"Art Journal" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Milagros C Rivera

I hope you are all enjoying our month collaboration with Canvas Corp Brands.  When I received my package I did a very happy dance.  You may not know this, but I love to draw and getting a whole notebook with blank pages is like Christmas for me and with a super size too!!!  So, inspired by summer, the beach, and sunsets here's my piece!

I wanted you all to see how gorgeous the High Impact Paint, Glimmer Glaze, and Glimmer Mist work with the Relics & Artifacts.  And what's more summery than sea shells, right? The Coquille set works on mixed media projects, jewelry and even scrapbook layouts.

Milagros has prepared a Snapguide tutorial so you can create your own beach inspired journal of your own.

Don't forget we are having a giveaway at the end of the month.   Here's the information.

Here is all you need to do.  Be sure to use #RACCBmatchup so that we can track you down!

-Leave a comment here on any or all of the Match Up Posts during the month of July with Relics & Artifacts® and CCB.  You can leave one on each post for more chances to win. 

-And/or leave a comment on the CCB Facebook page.

-And/or leave a comment on any of the CCB Instagram posts where you see any of the projects from the CCB team or the RA team. 

Feel the urge to join the addiction that is Relics & Artifacts®?  Take a look in the Sandra Evertson shop and stock up.  You can also join our Relics & Artifacts® Tribe on Facebook and be inspired by fellow creatives in the best creative group on the web!

Be sure to follow along by searching #RACCBmatchup too.  If you love what you see and would like to join our Facebook group, the CCB Collective, just click the link and ask to join today.  We would love to have you! 

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® Coquille
Relics & Artifacts® Regalis
7Gypsies Architextures Journal
Canvas Corp burlap
7Gypsies Architextures stickers
Tattered Angels High Impact Paint
Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist

"Mirror, Mirror on the Wall" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Heather Thompson

Having young children at home and the fact that they STILL think Momma is fun and "the best Momma in the world," my art is highly influenced by them.  It tends to reflect on what we are actually doing around the house or in the gardens or what we seem to be watching at that given time. Also seeing that my daughter, Olivia, and I share an art room together she gives me her honest, heart warming opinion on EVERYTHING.

I mean, when she doesn't like something, she will usually give you a better way of doing it in her eyes. So when it came to the "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall" piece, we were talking about how we wanted it to look and we had the movie up on the screen. Olivia was pointing out details in the walls and torches and things evolved from there until it was time to make the torches.

So with Apoxie Sculpt® in hand, (she gets to mix it up for me and then play with the left overs because I can never measure the perfect amount) I struggled, and then struggled some more, and then mom duties where calling and I had to make supper.  She asked if she could help. I thought, "Why not? Let's see what the girl's got."

I was happy to see I wasn't the only one that struggled. She would manipulate and twist and turn and with much delight, the torches were done, and not by me! As proud as Olivia was of her handiwork, I said, "Well we better put them where they belong."

So to give credit where credit is due, Olivia, the little scutlper that she is, did in fact, make the beautiful torches. With some expert "Olivia guidance" of color choices, this "Best Momma in the World" finished the paint details that made the whole project seamlessly come together.

A collaboration of the minds, our rendition of "Mirror Mirror on the Wall" was completed and Olivia is one proud artist.

*Inspiration from Walt Disney's 1959 "Snow White", the main villain, "Evil Queen"

Supplies:
Relics & Artifacts® Facia Familiaris
Relics & Artifacts® Dresden Star Chain Gold
Relics & Artifacts® Ostensorium
Apoxie Sculpt®
DecoArt Media Gesso
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics: Titanium White, Quinacridone Gold, Dioxazine Purple, Primary Cyan, Metallic Silver, Burnt Umber, Paynes Grey, Primary Yellow, Cadmium Orange Hue, Carbon Black Metallic Gold
Amazing Putty
Amazing Casting Resin
Stampin' Up!  Embossing Folder
Antique Iron Frame with mirror (from Italy)
Table Salt

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

Timeless Inspiration with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Debby Anderson

Angels and spiritual ephemera are very dear to me and usually inspire my creative journey.

I love the Relics & Artifacts® Coquille set and find that the oyster shell is a beautiful substrate to work in miniature.

My inspiration started with a inkjet printed copy of this beautiful image of the Madonna and two angels. My design style is spontaneous while using many layered mediums, materials and techniques while striving to replicate in an "old world" and "time worn" fashion.

"We are each of us angels with one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another." ~Luciano de Crescenzo


Supply list:
Relics & Artifacts® "Coquille"
Apoxie® Sculpt
KROMA Crackle®
ICE Resin® Iced Enamels- German Silver
Ice Resin®
Image of Madonna and two angels
Mod Podge® (seal inkjet image)
Rubber Stamp "Hail Mary"
Sand Paper ~ medium grit
Golden® Raw Sienna Acrylic Paint
Golden® Raw Umber Acrylic Paint
Mica Flakes
German Glass Glitter
Selection of tiny Shells, Pearls, Rhinestones
Rough faceted Quartz (crushed with a hammer)
Stand (top of vintage candle stick)
Hand forged wire for "Seven Sorrows" embellishment
 

"On Angel Wings We Soar!": A Very Cool Feature with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Milagros Rivera

Since you already know our Christmas here in Puerto Rico lasts long into the New Year, I thought I would share this tree with you. If you take a closer look at the presents underneath the tree, you'll see they are all David Yurman bags.  Yes, David Yurman, the jeweler!  Don't I wish they were all for me, but an even closer look would reveal this:  Relics & Artifacts® ornaments!!!!

I made *50* of these beautiful chandelier pendant ornaments for this display.  My eternal thanks to David for rushing them out to me!

This year has been a whirlwind for me. I can't even begin to describe all the good things and opportunities I have been given.  The words "grateful" and "blessed" have been on my heart all year. Going back to the way it all started, I remember doing my New Year's Resolution this way:

It was actually good to go back and read my last post of 2015 and all the hope I had for 2016.  As the new year approaches, I bid you creativity, opportunities and wings, as I feel that on angel wings we soar!

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® Chandelier Pendants