hope.dream.believe

i had an idea in my head to make a trio of 4x4 canvases as a set.  but then i decided to make them individual.  here's how they turned out.  i used my favorite bubble wrap on them.  i cut out a butterfly on the silhouette from vinyl and used it as a stencil to paint.  the trail from the butterfly is india ink that i drew.  the words were painted with some stencils by folkart.

hope.dream.believe

ink:  india ink

paint: gesso, acrylic

other: bubble wrap

tools:  silhouette (bug)

the mystery project...

what happens when you make a stranger's day?  that's the question that the people over at the art house co-op wanted to know.  so they created the mystery project.  each participant received a little package that contained  the following:  a thank you for signing up, a new prismacolor art marker (side note:  this made my day since you all know i love my prismas and  i didn't know they have prismacolors with a brush tip.  BRUSH tip!!), and a card with your chosen theme.

i excitedly ripped open my package the day it arrived and checked out my theme.  and my excitement was quickly deflated.

if tomorrow came yesterday

what the cuss?  what in the world does that mean?  i was stumped.  i had this phrase running through my mind for weeks.  i had no idea what it meant or what i could do with it.

then it hit me.  it meant going back in time.  and one day i was working on my art journal and had a butterfly in  mind.  and like a ton of bricks the idea came to me.  if tomorrow came yesterday...there wouldn't be butterflies.  because the caterpillier would  never change in to a butterfly if tomorrow never came.  right?  well that's  my take on it anyway.  so here's what i created.  a little 4x4 canvas.

butterflies
cardstock: authentic pp
paint: gesso, acrylic
embellishments:  butterfly cutouts-making memories,
other:  prismacolor marker, india ink

the other thing that stumped me was where to leave it?  i had no idea...i've been thinking about it for days now...where to leave it.  as i was running out of time, i decided to leave it at a park near my house.  i figure lots of people visit the park.  so i drove up there tonight as the sun was setting, and planted my little butterfly piece.

i attached a little note that says "read me."  inside explains a little about the mystery project and telling the finder to keep the canvas.  hopefully it will find a good home!!

dared to dream...*giu day 5*

wow *giu day 5* is here so fast!!  what a week this has been!!  thank you for coming to visit each day and checking out all my projects as *growing in unity* girl!   and thank to unity for the opportunity!  and don't forget that it is friends with flair today!!   be sure to check out the unity blog for the awesome projects.

today's project is another 4x4 canvas.  i think that this sums up what i've been doing lately. daring to dream.  working outside of my comfort zone and trying new things.  i never would have guessed in a million years that i would a) create a canvas like this and b) like this girly girl stamp!!!  but i do.  love them both!!  i used a few unity sets on this canvas.  all  lovelies from christy tomlinson:  reversed punchinella,  she leaped and she art print texture.

dared to dream
 stamps:  unity, christy tomlinson
ink:  jet black
embellishments:  paper flowers, glimmer spray, rhinestones, muslin
other:  canvas, acrylic paint, gesso, watercolor crayons

thanks for your comments all week.  i'll be picking the winner of the free stamps from all the comments and announcing it on monday so be sure to come back and see if it is you!  

4x4 canvas swap...

ok, stay with me here. this is another one of those "why did i join this swap?" posts. sometimes i just get caught up and can't lay of the "join now" button on the swap page. this was one of them. luckily, i found some inspiration and created this. it was so outside the box for me. it is a 4x4 canvas swap. kirsty sent the 4 other people in the swap the 4x4 canvases and instructions on what we were doing. we decided on the theme of "the ocean." (instructions are italicized)

THE OCEAN.
First layer: COLOUR
Squirt, smoosh, spritz – get that colour on however you like!
Think only of the colour – no planning of future layers allowed at this point.
Each of your canvases may look different at this stage – that is fine.
If you want to add texture i.e. gesso, tissue, glue to the colour – add away!

i've never painted anything (other than a single color) so i was a little worried about the background. i started with a nice light blue. then i added some layers with more shades of blue and a little green. i actually had a great time mixing colors and shades to get what i wanted. i also experimented a little with some tissue paper for texture.


Second layer: PATTERN
Stamped, printed, found: still not thinking too much about the outcome. Just follow your instincts!

i used a couple of different stamps for this part. i thought about using regular ink, but then i didn't know how bright the images would be. i ended up using the acrylic paint and i love how it worked. this and the next step kind of merged together.


Third layer: STAMPED IMAGES
These can be digital or rubber. Colour them and collage them on.
Fourth layer: TEXT – pop some in there somewhere.
Fifth layer: DOODLING
pens, markers, Paint markers – any media that makes doodling on your work possible.

i kind of doodled the pink coral before this step, but i did do a little doodling!

TAA DAA: You have created a MASTERPIECE! (5 actually!)
here is the finished project. i used some shimmer spritz on the canvas to give them a little sparkle. i covered them with a little glossy accents to give them a water-like look. i hope everyone else likes them!

go with the flow
stamps: kim hughes, ippity
ink: white craft ink
embellishments: tissue paper, white gel pen, glossy accents
other: acrylic paint, 4x4 canvas