Mixed Media Play

 I had a free afternoon today and this "thing" that is hard to describe (I am sure there is an actual name for it)-

Recycled Package Padding

This compressed padding thingy came as cushion for a package we received a few months ago. It looks like chipboard, newspaper and magazines chopped and pressed together. I sealed it with some Mod Podge to make sure it would hold together before I started. Then I randomly applied some white gesso. 

background layers

I used the tissue paper from an old sewing pattern, a deli sheet that picked up leftover paint from my recent Gelli prints, and more Mod Podge to make a base layer.

Adding some detail and shape

I then used some torn telephone directory pages, both white and yellow with red, blue and black highlights. I add some acrylic paint to give a basic outline for my idea.

Sponging on Mixed Media Color Box colors for more detail

After letting things dry, I sponged on some more color to make the shirt for the girl in my project. I used a stamp I got from an artist happy mail swap, of a girl's face. I have actually never used it yet, so this was a good reason to bring it out! I stamped the image with Staz-On ink.

You can still see the telephone pages in close up photos

More acrylic pain was smeared on using my fingers to give the background more color. Then, I used some stencils with paint and stamps with black ink to add some shapes and words.

Close-up of background and details

I used my Cray-Pas oil pastels for the first time to color her face, skin, hair and flowers. Let's just say it didn't work too well with all the lumpy texture and grooves, so I definitely colored outside the lines!

Close up of my bad coloring job haha

I had fun playing and trying new things. It doesn't always go like I plan, but I learn soemthing every time!  The finished mixed media piece:

* Dream * Hope * Create * Be Brave *

What are you creating this week?

Until Next Time

~Shari

Hoarder of Many Doo-Dads!

 I have to confess, I have been squirreling away bits and pieces of packing, clothing, gift wrapping, and more for a while now! You never know when those little repurposed items will come in handy. I am still working on using some scraps of paper to make some cards. 

The first card I made is a masculine card. I try to keep a few male birthday designs on hand. This card is made with scraps of some Tim Holtz paper I have, and the twine and black string I used to thread through the eyelets, was all in my box of leftover strings. I gather them from anywhere I can find them! (I think the black cord came from a clothing tag!)

The next card is a vintage, distressed, sympathy card. The top paper was soaked in tea a few months ago, and stored away for a project just like this. I used used tea bags to make "tea" water, then boiled it to concentrate it. Then laid several pages of cardstock in the casserole dish with the tea water for several minutes, then laid them in the sun to dry. 

An old book page, some salvaged corrugated cardboard, and an easy stamped image, and viola!

I am feverish working on my to-do list, and have some plans to showcase the recent Citra Solv papers, scrap leather, and a big DIY woodworking project that is under way, very S-O-O-N!! Stay tuned!

What are you working on this week?

Until Next Time

~Shari

Making (CitraSolv) Art Again

 It is a beautiful, sunny and hot day in Chicagoland, so I decide to get outside and work on a project I tried once before. I headed out to the deck, and gathered 3 simple items: National Geographic magazines, a foam brush and a bottle of Citra Solv. 

You can read the original blog post for a more detailed description, but here is a simple explanation. You can literally pour the Citra Solv directly on the pages, but I prefer to try to slather it on liberally and brush over it to soak each page.

The pages that don't have enough of the Citra Solv will not change much. If you soak it, sometimes the pages will become a blank gunky mess, as it actually removes all the color from the magazine. National Geographic magazines use a thick paper and quality ink. If you try this technique with any other magazine, you will like just end up with a inky mess on your hands!

It is so warm outside that the images dried rather quickly. Perhaps too quickly, since some didn't change much. Here is a good example of a finish, dried page-

I usually let them dry overnight, then tear out all the pages that turned out well, and then set them on paper towels for at least a week. This helps soak up some of the natural oils, and dissipate the orange smell. I did learn accidentally that the Citra Solv doesn't stain cotton pants! (Thankfully)

When I figure out what I am going to do with this new batch of papers, I will show you, but if you would like to see some possibilities, here a a couple:

My junk journal made with Citra Solv pages

Citra Solv also has an artist page to browse

What kinds of art projects do you complete outdoors?

Until Next Time

~Shari

P.S. After a couple days, I decided that many of the pages didn't turn out as nice as the one pictured above. I discovered (mostly due to laziness) that my spray bottle nozzle, fit perfectly on the Citra Solv bottle and made it SO easy to spray another round of solvent on the pages that needed more! Easy Peasy!

