Canvas Art with Color Burst

Diana Hetherington from the Creative Team has made this stunning canvas using 12 Color Burst Colors !. You can read all about the techniques used on her blog.  

Diana says:

Hello everyone! I am here today to share with you another canvas I have created as part of my 'Heart' series.  I have used 12 colors from the current color burst range and applied them using my favorite technique of just puffing and allowing the whole process to be a life of it’s own.

There was a lot of drying time between each colour and I also used a paint brush to add bits of color in the spots that my water flicking took out.

For more information about the process please visit my blog here.

See and buy the range of Color Burst product here.

Creating Beautiful Bezels with ICE Resin by Susan Lenart Kazmer

A couple years ago, I discovered ICE Resin, a product developed by Susan Lenart Kazmer...she is one of the most inspiring artists I've ever met.  If you're not familiar with her work, click on the link above to view her amazing work.    

Susan worked with Spellbinders to develop a line of bezels and pendants...and I became very familiar with the products. I got to teach and demonstrate the products, literally around the world at trade shows and art events...here's a flashback from the blog archives where you can see some of the places and people I met...Creating Beautiful Bezels with Spellbinders Media Mixage...for me, it was an incredible experience to work with the products and to share them with other artists and crafters.  I'd not created any jewelry peices for years...so it was a nice reintroduction to jewelry making. 

And, over time as I worked with the products, I discovered a few techniques and tricks of my own when working with ICE Resin.  For example, the resin in the photo above is tinted with artists pastels...the resin looks like Lapis...it's a cool technique that I love to share in the workshops I teach today.

And, over time, as I have moved on and done other things, artistically and professionally, I still get asked to teach ICE Resin workshops...I absolutely love getting to share the techniques with students who attend.  The student work is always very inspiring.  Very often we create memory pieces...I ask students to bring family photos and personal letters and we set out to preserve family memories by creating pendants and bezels with those treasure images.  

During the course of the workshops, I often end up with some beautiful pieces that I've created with the students as examples and instructional pieces...I've started adding them to my etsy shop,          Ken Oliver Crafts. They're often too beautiful not to share.   

I'm still teaching ICE Resin workshops and in fact, I have a workshop on October 24th in my hometown.  The event is called ICE at the Edge, You can click on the link...or click on the ICE at the Edge banner at the side of this page for more details.  The event will be smaller and more intimate than many of the workshops I teach, and we're going to be in the most beautiful venue...our classroom over looks the Ohio River in Southern Indiana.   

I am getting really excited about ICE at the Edge. Students are traveling from as far away as Florida, Connecticut, and Minnesota to attend.  

If you'd like to enroll, it's really easy, and affordable and the workshop includes dinner...

And, at the end of the workshop, you'll have created 4 beautiful pendants that you can wear yourself, or give as gifts.  

As you can probably tell, I love working with ICE Resin...it's let me create and express my art in lots of new ways...I'd invite you to visit my etsy shop to see more...and hopefully, you'll think about coming to ICE at the Edge to learn how to create these beautiful pieces yourself.  I hope to see you there!  

Mixed Media Assemblage Eternal Prosperity and Happiness

This mixed media assemblage piece started as an example for an ICE Resin workshop I was teaching over the weekend at Ephemera Paducah in Paducah, Kentucky.

And as it came together, I realized the symbols I'd used in the piece were powerful Feng Shui symbols of eternal prosperity and happiness. 

 

 

It was really random at first...I used a vintage game piece with the number 88 on it. 

 

 

And I used a Chinese coin, because it was in my stash of demo pieces...I realized later that these two images were powerful symbols for Feng Shui practitioners.  In the Chinese language the sound of 8 is “fatt”, which means prosperity and abundance. The figure 8 represents infinity. Therefore, two eights seen together mean “eternal prosperity.” The 88 symbol is universally to unblock stagnate energy and to bring new energy.  88 also represents double happiness. And the game piece is red...another good symbol for Feng Shui practitioners.   It was quite random that I'd placed these pieces together.  I later realized it was kind of cool.  Chinese money, placed in the wealth center of your home is said to bring money your way...there's coin encased in the resin too.  

 

There are a couple gears, and a wire wrapped silk ribbon to hold the pendant. 

