Dollar Store Craft Supplies for Mixed Media Background

I love going to the craft store and checking out all the cool craft products they have.  Unfortunately, I do not always have the budget to get what I want so I get excited when I come across ways to get the look I want with some dollar store supplies.

Ink sprays are one of those things not in the budget right now, but I really love the look created when they are strayed on the background of mixed media projects.  I discovered you could get a similar look by creating your own spray paints with watered down acrylic paint (why didn't I think of that before).  It worked great on the canvas project I did a while ago.

I like leaving negative space in my designs by using shapes from my punches.  I just place them on my canvas and spray.  When I remove them I am left with cute designs.

Another background technique I enjoy is using bubble wrap that you get from packages.  Just paint the wrap and tap it against your picture for a fun effect.

Do you have any background techniques that you use on your projects?  I would love to hear about them.  I'm always looking for new ways to experiment with my mixed media backgrounds.

Doll to Mermaid - Quick and Easy Craft

Want to transform a basic doll into mermazing mermaid?
 
Grab some fabric, fabric glue and a pair of scissors and let's get started!

• Trace around your dolls legs to create a template.  
• Add an inch around to make sure it is wide enough.  
• Glue the two sides.  
• Wait for it to dry then turn it inside out to give yourself a nice seam.  Do not glue the bottom or top.
• Now draw out the tail.  Make the bottom of the tail match the size of the top of the fin. 
• Apply some  glue on each side of the top of the fin.  Press down and let dry.
• You can glue on any decorations to make it unique.  

Have fun and be creative.

Mixed Media Canvas

So I finally got a chance to try out some homemade spray paints.  I really like the effect on the background.  What do you think?

This canvas now sits above a couch in a doll house.  

Best Sketch Masked J Pocket Watch

This is the best sketch I have done.  It's a pocket watch with a bit of floral background.  I followed Maskd J's Pocket Watch Drawing Tutorial.

I really like her style and find her very easy to watch.  Again I just used some regular pencils and it turned out really great; though, the pencils don't blend as well as I would like.

I did have to change the floral design because I started my watch too close to the end of the page in my journal. 

Learning to Draw - Mermaid Tails

I cannot draw well, but I want to get better so I am using my art journal as a bit of a sketch book.  I found this great video tutorial for drawing mermaids that helped me draw some nice tails -well not as good as the original artist - my tails did turn out fairly well. 

The tutorial uses Prismacolor artist pencils, but I made due with cheap store bought pencil crayons.  Maybe when I get a little better I will invest in a set of these pencils.  They would probably make the shading easier.

Back to the Art Journal

Finally, I created a background for my journal that I liked.  After a few icky experiments I found a technique that I liked it.  It was actually a lot of fun.  I just dumped some paint on a page and used an old gift cart to move the paint up and down in all directions.  It worked great.

Not so sure my handwritten lettering works.  What do you think?  Maybe next time I'll get out the stamps and ink pads.

Art Journal Cover Page

I've been working on my art journal (a gift from my niece) lately.  I thought I would share the front cover I did.  It did not come out exactly the way I planned but what ever does.  

I got a little crazy with smearing paint at the bottom cover and covered up the ripped purple paper.  I liked it a little better cleaner but I think it still works.

Since I'm not that good of drawer I used some images I found online.  One of Michelangelo's outstretched hand from the ceiling in the Vatican and another of the girl (not sure who to credit here).  I colored in the drawing of the girl and added some different paper for the hair which turned out fairly neat.

The quote itself comes from T.S. Eliot's The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.  I first read the poem in high school and it has stuck with me ever since.   Has any words or quotes just followed you around?