Spring Snow

Hello! I have spent the day outside enjoying today's sunshine and warmer weather, because tomorrow we are expecting 1-2" of snow here in the Chicago suburbs. Sighhhh

I made this "thinking of you card" earlier in the week, and thought I'd share some blue paper to celebrate today's blue skies!

What are you working on today?

Check out this month's stamp of the month set at Close To My Heart (CTMH) only $5 when you spend $50!

Lastly, you should check out the "Made With Love" mini album kit too! There is still enough time to get it, and assemble it for Mother's Day coming up on May 12th. What a beautiful gift of memories for you mother, sister, or friend! Save 25% on the kit right now.

Until Next Time~
Shari

Check me out on Pinterest (@painedcreations) and Instagram (@pained-creations) too!

Blended

Thought I would share this paper making project from long ago, and show you what I made with it. When I decided to try making handmade paper, my husband built the drying frames for me from wood and old screens from windows. He is the best! Plus, every time he makes something for me, he gets a new tool, so it works out pretty well. :)

Started with all my scraps from Sunday school, and scrapbooking.

Cut it up and let it soak. 

Goodwill blender worked great for small batches of paper pulp.

Here is a whole tray of watery pulp (many blender containers full).

Here is the pulp draining in the screen. I gently used a sponge to soak up excess water.

These are the first sheets after they were mostly dried.

Tried ironing the next batch to hurry up the drying. 

Got a cool burnt look, but ruined my iron. Bummer! Should have picked up an old iron at Goodwill too!

One side is rougher and darker than the other side. Partly from ironing, and partly from the paper towels they laid on to dry. It gave the sheets some texture.

Second time I tried the process, I saved solid color paper, and blended it in color groups.

I didn't have much green or blue, so I got a mixed piece!

Looks of purple and yellow from old file folders. Apparently using thick cardstock to make paper creates an egg carton like, thick paper! Not sure it will be good for much, but I am learning :)

I just bought a boatload of tissue paper so I can try again. It seems as though the thinnest papers, make the best, most usable handmade sheets of paper.

After I had all this paper made, I had no clue what to do with it all, so I made a junk journal or funky looking scrapbook. The pages are so thick, I had to order special 6" binder rings!

Enjoy your weekend, and go create something! Share what you are working on in the comments! Play along with the #G45JunkJournal Challenge

Until Next Time~
Shari

All Over the Place

Hello Again! It has been a while since I posted. I was blogging, selling art, and fundraising so we could get my wheelchair elevator installed. That process took quite a while, and shortly after that we were heading to Mayo Clinic. Except for a few birthday cards, I haven't done much art. I decided to just change the name of the blog and continue, instead of starting over.

The only painting I have done this year (except walls) is this mural. Ok, so it is also a wall, but more fun than rolling on paint! This is the basement wall that is in the elevator shaft. When I take the elevator to the basement, I can see the flower through the clear sections of the elevator cab door. Much better than plain grey concrete.

We have been working on projects for storing my art supplies! (Thankfully I married a carpenter)
So as I start out here with my new format and new blog name, I thought I would share my craft areas.

My paper crafting room. This is also my office, so I am standing by my other desk and laptop, and stack of medical bills to take the pic! :) Hubby removed the doors and added all shelving in the existing closet. My craft desk is the bottom half of our son's old bunk bed. It is a twin XL size desk top that went under his bed. He grew up, and I inherited a massive craft desk. I love it!

This is my handy-dandy rotating marker caddy that my hubby built for me. Now, I clearly need more markers!

Here is my painting, drawing, and gift wrapping room. Again, this is my husband's handiwork. He built these shelves for ribbon and other wrapping supplies. He also made this standing desk, which I love for active painting when I need to move around!

He made the built-in canvas storage (left) after we had the space leftover where the other bedroom's closet was. (We had to close that bedroom off to make a walk-in master closet with the elevator remodel) He made some shelves and removed the doors of the existing closet for more storage (right). This is what happens when your kids grow up and move out! Every room is a craft room! hahaha

Don't worry about my overworked husband. He was rewarded with all the garage space he wanted, and new power tools. He likes being busy, and we both get to do things we love. The only trouble is we spend more time planning items to build to store our stuff in, than we actually do using the "stuff". At least we are VERY organized.

Hopefully, I will get back to doing some art, and share it with you here! I have a long list of new things to try, and always need more greeting cards!

What are you working on? I'd love to see!

Until Next Time~
Shari

"stART With A Photo" ART Challenge #5

Hello again! Welcome to our Monday "stART With A Photo" challenge #5. I am still plugging along, even though no one else has played along yet! I will not be deterred! haha

So, if you are still reading, why not consider stARTing your week with an art challenge?

