It is all in the Details

Storytelling is a very important aspect of my art as a narrative mixed media artist. Creative Paperclay® helps me tell my stories by being able to cast objects or create stamped shapes. Although I paint the clay, I really love the beauty of it in the raw stage.

SUPPLIES

Art surface
Creative Paperclay®
Acrylic Paints
Molds
Stamps
Foil & Adhesive optional

One wing symbolizes in search of completion. I think we spend our life searching to fill in our stories. Next comes the painting of my clay areas. I start by coating them with polymer medium when they have dried. On the body I applied a gold rub over the blue. The wing was painted then I applied holographic foil to it using adhesive size. That it what the white areas are on the crown.

Next step was to cast more objects. Once they are dry I will clean them up with either my dremel or SandIts then paint them.

Dream in Color

Darlene Olivia McElroy

Lost & Found Drama with Creative Paperclay®

Mixed media artists and their friends are scavengers. A friend found a bunch of frames in the trash. They were good condition and ready to become an art project and what could be better for a mixed media painting but a mixed media frame. Easy, breezy, beautiful.

SUPPLIES

Creative Paperclay®
Stamps
Texture plates
Gold paint
Red oxide paint

Started by applying Creative Paperclay® to the frame by hand then brayering it flat before adding texture. I worked in sections.

Added final details.

The Holbien mat gold matched the frame perfectly. I could have left the frame painted gold but ....

I ended up apply a wash of red oxide paint. A wash is paint diluted with water. This wash sank into the recessed areas giving the frame's texture depth.

Dream in Color!

Darlene Olivia McElroy

Change Your Mind Tips

Sometimes we change our mind. Maybe it is the concept behind the piece of art, we couldn't execute the vision we saw in our mind or ???? With Creative Paperclay®, it is easy to remove the clay if our project doesn't work out. In this case, I had added a fennec (Saharan) fox on my art piece but changed my concept for the piece. I needed to remove it so I could continue on with my painting.

SUPPLIES

Dried Creative Paperclay®
Water
Paper Towels
Metal Palette Knife/Scraper

I covered the clay with very wet paper towels and leave on until the clay softened.

Then I scrapped it off. If some of the clay is still hard just reapply the wet paper towels again.

When all the clay is removed, I can continue to work on the piece. The playing never stops.

Dream in Color.

Making an Aged Frame with Delight®

I love the marshmellowy feel of Delight®. It is perfect for the series of frames for some old tintypes to give as gifts. Delight is light when dry and takes texture well.

SUPPLIES

Delight®
Textures
Micaceous Oxide paint
Salt



Cut off strips of Delight® and push down on them to roughly form the shape of a frame.

I used rubber stamps, a latex mold and embossed wall paper to add textures to the Delight®.

After it was trimmed into a rough square shape I added some of the cut off pieces to the fron plus some cast flowers. Then I stamped it with alphabet stamps.

I finished the frame shape by painting a wash of micaceous oxide acrylic paint. While the paint was still wet, I salted it to give it a aged look. Now to find the right tintype for the window. At this point, I can still make the window larger if needed to fit the image.

Play with art and dream in color!

Darlene Olivia McElroy

The Imperfect Heart

 
 Hi,

Today I am showing a few mixed media techniques to make your creative paperclay piece pop.

I have heard that black wings symbolize imperfections. Showing that everyone makes mistakes and its okay to make mistakes.This was my inspiration for my mixed media piece "The Imperfect Heart"

The Supplies

Creative Paperclay®
5x7 canvas
Heart and wing mold
Sandits®
Cheese cloth
E-6000 glue
Water mister
Golden® matte medium
Tim holtz distress stain (wild honey, vintage photo, chipped sapphire, broken china)
Americana multi-surface satin paint (black tie, red barn)
Americana crystal gloss glitter paint (black)
Dylusions ink spray (post box red)
Pearlescent liquid acrylic (galactic blue)
Various sizes of paint brushes
Hair dryer 


Let's get started

Cut off a few small pieces of cheese clot.Spread a small amount of matte medium on the canvas, then lay the cheese cloth on top of it. Next add matte medium on top of the cheese cloth to secure it into place.

