VIVA LA VIDA... #Cre8time Inspired by Frida Kahlo with Maria Soto

Hi there! Maria here with a project I've been wanting to share with everyone. I love the artist Frida Kahlo, and after looking up some of her many quotes, I was inspired to create with these in mind. 

I created this piece inpspired by a short but very strong phrase, "Viva la Vida" which means "Live Life". I feel that we need to embrace life, live to the fullest, try to overlook all the negativity we see around us and just scream these words out to remind ourselves that life matters, that we should do our best to make the most of it today, to leave the past behind us and live life now. 

During one of my many visits at Michaels, I purchased several wood pieces and these cute little frames already have a cute cut-outs on the corners. I noticed they also have a small frame that fits over them, so I also purchased several of those too.

I sketched an image of Frida, then took out my Walnut Hollow burning tool from and began to trace around the image.

I love burning images on wood. For this piece, I decided to add shading too. Whenever I draw or paint I have to add shading and details, though this is the first time I tried it on wood – and it will not be the last because I really loved how this turned out.

I used Plaid acrylic paints to add color to the piece, then I stamped the quote using black ink. As you can see the hair was left alone, as I didn't want to cover all the shading I had done. I used wood glue to put together the two pieces.

I used gold paint to paint the sides and the back of the finished frame.

Then I coiled some colored wire over a paintbrush, added some beads and wrapped it around the cut outs on the top corners. I also added beads to make her earring, and finished with some swarovski clear crystals. 

To finish off this piece I decided to add a layer of Amazing Clear Cast Resin. Not only would this resin give it a glass-like finish, but the colors would be brighter too.

I gathered these supplies in preparation: parchment paper, wipes, measuring cups, a mixing stick, and Amazing Clear Cast Resin.

Using Amazing Clear Cast Resin is pretty easy. First you measure out equal amounts of parts "A" and "B" {please CLICK HERE to view mixing instructions}. 

   

Add part "A" to part "B" and mix the resin slowly. When completely mixed, let it sit for a few minutes for the bubbles to go away. Now the resin is ready to apply to the piece. I gently spread a thin layer of resin around using the mixing stick.

She looks AMAZING and love it!

I think I will do a collection of "Frida" inspired frames like this one.

The photos don't do this piece justice at all –
photographing the clear resin is not easy. 

I hope you like my piece – please feel free to leave a comment.

A simple quote inspired me to create this piece...

What inspires you to create?

Thanks for visiting! I invite you to stop over to my blog, "What is Creativity"

 at http://chuy-creativity.blogspot.com to see more of my creations. ~ Maria Soto

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How to Apply an AMAZING Resin Topcoat with Kristie Taylor

Hello everyone! Kristie Taylor here and I would like to show you one way to put a resin top coat over a huge painting. Pouring a resin topcoat on helps to not only protect the painting – but also adds lots of depth and brightens the colors. It can make a huge difference, bringing luster and shine to the painting.

Recently I discovered flow painting. This is a process where you mix paints and water and other ingredients together to create a fluid paint, then pour them onto a substrate.

My daughter and I created this beautiful painting together use the flow painting technique. It turned out so much better than we expected! So much better, that as soon as I posted a photo to social media it sold!

So, since this was painted on plywood (it was supposed to be practice... LOL), I needed to prep it to accept resin. I used wood glue to apply braces to the back making it flat.

Okay – now that the painting is actually flat, lets get her prepped to receive her shiny new Amazing Clear Cast Resin topcoat!

Spray 91% alcohol over the surface and wipe with a damp cloth.

This will help remove any dust that is on the surface.

Then carry the painting outdoors and spray with a sealer.

This will keep the pigments in your paint stationary.

Make sure your painting is completely DRY and level.

Mix equal parts of the Amazing Clear Cast Resin together until no striations are present {yes... you are seeing correctly - this is gallon size}. Did you know there is an 8 oz. size and a 32 oz. size too??!

Allow resin to sit so it can degas and the bubbles can rise.

  

Pour resin over the canvas slowly, and spread it out. Amazing Clear Cast Resin is self leveling, so just make sure the entire canvas is covered.

Once you have the resin spread out, spritz it with alcohol again. 

Wait ten minutes for the alcohol to evaporate {for SAFETY – rubbing alcohol is flammable}, then go over it with heat if necessary to pop any remaining bubbles. I use a culinary torch for this.

The client wanted me to add some glitter to the painting, so after the first coat of Amazing Clear Cast Resin was partially cured (about 6 hours later), I mixed up another smaller batch of resin and added some glitter to it, then spread that over certain parts of the canvas. CLICK HERE to view mixing/preparation.

**PLEASE NOTE** The resin needs a dust free zone to cure, so I made a dust tent with PVC pipe and a dropcloth. Doesn't look pretty... but it worked.

That's all there is to it!

Just look at this beauty now! I love the way the resin intensifies the colors and gives the entire painting more depth!

Here are some lovely detail shots for your viewing pleasure! They have been rotated 90º clockwise in order to view larger.

What will you create with
Amazing Clear Cast Resin??!

Thank you so much for stopping by today! ~ Kristie

To see more of my work, please visit my blog, "The Scrapinater", 

over on my YouTube Channel or on Instagram.

