Abstract Mixed Media Canvas-Emerald Creek Dares Sneak Peek for Creativation

Hello, crafty friends and visitors! If you have been to Emerald Creek Dares you know the Design Team has been revealing some new products that Kim, owner of Emerald Creek Craft Supplies is introducing at Creativation. I've never made what I would call abstract art before, and I've been dying to give it a try.  I was totally inspired to try an organic sort of abstract canvas when I opened my package of goodies from Emerald Creek Craft Supplies! It's with tremendous pleasure I bring something new to my blog today! Not a stitch of paper nor die cuts on this!

Before going on, I will apologize for my blurry shots and my lack of in process photos. My I phone camera wants to focus on everything at once, since this is a highly sparkly canvas. I was in the creative zone (chillin' out!), paste dries quickly, and my phone needed charging...need I say more about the lack of process shots? But I do not lack in photos in general; this is an extremely photo heavy post. I'm still trying to figure out how this looks best--landscape or portrait.

I started with a canvas board and used my palette knife to add layers of various texture mediums including Ranger Grit Paste, Liquitex Modeling Paste and Golden Crackle Paste. I even mixed up Fractured Ice Embossing Crystals with my modeling paste for more texture, and when the paste dried heated it up with my heat tool to melt the crystals somewhat. I added Charred Gold Embossing Powder and more Fractured Ice randomly and along peaks and crevices while some of the paste was wet, and when dry, heated until it just started to melt.

Viewed from the side you get a sense of the texture on this. These photos were taken before I decided it needed a black "frame" of Black Soot Distress paint.

In areas that were relatively flat, I added stamping with Ranger Watering Can Archival ink and a few of Emerald Creek's new shell images. I immediately saw the value of these images not only for their use as a shell image, but for the intricately carved lines that would make great background stamping on an organic piece such as this.

Next I dabbed various colors of Distress paints on my craft mat and spritzed with water. I brushed this watery paint in random areas of the canvas and spritzed with more water to allow it to travel around the ridges and valleys. When satisfied, I dried with the heat tool and repeated with additional colors.

I'm not sure why, but some of the paste did not want to be colored, but I liked the look, so I've embraced imperfection.

I applied Ranger Emboss It Dabber directly from the bottle with a tiny brush to random ridges, sprinkled with Onyx Frost Embossing Powder, and heated to melt. I glued various Mixed Media Gemstones to some of the ridges using Ranger Multi Matte Medium. More embossing fluid and Onyx Frost powder was added around the stones and heated. No powders were added to the stones themselves--the rich gold and sparkly black are their natural colors, and there are purple, amber and clear stones as well.

Lastly, I cut the six tips off a Victorian Snowflakes charm and the bail off one of the tips. These were pressed into my Versamark embossing pad and then dipped in Onyx Frost Embossing powder, then heated. I glued these randomly near the stones to suggest ice crystals. Can you spot them in the photo below?

After my canvas sat on my desk a few days, I decided it needed to have a black frame around it, so I simply swiped around the edges with Black Soot Distress paints a few times. I think it's obvious I prefer it in this orientation, and I find it's colors and texture are even more beautiful when observed in natural light.

Well that about does it! I hope you are inspired to try something new and to use your products in a new way. In the meantime, I encourage you to visit my teammates at Emerald Creek Dares; you will be amazed at the way they have used Kim's new products she is introducing at Creativation (formerly know as CHA) this week. I am sooo jealous that most of the Emerald Creek Team will be there in Phoenix to provide inspiration for show goers. Sadly, I could not make it due to family obligations. Ladies, I know you will have a blast!

Emerald Creek Craft Supplies used:

Onyx Frost Embossing Powder

Charred Gold Embossing Powder

Victorian Snowflakes Charms

Fractured Ice Embossing Crystals

Mixed Media Gemstones (new product)

Seashell Stamps (new product)

Other products used which are sold at Emerald Creek:

Ranger Emboss It Dabber

Distress Paints

I'm entering my canvas in the following challenges:
Country View Challenges January 2017-Anything Goes
-Deep Ocean Challenge #146-"Anything New" New gemstones, embossing powders and style of artwork for me.
-Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Chill Out
-Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge-Anything But a Card
Love to Create challenge 1- Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes
-Creative Artiste Challenge #22- Anything Mixed Media Goes
Happy Little Stampers January Mixed Media Challenge-Layers

Thank you for stopping in and for leaving your lovely comments! They really make my day!

Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily

UPDATE: Yippee!