Here it is mid-May. I haven't posted diddly since early April. Good excuse? Actually, yes! Went on vacation. And then stuff. family. more stuff. So until I get my act together and write posts featuring new projects, here is an oldie but goodie I hope you will enjoy!
In June, our older daughter graduated from this bicycle-friendly academic world that she enthusiastically embraced for four years. Is she ready to go out and make her mark on the world? Well, ready or not, here she comes! And in this day of high unemployment and economic despair, I am happy to report she just landed a professional job in her field of study.
As a mother, it is nerve-wracking exciting to cheer from the sidelines, as one's children take their first steps towards becoming self-sufficient in the "real" world. I know she'll be fine. I'm not so sure about me. Thank goodness I have my creative therapy. Thus, I present my altered art canvas entitled, "Keep Calm and Ride On."
This two-piece
canvas uses the college graduation announcement and one of my favorite photos
from that special day. The photo captures her walking away, while taking a
quick glance back. I love how this represents her moving forward with her
life, while always treasuring her wonderful college days.
The supplies:
12" x 12" and 12" x
4" artist canvasses
four eye screws
acrylic paint
cardstock - two solid
colors and coordinating paper [I used the college colors]
chipboard
letters
large and small Prima
flowers
Buttons and hemp cord
or embroidery floss
tassel (found at
Dollar Store)
decorative pearl
brad
3 different
coordinating ribbons, 16" in length
acrylic parentheses
bicycle stamp and
black Staz-on ink
college
announcement
photo
The process:
Paint both canvas
pieces. Let dry.
Cut solid color
cardstock 1/2" smaller than larger canvas. Cut coordinating papers to fit
accordingly.
Decoupage cardstock
and coordinating paper to canvasses.
Stamp [bicycle] image
onto printed paper. Trim and mat with solid paper, adhere to canvas.
Mat photo. Position
in place, but do not yet adhere.
Apply chipboard
letters [I looped the tassel to one of the letters] and acrylic
parentheses.
Using hot
glue, adhere buttons to wheels on bicycle image.
Decoupage
announcement and text onto canvas. Hot glue layered flowers and small button,
slightly overlapping onto announcement and text.
When dry,
decoupage entire canvas which adds luster and holds chipboard letters in
place.
Using 3D foam squares, adhere matted photo to canvas and hot glue
pearl brad.
Measure and mark 3" in from sides on canvas edges [bottom
edge for large canvas and top edge for smaller canvas].
Twist eye
screws into canvas at marks, so canvasses line up.
Cut ribbon into 8"
lengths. Tie three ribbons together, inserting ribbon through matching eye
screws.
This connects the canvas pieces. Trim ribbon ends at a
diagonal.
The altered artwork
canvas is now ready to display and can easily be mounted on the wall.
Now one
question remains: Who gets to keep it? The proud Mom [Me] or the new college
graduate [She]?
Partying with:
