First of all, I took a blank 12x12 canvas and glued a tissue paper tree with many layers on the right side. I actually got this idea from another artist, but I ended up not really having it visible in the final product.
My next step was to post a photo of myself right smack dab in the middle. I chose a color photo that I was not too in love with. My thought process was that the photo would take a back seat to the "stuff" I was adding.
The next step was to add the "stuff". I used various objects that I have collected, flowers, magnets, game pieces, foam things, beads, rope, charms, and baubles. I had to use many different types of glue to adhere to the objects....E6000, hot glue, craft glue, and modge podge. After all that dried and stuck around I "painted" everything but my photo with gesso. This was a long process. I wanted to get this thing ready for many layers of paint.
I covered my photo with a paper towel. Now starts the fun...I used many of my Michelle's Musings misting sprays as well as the commercial sprays. I layered and layered these paints and in spots, I used acrylic paints. I just really wanted to add colors. When I got it like I wanted I removed the paper towel. I added gesso horizontal lines to give movement.
viola!!! It's all finished!
This summer was the summer of weddings and I made some canvases for the brides/grooms. I usually charge $25-$35 per piece because of the extensiveness of the project. I spent many hours on each one of these, more than usual just because they were all special people to me. Each canvas features many layers and a little bit of drying time. Each canvas starts with stamping the canvas. Some stamps will be done with archival ink, some embossing ink and some paint. After those dry or after I have finished embossing them....then I start with the ink layers. I will ink the whole canvas with Distress inks and then throw water on the canvas. Once that dries I will do it again only instead of throwing water on I will spritz it. Water will pool up and I will stand the canvas up and let the inks run together. I will use some of my misting sprays and let that ink run too. I will then add stickles or crackle paint or both. Once that dries I embellish.
I really liked this one because the bride had a FANTASTIC invitation! I HAD to cut it up and use it in the canvas. It was a black and white invite with blue accents and totally gorgeous. I used her envelope as just a background paper. On top of that I used a chipboard circle and covered with crepe paper and a white string. I stamped a lovely couple with stazon and then I painted them with watercolor and sprinkled some salt on them for texture. I used a portion of the wedding invitation behind a Tim Holtz fragment, for the tag, for a background behind the couple and for the card I made to give the couple. I added many layers of STUFF, which is kind of my thing. 
The Blue one: I used the whole invitation on this one. A large flower folded in half, some giant letters and I strung beads onto a wire. Since the bucket of beads are all colors I had to pick out the blue and white ones. FOREVER!!! 
The last one was for my cousin. I spent even more time on this one rolling flowers myself and stringing green beads. Brittany is sort of an old soul, so I made hers to reflect old Hollywood. I tried to use items that you would have found then. Tulle, movie posters, the couple, the gears, the beads, the design of the hearts and arrows, and the tag. While they all make me happy, this one too reflects my style so it's my favorite. Sort of like Gene Kelly would have it hanging in his house. 
