Making your Own Mixed Media Décor Pillow

Our homes require a personal touch when it comes to décor. This is the simple reason that Melanie Statnick smiles back at herself whenever she visits home décor and craft stores on seeing an abundance of decor items. Some of them include Decor boxes, wall art, candle holders, garden and décor pillows.

With all the collections she would find, Melanie attempted to make a Décor pillow using a sewing machine, even though she had undertaken Home Studiesmany moons ago. However, instruction books and DVD’s that come with most machines today would give some relieve to her work.

Depending on the fabric you’ll want to play with, you will require 2 sheets of burlap and canvas squares each. The art will be on the canvas side though.

You can choose to use a stencil which you lay out on the section you want then use ink spray to give it the effect you want.

It is not necessary that you use the fine mist around the design if you don’t like it. It could probably look messy at some point. In this case cover your edges with scrap paper. To fame the design, a boarder of lace ribbon would do using fabric glue in addition to glued buttons on the corners.

To ascertain that your work is ready, allow it to dry for 24 hours before adding the stuffing and if you don’t want it to run off its ink, spray with a fabric sealer.

Making Recycled ATC Card Holder

Anjuli Johnson is so passionate about working with cards. In an effort to explore her passion, she decides to make for her younger sister an ATC card holder, with 25 separate slots for 25 scripture cards.

It has to be well-made and easy to work with. The cards should be held in place so that nothing falls out or gets lost. This is how she went about it:

• Use of thick paper would do from which she would cut strips of 9” by 4 ½”and scored them at 3” and 6”. Folded and glued each envelope was 3” by 4 ½”

A cereal box cardboard would be ideal for a cover which doesn’t have to be thick for easy use and which would be painted black with additions of paper and tissue tape for a cool but clean and simple look.

• The modified cover measurements ended up being 14” long and 3 ¼” wide, with scored lines at 2”, 4” 8 ¾”, 10 ¾”. 
• Envelopes were then glued one at a time starting at the back of the cover and then one on top of the other.
• The latch for the cover was made using metal findings to create a knob for a loop of elastic. A bit of metal glue would give a great closure which would ensure that the cards are all intact.

Anjuli is always raring to go,to discover and also develop her talents while meeting new people from whom she strives to learn.

Ideas when Making Tag Books

Anything made from tags present good beauty. Melanie Statnick who uses scrapbook paper and Kraft paper with collaged images knows this too well. You can either gather pre-made tags or cut them into shapes that you so prefer. For the pages, any type of paper would serve.

• Fold the tag into half, then cut and fold blank pages to size and staple to the inside
• Cut assorted images and words and glue them onto your pages to create a story or note book.It does not matter much whether you use the front or back side or both; either option will post good results. 
• You can choose to decorate the covers. It’s an easy and quick task from which you can make dozens of them. 

As Melanie who is a published artist would put it, artwork is all about creativity. It is from this mentality that she is able to create art daily from her private studio.

Besides, as an artist you ought to know how to go out of your way with experimentation. The end result should not be such a bother at first because it is through experiments that you get to learn. Get up and become creative!

Using Radiant Neon Amplify

In this article we will tell you about Martice Smith II who is a well-known and established freelance Illustrator and graphic designer. She basically specializes in mixed-media illustrations with her love of art being felt across the state of Missouri.

She has a special take for the use of intense color in mixed-media creations. After receiving eight beautifully vibrant colors from Imagine® Crafts Product; Electric Yellow, Electric Coral, Electric Orange, Electric Blue, Electric Purple, Electric Green, Black, and White, she was over the moon.

They are versatile and easy to use and will make any artist to go an extra mile hence the desire for Martice to share a few techniques where no skill level is required.

This is what she did to the new Radiant Neon Amplify:

· 8×10 Gelli Arts – Gel Printing Plate will work just well

· Draw simple shapes, straight from the paint bottle

The inks are easy to work with because they are water-based pigment.

· To add a textured border along the edge of a page, use a stencil + a foam pouncer.

· Then you can add dimensional texture as you may so wish.

The following are some of the key elements that you should give great consideration when dealing with Radiant Neon Amplify.

· Have the dimensionality on point and ensure the texture is worth a touch.

· Strong and a combination of both dark and light colors are preferred.

· Maintenance and storage of Radiant Neon Amplify is of importance.

Get encouraged and start creating.

Handmade Greeting Cards

When Michelle G. Brown is not creating on her Facebook page, she is somewhere thinking hard about her creation. Her passion of being a mixed media artist comes from sharing her knowledge and techniques with other people. This alone comforts her in knowing that courtesy of her, other people can easily express their own creativity.

