Mixed Media Canvas by Elisa Ablett

Hi Crafters,

Another gorgeous Summer's Sunday here where I live on the coast, what's it like where you live today??

Just sharing my blog post which featured on the Colour Blast Blog today - 

It's a bit of a sad post today because it's my last for Colour Blast for the moment as I take a step back to let some different ladies inspire you all. I'm sure I will see you all around on social media, don't forget to visit my blog - http://2crazycrafters.blogspot.com.au/ to subscribe and keep up to date with my next ventures. Thanks for all the love over the last year xx

Now onto my final post, you know me always creating something different so I decided on a Mixed Media canvas showcasing the Colour Blast Pastes on Acetate and other mediums!!

Here is my Canvas - 

Tutorial Time !! 😀😀

Step 1 - Grab your fairy wing stencil (or chosen stencil, my one is a Crafters Workshop Stencil) and a couple of awesome Colour Blast Colour Pastes ( Deep Water and Fire Engine) spread your inner colour paste first using the palette knife and then the second colour to finish. Wait to air dry (for acetate) then cut around your acetate wings, ink around the edges in black ink and put aside.

Step 2 - I hand dyed a few pieces of medical gauze available from any pharmacy with Colour Blast Shimmer Dust in Lollipop, make up a diluted solution of the Shimmer Dust with water, then dip your gauze in and squeeze liquid out, Let air dry :-) 

Step 3 - Die cut a frame out of white cardstock, spray the frame with Colour Blast Colour Shimmer Spray in Just Blue and then using a paint brush while the frame is wet, add a bit of the Colour Blast Shimmer Dust in Navy with a paint brush, I just added the Dust undiluted to the wet parts of the frame.

Step 4 - Using small amounts of diluted Shimmer Dusts (Lollipop, Navy and Peacock) on a craft mat, stamp butterflies onto watercolour paper, do several layers of colour on each butterfly image. Wait to dry then stamp the butterfly images again over the top in Versamark Black Ink, dry then cut them out.

Step 5 - I used a small canvas which was already prepped with gesso. I sprayed the canvas with water the using a paint brush I started to add my chosen base colour - Colour Blast Shimmer Dust in Peacock. Keep adding colour and spray with extra water where needed.

While it was still wet I added my two extra colours  - Navy and Lollipop Shimmer Dusts

To get an extra depth of colour, I added a small amount of Shimmer Dust crystals directly to the wet surface of the canvas using the end of pointy palette knife, you do not need to add too much but it will give you gorgeous patterns and vibrancy of colour.

Step 6 - Once your canvas is dry, stamp onto your canvas with versamark black ink pad and your chosen stamps, I also inked around the edges of the canvas with the black ink.

  

Step 7 - Once your stamping is dry, you can now add your first layer of stenciling (circles) with Colour Blast Colour Paste in Deep Water

Step 8 - Second layer of stenciling ( lines)  - Colour Blast Paste in Dusty Charcoal

Step 9 - Third layer of stenciling (small dots) in Colour Blast Colour Paste in Fire Engine and some lovely black splatters of Colour Blast Colour Spray in Roadbase

Step 10 - Last step is to add splatters of watered down Heavy White Gesso

Let your canvas dry thoroughly before adding your last details.

1. Glue down your torn up gauze and extra threads

2. Glue your blue frame to the bottom left hand corner of the canvas

3. Glue the middle of your acetate fairy wings to your photo and then using 3D foam dots to glue your fussy cut photo to the canvas situated over the blue frame.

4. Glue your butterflies to the canvas i situated mine over the top of glued gauze

5. Add your quote or saying

6. I also added some lovely teal dots with Nuvo Crystal

Here are some close ups!!

And you are finished! 

Thanks for stopping by the blog today, make sure you leave me some goodbye love :-) 

Don't forget to visit my blog http://2crazycrafters.blogspot.com.au/ to subscribe and keep up with my future posts and ventures.

Thanks again.

Elisa xx 😍😘

Under the Sea - Porthole Canvas - By Elisa Ablett

Hi Crafters,

Elisa here again with a project created for the Colour Blast Australia Blog

 

 As you can see from the finished 'Under the Sea' Canvas that it shimmers and shines and has tones reminiscent of gems.

Apart from the chipboard sea grass, anchor, coral, sea horse, the title and fish, the rest of the embellishments were created using a toilet paper pulp technique and silicone molds, the technique is easily found on YouTube. BUT trust me this technique is amazing and you can pretty much create any embellishment using your old cake decorating moulds, mod podge or silicone moulds. A wonderful friend of mine, Lilian made most of these 'toilet paper' embellishments for me to use on this canvas and my son and I made the cute little turtle. 

The first step in creating a 'porthole' canvas is to paint your canvas with a layer of gesso then once dry, draw your circle onto your canvas, I used a dinner plate that was at hand. I then choose my spray colours, stencils and the most important thing - a masking fluid pen! The masking fluid is for use with watercolours and is a barrier, you lightly squeeze it on where you require it (in my case around the outside of my circle) and it dries to a rubber consistency, once you have finished your project you can use an eraser to rub it away or gently lift and pull the dried rubber up. The beauty of this product is that it lets you put your colours where you want them and provides a barrier to stop them leaking out! Well worth the purchase.

The Colour Blast pastes, sprays and embossing powders that I have used with this project are as follows:- Tangareen Dream, Snow White, Bling, Envy, Deep Water and Just Blue. Click on the link to take you to the Colour Blast shop!!

Next step is to place your embellishments on your canvas and work out placement so you can direct your sprays and stencilling in the way you want. 

Once you are happy with your plan, you can go ahead and spray your embellishments with your chosen colours. I also embossed the chipboard pieces with several colours to build up subtle colour layers. (I actually overheat the powder so that it becomes quite runny then tilt my chipboard from side to side to create a great multicolour effect). Use a paintbrush to brush a layer of colour paste over your embellishments. As mentioned earlier the textured sea themed pieces are actually made out of toilet paper layers thoroughly wet and pressed into wet silicone moulds, there are many YouTube videos explaining this amazing technique. I used to make my own paper when I was younger and I used a 'pulp' instead of torn layers either way you end up with amazing handmade embellishments. I gave my pieces a layer of gesso or you could use clear gesso or gel medium to seal the paper before you spray. 

From the close up below you can see the embellishments coming together.

 

While the embellishments thoroughly dry, I started with the background to my canvas with my chosen stencil and 'Bling' Colour Blast Paste. Gently spread the paste with a palette knife and keep away from your edges. I put an old book under the canvas to keep a flat surface as well.

 Next step! Once the first stencil had dried I added my second layer at the bottom using Just Blue Colour Blast Paste and once that had dried I gently sprayed close to the surface with my first layer of Colour Shimmer Sprays.

The next photo shows a few layers of the shimmer sprays, this is the part where I open the lids and use them as watercolours with a paint brush. I find that at this stage I can get greater control and intensity of  colour with this technique as an end layer.

The next step! once thoroughly dry I sprayed with a thick protective coat of fixative spray called Crystal Kote Fixable in Matte by Helmar to keep the colours vibrant and to avoid smudging. At this stage I painted the white surrounds a brilliant white acrylic paint. I then added my embellishments and the title and added another coat of the Helmar spray over the top. Then I removed the masking fluid carefully from around the circle and used a small paint brush with white acrylic paint to clear up any little spills or messes.

A close up of the intense colour and shine. 

 And lastly a photo of the canvas on my bookcase, I think it fits right in with my coloured bottles, jars and shells.

Well that's it for me today, I hope you have enjoyed watching how the canvas came together. Make sure you leave some love....

Thank you

Elisa xx