Mixing It Up with Relics & Artifacts Ambassador Darlene Madden

I think the greatest gift my mother passed on to me was the ability to see potential, potential in the broken, battered, everyday items, as she always found a way to work her magic and make them beautiful. I remember as a young girl watching her take apart an upholstered sofa that definitely was worn, weary and weak in its current state.   When I asked her what she was doing, she told me that she was going to re-cover it with new beautiful fabric! I said, “Do you know how to do that?” She replied, “No, but I will figure it out as I go.”  Millions of staples and upholstery tacks later, she had pattern pieces to work with in order to guide her along on her “new and improved” journey.   I admired her “chase fear to the curb” kind of attitude in all that she did in her life.  I try to live that way everyday.

Speaking of everyday, I decided to do a special project for this blog.  Taking a few everyday items from my local dollar store I combined them with some spectacular pieces from the Relics & Artifacts collection, a self-imposed challenge of sorts.

Materials Needed:
Relics & Artifacts Coquille
Metal substrate
Acrylic paint
Trims
Filigree trims
Small glass vial
Map portion
Assorted mini beads and sea glass
Ribbon and wire to wrap handle on substrate
Adhesive
Stencil
Texture paste
glitter
Spray inks, blue, green.

Directions:

Apply brown acrylic paint to Coquille shells.  

Wipe off immediately with a soft cloth, leaving a nice aged patina to start creating with.

Using a blue acrylic paint, paint the metal substrate and let dry. Choose a watery looking stencil and use texture paste and spray inks to add some color on to the metal substrate.  Let dry.  

Add trim to the outside of the substrate for more texture and place shells and filigrees in place. Using a bit of white glue, add a touch of glitter on the waves for reflection and interest. 

Glue shells on with a strong adhesive and then embellish each one with treasures inside the shells.  Wrap rope handle with wire and ribbons and add a few beads to dangle at one ends of the handle.  

Let dry overnight and enjoy a watery feeling art piece made from simply Mixing It Up!!!!!

#RAScrapbook Challenge and a Mixed Up Feature with Relics & Artifacts Ambassador Heather Thompson

Back in July, a few of us at Relics & Artifacts had the wonderful opportunity to join in the Mixed Up Mag special scrapbooking edition. Many of you might have already sent this project, but still worth sharing. 

I also wanted to share some inspiration as Monica's scrapbooking challenge will be wrapping up at the end of the month. Hopefully, this gives your mojo a little nudge to submit your entries in our Relics & Artifacts Tribe on Facebook. 

This is a mixed media layout featuring the Mythos collection with an aged, crackle technique. The Relics are never too big to put on a page.  It just takes a little imagination.

With lots of texture and layers (I love my layers), a beautiful artistic page for some inspiration is born! Let's see your entries and don't forget to use the hashtag #RAScrapbook to be entered!

Supplies:
Relics & Artifacts Mythos
DecoArt Perfect Crackle
DecoArt acrylic paint
Flowers
Patterned paper
Chipboard embellishment

FAB-ergé Egg Shrine Workshop in Florida with Michelle Duke

Join the talented Michelle Duke for a Faux FAB-ergé Egg Shrine class featuring Relics & Artifacts by Sandra Evertson.  This workshop comes just in time for Spring, Easter, and Passover.  If you happen to be in southern Florida, why not stop by for a light lunch and some creative fun?

There are two opportunities to take the workshop.  February 23 or February 24 from 10:00am - 2:00pm.  A light lunch is included on both days.  

For more information, please visit The Duke and Duchess Designs or contact Michelle at duketimes4@bellsouth.net.

Space is limited so reserve your spot early!

Michelle Duke is a retired Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse of twenty years.  She began to pursue her love of creating pretty things and other artistic endeavors.  Her beautiful studio is located in sunny south Florida.

 

Sacre Coeur Reliquary with Relics & Artifacts Ambassador Rochelle Gaukel

Over the years, I have picked up some beautiful old religious reliquaries. The details inside these special shrines are beautiful.  Often times I wonder how they came to be and what was going through the minds of the artists of these relics. 

