The Raven

I started out by painting a background on a 16x20 canvas. The top part is a deep purple, almost black.

I collected images that I wanted to use and did a little embellishing to them with markers and rubber stamps.

Once all the images were glued down I did some more painting and stenciling.

I use a thin layer of modeling paste where ever I want some texture.

Once the modeling paste is dry I paint over it and blend it in to the background. I add metallic paints and glazes for the final steps.

I enhance what I like and cover what I don't until I am happy with the end result.

Collage with Cricut

I really love my Cricut. Here are three more collages I made using it.

Post Surgery

I am finally up and about again and trying to get my mojo back. I still do not have full use of my hand so I am limited in what I can do, but making the best of it. One of the first things I was able to do was work on a digital collage. This is my cat Drake on his Big Adventure.

My new Cricut is something else I have been having a lot of fun with. It does intricate cuts on all kinds of materials. This first one is made entirely from paper and I inked over it for highlights and blending.

"The neighborhood is getting crow-ded"

This is a patchwork collage made from 1" squares of patterened paper with paint and embossing done on an 8x10 wood plaque. 

Shrines

"Jack Of All Trades"

I have a bunch of containers of all different kinds and I decided I wanted to make some shrines. After looking through my collection I chose a couple miniature dollhouse china cabinets, an altoid tin and a few matchboxes. Only the altoid tin has been completed so far.

"Día de los Muertos"

(Day Of The Dead)

"Moonstruck"

Now that this one is painted I'm gathering things to put in it.

These matchbox shrines are covered in clay. Next step is to paint them!

Another Little Collage

This is another little collage I did because I have all these clay faces that I made a long time ago and wanted to use them on something. 

I started off with red tissue paper that I crumpled up and then flattened back out. I glued it down on to a piece of poster board and started painting it.

 I was in the mood to play with my beads so I choose a few small ones and played around until I came up with something I thought would work around the head. The face was plain white when I made it so more painting! Nothing too detailed, just some color!

I had to play around with the hair for awhile to get it just right. I used long pieces of wool and just wrapped and twirled it around until it looked interesting.  Once I had the hair right I used more beads to secure it and decided to glitterfy the makeup.

 I used fusible fibers, an old jewelry finding and a few more beads to finish it off. Then I attached the whole thing to a piece of foam core and glued heavy gold braid around the outside as a hanger.

O My Goth

 This is my latest collage and it is one of the rare times I didn't have any kind of plan when I started it. All I knew was that I would like to use up some stuff that I had already. I played around making clay faces one day and this was one of many. Months later I pulled them out, chose this one and started painting it up. It reminded me of the lead singer of Marilyn Manson so I decided to go that way with it!

I knew I wanted it flat on a background so... I am almost embarrassed to admit this... I glued the face onto a popsicle stick (seriously!) then I added a little padding on top and started using scraps of fabric to dress her. I used pipe cleaners wrapped around the popsicle stick for her arms and made the hands from clay.

Her outfit was completely pieced together from scraps of a purple satin nighty and an old Rocky Horror Picture Show costume. I trimmed the collar and sleeves with strands of mini pearls.I agonized over what kind of hairdo to give her and in the end I decided to keep it simple so that I could give her an elaborate hat instead.

Being flat made it very hard to get a good photo of her hat. I cut a piece of cardboard to the right shape and covered it in the same fabric as the dress.

Half way through this project I decided I really didn't like the background I was working with. The crackle finish is cool but I wanted something more subtle with a little bit of color.

And now for my absolute favorite part, the embellishment! I have quite a few little sample bead scraps that I practice new stitches with and this one worked so well with the colors of her dress I had to find a way to use it.

This is a close up of her embellished hat. It is a lot of feathers, an old jewelry finding, some beads and craft wire.

My Inner Goddess

I love doing collage. It lets me incorporate many of the different things I like to do all in one project!

I had made this little goddess from clay a long time ago and she has been hanging around waiting for me to figure out what I wanted to do with her.

First off, I decided to make her blue and gave her a halter top. I think she needs more hair too!

 This is a close up of all the little details. I outlined her in purple fibers, gave her a headress and necklace and added beadwork to her clothing. I also used some fusible metallic fibers to give the whole thing a shimmery feel.

I used little lengths of beads to hold the metallic fibers in place then outlined the whole thing with some fuzzy black trim.