Sometimes you have to breathe deep, be brave and jump into trying new things. This post is about my very first Valentine’s Day mixed media project.
I am just going to say it—I LOVE ART! I have next to no formal art training (one drawing class in college), so I sometimes have to get really brave to express myself through art. Thank goodness for YouTube!
This is the year I’ve decided to begin messing with 2 new forms of art- watercolor painting (I painted the Bravely Bohemian logo!) and mixed media. I am already an avid rubber stamper, so Tim Holtz and Graphic 45 products, in particular, have definitely sparked my interest.
Now I am starting to play with gesso, modeling paste, and canvas, plus collage and painting techniques. It is making my boho spirit VERY happy!
Here are instructions on how to create the Victorian-themed Valentine’s Day mixed media pieces I created:
Supplies:
2 White Medium Canvases
Liquitex Clear Gesso and/or Modge Podge
Misc Scrapbook Papers
Victorian Themed Valentine’s Day Printouts
Liquitex Modeling Paste
Paint Brush
Modeling paste tools
Glass Stones
Glue
Red and White Acrylic Paint
Scrapbook Bling or Stick-On Rhinestones
Most of these supplies can be found at Michaels.com or at Amazon.com.
Directions:
1. Coat the canvases with clear Gesso. This allows paints and other mediums to adhere better to the canvas.
2. Cutout and arrange the Victorian themed images and scrapbook papers into a desired collage on each canvas. Use the clear Gesso or Modge Podge to collage your papers into place. Let dry.
3. Next, use the modeling paste and tools to create a 3-dimensional heart in the middle of each canvas. Use additional modeling paste to create a dimensional border on each canvas edge. (My examples have almost a cake icing look to them).
4. Carefully set the glass stones into the corners of the canvas while the modeling paste is still wet. You may need to put a touch of glue on the back of the glass stones to get them to stick.
5. After the canvases dry, you can apply the paints. I used red, white and pink acrylic paints mixed with Liquitex Clear Gesso. The more gesso you use, the more opacity the paint will have. (Clear gesso gives it a see-through look great for collage). I painted my canvases so that you can still see parts of the collage and scrapbook papers, then painted part of the modeling paste hearts to show off the dimension.
6. Lastly, add in the stick-on rhinestones. Of note, I had trouble getting some of the rhinestone swirl stickers to stay on the piece, so it might be best to use individual rhinestone stick-ons and arrange them into your own patterns.
I hope you are as inspired by creating Valentine’s Day mixed media as I am. For more Valentine’s Day project ideas, click here.
Happy boho crafting!
