Love is in the Air at MMW

Hi everyone

After Mixed Media World blog took a rest in January we are all back with a bang for February and as we launch this months challenge on valentines day our theme for this month is

"Love is in the air"

I decided to have a go at a Finnabair style canvas, my first attempt in this style and great fun to make.

I started by preparing my canvas with glueing on all my chosen bits, this style allows you to use up anything you have lying around. I blew the dust off a box of flowers that I can't remember the last time I used any from, a string of plastic pearls that the colour had worn off, the frame is the reverse side of a small canvas, bits of doily, lace, torn papers, stencilled texture paste, hot glue running down, and bits of Tim Holtz idea-ology. when all was dried I then covered the lot with several coats of gesso

Then time to add the colour, I decided to go for a grungy look so chose to start with distress sprays in ground espresso and hickory smoke, spray dry, spray dry, spray dry etc until I was happy. The distress sprays give a translucent finish. so to add more depth I added the same colours from the distress ink pads using a blending tool. I thinned down some Paperartsy white fire gold paint and added it to a spray bottle I managed a few sprays to create some splatters before it clogged up the mister (note to self don't do that again). Still wanting to deepen the colour in places I used more Paperartsy paints this time french roast and old gold until I was happy with the result.

Here you can see the main detail. I covered the reverse side of the mini canvas with tissue paper and applied with gel medium to give the canvas texture and to also cover up all the staples that you could see on the back. The little MDF heart has had the same tissue paper treatment and was then painted using Paperartsy london bus red, the red was then toned down using the colours from the main canvas.

Here you really can see the textures and the heart is nestled in the frame sitting on some bandage that I have coloured to match.

I have added a Chit Chat sticker that has had the same grungy treatment.

Texture paste through Tim's Ironworks stencil and the hot glue runs.

Here shows the lace and the doily just peeking out from behind the frame.

So that's how I have interpreted this months theme, hope you like it. The team have come up with some stunning pieces which you can see HERE.

We would all love to see your love themed mixed media makes so hope that you will come and play along with us this month. Our fabulous sponsor to start the year off, is one close to my heart as I'm part of their design team, and is That's Crafty. Laura, owner of That's Crafty, has given us a £20 voucher for our lucky winner to spend in the hugely stocked online store, you'll have no problem spending your winnings.

Thanks for popping by and I hope we'll see you over at MIXED MEDIA WORLD this month.

Have a wonderful Valentines Day and I'll see you soon
I would also like to enter this into Anything but Cute challenge theme Grungy Love
and
Stamps and Stencils theme Splatter, sptitz and sploosh

Love

Amanda X