When the new Four Portals stamps were released, I knew right away what I wanted to create. To somehow replicate the beauty of the miniature shrines and solder them into a small box that would fit into the stamped clay shrine. An old relic reinvented in a new way.

Using the Sacre Coeur art stamp as the centerpiece, the beauty started to evolve. With vintage papers as the background, some vintage glass glitter, some metal bullion and faceted beads, the reliquary started to take shape. 

I love how we are able to create a very vintage looking piece from the vast assortment of Sandr Evertson's Art Stamps. 

Supplies:
Sandra Evertson FOUR PORTALS Art Stamps “Esoteric”
Sandra Evertson MUSE Art Stamps "Sacre Coeur"
Ice Resin Iced Enamels Garnet
Ice Resin Iced Enamels German Silver
Sculpey Clay
Acrylic Paint
Small Box
Solder
Metal
Glass Glitter
vintage paper
metal bullion

Dragonflies Introduce the Spring with Relics & Artifacts Ambassador Heather Thompson

As the days finally seem to be getting longer and longer,  I yearn for spring.  As these long winter days seem to just drag on in this frozen tundra, there is a glimmer of hope with more daylight and the signs of snow slowly, ever so slowly, melting away. 

I yearn to see my dragonflies.  From little ones to big ones, to brightly colored and plump ones, each one has a unique beauty about them. Whether it’s the flawless look of their wings glistening in the sun or the unusual, but oh so captivating markings on their body, their beauty is unsurpassable.

So as I sit and wait for the subtle hints of the changing of seasons, I know when I see my dragonflies that spring is finally here and I can enjoy the beauty around me.

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts Coquille
DecoArt Acrylic Paints
Cat Kerr stamps
Iced Resin Opals
ICE Resin

3 Stamps, 3 Ways with RELICS & ARTIFACTS Ambassador Darlene Madden

As an artist, when I come across a product that can be used more than one way, I get excited!  When these stamps were released, I waited (impatiently, I might add) to get my creative hands on them. They arrived in mailbox and the playing began.

In the first photos, I have shown the astral stamp used in an encaustic natural feeling piece.  I have recently discovered encaustic painting and I have to say that I am loving it, both the smell and the feel of the wax is pure delight.

Supplies:
Sandra Evertson FOUR PORTALS Art Stamps "Astral"
Relics & Artifacts "Rising Spirit I"
White tissue paper
Scrap of rustic wood
Encaustic wax with resin
Pressed flower petals
Leather cording

For the second mixed media application, I used the Alma stamp and a Mexican shadow box. I did reverse glass painting on the inside of the nicho and embellished with treasures on the outside.

Supplies:
Sandra Evertson FOUR PORTALS Art Stamps "Alma" (free gift with purchase of complete PORTALS set)
Relics & Artifacts Bohemian Jewels "Amethyst"
Shadow box or nicho
Acrylic paints
Gloss Mod Podge
Adhesive

For the third piece, a keepsake box, I used the Esoteric stamp with polymer clay. Polymer clay is always close by in my studio.  It's as versatile as all of the Relics & Artifacts products and they play well together!

Supplies:
Sandra Evertson FOUR PORTALS Art Stamps "Esoteric"
Black polymer clay
Lace
Acrylic paint
Rub n Buff
Cameo
Added jewelry odds and bobs

Writing this has me wondering, "Hmmmm.  What else can I use these stamps on?"  Gotta go!  I have an idea!

Why You Should Play With Your Food with Relics & Artifacts Ambassador Sherry Westfall Matthews

Why you SHOULD play with your food...

I have a feeling that I am not alone in my choice of a New Year's resolution to be healthier. And a huge part of getting to the healthy new me is making better food related choices.

I mean, we have ALL heard it before, "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT," but who wants to count calories or skip carbs? Although those things can be beneficial to weight loss, feeling deprived is a good way to set yourself up for failure.  I decided my route would be to create food that while healthy, was also a feast for my eyes!

This has me putting a little more thought into what I put into my mouth.  No mindless snacking!

Hope your 2018 is FULL of goodness for your BODY and SOUL!

