River Stones - Looking back on the past

Hi Everyone!

When I first looked at this new stencil called Pebbles Tied by The Crafter's Workshop, it reminded me of all the hiking trips with my parents. We all had backpacks, even the dogs, and would hike five miles or so to find the perfect camp site. I remember one river we camped near had all these small white pebbles all marked up by what they hit coming down the river. They were black and white. This memory is the inspiration for this canvas.

Here are the stencils I used.

Pebbles Tied

Corncob Etching

The Crafter's Workshop provided me with stencils to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own because I do love to use them.

As I took pictures I had lots of ideas, but as you'll see they change. I first thought I was going to do this all in spray paints. I took the large canvas outside on my deck and started with these two colors.

 This is what it looked like then I had another idea.

I didn't like the spray paint so "Gesso to the Rescue" and covered it up and added the Pebbles Tied stencil here.

I used the edge of a palette knife and added super heavy gesso to the pebbles.

Didn't like where it was going so I painted over it again.

 Next I added the Corncob Etching stencil with super heavy gesso to different areas of the canvas. 

When it dried I sprayed it with water and put a drop of black high flow acrylic on it and let it do its thing.

I continued for a while and it looked like this.

Another idea, a wash of black.

I taped off some of the stencil design and started adding the pebbles with super heavy gesso.

Once dried, I sprayed the pebbles with water and added black high flow acrylics and let it go where ever it wanted.

Although its finished and signed, I may change a couple of things. Not sure yet. It will sit for a while.

You can see more of my art by following me on Instagram (karenlizhenderson). 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Textures Backgrounds and Acrylic Inks

Hi!!!

I can't wait to show you these background I made.

I love making cards but I don't like to make them so three dimensional that it costs more to the mail them.

Using Liquitex Super Heavy Gesso and Acrylic Inks I created really cool textured backgrounds in some fun colors. 

 

I don't have step by step pictures because I was playing and didn't know if it would work.

 

I cut mixed media paper to fit the front of the card.

I added the Believe Script stencil to the background with black acrylic paint.

Using a texture tool I spread super heavy gesso on the card and while it was still wet I dropped paint on and let it do it's thing.

 

Here is a close up.

 

On each card I added:

Mini Shadow Tree Stencil from The Crafter's Workshop

Raven stamp from Stampers Anonymous-Tim Holtz Halloween Blueprint stamp set

 

The Raven I stamped on mixed media paper, cut it out, used paint to add color and to add something different I used TCW stencils (sorry don't remember which stencils I used) to add designs to each bird.  I used a stamp from Red Lead Paperworks called Scary Stories with black archival ink and cut out the words and attached them to the card.

 

 

This one I dropped the inks and used the texture tool though the gesso.

 

 

 

This picture shows you the super heavy gesso still wet with inks.

If I remember I sprayed this with water to see what would happen.

 

 

 

They were so much fun to create.

Not at all my spooky colors I like to use.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

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