So what is she up to this time round? Creation of handmade greeting cards for Mother’s Day! These are the simple supplies that she played around with to get that magnificent card:

· Stencil and a range of pastels

· Matching color cards

· A range of soft sponges

· 2-sided tape

· Bristol Paper

· Versamark ink

Here are the instructions:

· From the pad, get out the sheet of Mixed media or Bristol paper

· Stamp large stamp image around paper using Versamark ink

· Using a masking tape, make sure to secure the stamped card

· Use a light circular motion with a sponge to add a colour of your choice. The stamped patterns will appear

· Keep adding the different colors that you have alongside blending the edges between the colors to fade out any sharp lines

· You can remove the stencil and spray with workable fixative

· Now cut the colors background to fit onto the card of your choice

This world is full of creation and according to Michelle; everyone has room to explore since the amazing world of mixed media art is accessible to everyone.

Having Fun with Mixed Media Canvas

Kim Kelley who is extremely obsessed with her crafting and art is constantly having projects to a point that sometimes she forgets what they were meant for. She has a thing with being imaginative and is always exploring anything that comes to her mind.

Her love of wanting to learn new techniques is evident. This month she decided to go for canvas project that is a little larger than what she does normally. So what did she require for this?

• Chipboard from Dusty Attic
• Spray mist by Lindy’s Shabby Tuxbine Teal
• 8” x 24” canvas
• Heavy Gel by Golden
• White gesso
• Glue gun
• Miscellaneous charms, flowers, metal pieces, wooden pieces, and jewelry pieces

Kim doesn’t have a particular of doing this but she will explore on any idea she comes about using theme, colors and style.

She advises that it is best to use the already primed canvas although you can still add your own gesso. Once the gesso dries up, start laying out your pieces, turning them this way and that way until you can finally smile at what you are seeing.

You will use the hot glue gun to attach smaller pieces while the bigger ones you will use Heavy Gel. Don’t be in a hurry to spray. Wait until all is dried up.

Creation is all about going beyond your comfort zone. Imagination comes in handy which lead to finding your own inner creative artist.

Using your Positive Thoughts

“There is power in positive thoughts once you begin your day in them”. This is according to Shari Welch who has been creating art for as long as she can remember. All her focus was shifted to Mixed Media Art after her graphic design studies in Portland.

As a way of starting her morning and with her positive thoughts, she decided to create a pretty little art block. Here is what she did:

Materials used:

• Wooden block
• Drawer pull
• American multipurpose ink
• Distress ink
• Fibrous String
• Embellishments
• Diamond mesh ribbon
• DecorArt

This is how to go about it:

• Find images that will fit into your artwork and you can make use of online companies that sell images
• Cut your images to size and make the edges rounded using corner punches while you define them with distress ink.
• Paint the art block and the feet probably with a different color for each. To speed up the dry time, you can choose to use hairdryer then using E6000, glue the feet on the block.
• Using tacky glue, glue the images on the block and accentuate them around when all dry using glamour dust. You can make use of your creativity as much.
• You can now tie your embellishment on the fibrous ribbon before moving on to the drawer pull.

With her passion of Mixed Media Art, she emphasizes that creativity in all this is of essence.

Making Altered Daily Journal Cover

It is from her private studio that Melanie Statnick who is an accomplished artist will do her art creation besides writing. And with her love of writing she has been on a mission to get a journal big enough to accommodate reflections on a daily basis since she did not want to spend even a single coin on buying one.

As such the thought of upcycling build up in her mind due to the fact that it would give her room to exercise her imagination. She took black gesso which she would use to cover the front of the journal. Black gesso is of more preference because it leaves with a primed black surface which is easy to use with white gel pens.

Over the gesso surface, Melanie painted a wide rectangle of turquoise and added a weekly stencil which is an Artistcellar product. She then used various stencils for quick and easy creation of a stenciled background. She wanted to be experimental.

To add flavor to the journal, she first added the year before outlining days of the week using a PITT pen. She then added some detail to the cover with start while making good use of a white gel pen.

Finally she was happy with what she had created

Have you tried doing this to your Clock?

She is an artist and she started with yarn, fabric and papier before branching out into collage and other paper arts about ten years ago. This is Katja Blum’s latest obsession which includes making soft stuffies and art dolls.

Her husband is a Jewish but he received a Jesus clock gift for his birthday. However, his Jewish faith was insignificant at this point. After taking a deep breath or six; she was able to see past the weirdly glowing disciples and realized that this was a working clock that didn’t have to stay the way it was. He gave it to Katja.

She did not know what to do with it in as much as she wanted to give it a personal meaning and regardless of its garish decoration and the original subject which apparently had more meaning to other people.

