Guest Designing for Shimmerz – Mixed Media Canvas

Alicia Redshaw10 December 2013

I am excited to be Guest Designing at the Shimmerz Blog for the month of December. I have used tonnes Shimmerz Products in this my second project, which is a Mixed Media Canvas using a photograph from my Wedding day over 18 years ago.

This is my canvas which I had a fabulous time creating.

I used symbols that speak of the Eternal bond Quentin and I share. The day we married wasn’t necessarily the start of our life together, however it was the day we pronounced our Love for each other to the world and made our eternal commitment in the sight of God. We were young when we married and I am grateful for this, as our Love has grown as we have too. I am also glad that we had years of time before and after our Wedding together as a couple before starting our family. This time together helped to make our marriage solid and stable. The nest symbolises our little family that has bloomed from our love.

I have used Golden Absorbent Ground randomly over the papers so that all of the yummy Shimmerz products wouldn’t be resisted by Gesso if I had used it. There are quite a few layers of paper (including a doily) on the base, most of which has eventually been hidden as the piece grew with a life and purpose of its own.

I love to use the Shimmerz on my finger to add touches of colour and sparkle to flowers, leaves and embellishments. I have also used some Rub’n’Buff for the same purpose.

I flicked dots of Shimmerz mists (of all kinds) over my entire project, with one of my favourite tools – the curved pipe in a Shimmerz mist bottle. I am careful not to get these yummy dots of mist on my photograph by making a mask from scrap paper, as I like to have control over the placement and colours that land on my photographs – if any at all. (See below for what I did want on my photograph)

I misted the photograph with Shimmeringz Baby’s Breath before masking our faces and flicking dots of the Vibez Jeni B Bleu and Pop Art Pink over the photograph. The edges have also been swiped randomly with the Shimmerz in both the Tickle Me Turquoise and Angel Wings – along with a touch of the Rub’n’Buff. I did all of this to keep the photograph as the star of the canvas without it looking like a last minute add-on.

I love how I can do dots of all sizes with the Dimensionz nozzle, adding additional shimmer and texture to my background.

I thoroughly enjoyed creating this canvas and remembering how wonderful our Wedding day was, all those years ago. It all came together quite quickly once I started, gaining a momentum of its own. I find that happens a lot when I get a chance to get down to some serious creating.

Thank you for checking out my second project Guest Designing for the Shimmerz Blog for December, and a huge thank you to Stacey and the team for inviting me.

Shimmerz products used:
Colouringz – Mandarin Mai Tai, Mama Sings the Blues
Vibez – Jeni B Bleu, Pop Art Pink
Shimmerz – Angel Wings, Tickle Me Turquoise
Spritz – Bamboo Leaf, Caribbean Sunset
Shimmeringz – Baby’s Breath
Dimensionz – Pearly Gates

Other products used:
Prima – lettering, Delight patterned papers, Resin Treasures, nest, leaves, flowers, Junkyard (metal) Findings, Resist Canvas, heart from a Valentine Vine, Chalk Edgers (Pastel Peach, Old Rose)
Golden – Absorbent Ground (White), Gold Mica Flake (Large), Matte Medium, Extra Heavy Gel (Semi-Gloss)
Other – Rub’n’Buff (Antique Gold), Websters (lace), silver ribbon, pearl buckle, peach pearl trim, cotton cord, gauze, paper doily, Caran D’Ache Neocolor 2 (Salmon)

My project from last week, which was a Christmas Card using loads of Shimmerz goodies can be viewed —– here.

Happy Creating and have a wonderful day