GD: Clare Lloyd #2 Altered Canvas

"Hi everyone, Clare here back with my second project of the week. I Hope you are all ready as I will be making a scene! Talk about diva tendencies…LOL"!

It all started with a 6” x 4” box canvas which I painted with a thin coat of Snowflake as the base {this acts as the perfect primer before applying subsequent layers to any porus surface}. I wanted a good coverage before I applied a layer of Mermaid.

A rummage through my extensive stencil collection produces this Mini Kaleidoscope Stencil. Out came the Grunge Paste and a palette knife, I then applied a layer across 2 thirds of my canvas front. 

Now to cover the paste using a layer of transparent Beach Hut so is doesn’t cover my base colour completely. Stipple colour around Grunge Paste pattern and then brush smooth strokes all over the canvas to tie the colours in.

It's quite nice if you can get it so the coverage of both colours is a bit streaky, it adds some interest and variation.

Next some stamping with Black Archival Ink and the lovely mini flourish from the Squiggly Ink Collection Tops and Tails (Plate 1)  around the edge of the canvas

and then down the remaining third of the canvas front using Squiggly Mini stamp 8. 

You have to bear in mind on a deep box canvas the edges are well supported by the wood frame, so you will get sharp stamped image easily there, but on the middle the canvas is not so well supported, so its harder to get a perfect image. However, as this is a background, and I have things to go on top, its not a crucial detail in this situation.

I decided the edges might be interesting with another layer, so playing with the coverage levels of the Fresco Paints I went in with some Lake Wanaka, making my own ink/paint palette by spreading a thin layer of paint on scrap paper and then tapping Squiggly Mini15 into it to 'ink up' your stamp so to speak!

And I repeated this idea on the front panel too.

So that is the background done. Next I needed to make the 'scene'.

I decide to stamp this sentiment from Tops and Tails Plate 2 and chop it up to go on my canvas.

The stamping of lots of small elements from Squigly Ink: Flora and Fauna (Plate 2),

Squiggly Ink: Flora and Fauna (Plate 3)

and Squiggly Ink: Flora and Fauna (Plate 6) 

plus the frame stamp Squiggly Mini16 

all stamped onto PaperArtsy's Heavy Weight White Stamping Card. 

They all get coloured in the same way. I painted a super thin layer (add some water) as base colour for the image using Tango, Lake Wanaka, Beach Hut and Mermaid and then added shading/dimension using a few pencil crayons. 

My bird houses need something to sit on so I used some PaperArtsy Lace and painted it using Little Black Dress.

And placed it on the canvas

It all comes together on my canvas stuck down using hot glue as this gives some more dimension as well.

The addition of a few more embellishments; flowers, bird etc from the various stamp plates fill the gaps, link it all together and make nice finishing touches.

The next day I looked at my canvas again and decide to add some sketching to frame the sentiment boxes and also a touch of Glossy Accents to make the embellishments pop. Sometimes you see things better when you walk away and come back to them, and you just know what's needed.

Thanks for joining me today, and for your comments yesterday I'll see you again tomorrow with my final project, and it's another Squiggly idea.

Clare

Leandra Says: There's nothing better to cheer up this awful weather with something bright and cheery in the colour combo! It's nioce to see the Squiggly Ink stamps, the Flora and Fauna series are a particular fave of mine. Thanks Clare

Gillian Says: Another fab project Clare using the Squiggly Ink collection, great colour combo to suit the quirkyness of the images.

If you would like to join in this week's challenge and play along with Clare's techniques, then do link up your creativity here, and go in the draw to win some PA stamps of your choice! You need to link your entry by 17:00, Sunday January 12th 2014.