The clock reminded Kayja of her favorite piece of memento mori art. With this she wanted to create a clock that would remind her to use some of the hours on it to make more time for the most important thing in her life apart from her family – writing. And what did she do?

She took the clock apart in pieces while being careful and gave it a coat each of black spray paint and white gesso to lay the groundwork. The frame was painted with a mixture of chocolate brown and copper before covering the face with the image of an old typewriter.

The gold metal hands were colored with copper alcohol ink and got a thin coat of spray varnish before reassembling the clockwork. This was one artwork that left her happy. Try it out.

Using Recycled Materials in your Mixed Media Canvas

According to Kim Kelley, life is short and she advises that there is need to do something creative every day. With her obsession for crafting and art, it is certain that she loves mixed media something she explains that it gives her the free will to go beyond her comfort zone.

She is able to explore and use her imagination. While using this, she decides to try something different using canvas instead of using products that were all the same color and style. Here is the list of her products:

• Chipboard from Dusty Attic
• 8 X 10 canvas
• Glue gun
• Spray mist by 13 arts Pearl Brown Light
• White gesso
• Spray mist by Smooch Vanilla Shimmer
• Spray mist by Lindy’s Shabby Turbine Teal, Mad Hatter Mint, Dark Chocolate Truffle, Opal Sea Oats
• Miscellaneous charms and flowers from stash

The following are the procedures Kim Kelley used: 

• Glue all onto the canvas with glue gun and use gesso to cover all the pieces. However don’t cover the canvas completely.
• After drying, pick the mist colors starting with a few shades of brown. Dry off the wet parts while you add more gesso. Once all is dry, start using the sprays since you want to have a color palette that will complement any home décor.
• You can add embellishments at this point and print out any kind if words you want to add.
• Finally, spray a finishing spray over the canvas in its entirety to give it some shine.

That’s it. Happy creating!

Inspiration from Creating

Kim Kelley has such a strong obsession on art which she describes as the best thing since you are free to go beyond your comfort zone. This means you can be able to express your imagination and also be able to explore on anything that comes to mind. According to her life is too short hence the need to get creative every day.

She loves scrapbooking and she tries to exhibit some of her favorite projects which include her daughter’s prom picture. It is a 5×7 frame made from texture medium, flowers, rhinestones, and brick chipboard pieces. The second is 10×8 and she uses the same stuff and added netting and lace.

Besides she also has fram-age pieces a combination of framed piece of art and a scrapbook page which will create a scrapbooking layout. The frame is a 12x12 wall hanging pretty simple with just a minimal amount of stenciled on texture paste. For different projects, she will use different materials such as red flowers for a pop of color rather than any spray or paint, sheet of canvas resist paper, lots of spray mist and maybe stenciling with a heavy gel.

Kim will get art inspirations from everything around her. It is natural in her to learn and explore new techniques and hopes that any art she creates leads someone to find their inner creative artist. It’s her prayer that everyone finds joy and happiness on creating.

Simple Mixed Media Tunnel Book

Katja Blum who is a writer and translator was introduced to bookmaking by his son Sam who makes lots of books. Besides, she has branched into collage and other paper arts.She also likes to find creative solutions for ugly or broken things around the house. Sam’s books can be anything he wants – he can cut, glue, draw, paint, glitter and write. Katja loves the tunnel book which consists of several pages with cutouts of decreasing size.

Tunnel books are fun to play with and add to. Sam likes books about animals.Making a tunnel book is simple because you design the cutouts of your pages according to the picture or story you want to create.Each cut out should be smaller than the one before it. However elaborate figures or landscapes in your cutouts can always be added later. The strips should be folded into an “M” shape. Folding is easy but only if you score the fold lines using a ruler and a bone folder. Flexible connection enables the pages to consist of many different materials from thick watercolor paper to cardboard.

Design, decorate and cut out your book pages and attach the accordion hinges. You can always add more decorations and elements later, as the pages remain pretty accessible.

Do you have a passion for Bookmarks?

Cecilia Sanchez has always liked photography, drawing, collage and making photo Albums. This is besides the love of learning and discovering new techniques and materials. For a very long time, she has been a contributor in various blogs and digital magazines.

It is in 2006 when she discovered both digital and traditional scrapbooking. She is so fascinated with the Art Journal and Mixed Media, and she cannot imagine scrapbooking without getting her hands dirty. She describes art journal as a real diary for her as she gets inspiration from everyday feelings and to express these feelings she uses colors and shapes. She loves more of the 30x30pages mini albums.

