Sunday, September 6, 2015

Texture for Mixed Media World



Some months ago, a friend asked if I would participate in a fundraising effort for Artists for Soup, a group that is working to improve the food security of Nicaraguan women.  This particular effort will take place in November, as an auction of altered cigar boxes and other items that artists want to donate.  Since I have a special place in my heart for Nicaragua, of course I said yes!  I had been watching some Paper Artsy videos on mediums and gels, and decided to try some heavy clear gloss gel through a stencil, and also to play around with home-made mica spray, having learned about that at a recent Finnabair workshop this summer.
I started by sanding my box, removing a lot of the paper, and in the process accidentally removing the paper hinge to the top.  Then I painted the outside surfaces with gold acrylic paint and applied a rather thick layer of heavy gloss gel to each of the four sides of the box and the top of the cover.  This will dry clear, and provide (mostly) a resist effect with the mica.


 Here is what it looks like when dry, and then when sprayed with a mica spray made from a deep blue Primary Elements powder and water.


 For the inside, I places several layers of white tissue paper with matte medium, building up the surfaces to look soft and velvety once the sprays were placed.  I used the same mica spray, supplemented with a commercial gold spray - I think it was Heidi Swapp gold.  I used the same technique for the inside of the cover.












Here is what the insides look like once sprayed.
 Below is the top.... I fashioned a handle from various Prima embellishments I had left from the workshop and some buttons.

 And here is one of the sides....you'll notice that I glued some little feet on to complete the look.

 And here is a very poor shot of the final box..... it is hard to photograph without shadows today!



I hope to finish a second box, which you can see below.  I am again using the tissue paper technique, but this time on the outside, based on what I did here on one of my early makes.... I absolutely love all the glimmering, shiny textures!  And it is so fun to use all the Lindy's Stamp Gang metallic sprays I own.





But I need to figure out how to nicely finish the inside.... kinda stymied on that at the moment (the "nicely" part especially), lol!  If you have any ideas, please let me know!




Thank you so much for stopping by, and please if you've time, leave a comment - I love hearing from you!  xxx Lynn

7 comments:

  1. Marvellous altered boxes, Lynn - so much texture and shimmer. Fantastic to see the results with your mixed up mica sprays... the flourish texture looks amazing. Love the crinkled wrinkled tissue look too. How about some stamping on the inside? Always a challenge to get into the corners! Or you could do it in advance on tissue paper cut to the right sizes - continue the tissue techniques on the inside...
    Alison xx

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  2. Gorgeous altered box Lynn! I can see why you like to use the LSG sprays and the Mica powders. I do as well! Such texture you have achieved here with the tissue paper, such a fun technique! That texture paste is awesome sauce and your stenciling is superb!

    You could do a large stamp inside on the bottom and line the sides with fabric.
    ~Niki

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  3. Stunning! So clever to first paint it all gold and then to spray over that, the effect of the combination of the two looks amazing! As to the second box, I think I love that one even better, I always am in love with the wrinkled tissue paper technique. As for the inside, - stamping like Alison suggests could work, another possibility could be to line in with some lovely scrapbook paper. I would keep it quite plain though, as there is so much going on on the outside already.....

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  4. Stunning box Lynn, love all your techniques used and the theatrical look to it, just fab.
    Julie x

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  5. So pretty. The altered box is c amazing. So happy you shared with us at MMW.

    With smiles
    Laine K
    MMW DT

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  6. This is absolutely brilliant! Love the techniques you used,. The result is fantastic! Thank you very much for sharing it with us at Mixed Media World! Ingrid xx

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  7. Lynn, this is sublime. The texture you brought to this piece is remarkable, I so wish I could reach out and touch it. Your skilled use of techniques shine through.
    Very special indeed.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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