Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #27: Under the Sea + Mixed Media Tutorial

**PICTURE HEAVY**

HELLO FRIENDS!

So there's a great challenge going on over at Crafty Gals Corner! We have a challenge that begins every  WEDNESDAY! More often then not there are MULTIPLE SPONSORS PER WEEK! So there's plenty of chances to win! 

This week's challenge at Crafty Gals Corner is Under the Sea!

Sweet Pea Stamps

Prize: $20 Gift Certificate 

So - If you've been following me for a while you probably know that I have a serious obsession with the sea, mermaids, and nautical things. I chose to use this stunning image by Ching Chou Kuik called Deep Sea Siren. I really wanted to do something special with this image - so I decided to do a mixed media canvas. 

This was a LOT of fun but still kinda nerve wrecking because I'm VERY new to mixed media and still experimenting with things. I do, however, ABSOLUTELY LOVE HOW THIS CAME OUT! I hope you do too. I have a little picture tutorial of how this came to be as well. First though, I will show you the final result!

So how in the world did a blank canvas get to this point? Let me show you - It's extremely rare that I take pictures of my progressive journey through mixed media. I hope it inspires you to try it if you haven't yet!

Here are some of the supplies that I used - Gesso, Modeling Paste, Modge Podge, Paint Brushes, Acrylic Paints, STAMPlorations Stencils, Water Spray Bottle, Frame, Image by Ching Chou Kuik, 8x10 Canvas 

I also used - Inkdinkado Chalks, Sea Shells, Netting from the Sea Shells, Silver Glass Glitter, Frantage Powder, Pearls, Wild Orchid Crafts Flowers, Wild Orchid Crafts Pearls, Texture Brush

Colored Image - Deep Sea Siren by Ching Chou Kuik

Boy that Octopus was very interesting to color and I struggled for a while trying to figure out how exactly to do it. If anyone is interested I used the following Copic Markers:

Darkest to Lightest

E18, E19, YR18, YR16, Y38

I started out by coating the canvas in Gesso and the setting the image in the middle. I then lightly brushed over the edges of the images with the Gesso and let the whole thing dry. My next step was to coat the canvas in modeling paste. Yes- Modeling Paste is a little thick for this but it worked well for this project - not so much for stenciling though. I really need to try and find some texture paste or something that spreads a little easier. I then used the textured brush and dabbed it all over the canvas to create that effect.

I put the STAMPlorations stencil in the corner and brushed more modeling paste over it. I let it set for a few minuets and then used Turquoise acrylic paint and swirled it over the modeling paste and then removed the stencil and viola! 

I then took the same turquoise paint and mixed it with a little bit of Bahama blue and white so that it would lighten it up a bit. I used that mixture to paint the remainder of the canvas and very carefully painted it in between the dark turquoise "bubbles". It looked a little funny so I used some similar colored chalk and chalked all the way up to the edge of the image. 

I can't believe I've never seen or heard of Fran-tage powder until recently!! I don't know what rock I was under but this stuff is AWESOME. Well while googling this Frant-age powder I also found Silver Glass Glitter and got some of that as well. The Glass Glitter does NOT melt like the embossing powder, but if you combine them the glass glitter with the embossing powder it kinda sticks down. I did use Modge Podge as a base layer though.

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A LONG time ago I bought decorative shells from Michaels and they came in this white netted bag. Well for whatever reason, at the time, I kept the netted bag and finally found the PERFECT use for it. I cut in half and tied a knot in it and used it on the bottom right corner. 

In conjunction with the netting I used Wild Orchid Crafts flowers and pearls to create this flower border.

Up close picture of the Glass Glitter and Fran-tage Powder

I picked up this little frame on clearance at Michaels at one point and it came in hand for this project. I glued some tiny little shells on it.

I used some of the bigger shells in the corner and used lots of texture paste to build up around it so I could stick the little frame there. 

Then final result is -

I really enjoyed creating this project and I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and a sneaky peek into my journey with this project. 

Thanks for stopping by today! Go ahead and head on over to Crafty Gals Corner, and join in on our challenge! You have until Tuesday at 12:00pm to enter!

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:

Crafting by Design - Recycle/Reuse (The netting was a packaging that held the shells I bought) - 7/13

Fab N Funky Challenges - Inspired by a Song ( Under the Sea - Little Mermaid) - 7/21

Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes - 7/13

Penny's Challenges - Anything Goes - 7/13

Clear it Out Challenges - Anything Goes - 7/12

Ike's World Challenge - Fantasy - 7/12

Paper Take Weekly - Anything Goes - 7/12

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes - 7/13

Tip Top Tuesday - Summer Fun - 7/19

Anything But a Card - Anything Goes #49- 7/25

Come and Get it Challenges - Anything Goes with Flowers - 7/11

Crafting When We Can - Summer Fun - 7/17

Glitter N Sparkles - Anything Goes - 7/10

Sparkling Black Rose - Anything Goes with Non Cards - 

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes - 7/17

That Crafty Place - Anything Goes with Mixed Media - 7/18

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes - 7/12

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes - 7/12

Get Creative Challenges - Must Use Flowers - 7/12

Marker Pop - Anything Goes - 7/11

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes - 3.5 weeks

Oh La La Creations - All that Glitters - 7/18

Scrapbook Stamp Society - Anything Goes - 7/18

Sparkle and Sprinkle - Anything Goes with Embossing Powder - 7/25

Sparkle & Shine - Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge Blog - 7/31