Turtles and Bubbles

I took an acrylic pour class and we also did a copy transfer onto a dry poured canvas. I used a turtle and this blue canvas because I thought "water" when I saw how the paint and bubbles (cells) looked. I loved taking a class for this technique because I didn't have to purchase a ton of supplies I might not use, plus I got expert advice along the way. Annndd, I didn't have to make a mess at my own house!

Here's the turtle after applying the transfer medium. You have to let it dry at least 24 hours, though I didn't get to the paper removal until three days later. You have to wet the paper and then rub with your fingers until the white film is removed. It takes some of the image if you're not careful, but I think it came out pretty good in the photo below.

I also think it's a fab way to make your poured canvasses into something more than a cool blank canvas. I have one with pink and orange and I'm thinking a Beatles image might suit the psychedelic look of the colors...I'll share it if that's what I do.

Here's a video on image transfers if you're interested. Make sure you use a laser jet printer (or any copier at Staples, etc.) The ink jet kind will smear with this technique. You can do this technique on matte tiles, wood, paper, canvas, and more. Mine is on painted canvas.

Happy Friday!

Chark

And Sometimes You Fail

Ok, I saw a great tutorial on painting canvas sneakers here at Make It With Me and I had a little canvas bag that I wanted to spruce up...so I gave it a shot. 

Let me just say, she makes it look easy! First, canvas bleeds a lot, which I kinda knew, so perfection isn't happening. Second, I should've practiced on something less expensive (yes, it's a 31 bag). Third, I'm not giving it as a gift as I first intended. But I guess that means is that I'll be using the little bag and not showing it off to friends :) Well, except you, my crafty friends who have been there before...right?! Tell me things haven't worked out for you!!

I love Oz, as you probably know, and Glinda has got to be my fave. So I used my Tombow markers as watercolors (scribbled them on an acrylic block and used a brush to apply) and then spritzed with water throughout the process. In the shoe tutorial, Kellie spritzes before starting and not throughout, so that definitely means my paint moved during the process. But I didn't want the color too defined, so I tried it. Mostly it just diluted lots of colors and smooshed them into each other.

On the back side of the bag, I knew what would happen, so I stamped flowers in distress inks and deliberately spritzed after. I kinda like the star burst effect. I may go back in and stamp clearer images on top, but I haven't decided. I may even write words or something.

 

All in all, I learned a lot, and I can't count that as a fail, but it didn't live up to my expectations, so I can count that part as a fail. I think it just means I will be buying more canvas to practice on (and I'll get it at the dollar store!) In the meantime, I'll have to do some more research!

Happy Wednesday!

Chark

Doodlebug Bunnies

I love Doodlebug Design for its cuteness—they consistently do cute very well. I know it's not up everyone's alley, but I think I buy something from each new line they come out with. From the Easter Parade line, I got two sheets of paper and stickers. For this project, I used the stickers only.
 

I used a little 4x6 canvas board I had, rubbed some Distress inks (Picked Raspberry, Lemonade and Peacock Blue) on it directly and then moved the ink with my finger. Then I added some of the cutest washi tape ever from Artsyville and the Doodlebug stickers, including the fence, and then added sequins. It came together really fast and made me happy.

Here it is in close-up and extreme close-up...or as Wayne from Wayne's World would say, unnecessary zoom.

 

The flower sequins are Teresa Collins.

Hope you have a great Monday, it's all sunny here in Ohio, so I'm going to enjoy that!

Chark