Good Morning Creatives!!
I have been away at the annual Craft and Hobby Association education and trade show and it was an AMAZING time of focusing, learning and being inspired. I will be doing a 2 part recap next week so be on the look out for that!
Also....we're moving! Well...not physically, but in cyberspace! My new website is being built as we speak and I can't wait to have a new home to share with you.
While we wait, I have an amazing new (to me) company to introduce you to.
Butterbee Scraps Artistic Treasures contacted me because a mutual friend told her that I was a mixed media person who might be a good match to work with her products. So I headed over to her online store (based out of Canada) and I was blown away by the beautiful filigree metalwork, resin flowers, ribbon and other fun embellishments. It was a no brainer to say "YES...I would LOVE to work with you!"
For my first project, I wanted to start with something simple.
This half-done portrait has been sitting on my easel for easily 2+ months and I decided to finish her up for my first project.
Here is her finished self:
You might be wondering...what is that paper in the background? It's a phonebook! I found an old phonebook stashed in my scrap closet (because don't we all do that?!?) and loved the texture of the paper so I figured why not?
I wanted to keep her flat and use my metals from Butterbee Scraps to give the piece weight by making her a headband.
I used the Vintage Labels Ribbon to make the band and then layered 5 different metals to make the brooch part: Bronze Metal Filigree (810-B), Bronze Metal Filigree (55c-B), Silver Flower Metal ,Filigree (168-p), Medium Mixed Gears and an octopus from the Steampunk Tibetan Charms Collections.
Here's some more closeups!
I used mostly DecoArt Craft Acrylics and Fluid Acrylics, with a little Buttercream Acrylics (by Joann's) and Master's Touch (by Hobby Lobby.) The red Polka dot washi is from Little B LLC and my stencil is from The Crafter's Workshop (it's called "Sequin Waste Bit.) I also used some Faber-Castell Pitt Artist pens for shading in the lips and face.
DecoArt Fluid Acrylics are great for detail work. Because they have such a high pigment content and move easily over your surface, you can outline and add details in one pass instead of multiple passes which would increase your wrist of mistakes (SCARY!)
Next to her brooch, her eyes are my favorite. They just turned out so feminine and delicate.
It's very subtle, but there is journaling caressing her shoulder and it simply says: Be Free and Regret Nothing
It's a simple motto, but one that I am working on. Regret doesn't change your past...it simply ways you down and keeps you from you true future.
I hope you will remember that as we go into 2016 and find freedom in every step you take.
Until Next time...
XOXO,
Keri Sallee
P.S. For more from Monique (owner and amazing designer of Butter Bee Scraps) on this project and more, head on over to her blog: Butter Bee Scraps. Leave her some LOVE!!