Dot  several colors of the distress stain on the canvas. 

Use a water mister and spray on the canvas. Pick up with canvas and tilt it in different directions to create a unique flowing look. 

While still wet you can spray on Dylusions and  Pearlescent liquid acrylic.  
Time saving tip:Use a hair dryer to dry your paints, stains and mediums in between steps.

I create the heart and wing piece from a candy mold.
Note: When using these kind of molds with your paperclay be sure that the clay does not spill out over the edges of the mold. Let it dry some before you try and remove it from the mold.

Clean up the dried paperclay mold using Sandits®.
These are the best products that I have found to clean up small detailed areas of your paper clay.

Finally paint your piece using the Americana multi surface and crystal gloss glitter paint. Attach it to the canvas using E-6000 glue.

I am so glad you decided to stop by and take a peek at my tutorial.  

Shari

I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. I studied graphic design in Portland, Oregon before moving to Denton, Texas and putting all my focus on creating mixed media art. In addition to being on the Creative Paperclay design team, I am a contributor for the Robin's Nest Design Team, an article writer for Mixed Media Art, and a blogger and outside artist for DecoArt.

I strongly believe in giving back. I volunteer at Scrap Denton Creative Reuse Center where I teach workshops, art camps, and perform art demos. I am very passionate about mixed media art and enjoy helping and watching others discover their creativity.

Creative Paperclay Frames by Lynda

I love having my spaces look nice, especially my desk space at work!  If I have to be some place for 8 hours a day, I want things to have a good look and feel!  Today's project - is a great piece to add to my own work space, which will be the beginnings of a few pieces all created to match!  Another thing I love, is having pictures around me - that is why I scrapbook in the first place; with this project - I got the best of both worlds for sure!!!

**TIP**  To make your pieces completely flat, cut a piece a bit larger than what you actually need, and flatten the whole area again.  This way, it is all the same dimension the entire piece after you cut out the shape.  

Supplies to use:
Creative Paperclay product
Flower molds of your choice (Stampin' Up flower molds retiring here)  
Paint - (I used Twinkling H2O's African Jade and Rose Gold and white craft paint)
Alphabet letters (your choice - I used Cricut Ashlyn's Alphabet cartridge)
Die cut vine (your choice - I used Sizzix Vine)

Tools needed for this project:
Die cut shape of frame - (I used Sizzix frame die cut)
Xacto knife
Rolling pin
Sandit's product

Directions:  

Flatten out the clay to the thickness you want for your frame.  Using a template you create, make your frame - making sure to cut the inside out!  

Allow Creative Paperclay frame to dry fully, checking out the pieces as they dry.  Try to flip them over at least every 6-12 hours to dry on both sides.  Using the Sandit's, sand the piece to make it smooth!  

    

Paint the frame white (or any other color you want to work with) at least 2 coats.  Allow to dry between coats for better coverage!   

After you mold the flowers and let them dry, paint them in your choice of paints and colors like the next 2 photos! 

 

After flowers have dried, add the vine, and place the vine from the corner, and the flowers on top!  

Add the title at the bottom using your choice of titles!

I love how this turned out - and will make sure to share the others I am making using this same technique!  I just got a few more photos - so I can create a few more frames for my desk!  I hope you have enjoyed this piece - I love how it turned out, and can't wait to see my family every day!  

Thanks for stopping by, 

Lynda Jeffs

Creative Paperclay Design Team

Memories in Tyme

  

  

Shari's Tip of the Month

Good Morning!

Today I wanted to show you a few tips when adding Creative Paperclay® to a pre-made paper mache' piece.

Paper Mache' Bunny

 Break off small pieces of clay and press it between your fingers making it very thin.

Add the clay to the paper mache' by pressing it on the piece and smoothing it out with a very small amount of water. Make sure to always have water on hand when working with Creative Paperclay®.

You will also need a damp rag or paper towel to keep your fingertips clean. If your fingertips are not clean when attaching the clay it will stick to the clay on your finger instead of the piece.

