RWKrafts: Mixed Media Monthly #10

It's March! Happy March! Such a promising month as it brings the first day of spring! The new challenge at Mixed Media Monthly Challenge brings some wishful thinking with the March "Birds of a Feather" challenge!

We have an amazing amazing sponsor this month! One of my absolute favorite companies, Faber Castell Design Memory Craft, is offering TWO great prizes! One winner receives a Mixed Media Gelato kit and another winner receives a Card Making Gelatos kit.

I created an art journal collage filled with images of birds and my favorite Design Memory Craft products.

I used a DCWV "hot buy" stack I found at Michael's (for $5!) that was filled with beautiful bird and flower images. I cut them out to be the focal images of my journal.

I started by applying this houndstooth tissue paper (from the packaging in my paperissues.com order!) using a coat of matte Mod Podge.

Once the Mod Podge dried I added some Cracked Pistachio Distress Paint. This color combo immediately made me want to continue with a retro vibe and color scheme.

I cut some Mango Gelato and mixed it with Whipped Spackle. I ran the colored embossing paste over the dotted stencil to add texture. I also added Mango and Metallic Mint Gelato directly onto my page.

Next I focused on cutting out a variety of images from this Ciao Bella DCWV stack. I cut out more than I needed, but I will use those on another page later.

One of the first things I did when I started mixed media was to color a printed image with PITT Pens and Stamper's Big Brush Pens. I still use that technique a lot, and I have photos for how to do it with my main bird...

I always start by coating the image with a very thin layer of Glaze or matte Mod Podge. This gives a non-porous surface for your artists pens to work on. For the bird image above, I colored White in all the dark red areas.

Now I want to brighten up the bird. I added yellow and orange Stamper's Big Brush Pens to the belly. I smear the ink with my fingers to blend and add more color as needed.

I added more blues and teals to the wings of the bird. Again, I smear the ink with my finger for shading and add the darker colors as needed.

Lastly I added greens to the leaves and accented in black. Once these inks dry they are PERMANENT so I can cover the image with other mediums and the color won't smear.

Since all my images were cut and colored and the background was finished, now I just had to add the collage pieces. Above you see my finished bird with some Glass Bead Glitter Gel added to his wings.

What if I fall?

Oh, but my darling...

What if you fly?

Please join the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge throughout the month of March. Add your Birds of a Feather projects to our gallery for a chance to win the fabulous Faber Castell Design Memory Craft prizes!

Love,

Rachel