 

This piece, quite by accident, turned out so cool. 

 

To finish the piece, I added a #3 skeleton key.  The key is a symbol of discovering that which is hidden or secret, In this piece the key reminds us that we always have the key or the ability to unlock the secret to happiness, or prosperity... it's within us.  

 

All this is pretty "out there" for me...but when I stepped back and thought about the literary and Feng Shui meanings of the symbols I'd randomly put together...it seemed a very happy coincidence. 

 

Thank you for stopping by today...I hope you'll be inspired to make something beautiful!

 

Ken 

 

 

Local Workshops in Evansville Indiana

 I just wanted to let everybody know, I've got a couple exciting workshops lined up this week...that are local.  I'll be teaching in Evansville on Saturday August 23rd at Mary's Scrapden. 

In the first workshop at 1:00pm we'll create a cool shadowbox, with positive life affirming messages like, Chase Happiness, Life is Beautiful, Stop and Smell the Roses, or Bloom Where You're Planted.

 

You'll have lots of choices with new papers from Prima Marketing's Forever Green collection. 

 

We'll create one shadowbox with 4 compartments for you to decorate.

In the process, we'll use some cool crackle glaze to age and distress the shadow boxes. 

 

 

You'll have a choice of 2 finishes...you can finish your shadow box by painting it white...or you can finish it by painting it black...either way, the distressing techniques I'll teach you will make your shadow box look like an aged little antique treasure.

 

Our shadowbox workshop is from 1:00-3:00pm.  I'll have all the tools, paints and adhesives you'll need to create this great little altered art project. 

 

Then from 4:00-7:00pm I'm teaching Techniques with ICE Resin.  In this workshop, you'll create 4 charms or bezels filled with trinkets, jewelry findings, and bits of paper.  We'll then use ICE Resin to seal your creation in a clear, glasslike setting...these bezels make beautiful pendants or bracelets...you are going to love this workshop.   

 

And, with the holidays soon approaching, any of the pieces you make in this workshop would be a perfect handmade gift for anyone on your list this year.

 

We start at 4:00pm...and I'll have lots of materials to use in the workshop.  You are encouraged to bring copies of vintage photos, scraps of handwritten letters, or any jewelry pieces or bits that you'd like to use inside your bezels. 

 

The pieces are stunning, I've taught this workshop in France, Germany, the U.K. Canada and all over the U.S.

Here's your chance to take the class locally with lots of one on one instruction.  It's going to be really fun. 

To sign up, call 812-474-9099 or follow this link for location and cost... http://goo.gl/UVkfYj Call to save your spot in the workshop as seats are limited. 

I hope to see you there! 

Ken

Talismans for Everyday Living and Protection with Susan Lenart Kazmer and ICE Resin

tal·is·man-[tal-is-muhn] an object which is believed to contain certain magical or sacramental properties which would provide good luck for the possessor or possibly offer protection from evil or harm. 

I've long been intrigued with the study of talismans that Susan Lenart Kazmer has done over her career.  Whether pencils or paintbrushes, or the shapes we choose as our "talisman" shapes, we consciously or subconsciously infuse energy and power into the works we create with them. And whether we're aware of it or not, as we create, we assign power or magic into our work.  I was very pleased to work on some talisman pieces with ICE Resin.

In this piece, I brought together ICE Resin and a large natural quartz crystal to work together as a talisman. The clear quartz crystal is one of the most sacred stones of ancient cultures. Its clarity and transparency give it a mirror quality through which things can be seen clearly. The natural quartz crystal symbolizes white light energy. Crystals are also said to realign energies.  I set this large crystal in ICE Resin colored with pastel...the blue pastel makes the ICE Resin look like lapis, a stone that has been revered since antiquity for it's intense blue color. Together the crystal and the intense color of the ICE resin serve as my talisman for clarity of thought and inner peace.  The thing that makes this crystal talisman really meaningful to me is that the crystal was a gift.  Recently while teaching a class in St. Louis, my friend Ann Werner, came to me with a box, and gave it to me.  When I opened it, I found a box of beautiful natural crystals.  Her father collected them over his life, and as she told me, collected them, cleared them naturally by cleaning them in sand and ocean water with the express idea that they should be used for good, for healing and for love.  This was such a meaningful gift from Ann the fact that the crystals were from her father and his intent, really imbue a lot of good energy around them for me.  

