Creating your Own “Stash and Smash”

Michelle Brown says being able to learn a few basic techniques into the amazing world of mixed media art is accessible to everyone. On the other hand Cindy Shepard who has created a fun little book called “Stash and Smash” encourages us to get out our stash of ephemera and bits and pieces and turn them into a work of art. “Stash and Smash” includes over 120 individual techniques, grouped into 19 categories, with a few step-by-step photos, where needed, and a simple overview for the creative prompts that are self-explanatory.

However with her passion for mixed media art and the fact that she enjoys sharing her knowledge and techniques with other people to allow them express their own creativity, she has created her own stash book with a few sheets of water-colour paper, a few sheets of scrapbooking paper and a pile of ephemera I had lying around. This comes with the simple understanding that majority of people have an inner need to create. She quotes “It’s time to rescue your memorabilia and present it in a manner that pays due homage to the emotion of the memory”. What more would you ask for with these kind of words from an artist who is so passionate about art?

Learn How to Make Mixed Media Mini Books

Laura Thykeson discovered altered books and art journals about a year ago and has been hooked ever since. She says she loves everything about books. Even though she enjoys working with a 4 x 6” piece of cardstock or recycled watercolor paper art for making the cover, she also has a passion for small details and some of her books have only measured 1” x 1”. Colorful embroidery thread is what she uses to sew the spines but if the book is small enough, she will just staple them together in the fold.

She will embellish the pages in these little books, and often give them to others as little gifts either tucked away into a card or tied to a tag on a present. After embellishing and while using an inexpensive acrylic varnish made by Sargent, and which works just fine she will coat each page with a clear gloss varnish that helps to protect and seal the pages.

Her love for books is clearly complemented by her love of mixed media art. And to keep the pages from sticking together, she will use the trick of dab of Turtle Wax to buff the pages. She is absolutely hooked into making these mini books, or as she calls them the “Teeny Tiny Books”.

Creating that Magnificent Bracelet with Left Over Materials

Martice Smith II has established herself as a freelance Illustrator and graphic designer after receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree. Lately, she has been experimenting with creative ways to incorporate more color into her wardrobe and accessories. One day she thought of transforming her art into ‘wearable art’ and with some basic jewelry making supplies she imagined infusing them with her own, signature style…vibrant splashes of color and of course, graffiti flair! Follow what she did below after gathering tools and supplies of your choice:

• Paint the front and back of the canvas ATCs with your favorite media and set aside to dry
• Cut canvas into pieces and Narrow shapes, squares, ovals, and irregular shapes will add more interest and variety to your design.
• Seal the edges with black acrylic paint or a gold leafing pen.
• Using an awl, pierce through each piece of canvas, 1/4″ from the edge.
• Insert jump rings while using needle-nose pliers to slowly open the jump rings. 
• Measure around your wrist with a flexible tape measure or a piece of string, add 3/4″ to that measurement, and then cut the chain to that length. Then take your chain and attach the jump rings, however you wish.
• Finally, attach a small lobster clasp closure to finish the graffiti charm bracelet.

Note:  For a more feminine look, weave a silk ribbon through every other link in the chain. Secure ends with a double knot. The secret of her projects is that she does not throw away leftover paper or fabric scraps from my previous projects.

Entertain Yourself with Rainbow Grunge Backgrounds

Kate Palmer loved playing with mixed media and techniques and most of her work incorporates sparkly media of some sort, which is used on journal pages, canvases, scrapbooks or handmade cards. Some of the materials you will require include:

• Delta Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint: Seashell White, Royal Fuchsia, Deep Lilac and Laguna Blue 
• Ranger Archival Ink Pads: Deep Purple, Aquamarine, Magenta Hue and Watering Can 
• Delicata Ink Pad – Golden Glitz
• Dina Wakely & Stampington – Create with Abandon & Script Heart
• Stampers Anonymous – Spills & Splatters
• Pam Carriker – Honeycomb
• Kaisercraft – Bubble Wrap
• Old credit card or paint scraper

