Mixed Media "Dream Catcher" by Elisa Ablett

Happy Sunday Crafters!

It's Elisa from the design team for Colour Blast Australia again with a little something different today...

A dream catcher kit happened to fall into my trolley at one of my local shops a while back and I decided to save it with my credit card (just doing my bit to save all craft supplies) and I have been saving it until inspiration struck.

Here is my finished 'Sea themed' Dream Catcher featuring some awesome shells that my youngest son collected at our local beach.

Features the following Colour Blast products - Colour Mica Powder in Espresso and Polar, Colour Shimmer Spray in Just Blue and Envy, Colour Shimmer Dusts in Peacock, Cobalt and Duke

Click on the links to see each of the gorgeous mixed media supplies!!

Let's have a closer look at how I transformed this kid's Dream Catcher kit !

Here are the pieces of the kit, I kept the paper cut out pieces for another project and just used the bare dream catcher.

First step - Paint or spray gesso over your pieces - front and back

Second step - I mixed an amount of Espresso Mica Powder with Gel Medium (about 1/2tsp mica to 1 1/2 tsp of gel medium) in a paint palette and using a palette knife and fingers smooth the medium over two of the mdf feathers and the frames of the dream catcher (dry each side thoroughly before turning over and completing the other sides) before turning over see Step 3 this step has to be done prior to each side drying.

Step 3 - Using a texture stamp or a piece of rubber matting (repurposed placemat) while your gel medium is wet - press your texture piece into the medium leaving a wonderful pattern in the gel medium. DRY before turning over. see below photo

Next step - mix a smaller amount of the Polar mica powder with Gel Medium  and once mixed spread with your finger over the dry frames of the catcher so the gorgeous teal colour goes into all the grooves of the pattern you made in Step 3. Also using a palette knife and also your finger smooth the rest of the polar mica mixture over the remaining mdf feathers. (same deal here, dry before turning over) 

TIP - use toothpicks through the premade holes on the frames so that you don't fill the holes up with your gel medium mixture. You could also balance your circle frames with toothpicks and work on both sides at once.

Next step - while you are waiting for your frames to dry we will move onto the feathers, grab three white feathers, mix up a very small amount of each of your chosen Colour Shimmer Dusts with water in a paint palette and using a paint brush, add colour to your white feathers. Once dry I also used a Sepia Inkpad to ink the bottom of the feathers and add a touch of the brown to the feathers. Put aside to dry and back to the Frame.

Next step - Spray and splatter your frames with a combination of Colour Shimmer Sprays, I used Just Blue and Envy.

Next step - After your frames are dry, it is now time to thread them with the heavy hessian twine that came with the kit. Tie off the top and then thread through the holes as pictured above in a clockwise direction. Once you have finished the first go around the frame, you then do the same threading in the middle of the first loops that you have made. 

Keep threading around and around (loosely) inside the frame until you reach the middle, then pull the threads tight! this will pull your threads together and then you can tie them off in the middle. I made the decision to tie a few shells in the middle as a feature.

Once I threaded the top frame and attached the bottom circle with twine, I completed the following quick steps.

- Thread blue thread around the first lot of loops on the main frame.

- attach teal and blue coloured thread to your painted feathers, mdf feathers and shells

- distress the coloured twine a little to give them a coarser look

- Glue a couple of shells on the main frame

- Using a sepia inkpad and dauber or your finger brush a little bit of brown ink onto your feathers to colour coordinate them with your frames.

Tie your thread to your pieces first, then tie them onto your frames, you can adjust the length of each drop them a lot easier.

Here are some close ups !!

and the finished product again! 

Either a lovely home decor piece or a cool hand made gift.

That's it from me today! I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial and it prompts you to go 'save' some of your own craft supplies in your trolleys. 😉😉😉😉😉

Elisa xx

Make each day your Masterpiece by Elisa Ablett

Hi Crafters,

Elisa here from the Design Team for Memory Maze Lasercuts with my next share for this month.

I found inspiration for my project in a oil painting that I saw on the internet and loved the colours so much i decided to replicate them. Plus it gave me a chance to crack open my new set of Prima Confections Watercolour Pans, the colour in these little watercolour sets are amazing!

