I was so excited when Sandra and David told us that they were obtaining the Verday line of aging products. I have worked with this product a lot and truly love the outcome when I use it.
Read moreWinter Wonderland - Ambassador Monica Downing
The Relics & Artifacts Egg Shrine. So many possibilities
Read more"A Fair Lady's Shrine" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Heather Thompson
During ancient times of heroic knights and young fair maidens, kings and noblemen would have their young daughters fancied up in their most beautiful courting dresses and glamorous facial paint.
They would capture the eternal youth, first in portrait, by the most talented artists in the region, then they would encase it in a magnificent shrine made with the prettiest jewels and dressed in trims of gold and silver. The shrines were painted with the brightest pigments and tones for the most dramatic and eye-catching effects.
Conceptually, the more beautiful and alluring the shrine, the more appealing to the eyes of would-be suitor knights, all in the hopes of marrying the young maiden to a rich and wealthy family and unifying powerful families.
After accords were struck between the fathers of the noble maidens and the suitors, the fair ladies dressed in the most magnificent formal attire. In this final show of beauty and opulence, maidens were officially affianced to their future husbands in hopes of finding their happily ever after.
Supply List:
Muse® Art Stamps St. Cecilia
Muse® Art Stamps Oculus
Relics & Artifacts® Dresden Trim Wrought Iron Gold
Relics & Artifacts® Bohemian Jewels Ruby
Ice Resin
Iced Enamels Shattered Mica
DecoArt Media Primary Magenta
DecoArt Media Primary Yellow
DecoArt Media Phthalo Green-Blue
DecoArt Media Cobalt Teal Hue
DecoArt Media Cerulean Blue
DecoArt Media Cobalt Black
Liquid Pearls Buttercup
Coffee Break Designs Mini Ornate Framed Shrine Kit Style 5
Seth Apter Stamps Spot Lights
Seth Apter Stamps Border Lines
Metal Frame
Rhinestones
"INSPIRE" and a *GIVEAWAY!* with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Monica Downing
Seeing the projects our Tribe members post in the Relics & Artifacts® Tribe on Facebook is always so much fun. I love seeing all the different ways everyone creates with these craft blanks. As Relics & Artifacts® Ambassadors, we like to create projects for these challenges to cheer you on and inspire you. I have been so busy the last few weeks, that I wasn’t able to participate and make something for the #RAShadesofRed Challenge we just wrapped up.
After seeing all the submissions for the challenge, even though it has ended now, I was so inspired that I had to make something. This piece, “Inspiration”, is dedicated to our Relics & Artifacts® Tribe. You are all an inspiration to me. I love seeing what you create. I learn and grow from watching you make.
Leave me a comment here on this post, and tell me where you find your inspiration. I will be drawing one winner from the comments below to receive my "Inspiration" piece as a thank you gift. Keep creating and inspiring. Keep growing and pushing your boundaries. We love what you do!!
If you are not already a member of the Relics & Artifacts® Tribe, we would love to have you join us. It is a friendly, positive, and very supportive group with endless inspiration.
SUPPLY LIST:
Relics & Artifacts® "Rising Spirit II"
Relics & Artifacts® Dresden Trim Gold Angel Wings
Relics & Artifacts® Bohemian Jewels "Peridot"
Verday 2 oz Paint Kit
Wood plank
DecoArt Acrylic Paints (reds and pinks)
Epoxy sticker
Metal Crown
White Signo Pen
Black Micro pen
Liquid gold pen
It's All In The Details
I get enjoyment from many different aspects of Creating.
Sometimes I have a plan and do quick sketches to get my ideas down on paper and while I have dozens of sketchbooks filled with project drawings and ideas, it would take me years to actually make all the pieces I've designed and want to create.
I love collecting, gathering and sorting through my antique materials.
Taking time to try out different arrangements until I find the perfect piece and placement, you know it's the piece that looks as though it were made to go in that spot!
The golden seed beads and bouillon trims you see here came off of a 1920's Flapper dress and all of the set stones are actually "paste" stones from the 1700's. Paste is a term they used for a certain kind of highly refractive lead glass that was hand cut, faceted and then polished to resemble real gem stones.
The large center stone is also early paste. These stones are getting harder to find all the time.
In order to get just the right look on the flames I've layered several different tones of yellow from mustard to butter, sun to sunset, all topped with little highlights of metallic gold.
When I'm hunting for antique pieces it's the details that make all the difference for me. The thing I go crazy for on these stones is the setting, look closely, each setting has a little dot of round metal that holds the stone securely, isn't it beautiful?! And just so unique.
When the last bit of embellishment has been applied another aspect of being a maker is ready to happen. Photographing the finished piece is a much fun for me as making it was. It's an expedition, traveling around the object, camera in hand, peering through the lens just waiting for the right angle to reveal itself.
And lastly the satisfaction I get when actually wearing a piece I made from beginning to end. The sense of pride and accomplishment means so much to me, its especially gratifying in times of unrest in the world.
I never take for granted the act of creation. Makers are the journey takers, the adventures, the wanders and the experimenters. Thats who we are, we explore, we observe, we absorb, we interpret, we express and we contribute.
RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ancient Heart (heart and flame)
RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Rising Spirit V(wood support back)
E6000 Adhesive/Tacky Glue
Acrylic Paints Yellow Tones/Gold/Brick Red
Necklace chain
Antique trims/Camera
"Sweet, A Foil Exploration" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Milagros C Rivera
2016 was a year of many adventures! One of them was the development of a stencil line based on my art journal entries with The Crafter's Workshop. At the recent Creativation show in Phoenix, they were finally revealed and of course I needed to see how well they paired with Relics & Artifacts®!
I thought Flora was the perfect pairing and after adding it in her hair, I decided to add some strands of Bohemian Jewels. They added the perfect flow to her hair! When you see her up close she glows with the foil! To be able to show part of her shine, I had to put her on an angle as foil tends to catch the light. I prepared for you a Snapguide tutorial so you can see the process of altering the Relics and the use of the brand new Transfer Gel by Deco Foil.
Since our challenge for you this month is #RA50ShadesofRed, I paired her with reds and pinks and I can't wait for you to see the paint I used on the Flora!
Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® "Flora"
Relics & Artifacts® Bohemian Jewels "Ruby"
Relics & Artifacts® Archival Case Wooden Tray II
The Crafter's Workshop Stencil "Mia"
Therm-O-Web Deco Foil Transfer Gel
"Memories of the Ocean" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Monica Downing
Living in Arkansas now, I rarely get to the coast. I grew up inland from San Francisco and my grandmother lived in the city so we would go visit her on a very regular basis. She would take us down to Fisherman’s Wharf for sourdough and clam chowder. We would have fish 'n' chips and watch the seals on the lower piers. The sounds and smells of the pacific were always just so fresh and wonderful and very much a part of my childhood.
Read more"Paint People" RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Guest Feature: Karyn Bunting
Art has always played a happy part in my life. I love looking at things that people view as having only one purpose and seeing another life for that piece. In 2012, I moved to Tampa to take care of my now 94 year old mother. When I moved into her condo I painted everything in sight. Walls were pink and black, while the furniture showed years of love shared with her puppies and many, many cups of coffee. I went through gallons of paint and lots of paintbrushes. It seemed a shame to just cast aside brushes that had done so much to beautify our home.
Read more#RAHolidayCelebration with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Chrissy Colon
This is my favorite time of year! The smells, the chill in the air, sweets, friends, family, and love are the things that bring a smile to my face and warm my heart.
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