October Mixed Media Kit - By Elisa Ablett

 Happy Weekend everyone!

Elisa here from the design team for Shop and Crop Scrapbooking with my layout designed for the awesome 'october-2017-mixed-media-mania-kit' plus a few sneak peek photos of my 'experiments' with the mica powder prior to starting my layout.

The October Kit was designed by ME!!

and contains the following:

1 pot of Colour blast Singing The Blues Mica powder

1 pot of Colour blast Tangareen Dream Mica Powder

1 Scrapfx Stencil

1 piece of Cocoa Vanilla TOtally Rad PP

1 6x8' Cocoa Vanilla Studio You Rock Sticker Sheet

1 pieces of white mixed media cardstock

1piece of Black Cardstock

30cm of Green Tara Black Cobweb Ribbon

plus instructions to complete the layout below!

If you would like to purchase the kit, head over to the shop - october-2017-mixed-media-mania-kit-one-off-purchase and at checkout use the code EA5 for an added discount!! 

Here is the awesome Scrap Fx stencil - Cool Circles

Two Colourblast Mica Powders.

Before i started the layout i wanted to have a little play with the mica powders to decide on which direction i was going to go, so i mixed the mica powder with modelling paste, gel medium, water and i was also going to emboss with it.

When using the Mica powder with gel medium i found the colour to be very strong and also dried to a glossy almost enamel finish. Also i added water to a small spray bottle and added a small amount of the powder in the water and as you can see from the left side of my experiment sheet, the results was a lovely shimmering spray.

I decided on using the powder mixed with modelling paste for my layout, modelling paste in my opinion is one of the best to put through a stencil and doesnt dull the colour of the powder too much.

So on a craft sheet i mixed the powder with a small amount of modelling paste and folded it over and over with a palette knife, adding more powder to increase the vibrancy of the colour. Then apply through the stencil on your layout.

Its a fabulous kit to learn more about stencilling and mica powder and mixed media techniques.

Here are my close ups!

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Elisa 

xx

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