Materials:
Sandra Evertson MUSE Art Stamps "Epiphany" (although any of the MUSE or FOUR PORTALS stamps would be amazing! Can't you just see a small truffle sitting in a cocoa powder Portal frame?!) 

Thankfulness and Nutcrackers with RELICS & ARTIFACTS Ambassador Milagros Rivera

Thanks to Hurricane Maria, I skipped Halloween for the first time in 23 years.  No Thanksgiving either, although, I sat down with the kids and told them the million reasons why we needed to be thankful.  I refused to skip Christmas!  I found solar Christmas lights online and put them up. There's no shortage of sun here!  Last week, we got power at our work places so we're immensely grateful. Can you imagine celebrating 75 days without electricity?  Well, home is that way and so it is the reality for more than 60% of Puerto Rico.

After the free vaccination clinics we did, we're now spaying and neutering the same amount of dogs, 753 to be exact. It's the reason I'm still helping my husband at the clinic and you barely see me anywhere. Not that I don't miss you, which you know I do like crazy, but there's no time and almost no connectivity to the internet to go on social media as I used to.

I have collected nutcrackers since my son was a baby and about five years ago, I started creating my own using blank wooden nutcrackers to alter with paper. Last year, I experimented with Relics & Artifacts gorgeous Dresden trim collection to create one. This year, I thought I'd have to forgo the tradition when I spotted a single box at my local K-Mart. It was a girl, a Plum Fairy one at that and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed wrapping her hair in gold!  Her face is highlighted by one half of the wings!! Dresden certainly gives me a lot of creative license in how I use them and with their sparkle it's the perfect touch for the holidays!

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® Dresden Trim
Wood Nutcracker
Craft Paint

Mixed Up Magazine Santos Cuff with RELICS & ARTIFACTS Ambassador Chrissy Colon

One of the biggest thrills of doing what we do is being published in major magazines.  I had such an opportunity to have this piece featured in the October/November 2017 issue of Mixed Up magazine.  Not only did I have the privilege of being published, I also had the distinct honor of this piece gracing the cover.  Talk about a "WOW!" moment!

I had this department store cuff which I bought on clearance, some awesome ColoriQue inks, and the perfect focal point to upcycle an item that was mass produced into something unique and one of a kind.  Of course, you know I do love my bead details!

For the full tutorial complete with photos along with loads of inspiration from other international artists, be sure to subscribe to Mixed Up magazine.  

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® Flaming Hearts Ex Voto II
ColoriQue Ink
ICE Resin
Cuff
Beads

A Take On the #RAScrapbook Challenge with Relics & Artifacts Ambassador Heather Thompson

Fellow Relics & Artifact® Ambassedor Miss Amazeballs Monica Downing is hosting a great challenge starting January 1st, the #RAScrapbook Challenge.  The only criteria is getting back to our roots were a lot of us started out and using some of those fabulous Relics & Artifacts craft blanks and Sandra Evertson Art Stamps. 

Surprisingly I was all in, but to be honest, I was alittle dumbfounded when it actually came to creating the page. I wasn't sure if it was a creative slump, hungover from too much fun holiday festivities, or just pure laziness.  However, in spite of my rut and with Monica's new challenge going on, I figured I would throw out some inspiration using Sandra's new Four Portals stamps. I used the "Epiphany" stamp from the Muse collection as the focal point along with the "Creation" Portal. 

Frida Kahlo was such a unique artist with so many shapes and textures, I decided to use the Olde Curiosity Shoppe paper collection from Graphic 45. The detailed pages and coloration takes me back to an era with terra cotta rooftops and brightly colored flowered landscapes.  

Frida's artistic style was unique and I wanted to capture that within the scrapbook page. She had uniquely odd paintings with the various self portraits, shapes, and medley of other random objects.  I incorporated those trademark aspects into the page.  The detail work on the paper also goes hand in hand with the details on the portal stamp. 

Don't forget to get out those Relics & Artifacts goodies and get creating! 

Supply List:
RELICS & ARTIFACTS Dresden Trim "Halo Gold"
FOUR PORTALS Art Stamps "Creation" 
MUSE Art Stamps "Epiphany"
Graphic 45 "Olde Curiosity Shoppe"