#MixedMedia Canvas: "Life is BetTer aT the BeACh"

... it is, so they say! and i live on the coast [pretty much] so, yeah!

ok, so here it is, my second Mixed Media canvas, and i so LOVED doing this one. my bestie gave me the canvas, as she'd had it in her downstairs loo, but got a new framed print to go in there instead, so gave the old one to me, i KNEW i wanted to use it for a mixed media piece, so i set about creating my latest masterpiece. WARNING: this post will be VERY photo-heavy, so be warned, and stay with me! 

from start to finish:

like i said, i started with an existing canvas of some rocks/pebbles in the shape of a heart. i then added some letter stickers, glass pebbles and a metal anchor charm [i ran out of the letters i needed and had to get more, d'oh]

then, i added a few layers of gesso to the whole of the inside of the heart design on the canvas

then, the fun part, i used acrylics and watercolours to create washes of paint/colour on my canvas... 

 

more blue colour washes... 

 

 

 i then wanted to try a 'salt' watercolour technique id seen online. i like it, it gives a bit of a different effect and texture.

i then wanted to add some gesso 'bubbles' and went a bit mad with them, but, i like the finished look, BUBBLES!

 

 

 

then, i added some more gesso to the glass pebbles, as some of the gesso/paint layers had come off, meaning you could see the glass underneath, i also added some gesso to two corners of the canvas. i also added a bit more of the blue washes to make another layer 'over' some of the gesso 'bubbles'.

HERE is the final canvas, with LOADS of added beads, gems, buttons, pearls and SHELLS, real little shells, so pretty! 

 

 

 

 

 

and, some photos with a FLASH! :) 

 

well, i hope you can see the amount of time and effort thats gone into my latest canvas, and above all, the LOVE thats gone into it. i have really LOVED making this one!

the canvas is for sale, just comment here, or send me a message on twitter or facebook [links below]

"ich liebe das BeACh"

https://twitter.com/cLare_beaR_

www.facebook.com/butterfLypiex

♥

mixed media madness!

hello!

for AGES now, ive been OBSESSED with the Youtube videos of Gabrielle Pollacco, who makes AMAZING mixed media creations.

if youre not familiar with mixed media, its basically the process of making art[usually canvases, frames and stuff] which have been created using unconventional pieces like metal bottlecaps, fabric flowers, plastic charms etc, and covered with a medium called Gesso, which is ideal for coating metals and plastics, and it leaves a great base for colour [paints, sprays] to be applied! i LOVE IT.

here are some of the sprays i made, using some food colouring with acrylic paints mixed in. i also used a fabric spray i had...

 

i have an art degree, and did art at school and college, so have done a lot of mixed media pieces, but none using gesso, and not in the same way as this piece.

so, armed with some techniques and ideas id seen on Gabrielle's Youtube channel, i set about attempting to create my own mixed media piece.

so, here are some progress shots of some of the stages involved in making my frame, eek!

AAAAAND, here is the finished frame, with added buttons, gems and beads! I LOVE IT and i LOVE the colour combinations!

i really enjoyed creating my mixed media frame, and have just started a mixed media canvas, its SUCH FUN!

if youd like to give it a go, DO IT, and id also recommend having a peek at Gabrielle Pollacco's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/GabriellePollacco

"ich liebe das mixed media kunsten"

♥

REVIEW: "megexpressions" Glasses/Sunglasses Pouch.

hello, i hope youre all well.

today im doing a review of a beautifully handmade glasses/sunglasses pouch from 'megexpressions'

Meghan is so lovely, we've followed each other on twitter for ages, and she kindly asked me if id like to review one of her items, in particular the glasses pouches, as im a spectacle wearer, i said yes!

all of her products are made using re-cycled fabrics, which is nice!

she asked me to pick a pouch, but as i liked all of the designs in her shop, i said she could surprise me, and she did!

the package came addressed to Clare Bear, LOLS :)

heres the pouch:

the pouch is SO WELL MADE! srsly, the finish is excellent and i love the colours, fabrics and the cute buttons on this pouch!

heres some pics of the back of the pouch and the inside and stuff:

denim, classic. 

 a sweet stamped logo inside the pouch.

and as you can see, the pouch is lined with a pretty vintage floral fabric, sweet!

aaand... here are my glasses IN THE POUCH. i know, right!?

i LOVE my glasses pouch, and would highly recommend megexpressions' products, which as well as glasses pouches include purses, card wallets and bags!

thank you so much for offering to send me this pouch, Meghan, i love it!

check out megexpressions for yourself, by having a peek at her SHOP, here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/megexpressions

and by following her on twitter: https://twitter.com/MegExpressions

and on facey b: https://www.facebook.com/megexpressions

"ich liebe das fabrik"

♥

REVIEW: Jubly-Umph Jewellery and Accessories

g'day!;)

heres a blog post about the amazing jewellery from Jubly-Umph, "home of rockabilly, tattoo and pin up jewellery", who are based in Australia. They also sell bags, wallets and phone cases, as well as art prints and cushion covers. I first saw them on Facebook, and have always loved their kitsch designs, so when i saw a status asking for bloggers to review some of their latest jewellery and accessory designs, i rushed to email them and was stunned when they said they would send me some things to review on the blog, as i dont have that many followers/readers!

they must have known im obsessed with jewellery, so im super happy to be reviewing these items, soo... heres what they sent for me to review:

the AWESOME "Sew Lovely" sewing machine brooch, which i picked out of the bag first, is made of stainless steel and coated with resin and is really good quality! you can but it here: http://www.jubly-umph.com/products/sewing-machine-brooch ill be putting it on my stripey blue blazer soon!

 im SO HAPPY with these sweet little earrings, as i LOVE DUCKS, rubber ducks are especially cute and i CANT WAIT TO WEAR THESE little beauts, which are also great quality and made of stainless steel and coated with resin! you can buy em, here: http://www.jubly-umph.com/products/duck-studs 

 this postcard was sent with my goodies, and its going in a little frame and on my wall/shelf really soon, its SO CUTE!

this 'sugar skull' inspired sticker is also AMAZING and if youve seen any of my other blog posts about the stickers ive aquired, you'll know im a sticker fan, and this one is already stuck onto my sketchbook!

 this necklace is one of my faves from what i was sent, as i always like things with ladies wearing specs on, as they look a bit like me! HAHA! srsly though, look how lovely she is, pearls, specs and a flamingo on her head, amazing! shes called 'Phoebe the Flamingo Lady', shes also made of stainless steel and resin, and u can buy her here: http://www.jubly-umph.com/collections/pendants/products/phoebe-the-flamingo-lady-pendant 

 here i am, wearing the necklace with my new flamingo vest, how cool!? its really lightweight and is a great length, so i can wear it with LOTS of different things! 

im SO HAPPY with what i was sent, and i will definitely recommend Jubly-Umph to everyone i know! :)

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME REVIEW YOUR AMAZING GOODIES, ♥ U GUYS!

if youd like to have a look at their goodies, check out the website, here: http://www.jubly-umph.com/ their facebook page, here: https://www.facebook.com/jublyumphart and tweet 'em, here: https://twitter.com/jublyumph 

"ich liebe das Jubly-Umph"

♥