Under the Sea Mixed Media Art

 

Under the Sea Mixed Media Art
(created by Sophia Vida)

I’ve been exploring different art mediums. I found a book title “Mixed-Media Girls with Suzi Blu” and loved her style. I always wanted to learn to draw faces better and her book gives you a lot of details with step by step instructions. So I found the courage to venture into the unknown and decided to give it a whirl. This is what turned out.

This project was fairly easy to make and was lots of fun! It’s a great project for adults and kids. The main idea is to keep adding layers. Since I love blues and greens I decided to try a mermaid. Keep in mind you can change this project to anything you like with the materials you have on hand. That’s the fun of it! When all is said and done, you’ll be amazed how wonderful it turns out!!!

For this Project you will need:

- 8 x 10 canvas
- White Cardstock
- Prismacolor Colored Pencils
- Color Box True Blue Ink
- VersaFine Onyx Black Ink
- Thin piece of cork
- Stickles: Stardust
- Aleene’s Tacky Glue or Matte Mod Podge
- Scissors
- Small Sea Shells
-  Autumn Leaves Flourishes Clear Stamps by Rhonna Farrer

- Small individual alphabet stamps (any kind will do)
- Jolee Stickers – Fish and Coral SPJJ161

- Small piece of green metallic paper
- Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Tea Dye (brown), Peeled Paint (green), Faded Jeans (blue)
- 1/2″ Brush
- Golden Self Leveling Gel Clear

- Palette Knife
- Gelatos: Blue/ Greens, Silver/Gold
      

1. Start by coloring the canvas with the Gelatos. These sticks are creamy and easy to work with. You should wrap the color around the sides and top of your canvas. Also, you will want to overlap the layers on top of each other slightly. For the bottom horizontal layer use the lime green. Next use the darker green on the second layer. The third layer should be done with the dark blue. The last top layer should be done with the light blue.
2. Add streaks of the gold gelato to the bottom two green layers. Add streaks of the silver gelato to the blue layers. You may want to add a few streaks of light green to the dark green and vice versa. Do the same for the blues.
3. Dip your 1/4″ brush into water and begin blending the gelato colors on the canvas. The gelatos basically react like watercolor paints but are much more vibrant. Let dry.
4. Stamp flourishes across the top of the canvas with the True Blue Ink. Let dry.
   
5. Using scissors, cut the metallic green paper to look like a bed of seaweed and place on the right side of your canvas where the blue and green colors meet.
6. Cut a small piece of cork and tear the edges to make them jagged. Use the Peeled Paint and Tea Dye inks to distress the cork a bit. Place this piece on the center of your canvas.
   
7. Tear 2 pieces of scrap glitter paper to resemble coral. Tear 1 piece of scrap paper from a coordinating cardstock. Distress the edges of all 3 pieces with the Peeled Paint and Faded Jeans inks. Glue them together to make one large piece. Add a few shells at the base. Accent with the Stardust Stickles. Place on left side of your canvas. Let dry.
   
8. Draw your mermaid image on the white cardstock and color in with the Prismacolor colored pencils.  If mermaids aren’t for you, draw another image of something you like such as a fish, seahorse, dolphin, whale, etc. The main points when coloring in your image is to shade lightly and use the white or cream colored pencils to blend by pressing hard. When finished, cut out the image and place it in the center of the canvas. Add any embellishments you desire such as beads, buttons, sea shells, rhinestones, etc. Also, you can accent your drawing with any specialty pens or markers you have.
   
9. Once you are happy with the layout, start gluing the pieces onto the canvas. Remember to start with the back layers first and work your way forward.
10. Last, stamp any sentiments on your canvas. Or if you prefer to print them from your computer that’s fine too. Using the palette knife spread the self leveling gel on your project and let dry. This will give it a nice glossy finish. Voila! You have a one of a kind work of art! 

Note: The pictures in this post were taken before the gel was applied because of the glare from the camera flash. But it really does look beautiful with the glossy finish.

Thanks for looking and have lots of fun making this Under the Sea Mixed Media Art!