Ann said she knew that I would appreciate them...she was right. Although Ann didn't know it at the time, I am going through some transitions in my life right now where I will need clarity of thought, harmony and inner peace. It's cool how the universe works like that.

     

I worked with another talisman this week too...recently a friend told me my animal spirit guide was a raven.  I've never really thought about it, or known too much about animal spirit guides, but when I learned about how the raven can be a spirit guide, it all kind of made sense to me.  

The Raven's wisdom includes introspection, courage, self-knowledge, magic, healing, creation, rebirth, keeper of secrets, master magician, shape shifter, mysticism. All of these attributes describe some aspect of my personality...It was interesting that someone actually looked at me and told me that the raven was my spirit guide, I was unaware.    

I chose to use the raven as the background of this talisman piece.  I hand painted a raven's eye as the focal point.  The raven can symbolize introspection, self knowledge, creation and rebirth...we understand those qualities by sight, whether by actually seeing something or through intuitive sight. The other feature of this talisman are tiny figures.  As I created this talisman, I wanted to invoke the mystical or symbolic powers of the raven to watch over or protect me, my family and those close to me. As artists, we tell our stories and communicate our ideas with imagery. These images and symbols work together as a protection talisman.  Although it's unorthodox...it's powerful.       

Talisman pieces are charged or infused with energy by those who create them.  It's really expanded my thinking as I've studied and worked with ICE Resin to create talismans this week.  And, after having created these pieces, I have a deeper understanding of the energy we use to create and the power behind that energy...which gives our artistic endeavors mystical if not magical meaning.  

Thank you for stopping by today, and thanks for letting me share some of my art with you...I hope you'll be inspired.  

til next time, Ken

Mixed Media Canvas-ICE Resin Paper and Vintage Images

This is a "Friday Flashback" of a previous post...it's a mixed media canvas from a couple years ago.  

I like how the elements of this piece work together.  

I used a few vintage postcards and images, papers coated with ICE Resin, and a few found objects, 

to create a mixed media canvas that recalls a seaside vacation.  When lightly applied to paper, ICE Resin gives paper a translucent, glowing look. 

I liked this one so much, just wanted to bring it out again...partially because I'm thinking about a vacation at the beach too.  

Thank you for stopping by today!

Ken

Hatpin Bezel Heritage Scrapbook Layout: Spellbinders® Shape It Up Sneak Peek and Giveaway Day 2

 Hi Bloggers, and welcome to day 2 of Spellbinders Shape It Up Sneak Peek and Give-a-way!  It’s really an exciting time of year at Spellbinders, as we’re gearing up to launch a brand new line of dies and accessories that are really going to blow you away!  Our newest releases are the most innovative in the industry. The projects you see here today and in the next few days are going to inspire you beyond belief.  So get ready to be amazed!  Make sure you read all the way to the bottom of the post. There’s a chance to win Dies, Hatpin Bezels and Texture Plate I used in this layout. The details to win are listed at the end of this post.  

 We all love creating scrapbook pages and I especially love vintage themes and heritage layouts that incorporate old family photos to memorialize our ancestral background.  Our new Hatpin Bezels and matching dies are perfect embellishments for scrapbook layouts and cards where you’d like to imbue a feeling of yesteryear into your work.   

Using the matching dies, you can coordinate the paper to match the layout, or you could even die cut a piece of fabric from vintage clothing to use inside the hatpin.  This layout features elements of days gone by you will love, an accordion pleated fan, “heirloom” hatpins, and a vintage photograph that tell the story of a 19th century family frozen in time.     

