Spread Your Wings Academy vol.1

Hi everyone,

With a big excitement we wish to welcome you in our new monthly project 'Spread Your Wings Academy vol.1'

 
Sounds mysterious?
Myself and my Creative Team we would love to invite you to our mixed media world.
In the months to come we hope to show you some great ideas and techniques, our favorite tips and tricks. From small to big, from basic to advance - we would like to encourage everyone to try and experiment.
Don't be afraid, don't be shy! We are here to encourage you, we are here to help.
Fasten your seat belts and join our creative journey.

Today our amazing team will share with you their own favorite backgrounds.
Grab some tea and coffee as you are about to experience explosion of creativity.

This is just a simple tag sitting on my work table. Does intimidate you? 

No, it's just a piece of paper, right? So why don't we try playing by making just a background today as a starting point for making a tag. 
If you don't like how it turns out, toss it. It's just a piece of paper! Seriously. 
Then start again with another tag aka piece of paper. Try it a bit differently this time. 
Not everything has to be a masterpiece. Play, practice, have some fun. Just try taking a few minutes to tap into your creativity without expecting a whole project. No pressure. 
By using colourful inks you can achieve amazing backgrounds.

Se, here we go !

Another great background is created with a stencil, some Modeling Paste, and Mica Powder to tint the paste. I mix it up on my craft sheet – a glob of paste and a dip of my palette knife into the Blue Mica Powder to pick up some color.

 

These are just a couple of ways to get you started in your creative process to begin to Spread Your Wings. Just jump in and take a few minutes to play. You can always come back later and add some metal elements, or a family member’s picture, a stamped image, etc. Give it a go, and let me hear about what you’ve done!

Your Friend in ART,

Linda

My biggest revelation in scrapbooking was when I realized one thing – it’s only paper. If I happen to ruin a 12x12” sheet while playing, so what? The memory I want to preserve is in my head, it doesn’t get thrown away.

 

Don’t hold back – play, try, experiment and occasionally fail as well, it’s all part of the process!

Here’s a simple and easy background tutorial to get you started. Just three steps and one of a kind background is done! 

1. First choose your color scheme and mist a few colors to your background paper. Let air-dry or use a heat tool to dry.
2. Next take a stencil and a pencil. Trace the pattern to your page a few times and mix some doodled circles in as well. You can also add bigger hand drawn pieces if you want.
3. Finnish your background with stamping. Use one or a few stamps and mix different patterns.
   
   
   

Another word of advice, too. When you add something to your piece and think that now you’ve ruined it, give it another change. Don’t give up on it right away but add another layer and see what happens. There’s numerous times I’ve thought that a project is beyond any repair or will never be anything but I’ve been keeping pushing and working on it and usually that piece ends up being a personal favorite. So be a bit thick headed and see where it takes you.

Happy creating,
Riikka

Let's face it, a blank canvas is scary, it is simply staring at you and saying 'C'mon, do something with me, paint me, decorate me!!!'. But, what do you do? where do you start? I have a guilty secret to share, when I am stuck I usually start my projects the exact same way, each and every single time. Following these simple steps has produced exactly the same background in all sample projects you will see below.

1 - Paper Strips, as I am always adding color later it doesn't matter what paper I use here. More often it is scraps that I find on my desk.

2 - A fabulous and cheap way to add texture to your project

3 - Also a fabulous way to add cheap and interesting texture

4 - Either modeling or texture paste through a stencil will add the finishing touch to your background.

To finish off your background you can apply a light coat of gesso and then add colour (paints, spray mists, gelatos, the options are endless!).

Look closely at the below projects you will see the common theme followed through in the backgrounds.

Enjoy the journey,
Rebecca

Hi there :) 
I love journals. I love creating textured backgrounds. Today's make is definitely my starting point of many of my journal spreads. It is easy, fast and simple.

Always gesso the page, then add some texture - stencil + modeling paste.

After your base is dry add some colour... one after another one, play and have fun !

Here is my background and sneak peak of finished page. I hope I encoured you to create some journal background. Believe me it is easier than you think.

Hugs, Marta x

We hope that you will grab your tools right away and begin exploring mixed media by starting to create your background. We will be sharing tips and advice every month in our Academy. You can also join our mixed media group on Facebook - Finnabair & Friends Open Studio. You will meet there all kinds of mixed media artists, fellow crafters and my Creative Team. Join us today for more inspirations - link to the group click here :)

Happy creating.