Build a Banner Tutorial

Build a Banner  with  The Flying Unicorn Mid Month Muse

Super long post on how I made the banner for the Mid Month Muse Guest Designer project. Grab a beverage of your choice and enjoy!  :)

Gesso Canvas

I pressed this banner before I began creating. I gessoed the banner with the initial thought of having an border masked all the around in black medium. I later abandoned this idea.
Background Process
Distress Paint – Vintage Photo, Stephanie Barnard Artichoke and Mister Huey’s Clay (Later covered the clay with Lindy’s Gossamer Gold)

I began with the Vintage Photo paint and dabbed it on around the edge of my gesso.

I misted with water and lifted the canvas to allow the color to run up towards the top of the banner.

I sprayed the Stephanie Barnard Artichoke Spray – It is super concentrated so I sprayed a lot of water to dilute to a level of green I desired.

This is once the paint and spray were dry. Tip: The Artichoke spray is not permanent once dry. I later masked over the green and when the concrete stucco was dry the green had soaked up through to the top. It was awesome on the brick stencil!

Masking Turkish Grunge 12” – top of banner

Masked Mini Bricks – Bottom of banner. The gray halo is the clay mist I later covered. It didn't show well off the gesso.

Lindy’s Flat Fabio’s Beauty School Drop Out – Summer Lovin’ Sunshine, T-Bird Turquoise, Kissin Kenickies’s Coral and Pink Ladies Pink
Lindy’s Drink Me Silly - Blue Hawaiian Blue, Cosmopolitan Pink, Fuzzy Naval Peach, My Mojito Green, Bit o’Bubbly
I sprayed on the above colors in horizontal bands across the gesso. To avoid purple when the sprays mixed I used the coral colors as a buffer between blue and pink. I used the corals again between the yellow/gold colors and pinks. Once I sprayed the inks I lifted the canvas to mix the colors, my fingers as well.  The Mojito Green was a good way to transition my Vintage photo and Artichoke.

Remember that wonderful 12” French Lace we received a couple kits back. I unstitched it from the paper and cut it up into strips and pieces. I then used soft gel medium to adhere it to the canvas. It added wonderful texture to the background.
 

Close up of the lace.

Vines - I created dimensional Ivy vines over my brickwork. The Artichoke coming up through the Ceramic Stucco masking really reminded me of old mossy garden walls. I free hand drew in dimensional glue the vines and then with tweezers applied jewelry twine to the glue. I cleaned up the excess glue with tweezers. Since the twine is a light brown hemp color I applied Prima chalk ink Moss Lawn and Garden Green to the top of the twine when dry.

At this point I decided I couldn't live with the clay mist. I gave the area below and on the sides of the gesso  a spray of Lindy’s Gossamer Gold Moon Shadow Mist. Then I used the Kaisercraft grunge stamp with Sepia Archival Ink and without a block just stamped away.

   

Prima Chalk inks are awesome!!! Here is how I painted my resin pieces.
I dabbed the chalk inks I needed on the counter top (you can use your nonstick craft mat if you don’t scrap at your breakfast bar LOL) for the bird I brushed on Turquoise Stone. To have the color run into the crevices I dipped my finger into water and rubbed a bit here and there. Then I pulled Blue Jay and Farmers Jeans into the Turquoise in varying degrees to shade and accent the resin. I used Colt’s Foot for the beak, mixed in Knotted Wood for the feet with the Colt’s Foot. Black Coal for the eye. For the wishing well I used Rusty Bucket, Dark Bark and Knotted Wood for the brick base, Tin Can and Worn Jeans for the roof with Teal Damask for the water. I used Hot Glue to add the resin to the canvas.

First I sponged on gesso leaving peaks of gesso on the chipboard for texture. When the gesso dried I applied a variety of the Metallic Run-ons from the kit to each letter. Some Rosewood and pink, Some blue and Silver…the peaks were nice and highlighted but it wasn't right. So I used Raspberry, Lady Bug and Old Rose chalk inks on the edges. That made them nice and bright, too much. I came back in and sponged on some more gesso lightly. That helped however laid on the banner was washed out. Final step I used the Mr. Huey’s Clay and Tattered Angels Black Magic with a paint brush to shadow the edges on the canvas and the alphas. I used E6000 to adhere the chipboard to the canvas.