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#Cre8time Finishing Touches... AMAZING Inspiration by Lara Hjorthoy

Hey Friends! Lara here to share a little inspiration on how I'm using Amazing Clear Cast Resin today! I'm putting the finishing touches on my Mars Attacks, Alien lady – while I work on creating my second sculpt for Penumbra Gallery's, movie-themed extravaganza this March... in Portugal! I'm adding eyelashes and high gloss to her eyes!

I've added the Clear Cast resin to her eyes. I prepared a small batch and let it sit for a bit to get thicker, then dolloped a smidge into her eyes... and let that sit and cure. Now her eyes are glistening and bright – which is lovely for an Alien about to take part in destroying the world! 

What finishing touches do you

do with Amazing Clear Cast Resin!??

Stay Inspired Friends! ~ Lara

Check out my website at www.larahjorthoy.com and YourToyCreation.etsy.com. You can follow my day to day creations at Facebook and Instagram, look for YourToy Creations!

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An AMAZING #Cre8time Reveal... the Hidden Beauty of Petoskey Stones

Beauty in nature is found most everywhere... even in hidden places. This is true of Petoskey stones, which are found in Michigan and the upper Great Lakes region. This fossilized coral has a unique geometric pattern that is revealed when wet.

While these stones can be polished to bring out it's beautiful designs – we've found an easier way! By coating stones with a thin layer of Amazing Clear Cast Resin, you can achieve a wet-stone look that reveals each stones unique pattern.

Watch to see more of this amazing process...

If you have trouble viewing video, please CLICK HERE.

**A few TIPS** After applying resin, you'll want to cover stones while curing to prevent dust from settling on the surface. After curing you may have a small puddle of cured resin on the backside of the stones. This can be repaired by sanding that part down, then applying a thin coat of Amazing Clear Cast Resin over the sanded area and allow to cure again overnight. The resin can also be applied using a foam brush or cosmetic sponges.

Enjoy your beautiful coated stones! The Petoskey stones reveal their inner beauty with this easy faux-polishing technique... ready to use in handmade jewelry and other handmade creations.

This technique can be used with other stones to bring out their hidden beauty... like this pendant featuring a triangular stone created by Rachel Whetzel.

What would you embellish with resin?

Thanks for visiting! CLICK HERE to view more videos on how you
can utilize Amazing Casting Products in your creations.

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#Cre8time Garden Play... Teeny Tiny Fairy Doors by Maria Soto

Hi there! I want to share a cute little project I made... it reminded me how much I love getting my hands dirty as I create fun crafty items.

I joined a swap group a few years ago, we always do jewelry, but this time I was asked if I wanted to take part of the fairy garden swap and I accepted the invitation. CLICK HERE to jump over to see my owl charms, and HERE for the Star Wars themed charms I made for previous swaps.

We had to make tiny doors and a window. I decided to make the door with a window, just didn't know how. After a lot of thinking and a few craft fails, I went to the craft store and I found a section of tiny miniatures for fairy gardens. I had no idea they had these available, so I purchased a door. I decided to use Creative Paperclay® to make an impression of the door only – and then I added the remaining details by hand.

The door I purchased had a tiny butterfly on it, it was cute but I decided to add a window in it's place. Once the doors were done with their new windows it was time to let the clay dry over night. Next I hand painted each with acrylic paints. To finish them up, I added some sparkle and a bit of flowers to decorate each tiny door.

I also had to make these safe for outdoor use, so I used Amazing Clear Cast Resin to seal the paper clay... and at the same time used it as glue to add all the glitter, beads and tiny plants/flowers. Just a little bit of resin was enough to finish up these tiny houses – I love how glossy they look thanks to the resin.

Here you can see one of the tiny doors all painted,

ready for the final embellishments.

 

I applied the resin all over the piece and then added beads

to serve as tiny rocks around the plant and flowers.

Here are the finished doors, all ready to go to their new homes.

It's great when you have a product that you can use in so many different ways.

I really like these tiny little doors – adding the trim on the doors, and the tiny windows to make each door different and unique. I loved how the Amazing Clear Cast Resin not only allowed me to make these outdoor safe, but I think the glossy finish makes the texture, the color, and the little details really POP.

What would you create for your fairy garden?

I hope I have inspired you to find new ways to use this amazing resin, the more I play with it the more creative fun I have. These little doors are ready to welcome some fun fairies. Share your ideas with us, we'd love to see how creative you are with Amazing Casting Products.

Thanks for visiting! I invite you to stop over to my blog, "What is Creativity"

 at http://chuy-creativity.blogspot.com to see more of my creations. ~ Maria Soto

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#Cre8time Love for Nature... DIY Painted Rocks by Melissa Johnson

Hello everyone! Today I am sharing a fun and easy Valentine's project that you can even include the kids in (I did!).

We have had some beautiful weather here in Texas, so we decided to take this project outside. I had the kids gather up some rocks with flat surfaces from our yard and we washed them in some soapy water.

Next, we painted on our rocks using Mod Podge

to create hearts and other designs.

 

 

 

 

 

Then we added some very fine glitter over the Mod Podge.

After my daughter and I painted our designs, I mixed up some Amazing Clear Cast Resin to coat the top of the rocks and make the glitter really sparkle!

 

It was so much fun that my son even got involved! 

We set them out to dry overnight on a plastic garbage bag.

And here are the finished painted rocks :)

 

The resin coating makes the glitter POP!

 

 

What Valentine's goodies have

you made with your kids?

Make something that makes you happy :) ~ Melissa Johnson

For more of my mixed media projects, please visit my blog.

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