to go with creating this gorgeous canvas with a plastic lid!! Just WOW!! I'd say you're off to an amazingly creative year :) Keep up the wonderful crafting!!
    Thanks for joining in our Christmas Leftover challenge at Our Creative Corner!! Hope to see you there again :) XOXO-Shari

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    1. Wow, Shari! What a great comment you have left for me! My head is swelling up! Thank you! :):)

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  7. Wow Sara, what a work of art this is!!! Absolutely stunning and mind blowing! The background is so striking and butterfly is out of this world!!!

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    1. Thank you, Samra! What a pleasant surprise to get this generous compliment from YOU! What a talented lady you are! I had my hand on a bicycle yesterday at Hobby Lobby and thought of your gorgeous card! Think I'm going back for that bike today, since I passed it up yesterday!

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  8. Wow this is absolutely beautiful! Love the look that you achieved! The butterfly is totally awesome! Thanks for joining us this week at Loves Rubberstamps! Hope to see you again soon! Hugs, Rebecca.

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    1. Rebecca, Thank you for your wonderful comment! I'm happy you like my canvas.:):)

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  9. Really beautiful! Loving the vibrant colors and the dimension the piece has! Thank you for joining the Mixed Media Place Creative Gym!

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  10. Beautiful creation! Love the colors and all of the texture. Thanks for joining our weekly challenge over at Loves Rubberstamps!

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  11. Wow amazing work, I love how you made the "canvas" so creative! There is so much detail and I love the colours.
    Thanks for joining us at Our Creative Corner.
    Jan x

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    1. Jan, what a nice thing to say! I'll let my kitty know you liked the color palette!

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  12. Now that's a canvas! Love it!!! And your butterfly is soooo pretty. Thank you for sharing with Frilly and Funkie! Oh and our kitties look sooooo alike!

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    1. thank you, Nicole! I'm happy you like my canvas. I actually have two kitties that look alike; unrelated by blood.

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  13. I loved your last project but this one beats it hands down for me! Love all the crackle, the colours, the tissue paper use and the micro beads. Really creative. Thanks so much for joining us at Artist Trading Post Exchange. Juliax

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    1. Julia, I'm so happy you like my butterfly canvas! It was so much fun to make, once it got started!

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  15. Your background work is stunning with all it's textures! Thank you for playing at Mixed Media Place!!

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  16. Back again to say thanks for joining us at Our Creative Corner with your gorgeous project Sara. Juliax

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  17. Hi Sara, firstly.. Wow look at all that gorgeous texture. The butterfly!!! A million times gorgeous!! Secondly, hats off to the creative cat, Roger, I may need to borrow him when my mojo sinks ;) hugs xx

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    1. Awe, Georgie, you say the sweetest things! The kitties can be a help sometime (Ha, Ha!) but sometimes the Closet gets a little tight with the both of them in there with me!

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  18. This is just gorgeous,fab colours. Thanks for sharing with us at Country View Crafts.xxx

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  19. Crikey that is wonderful! Roger has great taste! Its so tactile and I love the colours - its totally fab and right up my street!

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    1. Wow! What a great compliment coming from you! And Roger has incredible taste...he adopted me 4 years ago!

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  20. I saw this on the Artist Trading Post challenge and had to come and take a closer look. Fabulous alteration from the plastic to make it a canvas. It's beautiful and a fabulous up-cycled creation. Thank you for sharing how you did it too - I now know some more new tricks for alterations Karen x

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    1. Thank you, Karen! I'm so glad you popped in! I hope you'll give anything you see a try! Let me know if you have any questions! Your journal page is beautiful, and I forgot to mention I see the rosebud, too! Isn't it strange how those happy accidents occur?

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  21. Hi Sara, so sorry that this is so late but I want to say how beautiful your make is. Your dumpster diving turned up trumps. Mr furball also picked some very pretty colours.

    Thank you for sharing with us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges.

    Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
    ShirlsCards.

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    1. Thank you, Shirl! I really appreciate you sweet comment and I'm happy to know your furball helps out, too! Hugs!

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  22. Gorgeous! Thank you for joining in The Artistic Stamper Creative challenge this month :)

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    1. Thank you Jennie! It was a real pleasure to get a few pieces linked up this time!

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  23. Absolutely gorgeous texture and colors on your canvas, Sara Thanks for joining us at Artistic Stamper this month

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