Here is my double Art Journal Page that I created with the theme of making each day your Masterpiece. Monday through to Sunday. Featuring Memory Maze 12 x12 sheet of chipboard Trees and Memory Maze Stencils (Micro Dots and Crackle) which can be found here at the -

Memory Maze Shop

Here is a list of the other products used in my project:

Prima Confections Tropicals, Dylusions Paints, Colour Blast Australia Pastes in Rose Petal and Bling, Colour Blast Shimmer Spray in Bling, Gesso, Dorlands Wax Medium, Art Foamies Stamp (writers block), Carabelle Stamp and Kaisercraft Stamp.

Here are some close ups of the pages, for the finer details. 

TIP - I painted the trees with Black Dylusions Paint then while wet press face first down into the reflection of the sunrise making the trees have a mirror image.

trees 12 x 12

Crackle Stencil

Micro Dots Stencil

Thank you for stopping by the Blog today. Make sure you leave some love 😀😀

Sunshine by Elisa Ablett

Hi Crafters,

Elisa here from the Design Team for Shop and Crop Scrapbooking with my latest share, a beach inspired layout using the versatile, vibrant Studio Glazes by Tsukineko (link to Glazes in shop) and Colour Blast Australia Shimmer Sprays and Pastes.

If you place an order online with Shop and Crop Scrapbooking at https://www.shopandcrop.com.au/ don't forget to place your discount code EA5 in the spot provided upon checkout!! 

Here is my finished layout - 

I have included a few photos to show you how I started my mixed Media Background and how I used the Glazes on Acetate to make my stained glass circles. 

Firstly, I grabbed my trusty Colour Blast Shimmer Spray in Tangareen Dream and Colour Blast Colour Sprays in Mocha and Carribean. Take the lids off and splatter each colour onto your page by gently tapping the plastic tube where you want your colour to go. I decided to keep mine on the right side of the page and leave some white space on the left. Put aside to dry. Once dry I used a black marker and a wave stencil (use the marker to trace around the waves in the stencil) to add some neat black waves to my design. Then add some Colour Blast Texture Paste in Bling with a dots stencil in the areas that you are going to put your acetate stained glass circles.

So to start I wanted to show you what the Tsukineko  Stazon Studio Glazes look like on paper and acetate but they can also be used on other surfaces including beads, acrylic, glass, metal, wood and other non-porous surfaces. You can use stencils with them and they have a handy pen like feel to them so you can lovely thin lines with them, perfect for creating faux stain glass effect.

Drying times can be lengthy if applying a thick layer, so either use thin layers and a light heat with a heat gun from a distance or you'll have to wait it out...

Shake the bottle before each use and I also gave it a little squeeze to get rid of air bubbles before squirting onto my page. It is not food safe or dishwasher safe so a wipe over with paper towel is all you need if completing ceramic or home decor projects...it is also not waterproof so you may need to seal outdoor projects to protect against exposure.

  

To create the circles i used on my layout, I used two pieces of acetate, i then squirted my chosen colours onto one side and then put the second piece over the top and then you can just smooth and rub over with your hand or use a brayer (lightly). Pull your acetate pieces apart and you get great patterns and texture on your acetate. Dry thoroughly.

Once dry using either circle punches, or circle dies or even just circular objects from around the house (trace around and fussy cut circles out) cut circles out of your acetate in a variety of sizes. Below is a photo of the acetate held up to the light you can see the 'stained glass effect' I just added a little glue to the back of the circles and glued them to my layout.

Here are some close ups of the layout for the finer details and the shine !

Lots of lovely colours in the range of the Studio Glazes at the Shop, head on over and have a look!!

Thank you for stopping today.

Elisa xx

Altered Gift Boxes by Elisa Ablett

Hi Crafters, 

Just stopping by to share a project I completed for Funky Flairs Design Team recently. 

I was given a couple of necklaces from a friend and they came in these gorgeous little kraft gift boxes, perfect for me to upcycle and renovate them.

Flexing a little mixed media muscle and this is what I came up with...