This week's inspiration comes from a greeting card a friend sent me. I thought the little girl pictured on the front was pretty, and I have a thing for wells. Is that weird? Anyways-

I was inspired by the colors this week, but also since I haven't felt well lately, I used my Sizzix Framelits Flip-Its die, to create a couple get well cards.

I have been making a lot of cards lately, but remember you can do any project!

Enjoy yourself. Be creative. Share your link in the comments. Please visit some of the other participant's blogs and leave them some love too!

Thanks for playing along!

Until Next Time-

~Shari

"stART With A Photo" ART Challenge #4

Hello! If you are like me, you probably aren't a huge fan of Mondays! However, if you play along with us every Monday, you can stART your week with a challenge. Art makes everything better, even Mondays!

stART with a Photo Challenge #4

This picture was taken by me while our family was serving at a camp for families with disabilities. We were all praying and holding hands. It reminds me of the love of friends. So, I have this special birthday card as my project for this week's challenge.

Enjoy yourself. Be creative. Share your link in the comments. Please visit some of the other participant's blogs and leave them some love too!

Thanks for playing along!

Until Next Time-

~Shari

Impatient Alcohol Background

Alright, I admit it. I am impatient. So, when I saw the new Mix-Ability Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers, I wanted to try the alcohol background technique right away. The trouble is, I don't own any alcohol inks, so I made up a different way to do it.

I poured a little rubbing alcohol in a shallow styrofoam tray.

Then dripped in some Distress Inks. They sank straight to the bottom of the tray. Hmmmm

Doing this technique the right way, keep the alcohol ink on top of the water in the dish. You lay the paper on top and pick up the ink. Since that wasn't going to work, I dipped the paper in and pressed down to get it to the ink on the bottom. I smooshed it a few seconds and brought it up. I used one sheet of water color paper (the larger piece). I used a few scraps of white cardstock too, before the alcohol go "muddy" from the ink.

Here are the two cards I made once the paper dried-

Until Next Time
~Shari

"stART With A Photo" ART Challenge #3

Hello! Welcome to our weekly art challenge. Hope you had a restful weekend and are ready to get back in your craft room and make something!

Every Monday, you can stop by the blog for a little creative prompt, so you can stART your week with a challenge.

So, without further ado, here is this week's-

stART with a Photo Challenge #3

This week's challenge is inspired by the remaining blooms in my garden. You may have guessed by now, that purple is my favorite color, so these caught my eye. I hope this inspires you to create!

This week I was inspired to try something new. I have never made a collage before, and I had some Citra-Solv papers that I made a while ago.

To make these, you just need an old Nat Geo magazine, gloves, a brush, and Citra-Solv.  Apply it liberally, close the magazine and leave it for a while to soak. Then lay the pages out and let them finish drying. More details are available on their website. This was the first time I tried it and got some great results, but the pages have been laying on a shelf for a long time waiting to be used. 

I decided to try a collage this week. I have never done one before, and thought it could be fun, which is the #1 rule for this challenge, so I knew I was on to something!

I cut the pages into various size strips, and glued them down with the Mod Podge.

This dried very fast with the window opened. I used coarse paste with a rubber spatula and brick stencil to add texture.

I let the paste dry for a few minutes, and then sprayed it with the Glimmer Mist, and set the whole thing aside.

Next, I tore some pieces of the Citra-Solv papers to make flowers and stems, and glued them to scrap paper for a firm backing.

I glued those to the background, and set it in front of the window again to dry. I grabbed my floral wire, and of course, made a flower with it! I used some new sheets of my Citra-Solv papers to make a background for the wire flower.

I used the tacky glue to attach the wire flower to the chipboard, and held it down with books for several hours to let it thoroughly dry. I used the sharpies to "doodle" an outline around all the flowers to give them some definition. I used the hot glue gun to make dots in the center of the flowers, because I wanted to see how it would look, and this was a fun project with lots of new techniques to try, so why not? Lastly, I glued some torn book pages to the top of the collage and finished it off with the reminder to "Bloom where He has planted you." Some times it is easy for me to feel isolated and think that I have nothing to offer. I need to remember that even if I can't do the things I used to, I can still be useful right where God has planted me. Sometimes that looks much different than I would have hoped for, or chosen, but it is right where I need to BLOOM and grow.

Here is my finished project for this week's challenge-

Enjoy yourself. Be creative. Share your link in the comments. Please visit some of the other participant's blogs and leave them some love too!

Thanks for playing along!

Until Next Time-

~Shari