More Than You See

Hello, Sweet Friends!  Today, I'm sharing this easy peasey reverse canvas with a tutorial!!  It features the stamp sets from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps, Made New and Scribble Flowers.  By the way, when you shop from this post, you are using my affiliate links.  I appreciate your support!

You will need:
To start, turn your canvas over so you are working on the back side.  The canvas is typically stapled to the wooden frame.  The burlap strips will cover the staples and create a nice rustic surface to work on.  Naturally, you could use a variety of mediums to cover, including pattern papers.  In fact, I found a paper pad at my local Hobby Lobby that is all burlap paper!  Burlap on one side, smooth paper on the other---perfect for this project!!  Cut four burlap strips and apply with a generous amount of mod podge.

So, I know this girl.  I've actually known her since choir in high school, multiple decades ago.  In high school, I believed her to be quiet and sweet; studious and shy.  She, my friends, is a warrior!!!  Over the years, I've gotten to know the true her.  She is a mother, an overcomer, a dear friend, a comedian, a sister and a Sister; deeply passionate, compassionate, brilliant, interesting and loyal. She gives of herself without any selfish concern. She is my confidant. My cheerleader.  My sounding board and the one who continually reminds me in word and deed of God’s goodness.

She is yet one more continued discovered blessing in this trial before me.  God continues to use the people He has oh, so carefully, placed in my life for a time such as this, to show me His truth and care.  I'm so grateful.  I like to use my art to express that gratitude so, I made this 3x3 mixed media canvas for that girl.  I hope she likes it.

I'm just a week beyond my chemotherapy treatment #3.  I'm half way done with the chemo part of this little dance.  This was a rough one.  I expect them to be worse before better.  But.  They. Will. End.  I'm so looking forward to Christmas this year.   For so many reasons.  I love to celebrate the birth of that little baby so long ago who came to personify love.  It's my favorite of holidays of all time.  I love everything about it.  My Savior, making cookies, decorating my house, singing, family....yum, all of it!  This year, the blessings will be intensified as I will be done with chemo by then--my last one is scheduled for December 6th.  I can see it already!  Please continue to pray for strength and preservation of my good cells in the days that come.

About my canvas gift, I started with  a 3x3 canvas--you can get these at just about any art and craft store.  I layered pages from Proverbs using modge podge and then later applied ink using PITT markers to discolor and give that aged look.  The canvas itself is decorated with images from Sweet N Sassy Stamps, Teacup Roses and Thoughtful Words.  It says exactly what's in my heart, I'm so blessed by this friendship.  {hugz to you know who you are}

I continue to pray for all of you and thank you for reading my blog.  It's a joy to me to share my art and my thoughts.  It's an even bigger joy to know that you are praying on my behalf and I thank you for that.  If I could make all of you some art of gratitude, I totally would--be blessed,

Jane

Happy Tuesday, Friends!!  Today, I have a mixed media canvas to share.  It was so much fun to make--and, pretty simple, too!

I started with a 3 x 3 canvas, a stencil and some embossing paste.  While still wet, I sprayed the embossing paste with a variety of Dylusion sprays,  I let that dry completely (several days).  Next, I added several of the images found in the Sweet N Sassy Stamps Refresh My Soul stamp set.  I stamped on a heavy weight cardstock and heat embossed each image.  Rather than coloring the images (the background was already super colorful), I added just a bit of glitter glue to the containers and cacti blooms.


A few sequins and "Bloom" (from the same set) finish things off.  The perfect give for a plant loving friend of mine!!

TTFN--Be Awesome!  Jane

I got crafty with:

Shine On, Sweet Friends!   Happy Sunday!  It's the start of a new week.  Time to let go of what didn't go well last week and look forward to new opportunities!  I'm sharing my Shine On Girl Canvas.  It's a 6 x 6 mixed media canvas that features several goodies from Sweet N Sassy Stamps. You can do it too!!

I started this canvas with a base layer of hymns and prayer--Timeless Hymns makes it easy to sing praises over my work!  After adding some color, I added the focal image from the Garden of Grace Printable Bundle--such a fantastic idea--this is such a versatile and craft kit!!  The digital images can be sized for any project and worked perfectly for this larger canvas.

Next, I added some gold texture paste with a stencil and paper pieced a designer paper shirt for the Shine On Girl.   The Shine On sentiment is from the brand new-swoon worthy Be Unique stamp set.  Finally, some paper flowers and sequins to add some bling.  I love her in real life......she's so sparkly!

Shine on--make it a great week! Jane

I got crafty with:

I'm so excited about the new release from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps!  The brand new Timeless Hymns set is contagious--I cannot look at this set with out finding a song in my heart.  I love it!  Worship is my very favorite and this set is such a great tribute to some of my most favorite hymns.  Singing makes me want to get arty so, I made this sweet little 3 x 3 canvas to feature some of my newest goodies!