Additional Pictures:

         

         

For those interested, this is the book “Mixed-Media Girls with Suzi Blu”  that inspired this piece:

 

For more Crafting Tips and Techniques visit our main website at Just4Crafters.com

Father’s Day Picture Frame

Father’s Day Picture Frame
(created by Sophia Vida)

With Father’s Day just around the corner this is a great and easy project you can make with kids. This handmade picture frame will be a gift that Dad treasures for a lifetime! Keep in mind the ocean theme for this project can easily be changed with just a little creativity.

For this project you will need:

- 8.5″ x 6.25″ wood frame that holds a 4″ x 6″ photo
- Wood letters to spell D A D
- A few small sea shells
- Acrylic paints: White and Navy Blue
- Cardstock: Baby Blue Scroll by Paper Adventures
- Mod Podge: Matte and Glitter
- 1/4″ brush
- Small foam brush
- Aleene’s Tacky Glue
- Plastic Coated Paper Plate
- Paper Towels
- Container with clean water to rinse the brushes
- Fine Grit Sandpaper
- Scissors

1. Remove the center cardboard from the frame. Sand any rough edges on the frame and letters. Wipe off any dust with a paper towel.
2. Trace the outline of the frame on the back of the Baby Blue Scroll cardstock. Cut out with scissors and set aside.
3. Put a small amount of white paint on the paper plate and paint your frame (front and sides).  Let dry (remember to rinse your brushes after each use).
4. Put a small amount of navy blue paint on the paper plate and paint your “D A D” letters. Cover each letter entirely. Let dry.
5. If you like you can lightly sand the edges and sides of your frame for a distressed look. Wipe off any dust with a paper towel.
6. Using a foam brush apply a medium layer of Matte Mod Podge to the front of the frame. Adhere your Baby Blue Scroll cut out to the front of the frame. Gently flatten to remove any bubbles and wrinkles.
7. Next apply a sealer coat of Matte Mod Podge to the front of the frame. Let dry.
8. Using the 1/4″ brush, apply a coat of Glitter Mod Podge to the front of the wooden “D A D” letters.  Let dry.
9. Using Aleene’s Tacky glue adhere the “D A D” letters to the top left corner of the frame. Next glue a few small sea shells across the bottom of the frame. Let dry. Voila! You have a beautiful frame made with lots of love for Dad!          

Thanks for looking and have lots of fun making this Father’s Day Picture Frame!

For more Crafting Tips and Techniques visit our main website at Just4Crafters.com

Blog Candy Winner

Blog Candy Give Away #2

Hi Everyone!

In appreciation to all of my wonderful readers I thought it would be fun to have another Give Away!!!

To be eligible just leave a comment below by May 12th and subscribe/follow this blog.

A lucky winner will be drawn and announced on this blog May 13th.

The prize is a brand paper crafting book titled “Magenta Style Paper Magic” by Nathalie Metivier and Leslie Conron Carola!!! This fabulous book is filled with over 75 projects (128 pages) for stunning cards, gift tags, scrapbook pages, album covers, gift wrap, boxes, holiday ornaments and more.

The back summary reads: “Dozens of inventive ways to use rubber stamps, inks, papers and festive embellishments to great effect from Magenta, the world-renowned paper craft company.

Techniques include: ghost stamping, coloring and embossing, making paper beads, die-cut windows, pieced paper, Bargello, swivel panel card, layered Peel Off’s, tearing and cutting paper, and many more.”

I’ll e-mail the winner for their mailing address.

Good Luck and Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Birthday Twirl Card

Happy Birthday Twirl Card
(created by Sophia Vida)

For this Card you will need:

- 1 Blank piece of white paper
- Cardstock: Orange, Yellow and Blue
- Coordinating Happy Birthday Stickers
- Color Box True Blue Ink
- Fiskars Put on Your Birthday Hat Clear Stamps 12-8951
- Stickles: Stardust
- Glue Stick
- Exacto knife
- Cutting Mat
- Ruler, Pencil, Eraser

This is a fairly easy moving card to make. I recommend making a working template of this card on a piece of regular white copy paper to give you a better idea of how it will work.

This is a fun card to give to that special someone. When the recipient receives this card, they will see one panel on the front and when open the card, the panel will twirl and they will see the backside of the panel. It has a big “cool” factor which makes it a lot of fun and very unique!

