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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#MixedMedia Easter EGG-spiration... by Michele Kosciolek

Hello fellow creatives! Michele here – with Easter right around the corner I have a little EGG-spiration for you today!!

I've decoupaged some craft eggs with tissue paper stamped with Viva Las VegaStamps!, then sprayed with Distress Sprays. Now, I have had these eggs for quite some time and have wanted to decorate them for Easter for just as long... I am so glad I finally did and took things one AWESOME step further!

I gave these eggs a coating of Amazing Clear Cast Resin – OMG – that was just what it needed to make these eggs POP!

Here they are!!

I decided to turn these into hanging eggs.

This one is hanging on May Arts silk ribbon

with a couple of hand blown glass beads.

This one is hanging on copper wire with

a couple of handmade Tibetan glass beads.

I love how these eggs shine and already have

them hanging with my Easter decorations!

How are you decorating for Easter??

Thanks for sharing part of you day with us!!!

Until next time... get creating!! ~ Michele

For more projects and inspiration please visit my blog "Stuff by Belle"
or follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michele.kosciolek

Instagram: stuffbybelle
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/bybellemk/

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WOODen it be #Cre8time Lovely... 3 Resin and Wood Projects by Cat Kerr

Hello Amazing Makers! What WOOD you do with Amazing Clear Cast Resin in your Cre8time?! Today mixed-media artist Cat Kerr shares a few easy ways to use resin in your craft projects combined with a variety of wood and natural items.

Sit back and enjoy viewing this video from Cat Kerr featuring "3 Resin and Wood Projects". We hope you are inspired to add a POP of Amazing Clear Cast Resin to your creations!

If you are having trouble viewing video, please click HERE.

Thank you so much for watching!! If you love these resin techniques and would like to learn more... please check out Cat Kerr's "3 Resin and Wire Project Ideas" video by clicking HERE.

What are you creating today
with wood and resin?

To see more of Cat's work, we encourage you to take time to visit CatKerr.com or her blog and see what other amazing things she is up to.

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A Slice of #Cre8time Love... by Michele Kosciolek

Michele here with a quickie in honor of "LOVE"... a small wall hanging and showing love isn't only for Valentines Day.

I found a perfect little slice of wood, it spoke to me and I had to create with it!!

I stamped with some Viva Las VegaStamps! images and colored directly onto my slice of wood. I also hand stamped the word love and rubbed a bit of Archival Ink in the impression.

I used Amazing Clear Cast Resin to create a protective layer over my stamping and to make it seem like it was a painting under a piece of glass.

The Amazing Clear Cast Resin brought out the beautiful details of the wood – look at that heathering in the bark... WOW!

What seasonal decor
are you making

in the name of LOVE?

Thanks for sharing part of you day with us!!!

Until next time... get creating!! ~ Michele

For more projects and inspiration please visit my blog "Stuff by Belle"
or follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michele.kosciolek

Instagram: stuffbybelle
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/bybellemk/

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Serving up #Cre8time Greetings... by Tracy Krueger

Hello everyone! It's Tracy here and I'm super excited to share with you my first project as an Amazing Casting Products Creative Team member! The project I'm sharing today is something I created to display at a Holiday Market that my employer holds every December. I knew I wanted to incorporate a technique I learned about 3 months ago... Fluid (or Flow) Painting.

I started by staining two wood plates with Minwax Classic Grey wood stain. I left the centers unstained as I will be painting that area with acrylics.

After the stain has dried thoroughly, I picked out the Acrylic paint colors I want to use. I usually always include black and white, then 2-3 other colors (here I've used 4 colors of Artist Loft paints from Michaels). If you've never tried Flow Painting, there are tons of videos and techniques on YouTube.

  

I taped the edges of the plate so I didn't accidentally get paint outside the middle of the plate. Then I took the plate and placed it on top of the cup containing all the colors combined, and flipped over – holding the two tightly together. 

You want to wait a minute to let all of the paint settle, then lift the cup off of the plate and begin to gently tilt the plate so that the paint covers your surface. After surface is covered, I use a kitchen torch to make more of the "cells" appear (with flame couple of inches above the paint). Gently remove tape and place on a very flat/level surface. It's a good idea to covered them while drying – creating a "hood" so dust does not settle onto the paint. You will need about 24 - 48 hours for the paint to FULLY dry {depending on your climate/conditions drying time may vary}.

Now you are ready for your first coat of Amazing Clear Cast Resin. I mixed equal amounts of Parts "A" and "B" (I used two Tbsp. of each) according to the package directions, and poured onto the dry paint, using the stir stick to spread it around. Depending on the size of your substrate, you may need to vary amount of resin needed. I always let the resin cure 24 hours (sometimes even more) to make sure it is fully ready.

  

I pulled out some of my rub-ons and applied "Live, Laugh, Love" in white and "Family" in black on the two different plates. By placing on top of the cured layer of resin, you will see that the letters sort of "pop off" the plate. I love the dimension that it gives! 

Now you are ready for a second coat of Amazing Clear Cast Resin to seal the letters in place. Spread resin around with your stir stick so it reaches all of the edges. Again, let this cure at least 24 hours (until it isn't sticky).

These plates will make fantastic Holiday serving plates {Amazing Clear Cast Resin is food safe} or even lovely decorations for your wall.

Thank you for taking time to read my first post. 

 I look forward to sharing more in the future!

Do you have any Holiday party ideas?

Stay tuned for more... ~ Tracy

You can find more of my work on my Blog: http://tracykrueger-nine.blogspot.com/2017/

or follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracy.albrechtsonkrueger

or Instagram: www.instagram.com/tgkrueger

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You can see Tracy's work along with other AMAZING Creations from our Creative Team at Creativation – Drop by the Alumilite/Amazing Casting Products Booth #2214.

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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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