Hi everyone and welcome! I was really excited when Donna Bowman invited me back to be a Guest Designer for The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge 2nd Birthday celebrations. If you've not yet visited this challenge blog then I highly recommend it as they have superb designers on board who create a wealth of mixed media art each month to inspire you.
The theme for this month is to celebrate a wonderful 2nd year of crafting by choosing to create something for one of the themes from last year. Just in case you need a helping hand here's a handy guide/graphic to remind you of those themes...
The theme for this month is to celebrate a wonderful 2nd year of crafting by choosing to create something for one of the themes from last year. Just in case you need a helping hand here's a handy guide/graphic to remind you of those themes...
And quite by chance it's a thrill to announce that this month will be sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique!!!
I chose to go with the Dimension theme from month #23 (April 2016) a challenge I entered as it was heavily influenced by the designs of their sponsor for that month, the wonderful Wendy Vecchi. In honour of that fact my Dimension canvas this time round is also a Wendy Vecchi inspired one...
The design for this canvas has been in my head for a long time but it was the arrival of my invite that gave me the perfect opportunity to create it. I was inspired by the beautiful artwork shown on the Mat Minis Birds & Their Houses packaging created by Wendy herself. The Mat Minis are so easy for adding dimension in themselves but the idea of replicating the tree to create a dimensional woodland scene was exciting.
The base of the canvas was covered with white embossing paste, dried and coloured just a little with a mix of Cornflower Blue Archival Reinker and rubbing alcohol. Using the Layered Tree stencil I added leaves and branches in various blue, green and brown shades of Archival Ink, making sure they overlapped and graduated. Another layer of trees was created by smearing a little silver embossing paste through the stencil with my finger. If you then heat the paste it bubbles and sets before being coloured by the same inks. And then I repeated this process using the white embossing paste for a completely different texture/layer. The joy of using the stencil throughout this process is that you can easily go back over trees you've already created to add more colour or embossing paste and build as much dimension as you want. Again inspired by Wendy's original artwork I added 'berry clusters' using Rose Gold Liquid Pearls as a finishing touch.
One thing I've learned from Wendy's tutorials is that you can continue to add delicate detail to your artwork using her background stencils - it covers overly blank spaces without intruding heavily on the main design. A stamped lace border edge also fitted perfectly with Old Ledger pattern. The bird houses and birds are so simple if you ink them up and use the coordinating stamp set to add the detail. Finally the sentiment banner just needed the addition of some filigree metal edges to make it stand out.
I really enjoyed putting this together and getting the chance to be a part of the 2nd birthday celebrations at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge. Make sure you hop on over to the challenge blog to be inspired by the rest of the designers and then its your turn to pick a theme.
I chose to go with the Dimension theme from month #23 (April 2016) a challenge I entered as it was heavily influenced by the designs of their sponsor for that month, the wonderful Wendy Vecchi. In honour of that fact my Dimension canvas this time round is also a Wendy Vecchi inspired one...
The design for this canvas has been in my head for a long time but it was the arrival of my invite that gave me the perfect opportunity to create it. I was inspired by the beautiful artwork shown on the Mat Minis Birds & Their Houses packaging created by Wendy herself. The Mat Minis are so easy for adding dimension in themselves but the idea of replicating the tree to create a dimensional woodland scene was exciting.
The base of the canvas was covered with white embossing paste, dried and coloured just a little with a mix of Cornflower Blue Archival Reinker and rubbing alcohol. Using the Layered Tree stencil I added leaves and branches in various blue, green and brown shades of Archival Ink, making sure they overlapped and graduated. Another layer of trees was created by smearing a little silver embossing paste through the stencil with my finger. If you then heat the paste it bubbles and sets before being coloured by the same inks. And then I repeated this process using the white embossing paste for a completely different texture/layer. The joy of using the stencil throughout this process is that you can easily go back over trees you've already created to add more colour or embossing paste and build as much dimension as you want. Again inspired by Wendy's original artwork I added 'berry clusters' using Rose Gold Liquid Pearls as a finishing touch.