Supply List:
Spellbinders® Paper Arts Supplies:

GC-001 Spellbinders Grand Calibur®Machine

LF-015 Spellbinders Grand DecorativeCircles

S5-086 Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms

S4-351 Spellbinders Spiral BlossomsOne

S6-002 5x7 Matting Basics B

MB3-004 Spellbinders  Media Mixage Diamond HatpinBezels

MD1-014 Spellbinders Media Mixage Diamond Dies

MT1-010 Spellbinders Media Mixage Music Note Texture Plate

MM1-003 Copper

Cross Promotional Partners

Beacon Adhesives 3-IN-1 Advanced CraftGlue

Scrapbook Adhesives® by 3L Crafty FoamTape

Melissa Frances Embellishments

ICE Resin

Other:  Maya Road flowers,  Prima Marketing flowers Pink Paislee patterned paper, chalk ink, scissors, vintage photo, pastels, sanding block, seam tape or ribbon, misting bottle with water, score board, small mixing cup and craft stick, cotton swab, paper towels, paper trimmer.  

Instructions:
Hatpin Preparation:  Hatpin Bezels are filled with colored resin to mimic the look of a stone set inside a bezel. 

1.        Wipe hatpin bezels to remove any dust. 

2.        Mix ICE Resin according to package directions.

3.        Choose a pastel color to create resin pigment. Using a craft knife, scrap pastel stick to make approximately ¼ teaspoon of pastel dust.  

4.        Add pastel dust to mixed resin and thoroughly mix pigment (dust) into Ice Resin.

5.        Using a craft stick, slowly drip colored resin into hatpin bezels until resin domes.   Set aside to cure for 6-12 hours.

6.        Sand front and back of a piece of copper sheet.

7.        Cut two #2 (with #1 being smallest die template) and one #3 with Diamond Die from sanded copper using Grand Calibur machine.

8.        Place Music Note Texture Plate on gray Base Plate. Lay diamond die cuts on top of plate and cover with white Cutting Plate and pass through Grand Calibur machine to texture. 

9.        Using a cotton swab, apply patina solution to front and back of textured die cuts. Lightly wipe off excess solution with paper towel and sand raised embossed pattern to reveal music notes.

10.      Glue textured metal pieces to back side of hatpin bezels as shown. Set aside to dry.

 Prepare the Layout:

11.      Randomly tear and curl edges of a 12”x12” piece of patterned paper to create a distressed look for layout background.  Apply chalking ink to edges for an antique feel.

12.      Trim a 4”x 8” strip from patterned paper.  Lightly mist paper with water.  Place Music Note Texture Plate on gray Base Plate. Lay one end of paper on top of texture plate and cover with embossing sandwich (Tan Mat and Pink Embossing Plate) and run through Grand Calibur machine. Move paper down and repeat until whole strip of paper is textured. 

13.      Place textured strip on score board and score at ¼” intervals. Accordion fold strip and glue folds together on one end to create a fan. Set aside to dry.

14.      Position fan at a 45º angle on upper right side of background page.  Affix to page with 3-IN-1 Glue. 

15.      Cut/Emboss Grand Decorative Circles #3 and #4 from patterned paper. Layer, offset and adhere die cut circles with foam tape.

16.      Affix outer circle on to of glued portion of fan with foam tape.

17.      Layer four 1” pieces of foam tape together and place under lower left potion of die cut circles and mount to page. Make 3 more stacks of foam tape and add around perimeter of die circles for support. Refer to photo.

18.      Sand and lightly ink edges of a photo for a vintage look. 

19.      Using foam tape, affix distressed photo on top of die cut circles at a slight angle.

20.      Glue Hatpin Bezels, Melissa Frances Embellishments and seam tape bow to photograph as shown.

 Flowers:

21.      Cut/emboss an assortment of Bitty Blossoms and Spiral Blossoms One form coordinating patterned paper.  Roll outside end of die cut flower into a spiral towards center circle and adhere to circle base. Flair out petals to form flower. Repeat until all flowers are formed.

22.      Arrange with other flower and adhere with 3-N-1 adhesive in a pleasing composition as shown.

Create a Journal or Title Tag:

23.      Cut/Emboss 5 x 7 Matting Basics B #1 and #2 from patterned paper and ink edges.

24.      Stamp sentiment on #1 die cut.

25.      Layer and affix tags together with foam tape. Mount in upper right hand corner with foam tape.

You are going to love the unique details you can add to your work with Spellbinders new Hatpin Bezels, dies, and Musical Texture Plates.  They will let you add loads of personality and charm to your handmade cards and themed scrapbook layouts. 

 The Hatpin Bezels can be used in lots of other projects too….I love creating mixed media projects and the Hatpins are the perfect little “findings."