She generally loves art and more so with bookmarking. Here are some of the supplies she used to make her bookmarks for valentine’s day which she considered were full of love since valentine is the day that many people express love:

1. Acrylic painting
2. Gesso
3. Watercolors
4. Gel medium
5. Acrylic
6. Glitter
7. Embossing Paint
8. Inks and markers
9. Cutters and brushes
10. Cardboard and stencil
11. Pastel

Cecilia is also involved in scrapbooking workshops in Malaga and you can get more of her information on ceciscrap.blogpost.com.es. Art can be fun just like Cecilia has discovered. It is flexible in a way that she is able to look after her twins and still enjoying her passion.

Hand Painted Bubbly Gift Bag

Shari Welch is a mixed media artist and one who is passionate about mixed media art. Her greatest motivation is while she is helping others discover their creativity. Besides her volunteer work for SCRAP where she teaches workshops, art camps, and performing art demos she is also a blogger for DecoArt. Her passion for creating drives her into making hand painted bubbly gift bags a project she describes to take a few hours so long as you have your supplies ready as follows:

1. Plain fabric 
2. Assorted sizes of round sponge pouncers
3. DecoArt media fluid acrylics paint
4. Decorative beads and robin’s nest dew drops
5. DecoArt Glamour dust ultra-fine glitter paint
6. Aleenes tacky glue
7. DecoArt Americana acrylic paint
8. Detail brush
9. Decorative ribbon

This is the process you will follow:

• Cut a piece of card stock or scrap paper the same size as your bag and insert this into the bag.
• Put small amounts of your paint on a paper plate far enough apart to be able to blend together later on. Load paint sparingly on the largest pouncer. Dab off excess on a clean paper plate. Do this same process with the other colors and sizes of pouncers. Let dry several hours or use a hair dryer on low setting.
• Fill the inside of a large bead with glue and stuff the end of each ribbon in the hole. Let dry
• Add your favorite bubbly in the bag, wrap the ribbon around, tie a bow.

Now you have finished your project...

Having Faith …

Kim Kelley is a lover of learning and exploring new techniques. She believes that any art she creates leads someone into finding their inner creative artist. Instead of using products that were all the same color and style, she goes out to try on a new project using canvas. Anything she came across made her smile. This is what she collected:

• Chipboard from Dusty Attic
• 8 X 10 canvas
• Glue gun
• White gesso
• Spray mist by 13 arts Pearl Brown Light
• Spray mist by Smooch Vanilla Shimmer
• Miscellaneous charms and flowers from stash
• Spray mist by Lindy’s Shabby Turbine Teal, Mad Hatter Mint, Dark Chocolate Truffle, Opal Sea Oats
• Finishing spray by Krylon

Here are the steps

• Glue all the collected compounds onto the canvas using the glue gun while using gesso to cover them over the entire canvas.
• After drying, use the mist colors to make the spray puddles to what you want. Make sure you have added enough of color.
• If you have to, you can add more embellishments. 
• Finally do the spraying on the entire canvas. This will give the canvas a shine and will also protect the creation. 

According to Kim, life is too short and you cannot afford to waste it. This can be confirmed with her obsession for crafting and the fact that she loves mixed media which allows her go beyond her comfort zone.

Making Framed Gifts fromGelli prints

According to Michelle G. Brown, being able to learn a few basic techniques in the world of mixed media art should be accessible to everyone. Besides creating, Karate training and being on Facebook, Michelle is passionate about mixed media art and enjoys sharing her knowledge and techniques with anyone to allow them express their own creativity. She understands too well that many of us have an inner need to create.

One of her favorite mixed media art techniques for creating backgrounds is Mono-printing with GelliArts Gelli Plates. The following are some of the materials she uses:

· glue; PVA or Gel Medium

· Photo frame; here I used a 5” x 7” frame

· Black Marker

· Background papers or Gelli prints

· Piece of cardboard to fit frame.

· Washi tape

Steps to follow

· First have your materials together with a few pieces of background paper in colors.

· Take the back off your photo frame and use it to cut a piece of cardboard to size so it will fit into the frame.

· Use the cardboard to cut a piece of background paper to size.

· A piece of scotch brite or sandpaper should be able t to rough up the cereal box cardboard. Stick the background paper to the cardboard then flatten out any wrinkles.

· Cut two contrasting background papers into strips and thin triangles. Stick these to the background piece and leave to dry then trim the ends to size.

· Add a strip of Washi tape and write in your inspiring quote with the black marker. Seal with Gel medium or varnish. Leave to dry.



Creating gives a lot of satisfaction. Enjoy.

