Mixed Media Canvas Tutorial by Jolaine Frias

My Creative Scrapbook Design Team member Jolaine Frias is here today with a special post walking us through how she created her beautiful altered canvas featuring our January Mixed Media Kit.

Here's Jolaine...

Hello again! I have a very special post today for you, it's a photo tutorial for an altered canvas created with My Creative Scrapbook's January Mixed Media kit.

It's a bittersweet post as I'm ending my term as DT member for My Creative Scrapbook. I have enjoyed so much being part of MCS' family. For the past year and a half, I not only got to play with fantastic kits jam-packed of the latest goodies, but also, I got to 'meet' so many creative, talented and sweet, and generous women. Just one more reason why leaving was a difficult decision...but enough with the sappiness! I'm excited to share with you this fun project with the gorgeous Mixed Media kit.

Here's the canvas I created...

I began by painting an 11x14 canvas with Bahama Blue paint by Americana. I wanted a very light layer of paint so I did not use gesso.

I then took half of the sewing pattern included in the kit and tore it into pieces. I used soft gel medium by Golden to adhere it to the canvas. I like the matte finish but it also comes in glossy.

To adhere the pattern, simply use a paint brush and add medium to both the canvas and the paper. Don't forget to brush over it to seal it and add texture.

Continue adding pieces of the torn sewing pattern until most of the surface is covered remembering to leave the edges exposed for a splash of color. Be sure to drag the brush saturated with the medium across the surface of the canvas once done.

Once the medium has dried, add a very light layer of white paint. The goal here is to paint on the raised surfaces to create a textured background.

I love using a fan brush like this one to make sure I keep the paint layer light. 

After the paint is dry, apply a white-washed over the canvas. This last step toned down the intensity of the blue color while maintaining the gorgeous texture we created.

I loved the music paper included in the kit and thought it would make a great background but I did mask a little over it to bring in more white for that shabby chic look I'm after.

I also sprayed over the honeycomb mask included in the kit with Glimmer Mist in Trunk Bay which matched the paint color perfectly.

At this point, I placed the next elements on the canvas to find a design I felt pleased with.

Once I had an idea of where I wanted those elements, I added more texture by applying a mixture of coarse gel medium and texture paste in between. Both of these mediums are available in the fine arts department at Michael's.

While the mediums dry, it's time to alter the next elements of our canvas. I chose to keep things simple and just painted the chipboard dressform I received in the LE kit with white paint and a bit Tea Dye Distress Ink on the edges. For the canvas flowers, I added a few drops of the same Bahama Blue paint to a few ounces of water for a very light pop of color. Doing this will prevent my flower from getting too stiff. Here you see both flowers painted but ultimately, I decided to use only one in my canvas.

I kind of got carried away and forgot to continue to take photos, but all I did was add all the embellishments on the canvas with a hot glue gun. As you can see in the close-up below, I used some old Prima alphabet stickers to add a title, and a few small flowers here and there.

I also added the spools included in the kit over a piece of cheesecloth and a bit of unravelled thread.

Finally, I created a skirt for the dressform using the leftover sewing pattern and adorned it with lace and tape measure ribbon from the LE kit.

... a couple of small doilies from my stash.

I hope you enjoyed this type of posts, I know it was looooong but I had a blast creating it and was excited to show you what you can create with My Creative Scrapbook's newest Mixed Media kit. Thanks so much for joining me!

Hugs,

Jolaine

 ------------------------------

Jolaine Frias

My Creative Scrapbook Design Team member

 ------------------------------

We'd love to show you more of Jolaine's beautiful creations featuring our January Limited Edition kit:

Thank you Jolaine!

Have a look at our Design Team Gallery for even more layouts, cards, and projects from our designers!

We invite you to join us and experience all of the fun and excitement that we have planned for 2013.  Click here to find the My Creative Scrapbook kits.