WInter Wonderland Reverse Canvas!

Hello, December's Guest designer Deb Riddell from Paxton Valley Folk Art here to share a tutorial with you on how to create this 'Winter Wonderland' reverse canvas.

I'd like to express my thanks to Mixed Media Mojo for having me back again this month on their blog, what a wonderful early Christmas gift!

The first project that I shared with you for this month's Mixed Media Mojo challenge

was my 'Joy To The World' mixed media plaque.  This 'Winter Wonderland' reverse canvas is simply a variation on that same theme, I have just substituted the following design elements:

1) substrate - changed the flat artist's canvas to a stretched artists canvas

2) texture - changed the burlap and cracked paint technique to faux snow and cracked paint technique

3) word banner - changed the clear packaging banner to a die cut banner

4) focal image - changed the poinsettia to snowflakes.

By changing up the main elements you can get a whole new look for your designs, a real time saver during this busy holiday season.

So here is the tutorial on how to make my Winter Wonderland reverse canvas, I hope you will enjoy it!

1) Paint the inside recess of the reversed 4" x 6" stretched artist's canvas with white acrylic paint and paint the outside 'frame' and sides of the canvas with light blue. ( I used Americana Warm White and Ceramcoat Wedgewood Blue).

Cover the blue painted areas with Deco-Art Weathered Wood and, after it dries, add a top coat of white.  Quickly sprinkle some Clear Rock Candy Distress Glitter and just a touch of Glamor Dust onto the white top coat while it is still wet and leave the canvas to dry.

Once it is dry, add some Delta Fantasy Snow orDec-Art Snow-Tex to the inside recess, building it up slightly along the sides and bottom edge and set it aside to dry.

2) Stamp some snowflake images with blue ink (I used Simon Says Stamp's Soft Navy Die ink and some Hampton Art snowflake stamp and die set) onto a silver Deco Sheet.

Die cut or fussy cut the snowflake images and then punch several smaller snowflakes from the same silver Deco Sheet.

3) From white cardstock, die cut one of theSnowflake Duo snowflakes and emboss it with the accompanying embossing folder.

Gently add some Stormy Sky Distress ink to the raised embossed areas of the snowflake and add a bit around the edges as well.  Brush a bit of Star Dust Stickles glitter glue over top of the embossed snowflake with your finger.

4) Die cut the winter wonderland sentiment usingTim Holtz's Holiday Words: Blocks dies into a silver Deco Sheet.  Back the die cut silver deco sheet with some blue cardstock and cut out the fish tail banner shape.

I made my banner about 2" by 5 1/2" so that it would extend slightly over the sides of the canvas.  Gently bend the tails of the banner and add a bit of a bend in the middle of the banner as well for some movement.

5) Now put it all together!  Adhere the 'Winter Wonderland' banner to the bottom of the reverse canvas at a slight angle, using some dimensional tape or pop dots as needed to give it support.

If any staples are still visible on the frame, strategically place one of the punched silver snowflakes over top of it.

6) Back the embossed snowflake with some pop dots and glue it into the recessed area of the canvas over top of the Fantasy Snow.

Add a couple of the small punched silver snowflakes to the interior of the canvas as well.

7) Add pop dots to the backs of the large stamped silver snowflakes and glue them to the outer frame of the canvas here and there.

If any of those pesky staples are still visible, use the smaller punched silver snowflakes to cover them up.  You can also add some of the punched silver snowflakes on the outside edges of the canvas as well if you'd like.

And that's it, you are done!  This would make a lovely gift for someone special, add a hanger on the back or gift it with a small wooden easel so they can display it all winter long.

I hope that you have enjoyed this tutorial and once more, thank you to Mixed Media Mojo for asking me to be a guest designer with them again this month.  I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a joyous holiday season and may the New Year bring peace and prosperity to all.  Thanks so much for visiting today and happy creating!

Deb xo