This past year as a 2012 Graphic 45 design team member went by so fast! It was the most amazing year for me EVER as a designer. My dream of designing for my all-time favorite paper company came true! That said, I could not pass up the chance to keep the dream alive. ♥ Those of you who have tried out for the Graphic 45 design team know that the running is fierce. There are so many amazingly talented designers all over the world and several hundred of them try out for the Graphic 45 team every year. That says a lot about the Graphic 45 company, the products and the wonderful family behind the name. It is quite humbling to be selected, but know this.... I am a complete nervous wreck as I type this!! I am only one of the several hundreds (thousands) submitting for the Graphic 45 design team for 2013. I will keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best! ♥
So without further adieu, this is my submission for the 2013 Graphic 45 Design Team. The following 8 projects below best represent me as an artist and my love of Graphic 45. Graphic 45 papers/products are so fun to work with, it's not difficult to be inspired. Even the last 2 non-Graphic 45 projects have G45 metal Staples on them! ♥
Happy Monday, my sweet blogging friends! Hope you enjoyed your St. Patty's day weekend. Did you catch any leprechauns? ❤
I have another mixed media project to share with you today. I created this 8x8 canvas featuring Graphic 45's Secret Garden and Metal Staples. The photo was taken of me on my wedding day immediately following the wedding ceremony at a "secret garden" behind the church. My wedding was the happiest day of my life (next to when each of my sons were born), so I wanted to create something special with this photo... something I could share with my grandchildren someday.
The key to creating a mixed media canvas is to just have fun! Lay it all down and don't hold back. Everything will just come together... I promise! ❤
...and when you do mess up, there is always a fix! See the metal butterfly on my shoulder? Well, I made a huge boo-boo... the heat gun got a little too close to the photo, it melted it! No worries... just layer, layer, layer and no one will notice whether or not something "should be" where it is. LOL!
I used gesso to prime all the elements on the canvas before using my Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays to color it up. Be sure to watch my YouTube video below for a full beginning-to-end tutorial for this canvas...
A combination of metal embellishments, mulberry flowers, sprays and laser cut elements are perfect on an altered canvas... lace, doilies, crepe paper, netting and stencils can add glorious texture to the base...
The Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays in pinks, corals and greens make for a perfect blend of color...
Pull out miscellaneous embellishments from your stash that you normally wouldn't use, and pile it on! Put those scrap laces, ribbon and paper to use!
Here is a video tutorial showing you how this canvas came together...
Come visit the Graphic 45 blog where today's project will be featured. You also won't want to miss out on the unveiling of a new Graphic 45 product, so head over there now!
Hope you enjoyed my share today. Have yourself an awesome week and I'll see you back here again tomorrow when I share my 2013 Graphic 45 DT Audition post. Eeeek, so excited and nervous at the same time!! ❤
Hello blogging beauties! I have a fun project I want to share with you all today. I got down and dirty, and was completely in my element when creating this. I was really missing my Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays and got to have TONS of fun with my sprays creating this mixed media altered mini canvas.
The paper collection I incorporated into this project is Prima's Divine papers. I used a variety of metal embellishments from my stash and a array of flowers in colors I don't normally use. But you know, in the end it didn't matter what color flowers I grabbed from my supply, because all the elements were primed up, then sprayed with a combination of Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays!
Some of the techniques I used on this project were inspired by Anna (Finnabair). I had the pleasure of meeting her in front of the Lindy's Stamp Gang booth at Winter CHA 2012. She is a very sweet gal and I absolutely love her art work! Check out her YouTube channel HERE.
Here are some photos of my completed mixed media mini canvas:
The texture is created with various mediums and product...
Of course, I have to have a butterfly somewhere on the project, right?! *wink-wink* ♥
I really love the texture the white doilies have on the canvas, and they take the Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays so nicely...
For a step-by-step instructional tutorial, check out my YouTube video here:
Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out my latest project.
Hello blogging lovelies, it's me again with another project for this wonderful Monday! ♥
If you haven't had the opportunity to partake in the gorgeous new French Country papers by Graphic 45, you are certainly missing out! These papers are fabulous in every sense, with the perfect touch of vintage Graphic 45! And with this release, Graphic 45 added some new products including the coordinating French Country Banners, French Country Flowers, and 6x6 Patterns & Solids.
Let me talk you through some of the photos of this card I created using Graphic 45's French Country...
The card I created is 5 1/2" x 5 1/2", with a kraft card stock base. The papers layers are from the new French Country 6x6 patterns and solids pack.
I used some of the coordinating French Country chipboard, and combined the use of the new banners. I popped up the banners using some dimensionals...
I used the scallop border from the French Country sticker sheet and the "Bonjour" label is from the French Country Tags and Pockets set.
You can also see the 3 Staples Stamped Metal Brads from this angle. I removed the prongs of the brad and adhered only the "head" of the brad using Glossy Accents...
Here's another look at those stamped metal brads up close. The flowers are by Recollections and Prima...
(NOTE: a full product list is included at the bottom of this post.)
You can see the black doily "peeking" from the back. The Ornate Metal Key hole is layered on top of a small Metal Tag. I love the layered look. A little bit of Glossy Accents bonds metal to metal perfectly!
Here's a look at my finished card at another angle...
I completed the inside of my card using a combination of stickers and elements from the French Country Banners set...
Here is a video I put together showing you this card up close and explaining how I created it...
For more inspiration using Graphic 45's French Country, visit the Graphic 45 blog. If you aren't a member of the Graphic 45 Ning website, check it out and join. There is a ton of inspiration on the site and it's a great place to mingle with other Graphic 45 fans! ♥
Thanks so much for stopping by to visit! I will be back again later this week and I hope to see you here!
