Monday, January 7, 2013

2013 is Off to a Questionable Start

It is day 7 in the New Year and I'd say, 2013 has made it's entrance with an questionable start.

**Started feeling a bit "iffy" Jan 30.  Ended up taking a couple of doses of medication to take away the "OMG...are clothes suppose to hurt your skin with contact" feeling while at work New Year's Eve.

**Never rang in the New Year.  Instead, after work on NYE, I came home, slathered on a tantalizing layer of Vick's, curled up on the couch and shivered my way into a feverish sleep.

**The Toad and the Oldest and Youngest Kiddo also came down with the "bug".  We are all getting our "once a year sickness" out of the way early this year.  Which, is a good thing.  The bad thing is...the "bug" lingers.  We are all still overly fatigued, suffering intermittent fits of coughing (me and youngest kiddo mostly), stuffed up noggin's and disappointment in the fact that food has absolutely NO TASTE.  

The biggest change of the New Year affects my crafting.  New Year's Day had me moving ALL my crap,  craft supplies out from the spare bedroom so that a student at the small church school my kids attend could move in. This is one of The Toad's boys he has coached in the past.  His parents actually live out of state, but  his older brothers live locally.  But, sometimes, it is hard to have your big brother be your "parent".  And this Kid doesn't want to leave the school.  Which means that currently, what was in my craft room has now taken over the hallway and is piled up in a corner of my bedroom.  

This little change is giving me a very long overdue push to go through my supplies, weed out, purge and re organize.  

Have I mentioned how long over due this job is?!! Needless to say, until I get this nasty job out of the way, there will be no creating on my part.  As of right now, I don't know where anything has gotten shoved, LOL!!

BUT!! I still have a couple of projects that I haven't had time to share yet!!  One, being, the second mixed media canvas that I made for the Spellbinder's Explore Beyond challenge.  

This canvas is completely different from my first canvas that I made for the challenge.  I decided to try my hand at what is the more popular style of mixed media, such as you seen with mixed media journals, etc.

Of course, I had to do it my way! While I admire those who can add layer after layer onto their pieces, I find that for me, personally, mixed media can become too busy for my brain. I look at certain pieces, not sure where my eye is suppose to to focus; is it suppose to be on the stripes and polka dot border?  The layers of paper and paint behind the main image? The paper pieced, colored, painted, drawn/doodled main image? The added stamping, doodles, etc.?  Or, the funky font of the sentiment?

So, while I wanted to explore the different mediums and  layers that make up most mixed media projects, I did it with a clean(er) and simple(ier) version that made me excited to try something new, yet didn't overwhelm my senses.

remember, you can click on the images for a larger view


I began with a 9x12 canvas board (which means it is a "solid" canvas versus a stretched canvas over a frame).  I dug through my outdated paper stash and found a newsprint style paper for my base.  





glued it down and added a "frame" of gesso around the edges


randomly scribbled with watercolor pencils

added the water and blended the colors 



used Spellbinder's Paisley and Hearts to make my little song bird


added glimmer mists and pastel chalks 


dug out my paints and brushes



die cut lots of flower layers and emboss texture


add a bit of shimmer.....

Put it all together


I liked how this piece turned out and find it rather amusing that it looks pretty girly, which is SO NOT ME, LOL!! 

I am liking this different creative path from just making cards.  I feel like I'm starting to return to my roots of painting and drawing with a twist.  Hopefully, I'll figure out my creative space soon and will be able to explore some more canvas work!!

Linking this to the eP blog challenge Get Altered--Using Canvas

I have ONE more quick, easy little project to share soon!! Hopefully, by then, I will have made a dent in the purging, reorganizing of the craft area and will be able to start sharing again regularly!  If no one hears from me by the end of the month, send out the rescue troops!! LOL!!

'Till next time.................












21 comments:

Kim said...

Starla! What a delight to have you playing along with our challenge...thank you!! This is a darling project...I LOVE it!! Hope that you're all feeling better now..seems the flu is everywhere. I'm not leaving the house until spring! :-) XXOO

CuddlyBunny said...

I so hope that you and the family are feeling better! Ringing in the new year with a sneeze and a cough is unFAIR!

I'm loving your canvas! Delicious texture and color!

Gail Dixon said...

Starla, my gosh woman, you have been busy! How sweet of you all to take another child into your home. The simple, clean version of the mixed media piece is simply delightful. The colors, layout and artistic flair you gave it is very pleasing.

slbt17 said...

very cute - hope you all feel better soon - does not sound like fun!
Sandra ltb

Katy said...

First it is so generous of you to share your home with the student. I think that's wonderful! And second this canvas is awesome! I love the bird and the newsprint! Very pretty! Thank you for sharing the steps too! :)

Erin Smetak said...

Wow! T
Your canvas is awesome! So bright and cheerful! LOVE your little bird's tail! Brilliant detail!

Art By Wanda said...

I Love this one too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glenda said...

As with any medium, I think it is all about what "you" want it to look like! After all being creative is about what is inside you at the time. I love your canvas...it has a clean look with gorgeous colors and love the bird!

Annette Green said...

So clever that you used the paisley die to make the cute bird. I love this project, and hope you are feeling much better now.

Tracy said...

Starla hope you are all feeling better!
Your canvas is a delight to see,wouldn't have thought of using those dies for the bird...just brilliant work!!!
hugs
xxx

Sylvia said...

Fabulous canvas, Starla, I love the colors and that it is girly(not your thing). Maybe with all those "men" in your house you need a little girly! So sorry you are sick, I started the New Year the same way, but with a very sore throat that continued to come back even though it tried to go away! try some Halls Defense, just make sure you read the package there are several types out there. They definitely stop the cough with no narcotics! As for the rest, only time and sleep seems to have helped! Take care and good luck finding space for your crafts! have a better Tuesday!

Colleen said...

Starla,
I love this canvas, your use of materials and colors is fantastic. I would have never thought to use the paisley Spellbinders to make birds. Now I will be shopping for them til I find them.

Kathy/NorthCarolina said...

Hate that you've been so ill...it's a nasty, nasty bug. I had it back in October, of all things...and it took me a month to fully recover. Be good to yourself!

I love your canvas...it is so happy, and not overdone. You nailed it!

Melody (lacyquilter) said...

Oh, this is awesome! I have to totally agree on your thoughts that a lot of mixed media/art journals are overly cluttered. LOVE yours!

Sorry you are still feeling icky! Get better, girlfriend!

Words and Pictures said...

Such a beautiful piece! I love that newsprint in the background, and how you framed it with gesso. The bird looks delightful against the shaded sky. Lovely to have you play along with us at eclectic Paperie!
Alison x

Micki said...

GF, sorry it took me a while to make my rounds. Happy Happy New Year (I"m horrible as I'm so late with this). I hope you are feeling better and once again, we mirror each other. I was sick too. Was in bed by 8:30 on NYE.... Girl, you rocked this. I loved it the moment I saw the newsprint. I love the bright colors. Wicked idea with the dies..... wish now I had kept mine, lo. I'd say you started your 2013 with a bang. Here's to a wonderful year! Love ya.

Marjie Kemper said...

This is so lovely! Your bird is melting my heart... I love it. Thanks so much for joining us at Eclectic Paperie!

Donna-Marie said...

You rocked this girl!!
Great colors :-)
Thanks for sharing with the eP family!!

Alexa said...

Love this!! So Cute!

Beate said...

Oh...that's gorgeous!

dawnmercedes said...

Oh...do I want to try this. But I'm such a chicken...cluck, cluck!