Spark of Creativity Saturday - Masculine Mixed Media & A Coupon!

Hello Blog Friends :)

Today is the day! It is Spark of Creativity Saturday! Sadly for me, it is also my final post for the Kraaft Shaak Design Team. I have so enjoyed being a part of this team and getting to know these fun loving and creative ladies! <3 I will miss this group. But one must soldier on. So what did I make for my final project? Well...I wanted to be different (big surprise) and I so I decided to make a MASCULINE mixed media project. After all..it is June and the month we honor all the men in our lives. Those who made us, those who support us, those who love us. As I was looking at my the last bits of my Kraaft Shaak Mixed Media Kit, I saw some paper that looked like fish scales and a finding that looked like a reel from a fishing rod...so I got my idea... a project that is about fishing! Many of the men in several generations of my family have loved this hobby/sport, so that seemed like a perfect fit:) So here it is...my mixed media masculine fishing art!

But before I get to my process..let me share with you my coupon for my followers to get $5 off an exclusive Kraaft Shaak Mixed Media Kit!! As you know if you have been following along, all my Design Team projects have been made using this kit...so get yours from today until July 15th today using the coupon code SAVE5SHEL at the Kraaft Shaak Shop :)

OK, now for my project step out :) So to begin my process, I wanted to make something that had a lot of dimension. That was big enough to stand out as art on a wall. I decided to use a 12"X12" canvas, but instead of using it on the front I decided to make a shadow box effect by using it from the back. Of course, the back is very rough and not prepared...so I covered all of it using Heavy Gesso in white by Prima.

While the gesso was drying, I worked on my focal point...my rainbow trout. I started with that paper from my Mixed Media KitI mentioned before. The one that reminded me of fish scales shining in the sun. I drew my jumping trout on the paper using a graphite pencil and then cut it out. Then I painted it with acrylic paints mixed with gloss medium. When that was all dry I added some fun art ingredients from my kit. Copper Micro Beads, Pearl Glass Glitter, and Charcol Art Sugar Glitter. I used 3D Gloss Gel to attach all my sparkly things.

Next I went back to my canvas. I wanted to cover all the staples and wood edges and make it more uniform. So I decided to use the papers I had left from my Mixed Media Kit to do a nice collage. I used gel matte medium to attach the papers, going over and around the edges. I was lucky I had one piece of map page left because that one was perfect for the look of this project with all the blue water.

When all my paper collage was dry I decided to use some of the Copper Crackle Paste I got as an option in my Mixed Media Kit. Of all the metallic finishes, copper is my favorite. I love how this paste turns into a crackle texture when it is dry. I applied it randomly around the outside of the frame using a spatula. Then I decided to use my kit sample of Gold Leaf Mica Flakes on the frame as well. I used tacky glue drops to attach the flakes in trails around the frame.

Now for the inside of the frame. (yes I know normal people would do the inside before the outside :) I painted over the inside box with a coat of watered down white gesso to unify it. Then I drew a scene using my graphite pencil.

Next, I painted my scene using my favorite watercolor set. It is a Japanese set made by Kuretake. I like it because the paint is heavily pigmented and can be almost opaque...but can be thinned out with water to make it translucent as well.

Now for  some more bling :) In the area where I painted the splash of the trout jumping from the water, I added some Cobalt Glass Beads from my Mixed Media Kit. I also added some clear dried drops of acrylic. Do you remember my first project with the Kraaft Shaak Design Team... the tray that came with my kit ? Well back then I used some Envirotex to fill up the tray and make a clear hard surface. The excess Envirotex I dropped onto a Craft Sheet and allowed to dry. These little clear acrylic drops are from that. They look like water droplets when adhered with 3D Gloss Gel.

Next I looked at my layout. I attached my now dry rainbow trout to the right side of the frame as if he was jumping out of the water. I used 3D Gloss Gel as glue.

Then I needed some more parts to go with the finding from Finnabair Mechanical 

  that came in my kit. I used a dowel stained with some watered down acrylic paint for the 'fishing rod' and then a wooden bead and a red glass bead to make the handle on top of the finding. Then I made a 'fly' using some furry yarn and a bit of vellum paper and a bead and glued this onto a hook I got from the family fishing kit. I tied some fishing line to the pole and added my fly and then glued the other end to the back of my fish. The effect is that my fish is jumping to catch the fly.

My last step was to add a sentiment. I used a die cut frame that was in my Mixed Media Kit. I sponged the edge of it using some distress ink. Then I cut a piece of vellum paper that fit the inside. I traced the inside frame onto a piece of scrap and wrote my sentiment. Then placed the vellum over the top and traced it with my favorite black Posca Pen. Then I attached the vellum to the back of the frame and attached the whole thing to the canvas using pop dots.

I hope you have enjoyed my final post with the Kraaft Shaak Design Team. The new team will be starting in July with Beth, Peg, Sheri and the team leader Sandra. Be sure to check them out! And don't forget to order your awesome Kraaft Shaak Mixed Media Kit using the code SAVE5SHEL! 

<3 Shel