Autumn Fairy Reverse Canvas

I have had a fascination with Fairies and the wee folk since I was a child. I always wished I could stumble upon a fairy house or village in the woods. I grew up in Alaska…not sure how many fairies actual reside there, but in my imagination, they did.

I decided to make a reverse canvas for this weeks project. By flipping a standard stretched canvas, you have a shadow box effect that allows for layering and dimension.

To begin, I painted the entire back of the canvas with TCW9002 Black Gesso. Next add an optional spray of shimmery mist or ink.

Next I stenciled some background flowers using TCW860 Lavender and TCW 9004 Light and Fluffy Modeling Paste. I love the crispness of this paste! I sprayed the dried stenciling with a neutral shimmery spray to softer the stark white of the paste. Next I used alcohol ink pens to add color to the flowers. You could use watercolor or ink as well, the pens are just easy to control the color.

Next, for the rockery wall and the “frame” of the canvas I wanted a textured medium. You don’t need zillion different mediums, just a few great ones that can be modified. I’ve added white craft sand an a bit of acrylic paint in a taupe shade to create the rockery. The stencil, TCW834 Stone Increase, was perfect for a natural looking rockery wall. The sand added to the Light and Fluffy Modeling Paste (TCW 9004) gave it the perfect texture. I also added the enhanced paste to the canvas frame, using the Stone Increase stencil on the lower half

Add color and definition to stones using painted shimmery spray, paint, or ink. Paint over texture on upper part of frame with Black Gesso (TCW 9002).

Use foliage die-cuts from chipboard and card stock, painted in green shades. Use die-cut or cut-apart elements that fit with the theme. Here I used cut apart elements from one of my digital papers call Dark Shadows.

One of my favorite products is TCW9006 Gel Medium. Gel medium is an amazing product that can wear a lot of hats. It can be used as a glue, a sealant, added body to paint, and here I used it with embossing powder. Add the embossing powder when the gel is still wet. I always make sure the gel is dry before heating the embossing powder.

Layer and attach foliage and other elements. Layers and depth gives a realistic effect.

I’ve added a strip of chicken wire along one side for added texture and a “surface” for additional layered elements. Add flowers, leaves and moss for added effect.

Layers and texture create visual interest.

The Crafters Workshop provided me with many supplies used in the project, but the opinions expressed are entirely my own. I will be doing a Youtube Live class re-creating this canvas on Friday, October 25 at 3pm PDT. My Youtube channel is Follow the Paper Trail, The video will be able to be viewed later if you can’t join us for the live class. For info on the Laura Denison Designs digital paper used, visit my website at www.lauradenisondesigns.com

Thank you for joining me today. Keep believing in fairies!

Laura

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