1. For your working template cut a rectangle from the white copy paper 8-1/4″ x 5-1/2.”
2. Draw 4 vertical lines from the left at: 2-1/2″, 3-1/2″, 4-3/4″ and 6-1/4.”
3. Next you are going to draw a box in the middle. To do this you need to draw 2 horizontal lines 1-1/4″ from the top and 1-1/4″ from the bottom. Your horizontal and vertical lines will look like this:
   
4. Erase the two middle vertical lines inside your box. Next erase the far left and far right vertical lines outside of your box. Last erase the far left and far right lines outside of the box at the bottom.
5. Cut the outside edges of your box where indicated with the yellow marker below with the Exacto knife on your cutting mat.
   
6. Make a mountain fold along the second vertical line. But do not fold the inside box as shown below.
   
7. Make a valley fold along the third verticl line. Again, do not fold the inside box as shown below.
   
8. Now that you have a working template follow steps 1 through 7 on your orange base cardstock. Use light pencil lines that you can easily erase. Note: Before decorating your card, flip it over so the larger panel is on the right.
9. Cut a 1-3/4″ x 5-3-16″ rectangle from the yellow cardstock. Check your fit and adjust if needed. Glue this piece to the front outside left panel.
10. Cut a 2-1/4″ x 5-3/16″ rectangle from the yellow cardstock. This will be your inside right panel. Check your fit and adjust if needed. Glue this piece to the left inside panel.
11. Cut two blue rectangles 2-13/16″ x 3-1/2″. Cut two yellow rectangles 2-7/16″ x 3-4/16″. Check the cuts against the twirling panel and make sure it doesn’t overlap and allows free movement of the panel.
12. Glue the yellow rectangles on top of the blue rectangles from step 11. Next glue both pieces to the front and back of the twirling panel.
13. Pick the stamps you will be using for the card and stamp the images on your card using the blue Color Box ink. Let dry.
14. Add Star Dust Stickles where desired. Let dry.
15. Adhere your stickers to the front and back panel of your card. Voila! You have a fantastic twirling Birthday Card!
    

Thanks for looking and have lots of fun making this twirling Birthday Day!

Additional Pictures:

Fully opened card (front side)          Fully opened card (back side)
                 
            

For more Crafting Tips and Techniques visit our main website at Just4Crafters.com

Cricut Mickey Birthday Card

Cricut Mickey Birthday Card (measures 6″ x 6″)
Created by Sophia Vida

 
- Cricut Cartridge Used: Mickey and Friends
- Cardstock Colors by CoredinationsFoundations.com: Lipstick Pink, Grass Roots Green, Cloudless Blue, Pastel Yellow
- Cardstock by SandyLion Sticker Designs: Mickey Comic Strip
- Basic Cardstock Colors: Black, White, Beige, Maroon Red (you will only need small amounts so scrap paper works great!)
- Great Impressions Happy Birthday Confetti Stamp E528

- Color Box Pigment Ink – Pink #15033
- Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Milled Lavender, Peeled Paint
- Black Colored Pencil
- Clear Embossing Powder
- 3 Glitter Star Buttons
- Heat Gun
- Foam Squares
- Glue Stick

This card is perfect for the kid in all of us! The colors used in this design are more feminine. You can easily make this into a masculine card by substituting the pink for more Maroon Red or any other coordinating colors to match the comic strip.

1. Cut a 6″ x 12″ base card from the Lipstick pink cardstock. Then fold in half.
2. Cut a 5-3/4″ x 5-3/4″ square from the Mickey Comic Strip. Distress the edges with the Milled Lavender ink. Glue this to the top of your card base from step 1.
3. Cut two 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ squares from the Grass Roots green cardstock. Distress the edges with Peeled Paint ink.
4. Cut two 2-1/4″ x 2-1/4″ squares from the Cloudless blue cardstock. Glue the blue squares on top of the green squares from step 3.
5. Glue the green/blue squares together diagonally. The outside corners should reach the edge of the Comic Strip on the front of the card. Then glue the squares to the front of your card.
   
