How have I started Mixed-Media? - Video by Finnabair

Hi my dear creative Friends!
I'm back from the Creative World in Frankfurt and slowly going back to my usual tasks, but I have to tell you - it is not possible to compare the atmosphere of shows like that to anything else! The energy, the meetings and all the creative atmosphere of the event is something which is going to give me the power to go for a long time. If you would like to see photos from the event you can check my IG account here - it was delicious, believe me!

In the meantime, I want to share something quite special with you.
During my classes, I'm quite often asked questions about my first steps and creativity and mixed-media. My creative journey and inspirations. I love this kind of interaction with my students when I can share my personal story and insight hoping to give them encouragement and support. But... why not talking to a bit wider audience?

So, if you ever wondered how I started my adventure with crafting and mixed-media... here it is!
All the information: when it all happened, what were my reasons and inspirations, and 1 or 2 projects from the first 2 years of my scrapbooking/mixed-media career to spice it up a bit.

I hope you enjoyed watching it - don't forget to share with your friends!
Sending love and creative energy your way

Map of Dreams - Collage or Journal? - by Finnabair

Hi there my Creative Souls!
New Year.
New beginning.
Also - a new mood board created for our Art Daily Cafe project.
Last week I was showing you my first official make of 2020 - it was all happening on Art Daily Cafe Blog, here, and I was explaining how maps are an important element of my life is no many ways, both literal and metaphorical. 

I don't want to repeat all this information here, especially I'm talking about my inspiration during the video I added below - but let me tell you: this project is very personal and meaningful to me and I'm so happy I pushed myself towards creating it.
There are so many nuances in it and pieces I've added into this collage which are showing my personality, my story and my dreams. You can say this spread speaks my language and on so many levels - in fact it is full of things you can call my "creative vocabulary".

I'm blessed I could take the time and creating something for "myself". This is the essence of "Art Daily" project to me and I'm so happy I have this little oasis of creativity in my life, without any pressure to show the techniques, new products or latest designs. These are so exciting - by all means, I love doing it - but creating for the sake of creating is a totally different animal. I'm sure you get it.

So here it is - my little gift to you this month - my step-by-step video, explaining the process the best way I could. I was trying to add a little of the background info to it, so there is a lot of talking, but if you don't like this kind of videos, just switch the sound off!

Here is the list of the supplies I've used - I hope it is useful! All of them are liked 

to Mixed Media Place Store!

Thank you so much for watching - stay tuned for more exciting things happening this week... the new release reveal is coming soon!

Finn's Video Journals - new YT videos for you!

Hi my lovely creative people!
There is a time when you feel you'd like to do something different, look for the new formula or just try some fresh approach. It happens for me from time to time as well and after months of thinking I've finally got brave enough to start my new kind of videos on YouTube - Video Journals.
What is the plan and the formula?
There is none, to be honest! I've decided to go with the flow and simply focus on the things I'm working on or thinking at that moment, show you a bit more of my life, share some thoughts and experience. It's very likely every episode will be different - depending on the topic and I will be experimenting with different ways of building the video of course... I will try to make it fun for both sides - so you can expect vlogs, over the shoulder shots, chats, inspirational speeches, unboxing of the new product... Well, just expect a bit of everything.
It doesn't mean I won't post tutorials or FB Live anymore! It's just my way to get closer to you and be able to share a bit more of my thoughts and adventures and as my friends - and many of you pointed to me - we are moving away from the blogs and getting on more visual social media more and more... I'm not sure if I like it, but I guess it is time to adapt!

Today I've got Video Journal #2 ready for you! 

If you'd like to know more about images, photos and pictures I keep using in my projects and designs or simply listen to me talking and showing some of the projects - grab your much and have a seat.

Please remember you can always subscribe to my YT channel to be up to date with everything!

We also have Creative Team YT channel as well - here. 

Make sure you won't miss a single tutorial from my fabulous Team!

Just in case if you missed my first Video Journal - you can find it here below - enjoy!

Wishing you all a wonderful, creative week!

