"Faery Door" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Monica Downing

Do you believe in faeries, in all things magical? Well if you know me at all, you know that I do.

When I go out in the evening and see the fireflies dancing on moss covered rocks, lighting up the evening sky with random magical bursts of light, my imagination goes wild.

I love being surrounded by this lush green dense forest and the inspiration it gives me to create.

I used a vintage door plate as the base for this fairy door.  When I was making it, I imagined the magical place that it must lead to. A place with faeries bouncing off colorful mushroom caps, butterflies and bees dancing on brightly colored flowers. 

With dragonflies swooping around, birds of every kind singing away, and rays of sun shining through the trees with wish faeries floating around, shedding a magical light on all of it.

I hope I’ve made you believe even just a little bit. If you truly look around there is magic everywhere.  Go outside and find some 😊

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® Milagros
Relics & Artifacts® Regalis
VerDay Patina Paint System
Vintage door plate
Velveteen leaves
Miniature metal gate

"Vintage Finds and Transformations" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Guest Ambassador Tina Walker

Our next Guest Ambassador is the amazing Tina Walker!  She is a world renown creative who's mixed media style is unique and easily recognizable.  Let's get to know Tina a little better.

"Hi!  I'm Tina Walker and I am a lover of all things creative.  By day, I direct the International Trade Department for a major footwear retailer and create in my spare time. Art is an outlet that allows me to keep my sanity and is a retreat from my daily career responsibilities.  My latest creative passion is all things mixed media, including art journaling, assemblage, and fabric art.

Mixed media is a perfect discipline for me, encompassing multiple products, mediums and design techniques.  My project selection and medium choice is constantly changing. I love to experiment and I believe there is no such thing as a bad mistake.  All ‘mistakes’ are a chance to learn and try new ideas.  As I always say, "You can always cover it with gesso and start over."

I am truly blessed to be part of this amazing community and I hope I can bring a bit of sunshine to your crafty world!"

When creating assemblage projects, I love combining the old with the new.  This combination simply makes my heart full of happy.  There is something about the hidden story and history of a vintage finding mixed with new, unwritten pieces that is a match made in heaven.  And, it give me an ‘excuse’ to go junkin’ shopping!  But who said you need an excuse?  Ha!

I have bin after bin full of vintage ‘junk’; it may actually out number my new products but since most of my vintage finds are one-of-a-kind, I have to buy them when I can (at least that is what I tell myself).

The biggest thing to remember when combining old objects with new is that the color, texture, design of the old piece can always be changed.  Sometimes I’ll use a piece as is, but quite often I change it with a little gesso, texture paste, and paint. It doesn’t take much other than a little imagination.

Relics & Artifacts® pieces are the perfect match with my vintage findings.  Since they can be modified to match whatever style or design esthetic you are looking for, they are a must have product.  Using the same color palette or texture is all you need to marry the old into the new. 

Tina has graciously created a Snapguide to illustrate how she achieved the marvelous finishes and textures in this beautiful piece.

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® "Papillon"
Vintage Finding
White Gesso
Crackle Medium
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic Glazing Liquid
Adhesive Metal Sheet
Embossing Folder
Alcohol Ink
Gel Medium
Sewing Machine

"Sweet Child of Mine" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Monica Downing

When I was thinking about this piece, I kept thinking how outside of the box it was going to be for me, how I really wanted to push myself outside of my comfort zone.  I challenged myself not to use color, which is a big deal for me. I have never done well with muted colors or white space. I just always want to fill up the space or splash some color on it in some way.

I can tell you that I am inspired by many, many artists, but when I see Lynne Moncrieff’s work, I am always in awe of how her pieces are just so beautifully put together. I envy her and other artists who are able to create with that palette.  Those who create these beautiful, romantic, time-worn, layered, vintage inspired pieces with subtle hints of color, just blow my mind.

THAT was my goal, time-worn, layered, vintage, soft, romantic. (Who MOI??)  I must say, this came together much easier than I thought it would.

As I started gathering my supplies, which are few, I started seeing the end result in my art brain and it just all happened. Before I knew it, I was done and honestly, I was so happy with how this piece came out and how easily it seemed to flow from my art brain to my finger tips to the final piece.  Now I want to create more of this type of work.

The really funny thing is, this piece goes perfectly in my family room. I have an industrial, shabby chic motif throughout most of my home. My studio decor and my home are like two completely different people live here. It’s like when I walk into my studio all of the color and brightness of it get my art juices flowing, and when I am in my family room, or bedroom, I am relaxed and unplugged, so I guess it’s a good balance.

Anyhow, go make something you may not think you are comfortable with. Go make something and push yourself outside of your “zone”. I have a feeling you will love the end result.

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® "Figureheads"
Relics & Artifacts® Bohemian Jewels "Diamond"
Ice Resin Iced Enamels "Ivory"
Wooden box                                                                
Wooden lamp finial
Tissue paper
Vintage tart tin
Vintage Ribbon
Vintage crochet doily