I combined a sentiment from the Timeless Hymns set with the beautiful daffodil found in the Spring Blossoms set to create my mixed media canvas.  It makes me happy and hopeful just looking at it despite the blanket of deep snow that still covers my outside.  Little by little we are seeing some melt....I can barely wait to see the first flowers poking through....it'll happen soon!


To make the canvas, I first applied a layer of gesso and then added the stamped image.  To color the back ground, I used a Faber-Castell PITT pen and then moved the color around with my fingers.  I love how this created a shadowy effect.  I added color to the flower in much the same way.  To add some extra interest, I used the Stamp of the Month from Sweet 'N Sassy, Texture Tiles 1.  It's the featured free with purchase set for March:

You'll get this set--which is so versatile--FREE with your purchase of $75 or more!  This set is perfect for adding that last little something, the final touch!

Enjoy!  Jane

I shared this 6 x 6 canvas over on the Creative Worship blog for Sweet N Sassy Stamps last week and wanted to share it here as well. Mostly because I love it and all of you.  It's Monday and I have a day of vacation after spending some time this weekend with one of my favorite people.

That's him.....last year as a senior doing one of the things he loves most.  This year, off to college!  Gosh, I love him so much!!  College has felt like a bit of a storm in my life so far.  The letting go.  It's hard.  It's all about redefining.  And, adjusting to what they call "new normal."  The kicker is, there just is no such thing as a normal.  Am I right? 

In this walk, I'm learning that nothing stays the same.  Just as soon as I think I'm used to something, it all changes.  But, really, that is the storm.  Sometimes, the storm is a breezy rain with patches of lightening and maybe a little hail.  Sometimes, it feels like a full blown hurricane and it rages on and on....

Praise God that He both calms the storm and His children--all in His infinite wisdom!!  Where would I be without Him?

I created my canvas by started by layering bible pages in a random pattern using mod podge. I had picked up a tattered and well loved Gideon bible at Goodwill a bit ago.  I love the idea of praying over my art and found it to be a calming piece to the over all art project.  I colored several pages by applying distress inks directly to my non-stick sheet and then dipping the pages until I got the right look.  Once dry, I was able to stamp and trim images from Fantastic Flowers and Scribble Flowers.  the center sentiment, Calms His Child, is a favorite of mine as well.  A few of the other textures that can be seen are the gold background created using texture paste and a stencil and some sequins. I've been in love with sequins for quite some time now and added just a few for a little bit of bling.

I hope you enjoy!!  TTFN, Jane

Happy Tuesday, Sweet Friends! Today, I have some canvas art to share with you!  It seems like forever since I had both the time and gumption to do a canvas.  Now that I've dipped back in, though...the ideas just won't stop!

Recently, I've had the opportunity to move to a new position in my organization and it's afforded me the huge privilege of having my own office.  I wanted to create a space that would be warm and inviting; where the kids I work with would feel safe and comfortable.  I wanted it to reflect my personality and feel homey. So, what better way to accomplish all that than to decorate with some of my own art pieces?

I completely adore this worshiping girl from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps'  I Am Loved .  I like to think that this is how He sees me when I worship.  The image also reminds me of the days when my own kiddos would lift their arms and say "upie" and I would scoop them into my own arms--  This one image just touches so many pieces of me so, with her as my focal image, I created this 3 x 3 canvas.

I really wanted to use the sentiment from I Am Loved, "Holy Spirit, you are welcome here" but the sizing wasn't right.  As I applied layers of paint, stencil, gesso and modge podge, the answer became clear.  With faith, I have hope and because I have hope, I experience joy! I was able to add all of that to my canvas with just one versatile set, also from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps.  It's called  Choose Faith!

That's all for today....
Be Awesome, Jane


I got crafty with:

Happy Monday!! I just had to take a break from my Monday Florals feature with I Brake For Stamps.....I've already sat on this cute 3x3 canvas for a couple of weeks and I just can't not anymore!

Sweet Ms. Bo Bella sent me this amazing sheet by Alie Hoogenboezem de Vries Designs ......and I could barely cut all the images apart before I was compelled to ink them up.  I started by laying down a layer of acrylic paints in various colors.  Using a few of the shaped images, I added contrast to the colorful background with white paint.  The remainder was a bit of fussy cutting (which I love), copic coloring and modge podging--all my favorites!  For finishing touches, I added some bling/dimension with sequins, glitter glue wings and dimensional glaze for the character's eyeglasses. 

I love these sweet little girls! And, it's a great message in these sometimes challenging times in which we live.  You can pick up your own sheet over in the store!  Save with my coupon code SAVE10JANE and feel the love :) 

Go be awesome!  TTFN-Jane

Happy Technique Thursday, my friends!!  Better late than never, I always say!

I have some super Technique Junkies goodies to talk about/share today!  I've created this little mixed media canvas using a beautiful image from the Technique Junkie Palettini line.  Technique Junkies exclusively carries the Palettini line--there are several of these beautiful Vintage Collage images that would work perfectly for a project such as this!

