Sketchbook Project 2011: Below the Chrysalis

Below the Chrysalis

My next pages of the Sketchbook Project. The theme I chose is Below the Surface. I will be working the next two weeks on my sketchbook pages in hopes that I will have it finished in time to be postmarked by the deadline of January 15th. You can see my previous pages here. I have plans to see the Sketchbook on tour during a trip to see my friends Phoebe and Missy so that is keeping me focused during this time of distraction. So, I shall continue on sketching and painting and hope for the best! The next Art House Co-op Project I've signed up for is the Million Little Pictures Photomobile Project. I've chosen the theme "From Here to There" and will be doing it during my next long distance trek along with my friend Gina who chose the theme "Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner."  If you love photography, I encourage you to join us in the project!

A Flower Faerie & A Rainbow

Flower Pot Faerie

I made this Flower Pot Faerie for Lita for Christmas. She and I both love Faeries and butterflies. Purple is her favorite color. We are full of promise for living an artful and creative life for 2011 so I thought it was a perfect combination of all those components. Here is a short little tutorial on how you can make your own one of a kind Flower Pot Faerie. She will inspire you all year long!

Materials: 1 small terracotta pot

                Various decorative papers in your favorite colors, torn into small pieces

                Matching decorative ribbon and fabric flowers

                Mod Podge

                Gel Medium

                Fabric Glue

                Stamp pad in matching colors

                Twine

                Fabric Butterflies or Butterfly Stickers

                Faerie Ornament

                Small silk flowers

                Acrylic Paint, matching paper colors 

                Spanish Moss

                Floral Foam

                Pot Critter 

                Printer

Using Mod Podge, adhere paper pieces to the pot, overlapping as you go. Let dry. 

Once the papers are dry, add some watered down acrylic paint over the paper in various areas. Wipe off lightly with wet paper towel. This leaves some of the paint behind but still allows the paper to show through.

Once dry, apply a light layer of Gel Medium. Print out inspiring words on the computer using the font of your choice. I used the words inspire, dream, wish, create. Using a sponge, apply some rubber stamp ink to the words to age them a bit. Apply them to the papered pot with Mod Podge. When dry, coat the entire papered area with one more layer of Gel Medium and add a few fabric flowers or bows to finish it off.

Paint the lip of the pot with acrylic paint. When dry, glue decorative ribbon around the lip of the pot and tie twine right underneath. Push Floral Foam into the bottom of the pot. Position your Faerie Ornament into the foam and top with Spanish Moss. Add a pot critter (in this piece I added a frog) and some small silk flowers to one side. Tie thin wire around a paper or fabric butterfly and stick into the foam to fly above the faerie. 

Viola! You're very own Flower Pot Faerie!

After dropping off the Faerie to her new home yesterday, Lita and I took a trip to a New Age store, a Scrapbbook store and of course to Barnes & Noble as well as Borders. It rained all day long but at the end of the day, as we were driving back home, we saw a rainbow next to a church. While waiting at a stoplight, I snapped a picture of it out the rain splattered car window. A great way to end a wonderful day with such a great friend.