Happy New Year! The New Year is here and I would like to wish you a really lovely 2017, may it be full of creative joy for you.
I have the last of my 2016 work round-ups blog posts and today it is all about tutorials that you might like to have a go at and get your creative 2017 started with!
So let’s get straight into it with gel medium!
[I do use affiliate links and there are some in this blog post.]
1. Colour Your Gel Medium
This is a super simple technique to get you eased back into making after the holiday season.
A really fun thing to do is colour gel medium with powdered pigments, you know, like the Ken Oliver Color Bursts or Brushos. They colour medium really well, you only need a tiny amount and they don’t change the nature of the medium, so if it is transparent when dry it will still be transparent when dry when you add the colour.
I have a full tutorial over on the Blitsy blog called ‘How To Decorate A Mesh Bag With Ken Oliver Color Burst’ to show you how.
2. We All Love Gel Skins!
Sticking with gel medium how about gel skins? Even if you have made gel skins before they are so much fun and a great technique to revisit from time to time. And if you are new to them they are really easy to make.
This tutorial shows you a technique for adding texture into your gel skin and the finished project is a free-standing heart decor gel skin piece but it is great for making flowers and other items too, so give it a go! You can find the full tutorial over on the Blitsy blog in my ‘How To Make A Gel Skin Heart’ tutorial blog post.
3. When Infusions Met Embossing Ink
Fancy a bit of experimenting? Why not try this technique? Grab your embossing ink like VersaMark for example, and some powdered pigment like the PaperArtsy Infusions and give it a go.
This technique works on other powered pigments too like the Ken Oliver Color Burst and Brusho, so why not try them out?
4. Make A Mixed Media Necklace From Old Jeans
Ready to get into something a little more detailed? Then the next project is perfect for you!
This project is all about recycling those old jeans into lovely, wearable artwork. Add a little bit of stamping and some paint, a couple of beads and a chain and you have a beautifully crafted piece of jewellery.
All the steps for this project are on the PaperArtsy blog.
5. Make 2017 Your Year Of Sketching
At the end of last year I shared a great drawing exercise that I have loved doing in 2016, and I am continuing for 2017, in the hope that you would join me and start doing it too!
It is really simple and doesn’t need to take a lot of time but do it every day and you will start noticing the differences in your creativity, sketching and style. You can find the exercise in my ‘A Fun Sketching Exercise To Turn Into A Habit For 2017’ blog post.
6. Make A Box Vignette
Now that you are nicely warmed up and ready to head out into the new creativity opportunities that 2017 holds for you, my last tutorial suggestion is a little more meaty and full of things to get your creative teeth stuck into.
I love putting scenes into boxes and tins and this tutorial shows you, step by step, the making of this little single flower scene in a box using various techniques including different ways to use embossing powders. So great to pick up some tips and to create your own little scene with.
Happy Creating!
Kim
To find my other 2016 Round-Up Posts click the pictures below or follow the links listed:
My 5 Favourite Art Videos of 2016
6 Card Ideas To Revisit For 2017
My 6 Favourite Drawings And Paintings For 2016
5 Art Journal Page Ideas To Play With in 2017
My 5 Favorite Oddments Of 2016
Come And Connect With Me:
Hi Kim! Thanks so much for the lovely comments on my Instagram. I'm determined to leave comments in 2017 instead of just scooting by. So, hello! Going to try the mixed media necklace – it's lovely!
Clair x