I had purchased a package of these sweet little Back Stapled Deco Canvases a while ago.  They measure 4" x 4" and are great if you are creating a grouping or using for a stand alone piece.  For my canvas, I've chosen the Palettini Vintage Botanicals Collage image.  It was so much fun, I'm now a little obsessed with making a set and also using Vintage Bicycle Collage, Vintage Balloons Collage and Vintage Daisy Collage or Vintage Ship Collage!  Wouldn't that be a sweet wall collection?

I always use a combination of acrylic paint and gellatos to add color and shading on my canvas work.  I started with purple and blue paints to coat the canvas.  Once dry, I used similar colors of gellatos around the edges.  It's harder to tell in photography but in real life, the shading is visible.  My image was stamped on tissue paper and then mod podged on top.  It is important to let the layers dry completely.  When it was dry, I added some extra layer of color with my PITT markers and more shading with gellatos on the edges.

To finish things off, I added a dusting of glitter glue to several areas.  The butterfly is colored and glittered on the first layer with a second vellum butterfly over the top. I can't wait to make another one!

Enjoy and have an inky tomorrow!  Don't forget to be awesome!
TTFN, Jane

Welcome to I Brake For Stamps Monday!!  I had an emotional weekend and, in the middle of it all, this card emerged!

My beloved Packers fought a good fight......and, then, they stopped or so it would seem and, well, the rest is just history!  I still love them, though!

I started this project with some watercolor paper and Dylusions ink (I may be stuck in Dylusions land....).  I love creating Mixed Media canvases so, I thought I'd treat this card front like a canvas.

My girls are from the stamp sheet, Fashionistas, and I just find them to be all warrior like.  I added some extra stamping from the Diamonds Half Sheet.  I inked up the diamond backgrounder by rubbing/dabbing white acrylic paint on to the stamp surface.  It was thicker in some places and ended up providing some extra dimension and tonality.  Also, because the watercolor paper was saturated with ink (and still a bit wet) I found that the application of paint and, later mod podge, drew some of the ink's pigmentation into the paint and glue.  I like the effect it created and, even more, I like that it was complete happenstance :)

The warriors were stamped once (in archival black ink) directly to the watercolor paper and then again, on an old book page.  After trimming the images, I applied them to the card front using mod podge.

Be happy.
Be Bright.
BE YOU!

It's a whole new week---don't forget to be awesome!
TTFN, Jane

I love....no, I ADORE, this gorgeous Butterfly girl image from Prima.  I found my very own at Simon Says Stamp--just knew it had to be mine the minute my eyes lay upon it.

Creating the main image for this canvas took a good deal of time.  It was super putzy and full of fussy cutting--it was marvelous therapy!  I started with a book page and gesso, a few pieces of cardstock, designer papers and my best little scissors.  It's multi-layered and pieced together with much love and lots of dimension.

The canvas started as a bit of an experiment in repurposing a kiddie attempt at canvas making and the subsequent abandonment of said canvas. (If you are wondering, the canvas measures 8" x 10")  What's a frugal crafty mom to do?  I started with paint and then more book pages.  Added more paint, a stencil and gesso.  To finish, I added some wonderful images from Unity (and, the sentiment) and Stamper's Anonymous.  More dimension and texture from some groovy cork sticker thingys from Stampin' Up! and a bobble or two with some shine. 

It all makes a great case for hoarding....I mean saving random crafty stuff :)

Thanks for looking!

TTFN, Jane



Not the greatest picture, but this is my latest canvas. It's the largest canvas I've done so far, 12 x 12. All of the stamped images are from Unity Stamp Co. They are: She Pauses, Wayward Blooms, and my favorite sentiment, of course, I am more.....pssst, it's on sale!


I added a few details that may be harder to see.....the yellow circles are tinted stencil paste which adds a nice texture---also, to highlight some of the patterened paper below, I added some rhinestones in strategic places. A burlap tag and some dimensional flowers finishes the whole thing off. I am pleased with the way it turned out. These are so much fun, I'm already planning my next one. Sooner or later I will run out of people to give them to.....then, what will I do? TTFN, Jane

I thought it only fitting to start my new blog---one that helps me to explore my creativity in a new way--with my very first mixed media canvas! I discovered my love for canvas art quite by accident. Always a careful student of new trends and arty stuff, I tucked ideas away and often lacked the confidence needed to just imerse. As things so often go, I was sent someone who began to coach me through a new view of myself, my abilities, my strenghts and my weaknesses. As my ideas began to change, I noticed myself welcoming risk more than fearing it so, I took the plunge! I tried something new. To my great pleasure, a whole new world of creative expression and satisfaction has revealed itself. The largest number of stamped images, on this canvas, are from Unity Stamps. I super {heart} them! So kind, so inspiring, so lovely! My blog name is actually from a Unity sentiment, "I am more than what you see", which sums up the heart of my heart right now. Thanks for stopping by! Jane