Once dry you are ready to use your creativity and finish any way you want.
















I hope these tips were helpful. Now go and enjoy creating a one of a kind piece made by you!

Shari

I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. I studied graphic design in Portland, Oregon before moving to Denton, Texas and putting all my focus on creating mixed media art. In addition to being on the Creative Paperclay design team, I am a contributor for the Robin's Nest Design Team, an article writer for Mixed Media Art, and a blogger for DecoArt.

I strongly believe in giving back. I volunteer at Scrap Denton Creative Reuse Center where I teach workshops, art camps, and perform art demos. I am very passionate about mixed media art and enjoy helping and watching others discover their creativity. 

Join me on my creative journey at My Altered life on Facebook and over at  My Altered Life blog

A Valentine Windchime

Hi!

We are six days away from Valentines day. Instead of a card this year I am sending that someone special in my life (my granddaughter) a Valentine windchime.

Supplies
Creative paperclay®
Unfinished wooden windchime plaque
Word Beads- block style
Americana® Multi Surface paints
Lisa Pavelka texture stamp
Mod Podge gloss lustre
Red twine
Micro black gem stones
Hot glue gun and glue

Let's get started!

1. Roll out a small ball of paperclay into a thin sheet. 
2. With the texture stamp on top of clay, use the roller to roll an imprint into the clay.
3. Cut out the desired shape using a clay knife or pallet knife.
4. Smooth the edges of your shape, let air dry or bake.
5. Paint your texture piece as desired and let dry.
6. Paint the front and back of the wood windchime.
7. Mod Podge both pieces.
8. Hot glue your clay piece and word beads to the wood.
9. Attach the gem stones.
10. Add a string to hang.

I hope this will inspire you to create an out of the box Valentine greeting for that special someone in your life!


Shari

I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. I studied graphic design in Portland, Oregon before moving to Denton, Texas and putting all my focus on creating mixed media art. In addition to being on the Creative Paperclay design team, I am a contributor for the Robin's Nest Design Team, an article writer for Mixed Media Art, and a blogger for DecoArt.

I strongly believe in giving back. I volunteer at Scrap Denton Creative Reuse Center where I teach workshops, art camps, and perform art demos. I am very passionate about mixed media art and enjoy helping and watching others discover their creativity. 

 

  

   Tweet with My Altered Life

    My Altered Life is on FB 

Follow My Altered Life's blog page

  My Altered Life's Pinterest addiction

Shari's January Tip of the Month

Hi!

Each month I am going dedicate a post with a tip or two that I have found to be helpful when working with Creative Paperclay®

I have a wooden flower that I want to add paperclay to. My dilemma was that the face image I wanted to add I had made a few weeks ago. Here is the solution I used to add the dried face piece and make it look seamless.

First I added water to the back of the face, to a new piece of clay, to the wooden flower. I attached by pushing the  fresh moistened clay onto the dried and then pushed it on to the wood.

 I made a clay sludge mixture by watering down paperclay till it resembled a paste like consistency.

I filled in the gaps around the edge between the the face and the wood with the mixture.
I rolled a rope of paperclay and added it around the face too. I first smoothed it out with my fingers and then finished with a damp brush.

The wet paperclay will absorb into the dry. Because of this the piece will dry faster then if it were all wet clay.

The piece is now ready to add more paperclay, paint and enjoy!

Shari

 

I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. I studied graphic design in Portland, Oregon before moving to Denton, Texas and putting all my focus on creating mixed media art. In addition to being on the Creative Paperclay design team, I am a contributor for the Robin's Nest Design Team, an article writer for Mixed Media Art, and a blogger for DecoArt.

I strongly believe in giving back. I volunteer at Scrap Denton Creative Reuse Center where I teach workshops, art camps, and perform art demos. I am very passionate about mixed media art and enjoy helping and watching others discover their creativity.  

My Altered Life is on FB 

Follow My Altered Life's blog page 

 My Altered Life's Pinterest addiction

Tweet with My Altered Life