I took some wonderful classes at the Scrapbook Expo in Georgia a couple days ago, and one of the projects I started was a mixed media shadow box. I really don’t like leaving unfinished projects so I decided to take some time to finish this up today, and I’m so happy I did. I love this sweet altered canvas that features my 16 year old pup, Biscuit.<\/p>\n

<\/a>I started with a canvas that I reversed and applied Liquitex Gesso<\/a><\/span> around the exposed wooden edges and over the staples. I next covered the edges with Tim Holtz Tissue Paper<\/a><\/span>, using my new favorite glue, Beacon 3-in-1. I distressed the edges a bit and also smeared on some translucent Art Anthology dimensional medium in\u00a0Mermaid Sorbet<\/a><\/span> .<\/p>\n

While that was drying, I started to work on my background insert, which is made from heavy-weight watercolor paper. I used some mud texture paste<\/a><\/span> and an Art Anthology Gothic Stencil<\/a><\/span> to create some texture and interest to the background. When that was dry to the touch, I used 3 different Art Anthology Colorations Sprays<\/a><\/span> in Glorious (yellow), Sandcastle (tan), and Siesta Key (aqua) to spray the background as well as a little manila tag (I wanted to do a kind of vintage summer country fair color scheme — somehow that seemed fitting for my dear girl who is in her autumn (or winter), but about whom I am hoping and praying this is her summer. Plus I’m taking her in a stroller to a country fair next weekend!). To prep a couple of chipboard pieces (the key and word “Inspire”), I used more gesso to mute down the brown of the chipboard and then used some Art Anthology dimensional medium in Cayman Sorbet<\/a><\/span> and Mermaid Sorbet<\/a><\/span> (the sorbet dimensional mediums are translucent but add a great shimmer\/sparkle and rich hint of color) to coordinate with the Siesta Key spray from the background.<\/p>\n

Then to add some more interest and texture to the background, I used some Clear Coat Dimensional Medium<\/a><\/span> and dropped in <\/a>some small white seed beads and micro silver beads. I also used some plain Deco Art Modeling Paste<\/a><\/span> and dabbed on with my finger a Primative little heart.<\/p>\n

To cover up the seam where the background watercolor paper didn’t quite reach the edges of the shadowbox frame, I used a strand of pearls (the paper was cut correctly a little larger than the opening, but I was not careful about centering it after inserting and gluing it down – argh!). Lastly, I layered various antique bronze metal flowers\/rosettes and white paper flowers and leaves from my stash. I tried to group them into 3 loose clusters in a triangular formation, to follow the rule of 3 and thirds. I especially like the flower on my angelic Biscuit’s hair — doesn’t she look like she’s got the flower tucked behind her ear? \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

The following is a process video sharing the 2nd half of creating this canvas shadow box (the first part was done in class so I didn’t video that part):<\/p>\n