OK, so I’m back today as a guest DT member for we love 2 create who are a mixed media challenge blog. They used to be sponsored by Pans Pastels but now the sponsorship has been taken over by our very own Nikky Hall of Polkadoodles. Now not long ago they had a DT call and I was so so so tempted to apply but my nerve got the better of me and I bottled it, so When Claire asked if any of us PD DT members would like to be Guest DT for a challenge I jumped at the chance yayyyyyyy more mixed media(I’m loving it at the moment and really want to do a lot more.
As my week is coming up to Christmas I decided to make a Christmas canvas.
I started with a blank 8x10” canvas and coated with gesso then added a sheet of Christmas paper from one of the many collections over at #polkadoodles I tore the edges of the paper so it would blend better when painted and there would be any harsh lines.
Then I added so texture using some star and snowflake stencils I added some dotty texture as well. Then I added some circles by cutting lengths off the centre piece from some tin foil (you know the cardboard middle bit) I dipped that into the texture paste (homemade) and added it here and there to the canvas.
I then went all over with a thin coat of gesso to tone everything down I then started to add ink and paint to the canvas (distress stain and oxide inks and starlight acrylic paints). When I was happy(ish) with the inking I decided to move onto my tree (knowing I could go back in and add more colour if I wanted to once it was all in place) So taking sheets from different Christmas collections I printed them off then cout them into sections so I could roll them into straw like tubes.
This was the basic shape for my tree I just had to adjust the sizes of the straws to get smaller as they went up to the top. Once they were done I needed a base so I hand cut a pot shap from white card then using brown distress and oxide inks I went to town colouring it, once happy I shaped it and glued it to my canvas then added the straws to make the tree.
I wasn’t sure what to put at the top of the tree I did think about a star and something but then decided on a bronzey coloured bow and also thought I’d add one the pot as well.
I then went back in with my inks and paint to add some dimension to the tree and I also added some die cut snowflakes that I covered with frontage, I also added some to the canvas. I finished off with a sentiment from one of the papers I just cut out and embossed with clear powder then added splats of paint and ink.
So there you have my Christmas canvas I hope you like it as much as I enjoyed making it and I’ll see you soon.
Happy Crafting
Jacki xx
