Here Comes the Sun (sing it with me)

I found a terracotta smiling sun the other day at Goodwill that needed a redo badly. It took me a while just to clean the thing, and then discovered that it just needed a paint job. I think I painted this piece three times, using different colors and combos of colors, but i didn't like any of them!

Then I remembered I had some acrylic paint that was "ready to pour". I decided to try my hand at fluid acrylic painting with this sun instead of a canvas, and I like the way it turned out. I added a border of tiny shaped sequins in a subtle color. Now all I have to do is put a final coat of varnish on him to seal the sequins and I'm satisfied with the outcome.

I paid almost a whole dollar for him and can't wait to hang him up in my house. I find some amazing items at thrift stores. In fact, I'm meeting my girlfriend next week to one that offers 50% off the whole store on Mondays. Wish me luck!

Challenges I am Entering:

Fluid Acrylic Painting is Difficult

 I don't care how easy it looks on You Tube, fluid acrylic painting is difficult. After months of practice I finally came up with a decent ratio of paint, flow aid and silicone to create cells, but it's not 100% fool-proof. As you can see from the photo above, not all my paints reacted the way I wanted them to. But I still kind of like this canvas, so I'll keep it.

On the other hand, this painting, made the same day, went ballistic with cell formation, but they are still "off". Does anyone paint with fluid acrylics/? What am I doing wrong? It looks like I spilled Boba all over my canvas. And I made two other canvases that day, but they were so bad I didn't even bother glossing them with varnish...

However, I am an Aries girl, and give up are not words in my personal dictionary. How about you? Do you have a technique, medium or art materials that just come up short with your expectations? 

Painting Furniture Now

 Last summer a neighbor was moving out, and had put lots of "junk" at the end of her driveway for garbage pick-up. My crafty radar lit up when I saw 2 metal patio tables. The black legs were slightly rusted, and the tops were covered with these teeny tiny glass tiles, but several were missing. I asked and was given permission to take them and they've been in my garage for almost a year. I decided it was time to make some magic.
I took the tops off the tables, and 2 hours later I had chiseled off all the glass tiles. I sadly underestimated the time it would take to strip off the tiles. I had to use a wire brush to clean the legs, and afterwards, spray painted them gold. I think they turned out well, although my original colors were going to be pink and aqua. I couldn't find my spray cans in those colors, so gold it was!
Next, I set up my acrylic paints to do a fluid paint pour. I expected a lot more black to show up, but the pattern isn't bad, and in the sun, the black doesn't show up much.

You can't really see it, so I took a close-up of the sparkle I put

I am starting on my 2nd table top tomorrow. I know the pattern won't be the same, not with a fluid paint pour, but I'll use the same colors, so it will all work out.
I can't wait to take my tables to my "cabin in the woods" and start working on the other deck furniture! Meanwhile, my 2nd table top awaits.
Happy crafting, guys!

Anything Goes at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

Two weeks left for the Anything Goes challenge at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog, and I'm here today with a DT make to inspire you to create and link up for your chance to win free digis of your choice at the Scribbles Store.

My project today combines fluid acrylic painting with a Copic-colored image on a small metal serving tray. I first altered the look of the tray, using various shades of blue and purple, with some white and black mixed in for contrast. Once the paint had dried, I printed and colored a Scribbles Designs image called #833 Blue Police Booth. You should check out the Scribbles Store for some endearing and also hilarious images.

I adhered my image to the tray, then varnished over the whole thing with Liquitex Gloss Varnish. I added the key charm/chain and the bow tie to bring my piece closer to the Doctor, then added stars and jewels to make it shimmer. Although it is definitely showcasing Doctor Who, I couldn't resist the pun in multi-colored letters. For those of you unfamiliar with Dr. Who and/or Spanish, a Tardis is the phone booth "spaceship" the Doctor travels in, and Buenas Tardes translates to Good Afternoon.

Don't you just love puns?? I do!! So the sky's the limit at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog where the theme for the next two weeks is ANYTHING GOES. That means any type of project, so open your heart to your muse and create art. Just don't forget to link up with the main Scribbles blog for your chance to WIN digi images of your choice from the Store. Good luck and have fun!

Ike's World Challenge Blog is Inspired by Songs

The challenge this month at Ike's World Challenge Blog is to create something inspired by a song. You would think that a Star Wars-inspired image like this one would have been inspired by the theme song from the original movie, wouldn't you? Believe it or not, the inspiration for my altered art project came from an oldie but goodie - MR. ROBOTO. If you've ever heard this song, I know you've got it stuck in your head now. (you're welcome, LOL)
See/hear it here:

https://youtu.be/rcCS8AK6csg?list=RDrcCS8AK6csg

The image I used to create my altered tray comes from a digital set of 8 images called Sexy Star Wars and can be found at Ike's Art Store.  The song, the image and my latest dive into fluid acrylic painting has come together to create this "cosmic cell phone tray" (I'm always losing my phone). I didn't want to cover up the "intergalactic scene" my painting created, so I added just a bit of trim around the tray's edge and a few shaped paper clips.
Now, I've been told that I have a warped sense of humor, but do you get the pun intended? My phone is a Samsung Galaxy (not an I-phone but  an...) sigh, some people just don't like puns
While you're enjoying the song, get crafty and link up your project to Ike's World Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift certificate to her store. You can listen to your own music, I won't force you to listen to this, but it is catchy, eh?
Have fun, crafters!

Challenges I am Entering:

Everybody Art - Recycle (vintage metal serving tray)

Shopping Our Stash -  Your Favorite Things (acrylic paints, puns, sci-fi themes)