Time-keeper by Zoey Scarpelli

For this project, I wanted to play with the contrast between something almost classical and something mechanical. The face became the main focal point, surrounded by wings, gears and smaller cast elements that gradually disappear into the layers underneath.

I built the composition quite densely, overlapping the different elements rather than keeping them separate. Some gears are almost completely hidden, but I actually like that because they still add dimension and make the whole composition feel connected.

The base is covered with the Decoupage Fibre Chestnut street and I worked with Liquid Acrylics Umber, Burnt Sienna, Tiger Orange, Ultramarine and Titanium White, allowing the colors to move across the different surfaces instead of treating every element separately. The metallic highlights with the Limited Edition Wax Set were added selectively, catching the raised details of the face, feathers and gears and making all that texture much more visible.

One of my favorite parts is the face itself. I didn't want it to look completely metallic, so I kept areas of softer and muted color underneath the warmer highlights. Up close you can really see all those imperfect layers, marks and changes in color!

The small heart adds a completely different shape and meaning right in the middle of all those industrial elements.

And finally, “be in the moment.” It felt like the right finishing touch for a piece built around time, movement and all those little mechanical details.

Check out the video, it shows the complete process from beginning to end.

Finnabair products used - all the images linked to the Mixed Media Place online store:

Mixed media retro-style tags by Kasia Salmanowicz

 Hello,

this project is designed for those who enjoy creating pieces rich in detail and texture, featuring subtle stories hidden between layers of paper. I created two HDF tags featuring the warm color palette of the "Butterfly Effect" paper collection, accented with steampunk elements from Finn’s ephemera sets.

The base consists of tags covered in paper in muted shades of beige, sepia, and brown. I then added further layers, small cards, labels, lace fragments, and twigs, giving the composition depth and a slightly distressed look. 

The focal points of both tags are retro-style die-cut images which you can find, of course, at the Mixed Media Place store. Butterflies, vintage numbers, clock faces, and text elements create an atmosphere of mystery and time travel. It is precisely these small details that make each piece unique and invite the viewer to linger and take a closer look.

You can see how I created this project on Finnabiar’s YouTube channel. I warmly invite you to watch.

Have a nice day,

Kasia Salmanowicz

Finnabair products used - all the images linked to the Mixed Media Place online store:

Valentine's Day Tag by Kasia Salmanowicz

Hello,

February is upon us, and with it, Valentine's Day, the holiday of love. It was the perfect time for me to incorporate a subtle touch of this occasion into the project. That's why the heart became the focal point of the work, around which I built the entire composition.

The project was created using mixed media techniques using a new product from Finnabair. I used a mix of various mold elements, which offer truly enormous possibilities for building texture and depth. I love multi-layered work that can be explored step by step, and these products are perfect for that.

For the coloring, I used Liquid Acrylic Paints in quite vibrant shades. Finally, I gently toned them down with white gesso to give the whole thing character. As usual, I also included some browns, as that's where I feel most comfortable and enjoy creating.

If you'd like to see exactly how this heart and the entire composition were created, check out the YouTube tutorial. I show you the entire process step by step. The description also includes links to the products used in the project, which you can find at the Mix Media Place store.

Hugs,

Kasia Salmanowicz 

Finnabair products I have used - all the images linked to Mixed Media Place or online store: