Well hello thar! I’m back on the blog and have been making and creating whilst resting and relaxing so have a few things that I am excited to share with you over the next week or so.
Ready? Ok, read on …
First, let me tell you that I did indeed manage to go shopping to various craft stores, charity shops and other locations to grab and snaffle some creative stash.
The first pile was intended for a canvas project but sort of extended a bit beyond that…
… good job really as the canvas that I was working on wouldn’t have taken this lot! lol.
Having sorted and stowed the rest of the bits and pieces I cracked open some natural string and lace ribbon.
This I used to create a background texture on the canvas, criss-crossing the lengths over the whole of the surface area. This was stuck down to the back with some tape.
Some single ply napkins were then popped open one sheet was snaffled from the pack of 100 – thinking these might go a long way!
This sheet was laid over the canvas …
… and a fine spray of water and glue was wafted over the top.
Didn’t want to super soak it as it was only single ply.
I also applied various torn bits to the central area to make a more focused area on which my design would sit.
Once dry I began laying out some elements to try and work out a layout.
The brown stuff is air dry clay that I had squished into a thin layer and then snapped in half. There was also a die that I planned to used and some bottle/jar tops.
After moving the design elements to one side I glue down the air dry clay and then gave it a coat of white gesso.
As ever, I began changing things as I worked and decided against the jar/bottle tops and instead had a rummage through the bits and pieces box and found some card tags and a 3D print that I had left over from a previous project.
Thought these worked really well and continued to rummage and pulled out some chipboard tags, that I had got from Kanban Outlet during my travels and also a wooden butterfly shape.
One extra thing that I made to go with this was an air dry clay bee that was formed in a push mold from Mod Podge.
Now, I needed a sentiment so I cracked open a bag of self adhesive letters.
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GENTLEMAN CRAFTER 
Just catching up as I’ve been away. This piece is is brill and your step by steps really break it down. I have wanted to attempt mixed media projects but was unsure how to approach it, this has given me confidence to have a go. Thanks very much John.
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Hello John, you have given me the inspiration to have a bash, so to speak. I procrastinate and lack confidence. I sit and stare. I feel I change as I go and never end up with what I had in mind initially. Thank you and nice to have you back.
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I just love the finished artwork, just beautiful. I liked the white version but the bold colours are my favorite.
Lovely to see you back in blogland, but that you spent your time away stash hunting!
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Hi John , liked the white base but loved the colour once completed – good advice from friend re embrace the space- it’s the contrast between the space and centre of attention that enhances the whole work-its looking good!
Good to see you back
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Hi John, glad to see you back love the creation I did like the gesso version I’m not a bright colour person but I do like your end result.
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Hi John
Fabulous art as usual. You are so talented. I love your canvas at all stages and the finished result is perfect. I do like a bit of colour. Be free! X Chris.
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So happy to see you back, and what a beautiful piece you have created. I love the whole concept, and must have a rummage through my mountain of goodies too – but still I know I couldn’t get anywhere near as lovely a creation as you have done!
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Of course you can. Now get rummaging ;)
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Hai John, lovely to see you back and see that you are full of idea’s again. Love the way you made the background, that’s one I have to keep in mind. Good colour combination and as you good friend said, embrace the space, it works!
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Very nice. Liked the background. Amazing use of lace and string. Especially liked your colourful butterfly. Great to have you back. What is gesso?
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Gesso is like a white acrylic paint except that it has a chalk inclusion meaning that it dries with a ‘key’ to which other paints will stick. Artists use it to prepare canvases.
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I liked it best at the white and grey stage, but it’s a lovely piece of work.
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Love it John. An interesting use of bits and bobs. I probably would have stayed with the gessoed look just because I am somewhat conservative. Welcome back
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Beautiful! Love the idea of using lace and string to create the textured background – I always get stuck knowing where to start.
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The background is often the first hurdle so by giving it texture, it makes the rest less daunting.
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Beautiful John. Must try and be a bit freeer, and have a go at something like this :)
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Hi John,
Great to see you back, refreshed and bursting with ideas
Loved the colours even though I’m going through a monochrome phase at the moment, but I might just add one bit of colour in my next project to see how I feel with it.
Your change of scenery has done you a power of good. Keep smiling. Karen x
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Oh for a rummage in your bits box! Ahem I mean fab to see a bit of what you’ve been up to. Any pics of the tasty goodness you found to nibble on whilst out for a nosey? You know, just in case I am in the area and in need of some emergency frivolous calories? I agree with Wheelybad, the ‘white’ tonal version looked interesting and probably even more wondrous in real life when the full depth of the textures could be perceived.
Great that you are back but….skip please, rather than run headlong into a wall : )
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Stunning, love it!
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Hi John
Glad to read you took in the sites, raided some shops and had a good old crafty play. Hope you feel better for it all!
You’ve picked one of my favourite colour combinations (I have so much variagated yarn in those colours 😆) but I also really liked the gesso-ed white as the colour of the embellishments had very slightly different tones. I might try something “all white” one of these days as a result.
Must go, Mister will be back with the shopping soon. Many hugs and best wishes to all
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