Tim Holtz Bird Cage – I gessoed the inside and outside of the cage. Once dry I dabbed on Rusty Bucket chalk ink. To bring back the “metal” I mixed the Pearl EX Old silver from our the May KOM with some soft gel medium and applied to the bars and the weld joints of the cages. I thought the cage needed something in it. I added and unaltered Flying Unicorn Adornment from the June KOM. It’s the Love Heart with wings. I found caging the word Love with wings quite funny. I added some tarnished looking jump rings and used E6000 to adhere to the canvas.

The bottoms corners of the canvas I used the heart motif in the Prima Flourish mask with Shimmerz Dazzlers Licorice Stick. I used a pallet knife to apply the Dazzlers. I definitely need more of these colors. It applied really nicely to canvas so it must be a dream on smoother surfaces. 

Embossed Butterflies – The kit came with one Flying Unicorn Adornment Butterfly; I took the second one from my June KOM. I love this butterfly and could use about a dozen more for future projects. I tried two techniques to alter them. First I heated the adornment with a heat gun and applied blue and black glitter embossing powder. Second I used an embossing ink dauber (from the store) then embossed. I prefer the second method as I received more coverage. I love that the Adornment is thin and you can shape it for movement and dimension.
Also pictured is where I tried to use the pastel pencils on the canvas with the TCW Cherry Blossom Mask. Then I overlaid the pencil with textured fibers medium mixed with Maidenhair Fern Green Lindy’s. The next morning it was dry and the medium had soaked into the canvas so no dimension. The pastel pencil came though so we will just view as a very distant tree branch. LOL

This is a random assembly photo trying to build my dogwood branch. You can see that poor canvas flower that I gessoed and had plans for that didn't make it to the canvas along with bird cage chipboard. The branch was green paper covered heavy gauge floral wire that I painted with the Distress Paint and Distress Stain in Vintage Photo. I twisted the pieces together to add weight and interest. (I do know that Dogwood branches don’t resemble bonsai. LOL)
The flowers and leaves are all die cut from white cardstock and colored in copic markers. The purple violets I used the pastels to accent. The centers are Viva Pearl Pen Sunny Yellow. I love yellow centers to flowers.
Finishing up I randomly dropped so mixed pearl beads on the canvas. Pearls make me happy.
My neighbor gave me a piece of bamboo from his stash (don’t ask) and cut it for the banner. I used left over painted floral wire and the Petaloo flowers to hang the banner.
I am really honored that The Flying Unicorn allowed me the opportunity to be the Guest Designer from the Forums for the New Mixed Media Kit. It was so much fun playing with this large of a piece. I wouldn't have attempted this without the kit. With that said –

Go get your kit before they sell out!!! This is an epic opportunity to create on a large playground! 

Create Your Happiness

SUPPLIES:

JUNE MIXED MEDIA KIT

 

Maya Road Chipboard Letters

TCW Mini Quatrefoil 6”

18” x 27” canvas banner 

Metallic Rub-ons

Stephanie Barnard Spray – Artichoke

Mister Huey Spray – Clay

Distress Acrylic Paint – Vintage Photo

Flying Unicorn Butterfly Adornment

Petaloo Velvet Flowers – Dark Blue

Royal Langford Pastel

Kaisercraft – Grunge Stamp 

FROM THE FLYING UNICORN:

 

Lindy’s Drink Me Silly - Starburst Sprays

Lindy’s Beauty School Drop Out

Prima Turkish Grunge 6” and 12”, Flourish 12”

TCW 12” Cherry Blossoms, 6” Mini Bricks

Viva Pearl Pens- Sunny Yellow

Emboss It Dabber 1 Fluid Ounce Bottle

Shimmerz Dazzlers- Licorice Stick

Golden Soft Gel Medium

Brushed Corduroy- Distress Stains

Black Magic – Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist

 

PRIMA CHALK INK:

 

Rusty Bucket

Raspberry

Lady Bug

Old Rose

Moss Lawn

Cold Ice

Blue Jay 

Turquoise Stone

Knotted Wood

Dark Rust

Dark Bark

Tin Can

Worn Jeans

Teal Damask

Colt’s Foot

Garden Grass     

 

OTHER SUPPLIES:

 

Gesso

Ceramic Stucco

Textured Fibers Medium

Pearl Beads

Tim Holtz Bird Cage

Lace

Sparkle N Sprinkle Embossing Glitter:

Mediterranean Star Embossing Powder [EP429]

Black Ice [G1020]

Copic Markers

Archival Ink - Sepia

White Cardstock

Jewelry Twine 

Lindy’s Gossamer Gold Moon Shadow Mist

Floral Vine Wire

Susan’s Garden Flower Dies

Liquid Pearls - Avocado 

Prima - Shabby Chic Collection - Resin Treasure Embellishments - Garden Well

Making Memories 12” French Lace Cream Millinery (It came in one of the Flying Unicorn KOM)

The Flying Unicorn - Guest Designer from the Forum

Great News!!! Last month I was picked to be the first Guest Designer for The Flying Unicorn Mid Month Muse. I was able to play with thier Mid Month Muse Mixed Media kit. I had so much FUN.

