Shrinking Viola ,Shrinky Dink art

 Shrinking Voila 

 I used the SHRINKETS( shrink plastic) basic bead mold  to create the  bezel formed  using  shrink plastic  from my  OPULENT COLLECTION  my bead making  shrink plastic line can be purchased  on my  webs site at  www.juliehaymaker.com in the  Shrinkets  shop .   

The shrunk   down really   tiny and are now ready to be used in my art piece.  

I clipped theJohnny Jumps Ups / violas   off at the base, leaving just  enough green to keep the petals  together.  I then laid  them flat inside  a heavy  book, closed  the cover   and let them dry for 3 week or so...

Johnny jump up season

It that time of year JOHNNY JUMP UPS season , or other wise known as Voila Pansy's little sister  So lets get them planted as they love cool spring weather and they are oh so perfect for using in art .

 

Plant and allow them to get  established before you clip the  blooms.  About 2 - 3 weeks .I like the  orange ones they are called a penny coin viola.  

Clip them off at the very tip of the bloom  base leaving the green  area to keep  the petals in place. 

Place them in the center of a large heavy  book. I use an old encyclopedia. gently  fold the book over on the blooms  give them time to  dry -4 weeks  If your book is very large you will not need to add anything extra to  add presure and wieght . If  your book is rather  thin add a rock to the top of teh closed  book book to  add pressure .

Best bead storage solution

Best bead storage solution I have ever found. A NEW gift to myself. This is an old parts metal storage box. I got it on Craigs list under the "materials" catagory. It is perfect! Plastic bead size boxes fit just right into each drawer. It holds almost all my beads 30 boxes. I color coding each drawer using paint store chips cut to size. another easy trick.

I have seen some on etsy too. Just type in metal strorage drawers

This weeks color challenge is done.

Mrs. Steep . A mixed media art doll. 

another step done

Mrs Steep  has  color added to  her   pot .I used  Prima Marektings  texture powder and added it to  linen color folkart   paint .  I layered over the iron rust  paint.  Hopeful with   time the  rust will bleed through in random spots. I  mixed pastel  folk art paints with each other  and  in  with  the  hand made texture paint and dry brushed  color on in  layers. The texture added a lot ot "tooth "so dry brushing in layers was easy and fast.

Texture powder by PRIMA MARKETING 

Progress in my color palette challenge

 Her name is MRS. STEEP . Next comes the colors . I started with  an iron  rusting paint base so when I lay the pastel paints over it in layers the pastels will not look so " candy" like.  Also   the rich warm brown  will make the colors pop when it peeks through here and there. It  will bleed  through my next pastel  layer of ivory much like tea would stain an ivory  linen napkin or  tea towel.

feb 20 -27 color challenge

Color plate challenge. Hey everyone , Join me this week and create something using the attached color palette. It can be anything. The only guide line is sharing as you work and using the palette. The challenge due date is next sunday evening feb 26th . Posting images of finished peices on monday the 27 th .Please share your progress on my time line and let me know if you are inby commenting" I AM IN" you can join anytime this week. OK. I am off to think about what i want to make .Follow the progress on my facebook page -julie haymaker.