Layers Upon Layers: Mixed Media Art

July 8th, 2008

Waxed paper transfer collage

Technique Tuesday!
Here’s the image that I started with for this piece:

It wasn’t high resolution or anything: just a pretty picture. I used Golden’s Digital Ground White, and stroked it onto a piece of waxed paper, adding a few layers until the piece was covered where I planned to print. The image printed out […]

By Cyndi -- 6 comments

July 1st, 2008

Mixed media tutorials and tips

Technique Tuesday!

Perhaps you feel that there is no need for instruction in mixed media. It’s something that just comes naturally to you. Or on the other hand, maybe you’re just beginning to explore assemblage, altered books and other constructions, and you need a gentle nudge to get you going.
Whether you are a beginner or a […]

By Cyndi -- 0 comments

June 24th, 2008

A must-have ribbon storage box

If you collect ribbon, pretty soon you know you’ve got a snarly mess, either in a plastic bin, a dozen zip-lock bags, etc. Here’s a really clever idea for keeping them all straight…JM Day shows us how!

Tags: art-storage, tutorials

By Cyndi -- 2 comments

June 24th, 2008

How to make paper from scraps

Joanna has offered a wonderful tutorial, complete with lots of photos for us visual types, on making paper from your scraps. Not table scraps, silly! Paper scraps that come in the mail everyday. Crafty Daisies has posted the tutorial. Love that blog! Joanna’s website is The Harding Street Assembly Lab. Great name!

Tags: […]

By Cyndi -- 0 comments

June 19th, 2008

Transferring your pattern for embroidery

Art Attack Thursday!

Lots of times in mixed media projects, we’d like to add a bit of hand-stitched elegance! Sometimes we can get away with just winging it, but other times the pattern is a bit more crucial. Here’s a great little tutorial from Melissa at Elemental Stitches on how to transfer your pattern to fabric. […]

By Cyndi -- 0 comments

June 12th, 2008

Scrabble coasters

Art Attack Thursday! 
Oh my, these are so cute. I’m thinking that computer keyboard keys might work too, with a little tweaking… Thanks to Jessfun23 for this great idea! Craftster.org has the thread with the directions.

Tags: coasters, Mixed Media, tutorials

By Cyndi -- 2 comments

May 29th, 2008

Hot tip from “The Goddess of Garbage”

What a great name! Carol A Tanzi is the self-proclaimed Goddess, and I’d have to agree with her. I’m making her a crown out of used Christmas garland even as we speak…
I love this project. I’m sure you’ve seen those old or reproduction soda crates. Well, here Carol explains how to turn them into enchanting […]

By Cyndi -- 0 comments

May 27th, 2008

Mixing digital and physical art

Technique Tuesday!
Materials and Tools:
Decorative papers
Heavy piece of watercolor paper for foundation
Exacto knife, straight edge, and cutting board
Matte medium
Foam brush
Waxed paper

Create a geometric background by carefully cutting papers and gluing into place on a foundation piece of watercolor paper.
Cover the piece with waxed paper and weight it until completely dry.

Scan your piece and make multiple copies […]

By Cyndi -- 12 comments

May 19th, 2008

Digital effects posts

Make Art Monday!

I have posted so many different digital effects tips and tutorials (including those that mix physical and digital work) that I thought I’d better compile them all for future reference! Anytime you want to see all the updates to this post, you can find the link in the right-hand sidebar under “Pages”. […]

By Cyndi -- 19 comments

May 13th, 2008

How to make a torn paper landscape collage

Technique Tuesday!
These simple collages make excellent backgrounds for either more physical collage work or for digital work on a scanned copy.
Materials & Tools:
Large sheet of heavy watercolor paper
Selection of colored and decorative papers, stock paper weight
Matte medium
Foam brush
Waxed paper
Exacto knife
Clear plastic measure
Cutting board

Tear stock papers into uneven strips and arrange in an overlapped pattern.
When the […]

By Cyndi -- 14 comments