 

 In this project, “Little Box of Secrets,” I altered a small wooden box and used the Hatpins as key elements in the composition. 

A resin filled Hatpin Bezel with a die cut piece of paper, becomes the all-seeing "3rd Eye" on the outside of the box.  I layered findings and beads with a Hatpin Bezel to create a tiny finial for the top. I used black pigmented resin to fill the bezel to look like onyx.  A torn piece of textured paper becomes a backdrop for a tiny horse and chariot.   You're going to find that the Hatpin Bezels, dies and texture plates are really fun to use in all kinds of projects! 

Now, you know there are prizes and give-a-ways during Spellbinders Sneak Peek…here’s what to do:

For official contest rules click HERE!!

For the chance to WIN...CLICK HERE!

And to find even more inspiration, visit my friend Judy Hayes at Creating My Style Here's a little peek of what she's creating with the Hatpin Bezels.  I think you're going to love it. 

Thank you so much for stopping by today during Day 2 of Spellbinders® Shape It Up Sneak Peek and Giveaway.  I hope you love what you’ve seen and will be inspired to create some vintage details or mixed media elements for your work with Spellbinders New Hatpin Bezels, Dies and Musical Texture Plates.  

Make sure to enter the contest…you are going to want these goodies in your craft stash! 
Questions?  calexander@spellbinders.us No entries will be accepted at this email address.

Your creativity is limitless - Explore Beyond™!

Personal Histories Class Projects: Spellbinders' Media Mixage

Hey friends, I think you'll love some of the works of art that came out of last week's Media Mixage Class, Personal Histories, at For Keeps Sake Paper Arts and Rubber Stamps in St. Louis...the student projects were amazing.

We provided the basics for creating the pieces, bezels from Spellbinders Media Mixage and ICE Resin from Susan Lenart Kazmer...each student was asked to bring personal photos, handwritten letters or personal ephemera to use for the projects.  I was looking back through photos of the class and thought the projects we so beautiful and needed to be shared.    

The bezels above were created with pieces of paper from a student's recent trip the the U.K.  I love how this turned out...simply beautiful and a wonderful way to share her personal history...a trip to London.  

Judy created a tribute to her father...I loved watching her work on this piece...she put a great deal of love into it as she worked and reflected on her personal history with her dad....her project is just another way to share a personal history that is very meaningful.  And she will wear this piece close to her heart...in creating this piece she really created a story-telling piece of art that is a lasting symbol of her relationship with her father.  

Even when students used only the pieces that we provided, charms, ephemera, beads and stones, the stories told were beautiful.  

The vintage Santa bezel in the photo above would make an amazing package tie on or sweet gift at the holidays...and it's an instant heirloom it's so beautiful.

Watch parts and flowers look great under resin. 

Each bezel is a little treasure. 

Vintage family photos and vintage buttons share a beautiful family heritage in this student project.

Valerie used a school portrait of herself to create this beautiful piece...it will become another instant heirloom for her family.  I loved it.  

These pieces were really cool too...a photo of a tee-pee looks great and preserves the memory of a family trip.  I love the self portrait shadow bezel too on the bottom right.  

We used chunky antique glass glitter...you can embed it in the resin or float it on top...looks amazing.  

Wedding portraits look amazing in bezels and resin...it's a great way to commemorate that special occasion and a great way to symbolize the couple's love when paired with a heart charm.  Wedding portraits would be great in heart bezels too.  

I love how Ann used a vintage photo with a vintage shoe charm... she also used a bird blank from Media Mixage to back her bezel.  She affixed the bird and the keys to the left with ICE Resin...awesome techniques.  

In the bezel on the right, the student used textured art board to add wonderful texture as her background.  

I was really blessed and inspired to work with the amazing artists who took our class...I love watching the creative process and it's different for each person. 

I was also fortunate enough to have some friends in the class...here with Carolyn...she is a hoot and a half and makes me smile almost every day...and below with Ann and Sue...all amazing, accomplished artisans and crafters...it was a real privilege to work with them again...always inspiring.  

Thank you for stopping by today...the projects from our class were so amazing that I had to share them and I hope you'll be inspired to tell your story.  

Make it a great day and go create something beautiful! 

Ken