mixed media canvas...

I decided I NEEDED to have

 a play day on Saturday...

just for me...

just for fun...

no agenda...

no assignment...

no supply list...

no instructions...

that was THE PLAN...

it's still my hobby & I LOVE it...

and that's how it started...

I had so much fun

and I made this...

I couldn't wait to use the 

cute NEW salvaged doll

 that I brought home from CHA...

thanks tim!

she's plain white right from the package, but I altered her with archival inks to look like this...

I added her shoes with a black sharpie & then used a q-tip that I moistened with rubbing alcohol to make it bleed...

that made them look more vintage...

she is so cute!

I was looking for some small wings & discovered that the leaves from the idea-ology poinsettia set fit her perfectly...

I used hot glue to attach them to her back, after I tapped on some gold metallic embossing paste to the front of the leaves...

I had pulled out a flat 6 inch square canvas to use as my base...

my original plan was to wire her onto a smaller canvas, that I would then add to the 6 x 6...

but...

 sometimes things change and a better idea comes along...

in the photo below, 

on top is the original 2 ½ x 3 ½ inch canvas...

below that is the cute frame that is left after I pulled off the canvas & added some 

gold metallic embossing paste.....

by removing the canvas, the background shows thru & it seemed to be more cohesive & less bulky for the 6 x 6 canvas...

I had an extra leftover "hosta" 

(just maybe my most fav stamp EVER...)

sitting there...

have you tried the newsprint 

over clearly for art?

the hosta was just the right size 

to pair with the salvaged doll...

here's the background...

since I hadn't planned this to be a tutorial, I don't have all the layers, stamping, stenciling color details...

but I think you get the idea...

I'm sharing this because I got this email last week...

"can you suggest a gameplan to create a collage background like I see on your art journal pages? mine seems like things were dumped and have no rhyme or reason".

this simple way seems to work for me...

 briefly, it started like this...

I used the splattered plaster technique as the first layer...

YES...the technique works great on canvas...

then added the tree branch 

stenciled alphabets in 3 spots...

I used larger alphas on the left & the smaller on the right...

repeating is good...

if you look, they form a triangle...

it might be hard to see, but I added 

tree branch embossing powder 

to just parts of the stenciling...

you'll also see 3 areas that were stenciled with translucent embossing paste...

I used this new ledger stencil...

I think using 3's & the triangle placement helps make the background cohesive...

and keeps the eyes moving...

once I knew where the mini frame would fit, I traced around it with the stabilo pencil & smeared it with my finger...

LOVE LOVE LOVE the new chain stamp...

the frame will cover up the unconnected area...

I thought I'd share this too...

after I had my little word collage in the bottom right corner...

I think the mix of fonts is fun...

love the stamped sentiment...

believe is from a size holiday set...

but some of the words can be used year round...

the top needed something...

I had considered "journey", 

but it seemed too large...

so I chopped the remnant rub apart to make a new word...

YOUR...

it was a perfect fit space-wise & 

it complimented the word collage in the bottom corner...

I also cut the word LIFE away from "explore" to use alone...

here's a better look at the salvaged doll...

I might be prejudice...

but I think the hosta is adorable & so is she...

the heart was cut from 

my new "magic mat board", 

using tim's movers & shapers heart die...

did you notice the subtle metallic accents on the background, the canvas edges & on the frame?

I had some fun unexpected discoveries using Ranger's foil sheets...

trust me...

get them out...

they are SUPER fun...

I have a new addiction...

here's what's happening this week...

I'll be back here on Wednesday &

I'll also be on the Ranger blog with a full tutorial...

on Thursday the new "make art challenge" will be announced...

I hope you can join us...

we had awesome entries for the first challenge...

(and there is a PRIZE)...

and then...

back to the foil sheets...

 I plan to be here on Friday & I'll share my foiling discoveries then...

while Rick is out there plowing us out for the 3rd time...

we got 15 inches of the white stuff...

with yucky 6 foot drifts in some spots...

I'll

make art!

wendy

ps...background stamps, sets of stamps, stencils, magic mat board & SiSi's have SHIPPED & are in stock now...

check your local stores or the highlighted links will take you to some online shopping spots...