I'm addicted to matte gel medium....there. I said it! It's such a great thing...pricey to me but I always try to have a coupon at Michael's when I buy it. 40% off saves a ton! I use the gel medium in my collage work and have painted it over lace and fabric as well as paper and it holds wonderfully! Plus it dries to a wonderful matte finish....not shiny showing brush marks....
I just bought a new jar of it (it's found in the artist's paints and paint brushes isle) and also noticed that a certain brand of their stretched canvases were on sale 40% off last week. Remember the beautiful poster that I found at Paris Market in Savannah? I've been trying to think of a neat way to display it other than traditional framing so I found a canvas just about the right size to mount it to. It was a little bit wider than the poster so I cut strips from an old bird book that would cover the exposed area and also overlap down on the side. I painted the gel medium onto the canvas first then added a strip and then painted the medium over top as well. Measure and cut these strips first as the medium dries fast!
I decided to collage the poster to the canvas too. I wanted it to feel more like a piece of art. This was a little tricky as it is so large but I painted the medium onto half of the canvas front quickly then positioned that half of the poster, smoothing out as much air bubbles as I could. Next I painted the medium on the other half of the canvas and then pressed down the remaining part of the poster.
I applied the medium over the top of the poster too! Whenever you use a lot of this stuff, especially on a large piece of paper, you can get some serious air bubbles. I had plenty but don't care. I smoothed as much as I could while applying the medium on top but love the look of the small folds here and there. Stained, tattered and wrinkled....sounds beautiful to me!
It's not dry in these photos but I take a few later to show you how it ends up looking. The medium is a little white and cloudy when you first put it on.
It's not dry in these photos but I take a few later to show you how it ends up looking. The medium is a little white and cloudy when you first put it on.
I may add a few more simple elements and then it will be ready to hang!
(By the way, the poster is made by Cavallini)
Some ecru lace I found last week on Etsy from two different sellers
.....stained, delicate....and lovely ~
.....stained, delicate....and lovely ~
Wishing you a wonderful, creative Tuesday sweet friends!
xxoo, Dawn
xxoo, Dawn
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28 comments:
Very cute & creative!
Hi sweetie,
your collage looks just beautifull, love to see it ,when its completely finished.It`s a wonderfull day here today,birds singing outside my open window, sun shining, and the sea has it`s dark blue color-so beautifull.
I wish you a beautifull day too Dawn.
Love and hugs
Dorthe
I'm loving this idea! Thanks for sharing. I've been desiring some bird photos for a few years now and the more I see yours the more I know I must incorporate them into my home. Thanks for the great lesson.
That collage is beautiful, very creative you are. I love stopping by and seeing what you have created for the day. The lace is pretty, I look forward to seeing what it's been added to. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day.
Cassandra
The bird collage is so neat! Looks like we both found lace lately! Love it all!
Blessings~
Such a smart idea, if anyone could think of it..it would be you! I can't wait to see it all fininshed and ready to hang. I really can't wait to see what you do with your "new" lace purchase, have a great day Dawn....I forgot to tell you when we were together that my middle name is Dawn too!!
You must be such a lovely lady to create all these beautiful things. I would just love to meet you and if you are ever, ever in South Africa ......
Pat xx
What a great idea for such a lovely poster! Thank you for explaining and showing not only today but everyday. I always love stopping by to see your beautiful work and your images.
Have a wonderful day and if you ever come over to Italy...(on your way to South Africa)
Ciao Helena
Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful idea, Dawn. I am definitely going to try doing this with the botanical prints from my old calendar.
Love the canvas! I love how you incorporated the text from the bird book to compliment the poster.
A little tip I use is that when using larger sheets of paper such as your poster, brushing on wallpaper paste to the back gives you a bit more workability as it does not dry as quickly as the gel medium.
I just know that your few other elements will make a very special piece of art work for display in your home.
Happy crafting!
Ohhh, so I shouldn't be too worried about the air bubbles? Maybe I can stop fretting and let it go. I'd switched to a spray glue, which never shows a bubble, but then there's no protective coating. Okay, learning here...
Hi Dawn,
Loved your post. I did not know what gel medium was so I Googled it. There is a good article that explains it here-
http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Techniques/Art_Mediums/649.php
I love that poster, too! I have it framed and hanging!
Hi Dawn ~
That poster is wonderful! I often use the gel medium too ~ it's a great product!
I hadn't been by in a while and was looking at photos of that sweet baby. I'm sure she isn't spoiled... is she???
I love your bird piece!! Very pretty. I recently did that with six canvases and vintage looking scrapbook paper. Yours is awesome! Good job. So, you like Liquitex more than Golden? I've only ever used Golden, so I'd love to know...
Sheila
I love cavallini papers and anything having to do with birds(only just one of the reasons i love your blog so much). I will have to try the gel medium. Way to go on the lace puchase! Can't wait to see the finished canvas. Please share!!!! Blessings, Gerri
Oops..IF the comments are not being held for approval..then I have just lost mine! If so..I don't know what I did wrong. But..one way or the other...I don't remember what I said..but I love your blog!!
I'm so glad to hear that you and your son are starting to feel better Dawn, and I'm so very sorry to hear about the passing of your dear blog friend, but I'm sure that you let her know that she was important to you, and that brightened her days.
I'm working on a large canvas too. For the first time. It's a bit intimidating, but it's fun too, to think that it will have quite a bit of presence when it is done....I hope!
Thank you for all that you share here.
Lena
Dawn . this is so lovely -- I love the golden products also -- Hope you are feeling all well this week
Kathy - ga
Dawn, I can see this hanging in your studio! How lovely...sharon
Dawn this is just stunning, I love it wow !!! Another favorite.
Hugs, Laura.
Love the way you showed all the steps.
Once again you have created a masterpiece!!! Thanks for the tip...Love Tiina.....
You shared with me the wonders of Gel Medium and I love it. I used it on my satin Bears, it was wonderful because it was not stiff and held to card stock so well.
I love your poster. my days are filled with Arney right now. He is in so much pain. He has a foot and a half cut going across his knee.
But soon this will all be history and life will be easier.
Your, Mary
Hello, all the way from Australia, I love your blog, your beautiful words and looking at your lovely pieces of creative art.
I was reading your blog today, re the air bubble problem, you may already have one, but I just thought sometimes a little contribution may help. I used to decoupage with large, large sheets of paper...and always layed a piece of wax paper over the paper when gluing, and then used a small rubber roller over the top, fantastic, not a bubble in sight!!!Like you said, you must work quickly....anyway, have a lovely day creating...xxx Suzanne
I used that kind of lace years ago when I did heirloom sewing for my girls, along with smocking and shadow embroidery. It was very expensive. I think it's Swiss lace. I still have some, couldn't bear to part with the scraps. Have fun playing with all your treasures!
Love your little tutorials. Have fun creating!--Sally
Can't wait to see how this turns it - wonderfully creative!
I hate air bubbles!
Love what you are doing tho' , I also love the way you share your half finished projects , awesome stuff!
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