A Tall Journal and a Napkin

I've gotten the hang of creating journals and have truly been enjoying making them lately. There are so many possibilities and options you have for decorating them that you don't get tired of the process.

This journal started with me adding modge podge to a napkin. Once the napkin was dry, it was added to manila stock, placing the birds in the direction I wanted them to face. The inside was created with coffee dyed paper and vintage dictionary pages for the tags. This journal measures 8" tall by 4.25" wide.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. Thank you for stopping by!

Nicie

Tags Created with Vintage Reader's Digest Pages

I've had so much fun working on tags for future journals. They're made from Reader's Digest books from the 1950s. It's also been a lot of fun because I got to play with my Christmas present - a new sewing machine with 100 different stitches. Well, time to go back to sewing.

Thank you for stopping by!

Nicie

Butterflies, Fairy, Angel and Bird

This cute, 6 panel, mixed media mini album measures 4" x 4". The metal embellishment with the butterfly sits on a piece of muslin that was painted then stamped with the words "dream big." I used several colors of Distress Inks on the inside panels, the images of the fairy, angel, bird, butterfly and other ephemera were fussy cut. I had been wanting to create a mini album for quite some time and finally got around to it.

I'm submitting this to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Spread Your Wings and also to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes. 

Thank you for stopping by - have a great day!

Nicie

Blue, Silver, Pearls = Art Deco

I don't know why it is that when I see the combination of blues, silvers, gold and pearls the first thing that pops into my mind is the Art Deco period. Those specific colors make me think of old Hollywood, parties, beautiful elegant hotels and condos, ladies with their big fur coats and silky party dresses and champagne just flowing everywhere.

When I saw the Frilly and Funkie Blogspot January 2017 - Winter Hues challenge I immediately thought what better project than an Art Deco piece and my muse just started with all kinds of ideas.

This is an 8" x 6" canvas panel that I had started in a class I took late last year. It was painted with gesso and the decorative background had been added with modeling paste. When I saw it on my "future project pile" I knew it was perfect for this challenge. The first layer of paint was a metallic blue, then a light layer of silver paint was added randomly. After they were dry, I added blue Inka Gold metallic rub to highlight the raised areas. The beautiful silver decorations on the sides and the blue medallion on the bottom are clay embellishments. The image of the elegant lady is a vintage photo that was painted with water colors, added the pearl necklace, earring and some stickles on the coat's swirls. I envisioned this coat to be an expensive velvet, fur trimmed coat used to go to an elegant party on a cold winter night.

I'm also submitting this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes. 

I hope you like it as much as I loved creating it! Thank you for stopping by.

Nicie

 

Tag with Leonardo da Vinci - Head of Leda, Crackle and Leaf

Here is a second tag I am entering in the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity Challenge #32 - Anything Goes. I painted this tag with acrylic paint, then randomly stamped the circles and flowers with gesso. Once they were dry, I added crackle medium to the entire tag, then a bit of glitter mist. The image of Head of Leda has been transferred on packing tape and was sprayed with Dylusions inks then on the front, a border was added with Ranger Glossy Accents. The word "Dream" was stamped on the right side.

I am also submitting this as a second project to Vintage Journey Challenge - Going Round in Circles.  
Enjoy and thank you for stopping by!

Nicie

 

A Circle, Lion and Glass Beads

Since I haven't created any type of art for a while, I have accumulated quite a bit of supplies that I haven't used. They were purchased because I "had to have them" as I'm sure a few of you might know the feeling - lol! I have to admit that I am looking forward to playing with the new watercolors, paints, modeling pastes and other new things that are just sitting on my shelves.

This mixed media wood circle measures 4" in diameter, it was painted with black gesso, then with blue metallic paint. I used a TCW stencil and Finnabair gold crackle paste and I have to say that I love the crackle effect! Once that dried, I applied a bit of blue Inka Gold and just a bit of black paint to highlight the cracks. I drilled a hole on top and bottom and added the glass beads as accents. The lion in the middle is a clay embellishment.

I am  submitting this project to the following challenges:

• A Vintage Journey - Going Round in Cirlcles - January Challenge
• Crafty Creations Challenges Anything Goes #333 

I hope you enjoy this piece and thank you for stopping by!

Nicie

Mermaid, Octopus, Coral and Pearls

When I first started this canvas panel I wasn't sure what images to use, however, I was sure that I wanted to included a mermaid. Once I found a mermaid image that I liked, I used Dylusion Inks on the first few layers, then used several Lindy's Stamp Gang Shimmer Mists. Once I was happy with the color combinations, I used stencils to add the coral, octopus and the mesh. The starfish and some of the coral are clay embellishments.

The first thing that pops in my mind when I see any ocean theme is sitting in the sun, relaxing and just enjoying life!

I am adding this project to the following challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp Blog Monday Challenge - Chill Out

•  Happy Little Stampers January Mixed Media Challenge

In fact, this is my second entry into the HLS January Mixed Media Challenge.

Thank you for stopping by!

Nicie

 

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - Put a Stencil on It and HLS Mixed Media Challenge - Layers

As I was browsing the Internet for some inspiration, I came across a lot of wonderful blogs that offer monthly challenges. I'm so happy I found so many blogs but I'm going to have to remember to pace myself because I haven't created anything for a while.

This project is being submitted to  The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge with their Challenge #32 - Put a Stencil on It.

I was so excited when I read that this month's sponsor is Stencil Girl Products. They are one of my favorite companies for limited edition and unique stencils!

The 5" x 7" canvas panel was created with several layers of inks, acrylic paints, glitter mists, Inka Gold, Golden Glass Bead Gel, clay and of course, two different stencils. The circle image on the right hand side is one of the Stencil Girl stencils and has been added with white acrylic paint then a with a layer of Inka Gold in purple. The stencil at the bottom is from The Crafter's Workshop and was added with modeling paste. The top decoration and the moon are clay embellishments and Golden Glass Bead Gel was added for texture. In order to accentuate the beads, I added a bit of white paint, then another layer of Inka Gold in gold color.

The second blog I'm adding my projects to is Happy Little Stampers.com. They offer four different challenges every month but I'm only participating in the Mixed Media - Layers.

 

Thank you for stopping by!

Nicie

Dia de los Muertos Canvas Panels - Halloween Decorations

Hello Everyone,

Well, it's that time of year! Fall is coming our way and that means that Halloween is just around the corner! I just love fall with the leaves changing their colors, a chill in the air and a nice cup of hot cocoa. I created these two canvas panels in honor of Dia de los Muertos, but they can also be used as Halloween decorations.

I hope you like them and thanks for stopping by!

Nicie

Mixed Media Projects From Saints, Sinners & Shrines Class

Our class over at Artful Gathering is coming to a close. I have learned so many new techniques and can't wait to apply them to future projects. Here are two projects that I have finished so far and wanted to share them with you.

I hope you enjoy and thank you for visiting!

Nicie

Saints, Sinners & Shrines Class with Mary Jane Chadbourne

Hello Everyone!!!

How's summer treating you? It's been a little too warm here in Chicagoland but winter will be upon us soon, so I really can't complain.

I've been taking an online class called Saints, Sinners & Shrines - Alternatives to Honoring the Divine Within from Mary Jane Chadbourne. She is a wonderful artist & such a great teacher and fills the class with a lot of tips and inspiration.

Below are some examples of the effects she teaches in her class. I am having loads of fun and learning quite a bit. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Nicie

Back From Vacation!

It's been quite a while since my last post, so I'm just going to jump right in! :)

I would like to share with you some of the projects that I've been working on lately and hope that you enjoy them! Thank you for stopping by!