Both using gorgeous flair and embellies from Funky Flair Studios http://funkyflairstudio.com/ and also chipboard from Memory Maze Lasercuts.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today..

Make sure you leave some love.

Elisa xx

Spring is in the Air - By Elisa Ablett

Hi Crafters,

Elisa here from the Design Team for Shop and Crop Scrapbooking with a fresh Spring inspired layout featuring the 'Felicity' range of  Pinkfresh Studio papers and matching embellishments from  Shop and Crop Scrapbooking also a gorgeous stamp from Penny Black, a Kaisercraft Mandala Stencil and Colour Blast Colour Sprays.

A reminder - don't forget that when you place an order at Shop and Crop Scrapbooking you can use the code EA5 to receive a $5 discount on any of your orders.

Here is the layout i created, showing that you can still use paper in mixed media inspired layouts and vice versa mixed media products with your paper collections on layouts.

Tip: to achieve the half mandala on your page using the Kaisercraft stencil, lay the stencil on your page, cover half of the stencil with the plastic packaging as shown in the photo and spray your first colour spray ( i used Saffron from Colour Blast), let it dry for a while BUT not completely. Then spray using your second colour ( i used Rainforest from Colour Blast) but only on the seam in the middle of Mandala stencil. This will achieve the water colour effect. Once finished wipe your packaging down ready for reuse.

Once the Sprays have dried i splattered a orange colour (Tangareen Dream from Colour Blast Shimmer Spray collection) in several places. I also used a paintbrush and unscrewed the lids from the Colour Sprays to add a little colour to my stamped images.

The stamp i used is from Penny Black Stamps and is called - Softly 40-319 and can be ordered in by Shop and Crop if you love it!! 

Here are some close ups of the beautiful matching die cuts from the Felicity range.

The birds on a wire chipboard piece is from Memory Maze Lasercuts and can be ordered in by Shop and Crop if you like it!! I coloured mine with black archival ink.

Here a few of the products that i used from the Shop and Crop products to complete the page.

Well that's it from me today. 

I hope you are inspired to try a hybrid paper/mixed media layout! 

Don't forget to use the code EA5 to get your discount on any orders at Shop and Crop.

Live Your Dreams - Art Journal Page by Elisa Ablett

Hi Crafter's

Elisa here from the Design Team for Memory Maze Lasercuts,  I am just stopping by to share my next creation with you that featured on the Memory Maze blog last month, a very colourful Art Journal page using some gorgeous Memory Maze Stencils and Chipboard frame and of course some (ok lol maybe lots) of Colour Blast mixed media products.

This Art Journal page started off as a practice page in my Art Journal for the new Tim Holtz Distress Markers and then i  re-purposed the page by adding layer upon layer of Memory Maze stencils and Colour Blast until i had a very vibrant page with depth and texture.

After I added the Colour Blast Shimmer Dusts in Candy, Navy, Lush, Grape and Sunflower (add a small bit of the Dusts and add water) to the right side of the page, i used a circle stencil from Memory Maze with a white sharpie pen on the left side of the page. 

Next step was to add Colour Blast Mica Powder to Prima Crackle Texture paste and spread through a mini bubble stencil from Memory Maze with a palette knife.

I also used a white sharpie paint pen to trace around a love heart stencil on top of the watered down Colour Blast Shimmer Dust on the right hand side.

Also spread white texture paste through a chevron stencil with a palette knife and sprinkle the paste while it is wet with Colour Blast Embossing powder and heat with a gun til it bubbles...

With your chipboard frame, colour it with white gesso or a white paint sharpie pen and then add a small amount of Colour Blast Shimmer Dusts to the frame with a paint brush and water. Flick watered down white acrylic paint over the page.

Here are some of the Memory Maze products that i used!!

http://www.memorymaze.com/product_info.php?cPath=128&products_id=20866

http://www.memorymaze.com/product_info.php?cPath=142_28&products_id=19123

http://www.memorymaze.com/product_info.php?cPath=128&products_id=20956

Thanks for stopping by the blog today, make sure you head on over to Memory Maze Shop via the link above and check out all the amazing designs.

Make sure you leave some love...

Thanks

Elisa xx