Thursday 2 April 2015

Anything Goes. . . . . . .

Hi everyone. I'm so excited because today sees the launch of the first challenge at the all new Stamps And Stencils challenge blog!! We are a blog interested in your mixed media art and we want you to play along with us for the sheer enjoyment of doing so. Like the sound of us? Let's get started then:

Our first host is the amazingly talented Sue Carrington and here is Sue's challenge:

'To start our new challenge we're keeping things easy and it's an Anything Goes theme ! All you need to do is create a mixed media project including either stamping or stencilling or both!'

This is my favourite challenge theme - you get to do whatever you want with virtually no restrictions! All we ask is that you use stencils or stamps or both on your project and that you work in a mixed media style. No digi images thanks either but if you use image transfer as part of your work that's fine.

I decided to alter a wooden door hanger. I set myself the task of using a word as my starting point which was 'fragile' and here's what happened:

A wooden hanger featuring the use of paints, mediums and stencils.
The hanger is coated twice with gesso and sanded between the layers. Modelling paste is applied through stencils and left to dry. Half pearls are added in the corners. A final coat of gesso is added.
Various colours of fluid acrylics are applied to create the base of the hanger.
Versamark ink is applied on the stencilled modelling paste followed by powder embossing.

The products shown are used to give the half pearls a rusty makeover.
Fluid acrylic is applied through the fish stencils in random areas.
The word fragile is stencilled onto the background and some blue stencilling applied over the writing to help it blend. Quinacridone gold fluid acrylic is thinly painted over the word to age it.
Shadows are added with Inktense pencil, a waterbrush and some noir PanPastel (not shown).
Crackle glaze is applied over the whole of the hanger. Black antiquing cream is used to antique the glaze here and there.
Metallic lustre is applied to stencilled 'water bubbles' followed by crackle glaze. When dry, the bubbles are given a coat of white antiquing cream. The shadows - as describe above - are easy to spot in this image.
The colours are much clearer in this image. The fish has been given a small half pearl eye because they looked better with them!


Love the subtle gleam of the embossing powder through the layers.

Products used on the hanger.
Detail of one fish tail.
Hope you like the hanger!
We really are very excited about this new venture and want you to feel the same way too! So why not pop over to Stamps and Stencils and have a look at the gorgeous work from my teamies. Then it's your turn!

21 comments:

  1. Gorgeous hanger Julia! Love the rusted pearls and the crackle is just stunning! Sue C x

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  2. I love your hanger Julia - it's fabulous.
    xxx Hazel.

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  3. The entire tutorial was fascinating. I absolutely LOVE your fragile door hanger. The crackle is exceptional and the aging of the metal pieces looks terrific.

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  4. Stunning Julia and like always you are rocking it with those Decoart goodies!

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  5. WOW Julia what a fantastic door hanger! Stunning use of DecoArt products, i definitely need to be more adventurous lol.

    Thank you for your amazing inspiration:-) xxx

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  6. Beautiful door hanger Julia, love the texture and those wonderful colours.
    Yvonne xx

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  7. What a fabulous sounding new challenge blog, and what a brilliant first inspiration piece, Julia! Just love what you've done with the fish bones, and fantastic DecoArt effects. Glorious!
    Alison xx

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  8. This is gorgeous Julia! Love the deep colours, metallic textures and wonderful crackling. That stencil is fabulous too! Toni x

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  9. Oh wow, oh wow Julia, this is a stunning piece of work, the colours are fabulous and I love the swordfish detail.... Must get my hands on some of that Fierro... Hugs, Anne xx

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  11. I fell in love with the colours of this piece as soon as I saw it Julia, thanks for all the close ups especially of the metallic textured fish. Fabulous step by steps and great to see all the products you've used! I now want that stencil so much! A stunning creation..Hugs Ruth x

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  12. Gorgeous colours and textures, thanks so much for sharing your process!

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  13. Stunning Julia, thank you very much for this great inspiration!! Hugs, Kerstin

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  14. Absolutely gorgeous Julia!! And where did you get that fish stencil?I love it! Your art always leaves my mouth openly gaping- ugh- what a picture -huh? heehee Truly, you rock those paints and bring out the best in them! xxoo

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  15. Fabulous texture, just fabulous. And what a cool thing to make...so unique!

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  16. Wow, fabulous!!!!!!!! :D Thanks for the wonderful step-by-step Julia! Bises, Coco

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  17. Wow! Amazing!! I really want to touch this!!!! You really have made a fantastic door hanger and I just love that stencil!! Chrisx

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  18. This has been so beautifully crackled and glazed Julia. Completely unique as ever. Jenny x

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  19. Julia this is wonderful, there are so many techniques here that I want to try out! Thanks so much for the step by step xx

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Juliax