Show Us Your Favorite Designer at 4 Crafty Chicks

Well, crafters, this was one difficult project. When I learned that the theme this week at 4 Crafty Chicks was going to be to choose your favorite designer, I thought, "Who can choose just ONE designer from all the fantastic artists and companies in blog land?! I finally went with a designer who has pushed me out of my comfort zone and into broader and more creative outlets. That designer is Sue Eisenhauer from Ike's Art.

Today I created a mixed media canvas and popped it into a wooden frame that I spray-painted in gold and white. My background is patterned paper that I sprayed with homemade blue shimmer spray. I used an American flag from Oriental Trading Company, then used a strip of leftover star-patterned paper at the bottom on which to adhere part of my sentiment.
I colored my image, called Libby, with Copics before attaching her against the front of the frame, giving my canvas some dimension. I added glitter to my image's hair, crown and nylon-ed leg as well as adding a strip of die-cut glitter paper to give my canvas even more dimension (and a little shimmer). My last bit of embellishing is the silver spray behind my image.

I chose my sentiment carefully. It reads: "May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please but as the opportunity to do what's right"
Which designer is YOUR favorite? Choose one and create something and link it up to 4 Crafty Chicks this week!

Challenges I am Entering:

Craft Rocket challenges - Spots and/or Stripes

Southern Girls challenges - Anything Goes w/Team Trace

Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes

Moo Mania & More - Summer (I was inspired by my country's Independence Day summer holiday)

Everybody Art challenges - Summer/Holiday

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Mixed Media/Altered Art Goes

Handmade Backgrounds

I had a spare moment or 20 and decided to check out what all the hubbub was about making your own backgrounds with alcohol inks. I used some palette paper and squeezed a coupe drops of different colored inks on. After spraying lightly with water, I started pressing some pieces of glossy paper from my stash onto the palette paper.

Look at all the pretty papers I created! I especially like the large piece-so many possibilities there. I took one of the smaller pieces and created a card (shown above) using a freebie from Miss Rach. After coloring with Copics, I fussy-cut this little cutie. Before placing him on the card, I used a white gel pen and helped define some of the coral reef areas. After I set my tortoise to swimming, it was an easy matter to embellish with fibers, lace, charms and a spray of pearls. I think the sentiment is perfect for my card, don't you?

I try and stretch my comfort zone often enough to keep me on my toes. How about you? If you haven't already, I hope you get to try to make your own backgrounds, whether from alcohol inks, photography or other media.

Challenges I am Entering:

Alphabet challenges - Z is for Zoo Animals 

Through the Purple Haze - Make a Scene

Mod Squad challenges - Animals

The Paper Shelter challenges - Animal Magic

Fan-tastic Tuesday challenges - Anything Goes w a Twist: Animals

Tuesday Throwdown challenges - Create Your Own Background

Crafting When We Can - Use a Digital stamp

Cre8tive Hands Friends challenges - Use a digital image