Mosaic Canvas

Hi everyone! It's Bonnie here today to share a little 5x7 inch board canvas I altered. A while ago, through Pinterest, I saw these fabulous mosaic canvases created by Linda Iverson and found the idea really inspired me. It's a wonderful way to use of scraps of papers and chipboard and I love the results so I decided to have a go.

I started by applying black gesso to the canvas board and allowing it to dry. Next I cut up some chipboard scraps and laid out a pattern that pleased me. I wanted a few of the "tiles" to be thicker so I cut an extra layer for two and three layers for the center rectangle. These I glued together and then used my Black Big Brush Pen to blacken the edges of all tiles.

The next step was to choose stamps and stencils as well as papers to feature on some of the tiles. The gold embossed quote as well as the black embossed squares stamp come from the TH Classics 16 set. The paper under the squares stamp is a piece of Authentique Anchored Sailing paper. There is a very faint map printed on it which fits the journey theme and a small resin hand was added to point to the quote.. Directly above the square tiles stamped tile is an Idea-ology Word Band which says Live in the Moment. Gold nailhead stickers were attached to the band with Glossy Accents to resemble brads.

The black starry tile at the top and bottom right were stencilled with TCW's Mini Random Stars and Studio 490 Gold Embossing Paste onto black cardstock. This was then adhered to the chipboard and cut to size. The B is a Scrabble tile adhered to a scrap of gold striped paper using Beacon 3-in-1 glue which was also used to adhere all of the tiles to the canvas. This same striped paper formed the background on a narrow tile which housed the Idea-ology pen nib.

Two scraps of music paper from Michelle Hill's Vintage Ephemera Bundles were used to cover two more tiles. I was able to center the lyric "What a life" onto the one tile which continues with the message of the canvas. These papers as well as the Authentique one were edged in Black Soot Distress ink to better connect them to the rest of the project.

Scraps of black cardstock embossed with TH Riveted Metal Texture Fades embossing folder were rubbed with various colours of Inka Gold to highlight or accentuate the embossed design. These were then adhered to two tiles and trimmed to fit.

I love how this turned out and am already planning more canvases in different sizes. I think a big one would be super fun to do and have several more of the same size started in my head. I'd love to see what you do with Linda's fabulous idea. Thanks for the inspiration, Linda.

Bonnie

Authentique - Anchored - 12x12 paper - Sailing	Dina Wakley - Black Gesso - 2 oz.	Wendy Vecchi - Studio 490 - Embossing Paste - Metallic Gold	Tim Holtz - Idea-ology -Decorative Pen Nibs
Idea-ology - Word Bands	Vintage Paper Ephemera Bundles	BEACON: 3-In-1 Advanced Craft Glue	Faber Castell - Big Brush Pen - Black
Ranger Super Fine Embossing Powder - Black	Ranger Super Fine Embossing Powder - Gold	VersaMark Stamp Pad	Tim Holtz Alterations - Texture Fades Embossing Folders (2PK) - Diamond Plate & Riveted Metal
Chipboard - 8.5" x 11"	Inkssesentials - Glossy Accents 2 oz.	The Crafter′s Workshop - 6x6 stencil - Random Stars	Distress Ink Pad - Black Soot

eKit - Kit of the month layouts

Howdy, Mary-Ann here with you today to share another layout or two, that I created using this months eKit - Kit of the Month.  I am super excited to say that one of the layouts also fits within the stenciling challenge - May ePlay Challenge sponsored by Erin!  Nothing like killing two birds with one stone:o)

Here is a reminder on what this months kit club looks like.  Remember folks, you don't have to be local to participate, we will mail it straight to you!

Lets get started with my first layout.  

It all started with a MME graph that I had on hand.  I wanted to replicate the circle graph idea but it was a tad too small.  I threw it in my copier and enlarged it a bit.

I cut the pie pieces and numbered them.

Attached them with temporary adhesive to the patterned paper included in the kit.  Also included in the kit was this Heidi Swapp arrow die cut that works perfectly as one of my graph pieces.  Setting this aside, I started on my cardstock base.

This is my first time ever using this Gel Medium and I am going to tell you right now, it will NOT  be my last.  I love how this dries and gives everything a clear texture.  For those of you "dirty" girls out there, I know this all seems elementary, but I do LOVE it and I am excited!

Once the AMAZING gel was dry, I used the negative to the graph to lightly draw where I wanted my circle to be so I wasn't wasting my time on places that would not show.  

Then I started adding some ink stenciling.

Here you can see the different layers of stenciling done with, Gel Medium, white paint and black ink.  I also created droplets with Dylusions and Tim Holtz Brushed Pewter paint.  I colored all of the Heidi Swapp die cuts with Dylusions to soften the white and to tie in my black and gray color scheme.

This is my completed layout.  In addition to the Kit Club product, I added my own labels and used my own inks.  Other than that, it is all included!

For my next layout, I used mostly the blacks and grays that were left in my monthly kit. 

The only additional items on this layout were the flair, tag, twine, stapler and inks.  I did color all of the Heidi Swapp dies with a gray Dylusions ink.  

Head over to the Classroom section and sign up for the club today.  

Products available in the eP store:

Kit of the Month Club with Mary Ann Maldonado - LOCAL	Kit of the Month Club with Mary Ann Maldonado - NON-LOCAL	Scotch Foam Mounting Tape	Dylusions Ink Spray - Slate Grey	Dylusions Ink Spray In White Linen
Dylusions Ink Spray - After Midnight	Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Snow Cap	October Afternoon Daily Flash Phrase Roller Stamp - Everyday Phrases	Memento - London Fog	Ranger Felt Applicator Tool
Glue Dots� Pop Up Clear 1/2" 72 pc Sheet	Dyan Reaveley′s Dylusions Ink Spray - Slate Grey	Tim Holtz Collection Stencils in Harlequin