One thing I've learned from Wendy's tutorials is that you can continue to add delicate detail to your artwork using her background stencils - it covers overly blank spaces without intruding heavily on the main design. A stamped lace border edge also fitted perfectly with Old Ledger pattern. The bird houses and birds are so simple if you ink them up and use the coordinating stamp set to add the detail. Finally the sentiment banner just needed the addition of some filigree metal edges to make it stand out.
I really enjoyed putting this together and getting the chance to be a part of the 2nd birthday celebrations at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge. Make sure you hop on over to the challenge blog to be inspired by the rest of the designers and then its your turn to pick a theme.
Have fun creating and take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx
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Great design Jenny built beautifully with the stencils and stamps, love the forest of trees and the cute bird houses Congrats on your guest spot. Xxx
ReplyDeleteOh what a happy looking canvas this is Jenny, love the forest effect with the trees going into the distance. The little birdhouses give it such a happy feel, perfect for that wonderful quote you chose! Great to have you guesting with us at MMM again!
ReplyDeleteSuch a stunning make Jenny x very summery, which suits the gorgeous weather we are having right now. The trees and little bird houses are fabulous and the quote is perfect
ReplyDeleteSending my best wishes
Annie x
Charming row of trees and birdhouses. the texture on the trees is fabulous with the touches of gold. Congrats on your GD at MMM!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your Guest Design slot. This piece just made me smile when I saw it this morning Jenny. love the graduation of colours on the trees and the sentiment is very true. Mo x
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet row of trees and birdhouses Jenny. so much more effective than just one bird house in the woods! Wonderful texture on your leaves and berries! Congrats on being Guest DT - Julia xx
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your guest design spot!! Wow, this is absolutely stunning!! I love the trees and birdhouses!! The embossing and texture are amazing!! Love, love this!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)
ReplyDeleteLisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
Love the design Jenny, great use of the ledger stamp - it really does look like a fence - clever! Congratulations on being a guest again too! x
ReplyDeletebeautiful work Jenny - it looks so very summery - congrats on being guest designer too! Big hugs rachel x
ReplyDeleteThat is gorgeous Jenny, love all those wonderful birdhouses! Congratulations on your guest designer spot, very well deserved! Deb xo
ReplyDeleteA lovely Wendy-inspired scene - congrats on a fabulous guest spot!
ReplyDeleteAlison x
Congratulations on your guest spot ! Jenny and what a lovely canvas you have created. So pleased to see you have the opportunity to finally get that idea down on canvas to share with us as it certainly needed to be just that -shared , admired and loved . It really is a gem .
ReplyDeletehugs x
This is just fantastic, Jenny! So many lovely details.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting piece. Beautiful colors and great use of art parts.
ReplyDeleteLove this piece! it's absolutely cool, love every little detail,colors and design are fantastic!BArbara
ReplyDeleteLove the whimsical forest and those birdhouses and tiny bird. Great little detail: those Liquid Pearl cluster! Congratulations on your GDT; they and we are so blessed they chose you! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteWow, absolutely gorgeous! Love all the dimension of your forest :)
ReplyDeleteOHhhh so fun and really DARLING Jenny. Did you know that this really could be reality Jenny!! We have 50 bluebird houses here at the ranch!!!! Your trees totally DELIGHT me - smiling big - they are PERFECT with the shimmer and bling. And each little house is PRECIOUS - I love that none are exactly the same and are at different heights. SUPER DIMENSION. And YOU are a WONDERFUL Guest Designer - of course!!! Xj.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love how you used Wendy's stamps here!
ReplyDeleteThis so says comfort and summer! Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteFabulous colours! I love the bird boxes! Chrisx
ReplyDeletelove this wonderful scene...so much od depth and dimension in your layered trees...and I love the rose gold berries :)
ReplyDeletehttp://kalasirjana.blogspot.in/
love this wonderful scene...so much od depth and dimension in your layered trees...and I love the rose gold berries :)
ReplyDeletehttp://kalasirjana.blogspot.in/
ove this wonderful scene...so much of depth and dimension in your layered trees...and I love the rose gold berries :)
ReplyDeletehttp://kalasirjana.blogspot.in/