Happy Monday!  It has been quite the week and I am so grateful for a day off to breathe and play.

 I have been playing with mixed media and altered canvas for the past few weeks – knees deep in gesso, stencils, air dry clay, paints- messy and wonderful!  I have also watched lots of youtube tutorials and even purchased a few layout kits so I can learn from so many talented artists out there as this is a new venture for me.

I began this endeavor by creating a “torso” with air dry clay from a Barbie doll mold I purchased some years ago. The mold is much like this one here (etsy) and it comes in several parts so you can use all of them or just one section (I used the front torso so it would lie flat) which looks just like the finished torso below.  Once dry I lightly coated it with gesso.

With that, I began to create a gown using laces and trims from my stash. First, I attached lots of tulle as a base and then wrapped various lengths of lace to make the bodice and dress. I was inspired by Angela Holt’s youtube video but unlike her, I could not make the torso freehand!

Once my dress was embellished with Swarovski crystals, I thought I would mount it on a wrapped canvas and so began my trial and error. I am happy with how it turned out! I used Caio Bella design papers- The Sound of Spring Collection to which I added texture paste and script stencil.  I also added pearls on a string, a wood heart covered with gesso and Frantage, chipboard and some beautiful flowers.  

I know I have a lot more to learn but this was a great way to move out of my comfort zone and get messy! Have a great day, and as always, thank you for your kind comments! This canvas is available in my ETSY shop for purchase! 

Challenges Entered:
A Inky Mess -anything mixed media
613 Avenue Create- use something wooden (heart, love)
We Love to Create – Mixed Media
Creative Artiste-Anything Mixed Media
Color My Heart #312- Glacier,White, Sugarplum