The steps include:

• Randomly spray paper or canvas with a variety of Lindy’s Stamp Gang Sprays and allowing it to dry.
• Use a credit card and Ceramcoat Royal Fuchsia paint then scraping the edge along the paper.
• Using this same scraping technique add a little of the Laguna Blue
• Continue to scrape paint onto the background, but add a few horizontal elements. 
• Add some of the Seashell White to tone it down.
• Using Aquamarine ink add some Bubble Wrap impressions
• Using Magenta Hue ink add some Honeycomb stamped images
• Add a little darkness to the background – but be careful not to overwhelm the more delicately colored layers underneath.

Note she advises that you have a little bit of ‘something’ everywhere on the page as you never know which bits will be seen in the final piece.

Taking Refuge in New Beginnings Without a Doubt

As a way of starting a new beginning after retiring from her a hectic 30-year career and on celebrating her 60th birthday Deb Middleton-Hope set her goal to be an artist. She had all her journey mapped and she started by developing a strategic artist plan, creating a perfect studio, buying art supplies, signing up for courses as well as buying videos.

She had to replace the working habits whereby becoming an artist and actually creating an art became a daily struggle. Three months into the new beginnings, she realized she was not having fun and wanted to quit. She was ready to give up on her artist dream. However her artistic soul was not ready to give up on her and through the reading of a book by Natalie Goldberg called Writing Down the Bones; she was able to discover a whole new creative world.

She discovered and incorporated practical art exercises she adapted from the book; keeping the hand moving and creating a list of topics to use for creative adventures. These two simple practical exercises have helped her deplete her fear of the empty page and she now able to make directional decisions. She is now discovering her artistic soul through mixed media and pushes herself to try new adventures as a learning tool. She says she will continue with the two exercises until she has had a sense of freedom, deep feelings and a soul of satisfaction.

Finding Comfort in Artistic Healing

There is so much joy in art journaling according to Laura Thykeson who has been totally immersed in mixed media art for many years. She has always loved mixed media art because of the variety and the “no rules” aspect. Having spent a lot of time in hospital with heart attacks, surgeries etc she confined in SIMPLE, Expressive Art Journaling which would encourage others which would lead them into something clean and pure and healing-Art.

It does not matter whether you have the talent instead what you should be looking at is that you have a refuge to go to. She says no words can explain her journals so she let colors and the shapes do the talking. Healing art is a simple concept that has helped Laura save her life, yet so many shy away from it because they “don’t have the supplies. The supplies are readily available so take the time to decorate, paint, collage or otherwise embellish your composition notebook/art journal and give it a name.

Don’t spend time worrying about your pain instead spend it playing with vibrant colors, various shapes, blobs and drips and splatters of paints or inks, scribbling with pens and markers, and whatever else you decide to use. Soon you will find your own way, your own path through the pain and insanity that has seemingly taken over everything in your life, and suddenly-YOU are back in control of your life again! Worth a shot, now isn’t it?

Getting Creative with your Art Work

Art is all fun and Tamara can attest to the same with her love of mixed media which has taken over most aspects of her creative journey. She believes mixed media allows for a broad range of styles and anyone can find success in this form of artistic expression. She confesses that what make her work even more exciting are her two grown daughters who make her life meaningful because they support her, ground her, embrace her, and are just amazing people in their own right.

She has video that showcases her art work in two parts (Part 1 and 2) and she adds that it takes all courage to achieve the same. The videos show the process of completing an art journal layout, start to finish. She will use materials such as Dylusion Sprays, Liquitex Acrylic Inks, stamps, stencils, papers, paper napkins, as well as other items. The elements are all easy to use and according to Tamara, there is a lot more you can do with them. She has a website of her own from where you can check out more of her work. Look out for the likes of Tamara whose passion of art is all on their voices and faces.