On My Table

This layout has been sitting on my table for quite some time now!  I've been attempting to get back to it, but alas.  Mostly because my printer and my very old and outdated photoshop are not jiving together any more.  The pic is actually a really bad print job, but I'm still going to use it because it's almost as if there's an intentional cool filter :).  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!  It's also featuring some really old Authentique papers that I've had in my stash for a while...need to stash bust more often!

This encaustic tag really has no rhyme or reason.  I had things on my table and from that, it was born.  This is one of those projects where I really was not concerned with the end product as much as I was getting there.  I had fun with the wax and wire!  It was really cool to just embed cheesecloth into the wax and play with different paints and inks as well!   

Thanks for stopping by!  

Just playing

Ahh, what crazy busy schedules the holidays can bring!  It's fun, stressful, and relaxing all at once!  At any rate, I just wanted to quickly post a tag that I fiddled around with...just because I NEEDED paint and ink on my fingers :).

Like many of my mixed-media tags/projects, the end result usually differs worlds apart from it's start. Mainly because I usually have no idea in mind about design, colors, etc.  I did know that I wanted to incorporate a piece of silver wire I had on my table...aging it to make it look rusted or worn and old. 

I'm not completely sure I achieved the look, but the process was very relaxing indeed!  Stress and the holidays I tell ya!  I adhered the wire with staples (that were aged too) and some gel matte medium. If you look closely, you can actually see some of the original wire peeking.  Once I was happy with the background colors, etc...I adhered some chipboard hearts and Tim Holtz phrase stickers.  With a few drips of encaustic wax....this tag is complete!!

I'm sure I will do the wire aging thing again...maybe with a tutorial!  Thanks for stopping by!  Leave a comment or email if you have any questions.  

Scratching the Curiosity Itch

So, have you ever been intrigued by a technique or a process?  Ever just wanted to try it?  Well, I have those tendencies often!  I've always been intrigued by the process of encaustic paintings or the use of beeswax in finished works.  I enjoy watching videos of the process, but ...that just wasn't enough...darn youtube!  So, I said forget this sideline stuff...I'm going to grab some beeswax and have a little play myself!

Now, I know the encaustic gods are cringing, encaustic artists all over are gasping because I'm sure I did EVERYTHING wrong, BUT I don't care!! I had a blast playing with this stuff.  I tested all kinds of inks to see how they would react to the wax.  I also used some watercolor and oil paint sticks that I've had for a while that have been sitting idle.  I threw a little bit of everything on this small piece of watercolor paper...almost grabbed the kitchen sink just to see what would happen if I fused it to the paper!  

I could've easily kept going, but this is where I stopped...here ...uneven, bumpy, waxy goodness!  All in all, I will definitely try this again (with a few more supplies on-hand) and try my best to not become addicted...some of the pre-made wax cakes and sticks are pricey!  Mama has to buy milk!  ;).  Thanks for stopping by!