Mechanica - Big Altered Gear - by Finnabair

Hi my Creative Friends!
In the last months I could finally explore more the techniques and possibilities of using my new Art Alchemy Liquid Acrylics together with a range of other products - Moulds, Tissue Paper and Mechanicals. It's always a great pleasure to see how your designs come to life and transform into something magical - not only on your own table but also in the hands of so many talented people all around the world!
One of the projects I've made - and also planned it to be a in-person class is Mechanica - 20 cm wide altered gear - with so many layers and elements on it!

As you can see I'ver used not only the gear but also, to add more depth and interest there is a bottom layer as well, making this project truly unique and dimensional. I love the extra space for texture I got this way - and I've used it as much as I could!

If you will take a closer look you will see not only Art Stones, texture effects I've made with art mediums and embellishments but also very popular supply like plain corrugated cardboard. I've also added a good range of embellishments - both metal and made using my Moulds to create the focal point and rich, dimensional composition.

My colour inspiration came from the colour palette of my Tissue Paper - Musica. Combination of greens and purples with a tiny hint of rust worked really well for this project and with some of the highlights it is really catching the eye!

It's one of my favourite projects I've made this year to be honest - and I hope you will like it too!
One more time my products proved to be the best selection for creating rich, textured mixed-media project - with a lot of depth and stunning colour. I had the best time creating it and I'm glad to say thanks to the right choices of gels, pastes and ingredients - it was far easier then it looks!

For your convenience here is a selection of products I've used for this project - all linked to Mixed Media Place Store:

Thank you so much for visiting the blog - I hope to see you here again soon!
Sending love

Inspired by Klimt (and Icing Paste!) - by Finnabair

Hi again my friends!
Have you seen our latest mood board for April at Art Daily Cafe Blog? If not, you should check it as it is absolutely gorgeous! I was waiting impatiently for this month to come as I was sure the project from the team and you, our online friends, will simply blow my mind...
Speaking about Art Daily - every Monday, following the topic of the month, we publish a new prompt for you. And I just have to show you how I got inspired by one of them!

"If you could have your portrait painted by any artist in history, who would you pick?"
I was thinking about this sentence for only a short moment - the answer was easy for me and I think it won't be too surprising, when I will show you my journal spread.

Klimt's love for patterns, bold designs and colour stole my heart right away.
His most popular paintings are known by almost everybody... but there are so many more of his works showing his amazing talent, sensitivity and an amazing eye for detail. If only I had a chance, I'd love to be his model without a blink of an eye... only to be able to look over his shoulder when he was creating!

When I was working on this project I had a quick look through the album with his paintings and as a result, I've put some of his signature elements together. I know how far I am from his masterpieces, but I wanted to try anyway!
The whole spread is one big experiment with metallic textures, glossy acrylic paints and bold patterns - and I have to admit it was great creative exercise. I've used a lot of art mediums to get the finish I liked - but my pages are really durable thanks to this process!
I've started with a good coat of Art Basics Soft Gloss Gel over the printed paper - I've picked 2 pages from an old book. I've added more paper layers and metallic skins a bit alter using 3D Gloss Gel - it is a bit thicker and it was easier to stick thicker elements with it.

Most of the dimensional patterns in this spread were done using a selection of stencils and 2 colours of Art Extravagance Icing Pastes - beautifully creamy, metallic gels which added the most beautiful effects to my pages. I've used Fire Ruby and Vintage Gold colours to create my palette. 

For final colouring, I had to use the product matching my super shiny finish of the project - and here my new Art Alchemy Liquid Acrylics were absolutely the best solution! I've added shades of brown, pink, red, purple and yellow and I fell in love with them once again!

There is a special technique bonus to this page - for creating some of the textures, especially the "dress" of the main character I've used pieces of Icing Paste Skins I'd prepared before. You can see them on the picture above - they are flexible, durable and very easy to make if you have plastic embossing folders and Icing Pastes of course! Just think about all the possibilities of using them not only on the canvases, covers and pages but also bottles, boxes and pots!
You can see the tutorial on making them in the short video below - I hope you will get inspired to play with this concept!

Here are some of the products I've used to work on my journal page 
- all liked to Mixed Media Place Store:


If you feel inspired by Art Daily Cafe mood board - don't forget to tag us #artdailycafe when posting on Instagram! This way we have a chance to see your beautiful art and maybe repost it as well!
Thank you so much for visiting me today - happy creating!