Now the Flying Unicorn Kits tend to sell out very quickly. The debut kit sold out in like six to eight hours. Click the picture of the kit to link right to the shop.

The kit contained a large Banner Canvas (18" x 27") from Canvas Corp along with many other yummy goodies. I chose to approach the banner like a large garden and filled it with images of things that make me happy!




Mid Month Muse  this month is Mixed media Inspired  which includes pastel Pencil Set, Kaiser Craft Grunge Acrylic Stamp, Set of 7 Metallic Rub-ons, Burlap Flower by Canvas Corp, TCW 6x6 Mask Mini Quaterfoil, Flying Unicorn Adornments,Canvas Corp 18x 27" Canvas, 3 6x6 Black Chipboard, White Sharpie Marker, Distress Paint, Vintage Photo , Mister Huey's Mist Clay, Stephanie barnard Mist, Artichoke, Maya Road Alphas, 2 sets of  vines by Petaloo, Fan Brush

I will leave you with this as I also put together a Build a Project on how this was created for tommorow in the forums. 

About a Boy 5/15 Challenge White plus One Color - Darling

Good morning, today is 5/15 and the reveal for our mid month challenge at About a Boy! This round we have a White plus One challenge. This made my head hurt - one color on white - very limiting for me. However I really like the results - let me know what you think...

I had Prima Engraver stashed for a month or so just admiring the flowers and papers. I think we all do this with collection at least once, LOL. I had the newsprint Prima Vine and some chipboard that worked with my oldest son's picture. The stencil is done with painting on white and then black gesso accents. The vines and leaves are Spellbinders dies to fill in the spaces.

Some details:

The challenge is open until the 31st of May - come play along for a wonderful prize!

Sparkle N Sprinkle At The Beach Blog Hop

Hello there - Welcome to the Sparkle N Sprinkle Anything but a Card Blog Hop. If you arrived from Marie Berquist you are on the right path. If not you may want to hop back to the beginning by clicking here.

There are prizes to be had - all you need to do is leave comments for the designers by May 10th and you will be eligble to win!

For this layout I have to thank Beth Frappier for the photo. She is soo good to me. 

I used the Sparkle N Sprinkle Embossable Acetate to create an overlay from the Silouttes Stamps. The Pear and Moss Tuscany Embossing Powders are perfect together to create this beachy grass foreground. The Willow Branch Stamp, upside down, reminded me of sea plants and made a nice accent for my peek-a-boo corner.

I stuck with turquoise and pale green mists that remind me of the Gulf of Mexico.

Since the photo had such natural texture from the dock I chose linen, gauze, a cord flower, hemp twine and cork alphas for embellishments. 

Some close ups

There is a full write up in the Gallery on the steps and products to create this layout, here.

Just a reminder to leave a comment to be eligible for the fabulous prizes that are to be awarded.  There are prizes "hidden" in some of the blogs, so the comment you leave just may be one of the winners.

Next on the hop is Barbara Bruder, a very talented lady who I am sure will have something to inspire you.

The hop order in case you need it is:

Donna Ellis    

Marie Berquist    

Cindy Keogh (This is me.)   

Barbara Bruder   

Keri Brown       

Cammy Vietzke    

Karin Martin    

Brigita Skopas   

Jackie Smith    

Dawn Bennett     

Karalee Ingram    

Anne Temple     

April Williams   

Shona Erlenborn     

Brenda Smalle     

I hope you enjoy the hop and feel inspired - even if it's just to go to the Beach. LOL

About a Boy May 1st Challenge Boys Will Be Boys

It's time for the May 1st challenge reveal at About a Boy! This time is creating a layout that depicts your boy being a typical boy. I was lucky enough to have my youngest do just that and capture it on camera.

In Florida we have lovebugs. These firefly size insects swarm about twice a year here. Really messy to the car windshields and acidic so they eat car paint. However to an almost three year old they are fantastic! Easy to chase and catch and SQUASH! He has such a blast when it is lovebug season.