6. Cut a 2″ x 3-1/4″ rectangle from the Lipstick pink cardstock.
7. Cut a 1-3/4″ x 3″ rectangle from the Pastel Yellow cardstock.
8. Cut a 1-1/2″ x 2-3/4″ rectangle from white cardstock.
9. Stamp your Happy Birthday sentiment on the white cardstock using the pink pigment ink. Sprinkle with clear embossing powder. Remove excess powder and set with heat gun.
10. Layer your rectangles: Glue the yellow rectangle from step 8 on top of the pink rectangle from step 7. Next glue the Happy Birthday sentiment on top of the yellow rectangle.
    
11. Glue the layered rectangle to the front of the card centered on the diagonal green/blue layered squares.
12. Now you are ready to begin making your cuts with the Cricut. Cut a 3″ <Shift><Mickey3> on Black cardstock.
13. Cut a 3″ <Layers Face><Mickey3> on Beige cardstock.
14. Cut a 3″ <Layers Outfit><Mickey3> on Maroon Red cardstock.
15. Cut a 3″ <Layers Face><Shift><Mickey3> on White cardstock.
16. Cut a 3″ <Layers Shoes><Mickey3> on Pastel Yellow cardstock.
17. Cut a 3″ <Layers><Shift><Mickey3> on Pink cardstock.
18. Assemble your Mickey and glue together. Using a black colored pencil follow the cut line on Mickey’s face for his eye.
    
19. Using foam squares adhere Mickey to the bottom left of the front of the card. He will slightly overlap the diagonal squares and stamped sentiment.
20. Last glue your 3 glitter star buttons to the top left, top right and bottom right corners of your layered rectangle. Voila! You have a fun one of a kind Birthday card!!!

Have lots of fun making this Cricut Mickey Birthday Card!

For more Crafting Tips and Techniques visit our main website at Just4Crafters.com

Happy Chick Easter Card

Happy Chick Easter Card
(created by Sophia Vida)

For this Quick & Easy Card you will need:

- Pre-made 4.75″ x 6.5″ white card & envelope
- Cardstock: White, Textured Lavender, Fuchsia, Floral Print by K&C Company
- 6″ coordinating satin ribbon
- Stardust Stickles
- Inkadinkado Stamp 97957

- Great Impressions Stamp C362

- Staz On Black Ink
- Colored Pencils: Blue, Pink, Yellow, Orange, Green, Purple
- Jelly Roll Pen: Purple Star
- Glue Stick
- Glue Dots
- Foam Squares
- Deckle Scissors

1. Cut a 6.5″ x 2.5″ rectangle from the floral cardstock.
2. Cut a 6.5″ x 2.25″ rectangle from the lavender cardstock.
3. Cut a 4″ x 3.25″ rectangle from the pink cardstock. 
4. Cut a 4″ x 3.25″ rectangle from the white cardstock.
5. Stamp the Inkadinkadoo Chick stamp on the bottom center of the white rectangle from step 4. Next stamp the Great Impressions Easter sentiment above the Chick stamp.
6. Using your deckle scissors, cut a decorative border around your stamped images.
7. Using the colored pencils, color your stamped image. Next trace over the Easter sentiment with the Purple Star Jelly Roll Pen.
8. Accent the Chick stamp with the Stardust Stickles. Let dry. 
   
9. Turn the pre-made white card so it opens from the bottom. Then glue the floral cardstock you cut in step 1 across the top half of the card. It should be flush with the top and side edges.
10. Glue the lavender cardstock from step 2 across the bottom half of the card. This should also be flush with the bottom and side edges and should not overlap the floral cardstock.
11. Cut a 6″ piece of satin ribbon. Using the glue dots adhere the ribbon across the floral and lavender seam on the card.
    
12. Using the glue stick, adhere the stamped image to the front of the pink cardstock you cut in step 3.
    
13. Using the foam squares, adhere the pink rectangle and stamped image to the center of the card. Voila! You have a beautiful springtime Easter Card.

Thanks for looking and have lots of fun making this quick and easy Happy Chick Easter Card!

For more Crafting Tips and Techniques visit our main website at Just4Crafters.com