Explore Space Canvas - Helmar Creative Team

I wanted to do a scrapbook layout with a galaxy background and using this cute iron on patch set from my stash and some chipboard stars to build dimension to the layout.  It quickly changed to me reusing a old canvas that the kids tried to paint a Christmas tree on years ago to create a item suitable for wall decor for a child's room.
I love painting Galaxy/Nebula paintings as the technique used is one that I am able to easily do with my hand issues.

I started by coating the old canvas with a coat of Colour Blast Heavy Black Gesso, I got great coverage from this Gesso.

While the Gesso was drying I coloured some gauze in the colours I wanted the nebula to be as I wanted to experiment and see if I could add it to the painting to give the nebular dimension. 
I simple dabbed some distress ink on my craft sheet added water and rubbed the gauze in it.  I repeated with some Colour Blast Mica Powder in Wisteria.
There are not photos of this attempt as it really did not work so the gauze quickly became another aspect of the piece.

Once dry I wrapped some space themed washi from Scrapping Fun Kits around the outside of the canvas on the edge using Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive to ensure a strong stick as the adhesive on the washi would not be enough to get a long term hold.

Next I started working on my Galaxy but gradually sponging coloured paint onto the canvas in a sort of nebula shape.  I used some old paints in red, yellow, purple, blue and white.  I blended the red and yellow together where needed to get hints of orange.
Then I flicked paint with a brush all over the canvas mainly in white but also some of the blue and purple to add to the space effect.


Once the paint was dry I adhered some of the coloured gauze behind the rocket ship patch then I adhere it and the planet patch that came in the set to the canvas with Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive.

Finally I used the last of my Studio Calico chipboard stars I got from My Scrapbook Room randomly on the canvas using the Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive.







Once everything was dry I gave the entire thing a coat of Crystal Kote Gloss Varnish to seal it all and protect it.  I sprayed a bit closer in some spots to see how that would affect the finish, I was hoping it would enhance the night sky feel of the piece and it did.















I love how it turned out.

Starlight Day 2014 - Scrapping Fun Kits Design Team

On Starlight Day I was inspired to scrap some photos of my daughter volunteering on Starlight Day for the first time in 2014.
Fundraising and Awareness raising has always been important to my daughter and after becoming very ill at 15 Starlight Children's Foundation provided incredibly important support to her so once she was well enough she decided to volunteer on Starlight Day and since there was no one organising in our area she took on that roll and rallied some friends to help.
They had a lot of fun dressing up and being entertaining to attract people to come over and see what it was all about.  They had a stall at the Hertitage Markets on the Thursday and our local Woolies allowed them to set up out the front on Starlight Day itself.

So back to my layout.  I pulled out any bits from the May Fundraising Kit that were purple or could be coloured purple and then I added supplies from the September 2017 Kit and a gorgeous 6x6 paper from Violet Silence by Lemon Craft.

I played around with a few bits until I had a vague idea of how I wanted to do things and then I went searching for alphas for my title.  I chose these old Thickers that you colour yourself.
To colour the Thickers I used some  Distress Ink and some Colour Blast Mica Powder in Wisteria.  I started by using my aquabrush to apply water to each letter in the shaped of the letter then picked up the yellow and added it to the water, then I added the wisteria.  I knew these colours had a strong chance of going muddy but I really wanted letters that were a yellow and purple watercolour effect.  Things were looking good and it was nearly dry so I decided to give it a light dab with a cloth and most of the colour came off, so I added more and that is when things got muddy.  I added a little more wisteria and I am happy with the results.

I had really wet these alphas so I wasn't able to finish my layout on the day as they needed to dry and I only have a small window of time to create each day.
Due to the colour coming off if I dabbed them I decided to seal them with Helmar Crystal Kote Matte Varnish once dry.

I love how they turned out.

I coloured the die cut from the May Fundraising Kit using the ink and mica powder.  I started with a layer of the ink then added the mica powder once dry.  It came apart a little which was really hand so that I could spread it around my photo.






I used the packaging technique with the left over colours on my craft sheet each time to colour some white cardstock.  Once dry I cave it a coat of Helmar Crystal Kote Matte.

Scrapping Fun Kits is fundraising for Starlight Children’s Foundation this month.  All profits from sales of the May Embellishment Kit and kit extras will be donated to Starlight Children’s Foundation.  If you would like to donate directly to Starlight Children’s Foundation you can do so via their website  https://starlight.org.au/donation-form