I used Kaisercraft 75 cents collection that I just adore! I will most defiantly be restocking this collection in my stash. The colors are perfect for boys with a mixed media look. I masked the background flowers and painted with Lindy's mists. I had a cute die cut that I divided and also painted with Lindy's. I used Prima chalk inks to add depth to the edges of the papers.I also used the white chalk ink through a tiny circles mask on the background. A couple of fussy cut butterflies and pleated paper ribbons and my layout is complete!

I really hope you play along with us at About a boy! There are prizes to be won. I can't wait to see your creations!

Mother's Day Card and a Tutorial

Hello everyone, I hope the week is treating you well.

The Flying Unicorn had a card challenge for making a flower pot card. The cards were adorable so I decided to give it a try.

Pretty cute right! Well there is more...

It pulls a part to this darling tag that you can write or stamp a sentiment! Forgive my sense of humor - but truly from conception well into our adult years our mothers are our guiding force and anchor. This card is also really versatile for Get Well and Thinking of You occasions.

I used Sparkle N Sprinkle stamp, glitters and embossing powders on this card as follows:

Gilded Ivory [EP267]

Lemonade [G1091]

Lavender Iris [G1061]

Stamp Set 490 - Spring Florals [00-490P6]

Brushable Glue

Dimensional Glue

Other supplies:

Cardstock - white and colored

Distress inks - Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage, Antique Linen, Tattered Rose, Spun Sugar, 

Petaloo vines

Flower Punch

Border Punch

Spellbinders Bitty Blossom Dies

I just purchased the Bitty Blossom dies and I love the leaves. I did however struggle with the flowers. I could cut and roll them just fine. However, I was dissatisfied with the shading and color. Then after tossing a few and staring at the unrolled flower on colored cardstock I wondered why I wasn't following my usual process of die cutting in white and then using inks to add color. So here is what I did:

Die cut and emboss white cardstock:

 

I choose two yellow inks, using the darker of the two I inked what will become the inside bottom of the flower:

The video on using this die calls for pushing the petals into a foam mat - I used some brad foam packaging and the end of my paint brush:

This pushing of the flower does most of the shaping and petal cupping for you:

Then you roll the flower tightly:

I used Dimensional glue on the dollop of paper that is the flower base:

As the glue is drying I fussed with the tightness of the bloom center and worked the petals until I was happy - 

Then I inked the outer petals in lighter yellow ink. I am using chalk inks that dry really fast.

I am starting to like the depth of color on the flower but I want glitz too like fresh morning dew. I added Brushable Glue with my finger to the tops of the petals pretty heavily and some drips into the flower.

Adding a healthy coat of Lemonade Glitter - this glitter adds color and sparkle to my bloom:

Now I am happy with the variation in color and pretty sparkle - the glue is still wet but when it dried on the yellow and lavender flower I really was happy. You could also come back when dry and mist lightly with some of our Memories Mists in the store for some more color and shine...I used diluted Lavender Tea on my small lavender flower on the card. 

I hope you enjoyed this little walk through my maddness LOL. Have a wonderful day!!!

Time Travel - an altered gift

Welcome to my first documented altered project.
This clock will be a gift to my wonderful cousin and his new bride shortly. They love to travel even at a whim to drive to the Keys for a night from Washington DC. Just so you know this is about 1200 mile drive for one day at the beach.

This is a Kaisercraft Clock that I used primary Gallivant papers to decorate.
I use Sparkle N Sprinkle Glitters to make this project glimmer.

Gold Silver G1056
Waterscape G1108
SNS Brushable Glue 540

Some Details:

Both flower vines are from Prima, the gold silver glitter accented the vertical vine well. 

This clock was really fun to work on and put together. I can't wait to give it to the couple. 

In the interim for my next post we may have a tutorial on a technique with glitter that I used on this project. 

About a Boy - Art Challenge

Good morning,

At About a Boy we have a new challenge opening for a layout using Art Work from your little man!

So my layout I set my oldest loose on a 12x12 piece of cardstock that I had pre-stamped in ink and embossed some. He filled the whole page with almost all his water colors. The photo is a few weeks earlier when he was creating another masterpiece.

From here I misted in some Lindy's Gossamer Gold to even out the colors a bit. I masked some Tiny dots and Diamonds masks for texture. The papers are from Webster and the die cuts Kaisercraft. The flowers are Prima Soprano with a couple Flying Unicorn Adornments. Papers and flowers are form my March kit from the Flying Unicorn. I did a bit of inking with the new Prima white chalk inker - I really love this one.

So this is defiantly the most colorful layout that has ever been produced from our house. However, my oldest was so proud to show Daddy and Grandpa the layout HE made. LOL