Mixed Media Canvas, CAS Card + A WINNER!

Have you ever been so petrified of screwing something up that you don't ever take the chance to start it, thereby failing by default?

Well this is how I felt about trying mixed media canvas art. You see, I'd purchased 4 canvases about 6 months ago and they've been balefully staring at me from the corner of the my craft room - the stare held one part intimidation and the other part taunting glee. 

I'm preparing for my first craft/vendor fair next week and knew I wanted product that had higher price points. So I picked up the canvas and conquered my fear. 

For my very first ever canvas, I went looking for inspiration and the Mixed Media Place Creative Gym has a "One Important Word" challenge. So I decided to focus on my inner strength and came up with the word "Strong". 

I started with a layer of gesso on the canvas and added some gelatos, blending them with my finger as I went along. 

Next thing, I added a layer of Matte Gel Medium to seal the initial layer. Then I stamped a big background text stamp and used some gesso through a stencil to create some texture. 

Then I used another stencil and distress paint in black to create some black lines, added some die cut wording, and used a Dina Wakely stencil and some neon green texture paste to create a bold woman. 

I put a lot of heart and soul into this first piece and it truly was inspired about how the process made me feel. I am strong. I am bold. I am confident. And my work is unique. I can conquer my fear and try a new art form. :) 

I'm going to send this over to the following challenges:
Mixed Media Place - One Important Word
Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - Get Texty
Mixed Media World - Stencils

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On a totally different note I also have a CAS card to share with you folks, too

Mynn Kitchen does this totally cool thing, called the Pony CASEpress. It's basically a chain of CASEing and you send your CASEd card off to the next recipient on the list, and then you'll receive a CASE of your own card in the mail. It's a pretty dandy way to do something fun with fellow bloggers. 

This is the card I made for Kathe Deck. 

It's made with Hero Arts Color Layering Butterflies stamps and coordinating dies. It's so bright and happy and a little different from my normal aesthetic, It's fun to step outside my normal box from time-to-time. 

I'm sending this on over fly around in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon - Up, Up and Away
Mod Squad - Anything Goes plus a Die (mine is Hero Arts brand, which One Happy Cut sells)

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And now - for the moment you REALLY came here for. Wink* I drew another name from the awesome people who linked up to my birthday bash - 52 of you! Thanks for making me smile, now it's my turn! 

The winner of the STAMPlorations Party Time set is.... 

 

Link-up #15 - Jessi Fogan of One Crafty Mama!! 

Could you pretty please send me an email with you address? :D