Creating your Own Hide-away Doll House Play Set

Gloriann Irizarry always had her hands on crayons, scissors and paper. As she enjoys her time with her girls, she will always continue to create art into her daily schedule as that means doing what she loves most. From her creativity she creates hide-away doll house from a simple box. Here are the materials you need and the steps you shall follow:

· White foam board and Scissors.

· Metal ruler and hot glue gun

· Decorative gift box 17 ½ x 12 x 5 ½ and pencil

· Craft knife and Mounting repositionable spray

Here are the steps

· Measure the foam board to 5 inches to 16 ¼ with the pencil and the metal ruler then cut your foam board exactly at the 5 x16 ¼ pencil markings.

· Choose your favorite glue and spray then wait a little for the glue to get a little tacky.

· Measure the upper half and choose your favorite specialty paper and once the paper is cut to size use the Mounting repositionable spray and spray an even coat of glue. Let it get tacky.

· Finish the walls with Specialty Paper and choose contrasting colors.

· Follow the same steps for other floors and you can choose different colors

Gloriann is never bored and she will never stop creating because ART is so rewarding. She gets this awesome feeling when she sees her creation taking shape. Art has been a great way to be creative and to express herself.

Making Faux Metal Embellishments

During the cold winters of Canada, Ann Strecko Koeman stays warm by creating something just about every day. She is often found with her hair up in a twist, her hands stained with inks, and her clothes with paint splatters underneath her long goose.

According to Ann, Making your own mixed media embellishments for your crafting and art making can be satisfying to one’s creative soul and also to one’s wallet. When making Faux Metal embellishments with glue gun and some cardboard she likes using rustic looking items. She likes the look of old and worn even rusty metals.

One of the ways she makes such mixed media embellishments is by stamping an image on pictures while using ink and cardboard and after they have dried she heats up her glue gun, add a stick of glue and trace over the design with the hot glue.

Once the glue has cooled and is hard she spreads some PVA or Tacky glue onto a piece of kitchen aluminum foil as she cuts the cardboard around the stamped image to the desired shape and size.



The process is pretty simple and yet it can give such intricate designs. Ann is so passionate about creating and she even owns gloves that have flaps so her fingers are free to type away while she enjoys a warm mug of hot beverage to warm up those digits.

Mixed Media Art Small Gift Bags

The colors and textures of mixed media are some of the elements that leave Sandra Parés amazed. She enjoys creating and getting her hands dirty with paint and gesso. And with the festivities around the corner, she brings to you an ideal way of making someone’s Christmas using a small gift bag. The following are the materials you need:

· Regular white acrylic paint and brush

· Acrylic paint: Acrylic Glaze Silk

· Black gesso and sponge

· Scissors

· 1 template

· Ribbon to make the handles.

· 1 recycled tetra brik that we will have cleaned before.

Steps in making the gift bag

· Cut the tetra brik in half to make the small bag. You can make it larger or smaller according your personal idea.

· Using a sponge cover the whole outer surface of the tetra brik with black gesso.

· Once gesso is dry, paint the whole surface of gesso with the acrylic paint.

· When the paint is dry, you can polish the edges of the tetra brik with the adhesive tape.

· Take a template to add a picture on the bag. You will stencil the template with a sponge onto one side or both. If you stencil onto both sides, you have to wait to have the first side dry before you stencil onto the other side.

The last thing now remaining is to add ribbon so as to make the handles. You realize how simple it is to make someone’s Christmas.

Making Personalized Gifts Tags

Being a creative director of Martice Smith II, Martice Smith’s stunning illustrations reveals her love for fashion, typography and wildlife while being able to use a combination of traditional and digital techniques. It is after receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree that she established herself as a freelance Illustrator and graphic designer.

As a mixed-media collage artist, she believes that small details matter and she loves building upon several layers of paint, doodles and various mark-making techniques to set her work apart from the rest. She advises that if you are looking to develop your own approach, don’t spend a fortune on commercially made products when you can add a unique touch of your own- using what you already have.

She tried to make a personalized gift tags and these are the supplies you will need to get started: 

· Paintbrush & Gelli plate

· Stencils & metal eyelets

· Embroidery floss & brayer

· Acrylic paints & cardstock

· White ink pen for doodling

How to make it:

· Using acrylic paints, use a brayer and roll an even, smooth layer to the Gelli plate. Make sure to paint loose brushstrokes, going in various directions.

· Lay down a sheet of cardstock (or your choice of paper) and pull a print.

· Using stencils create a large tag template to use or trace through and cut out the Tags & Labels stencil from DecoArt.

· It’s important to seal the paintings on your tags, especially if there’s any water soluble media.

· Add the finishing touches and Eyelets, embroidery floss and twine makes these tags look more polished and really set the tone.

There you have it!