Sweet Song 2016 12x12 canvas

The sweet song of the Robin in the spring or summer is a beautiful reminder of the journeys though out each season in life we attend. I will be doing a short overview of this canvas & hoping in the near future to make a video of the process. Video tutorials are in the works.

Featuring +Stampendous  Dreamweaver & Imagine Crafts.
See bottom of page for supplies.

Overall view of the whole canvas.
Please refer to this throughout the process

 Start by painting the canvas all over including the sides, top & bottom.  Paint approximately 2/3 in the blue I also added some down in the bottom lower right. The lower portions & middle should be a medium tone of green. I went up on both sides but more on the right-side then left. Make sure to follow the color around the sides, top & bottom.

While your canvas is drying stamp out all of your images & diecut them out. You can paint them or color them in at this time as well. I did 3 flowers 1 bird. One Nestled bird and extra flowers from the Nestled bird to add dimension to the flowers. I colored & cut out in detail. Make sure that you roll out plenty of the leaves from Leafy branch about 9-12. & a few of the leaves that come with the Bird Blossem Die.  Also 2 branches.  I used a piece of twisted cord for the branch under the Nestled Bird.


Clouds

Picasso 
& Stencil brush

To make the clouds prepare your Picasso by using the Removable Tape to the front & back of the stencil. ( This is to keep from marking the canvas incorrectly) We will be using the wave section on two parts of the stencil the short one and the long one.  This method of painting is called dry brush. To prepare your stencil brush you will need a Paper Towel handy or a rag.   Use a white paint &load up the brush then dab it off onto the paper towel. Predetermine the way you would like your clouds I flipped the stencil in different directions & used both waves to achieve this look. To add color start on the stencil & brush outward. You want more of the color up against the stencil & it to be more wispy as it fades away from the cloud. (special attention to the direction of your brush strokes-they need to go in the same direction to depict wind movement)


Stenciled leaves-
Stencil, Picasso, &  Stencil brush

To stencil the leaves prepare the leaves stencil with Removable tape around the edges to remove the border from your stenciling. Also you can take the tape and go around features of the leaves on the edges. Paint palette should have several colors of greens along with a rust or yellow ocher. Repeat the masking off of tape on both the front & back of stencil. You can also utilize the Picasso as well. Load your brush up with several colors & using the stencil Technic dab up & down turning your stencil around in different directions to give you the painted background.
[ Note do not work over an area that is wet other wise it will not give you crisp stenciled image of the leaves. Wait to dry. I worked one side then moved to the other. let dry & continued in the middle. Also stay on the green section only do not over lap onto the blue- that will be done in another step.  Make sure that the paint does not dry on the stencil. Place in your water tray if you are not able to clean it right away.]

Stenciled leaves

Leaf stencil, Picasso, Regular Embossing Paste, Palette Knife, 

& Spreader

This process will involve you preparing the stencil again with the removable tape. Please refer to Stampendous videos on how to create a hinge to use on the stencil. Read over care instructions on your stencil as well. This is a wonderful tool so care for it carefully. Have your water tray ready & set to your side. decide where you would like to add texture in your leaves. [ I added on the margin between the sky & tree overlapping into the blue so that it gave more dimension.] position your stencil the way you would like to place your leaves. Next load your spreader with the palette knife along the full top edge of the spreader make sure that you have a generous portion on the spreader. next lay on the tape hinge of the top of stencil & pull down at a 45 degree angel. lift & repeat step in another area that does not touch what you just did. You will need to allow to dry before you continue next to leaves you just did. [ I worked on opposite sides working in long sections as I could to get the most coverage] Make sure that you drop the stencil in water when not using. This is to keep the Embossing Paste from hardening on the stencil.
Once this process is completely dry lay your Picasso back over the tops of the white paste (it will fit like a puzzle) then repeat the process for the painted stencil leaves)

Word of caution before we start the next steps please use wisdom when operating the heat gun.They all get very hot!!  Not all heat guns work the same.  We will be heating from the underside of the papers & canvas. All of the items can burn so make sure that you are focused in the process. I use a slow swaying motion when my heat gun gets hot so that it does not burn. I also angled my gun up under the corners of the canvas to get behind the wood. { you can also heat the surface before beginning which will help the E.P. to stick a little bit more}  Another trick is to start way above the top side of area & slowly bring your heat gun in. Allowing it to heat slowly & not blowing all of the E.P. off of your work area.

Embossing the sky & sides

Versa Mark, Versa Marker, Shabby White & Shabby blue 

 Take the Versa Marker and move in an outward direction the same as your brush strokes and add some detail on the back part of the clouds. then add embossing powder shake off access. Heat

Next on the edge & top corner use the Versa Pad in the same manner you would to distress edges with ink. then add powder & heat. If you would like it thicker while it is hot add more E.P.

Repeat this process on bottom & top right edge with the greens while the E.P. is hot you can throw on some Fragments & glitter. If they give you hard time to stick heat E.P. that has already been put down & add some Deep Impressions heat over top of the Fragments & glitter.

Birds & flowers

Use the coordinating colors for each item.

Clip tool, Versa Marker, Aged Rose, Shabby Pink, & Aged Taupe


 Using the Versa Marker color in where  you would like to add the E.P. Take the Clip tool & then add E.P. & heat from underneath.

 Leaves

Versa Mark Pad, Stuftainer, Clip took, coordinating embossing powders, Deep Impression, glitter, & fragments.

Place the colors in the Stuftainer you would like to use, mix up. Ink your leaves then lay into try and dredge them in the mix. using clip tool repeat process to heat.  

Nest & branches

Nestled Bird, Seasonings, Deep Impression, Spoonful of Rust, Mini Stuftainer & Clip tool.

Ink the area of the nest with Versa Mark. Then lay down Seasonings. Heat up while hot place in Stuftainer & pour on Spoonful of Rust add Deep Impressions as needed. Heat while hot continue to build up layers of color until you get a nice dimension of E.P. on the next letting the bird appear to sit inside nest.

Flowers on Nest 
Versa Marker, Clip Tool, & Spring Sparkle

I used extra flowers & cut them between petals you can attach these along the branches. Make them layered I used the Versa Marker & Spring Sparkle to add the E.P. glimmer. Heat.

The twisted branch section is just inked. The branch under the male Robin & up in the top right corner are embossed in layers.

Next arrange your canvas how you would like. Adhere your pieces. 
To add more glitter & Fragments in any area you would like lay down the Versa Mark & use Deep Impressions or coordinating colors to adhere to canvas. Heat. 

When you have completed your canvas place a picture. 
 Vellum would work nice. 

Thank you for taking the time to learn this process. I loved it. It took some time to complete but I am really happy I did. -Ellie G.

Versa Mark over top 

& sprinkle with E.P., heat

What you will need from

Stampendous:
Bird Blossom Die & stamp    DCS5083 & CRS5083
Nestled Bird                           CRR158
Beautiful Life                         CRV273

Embossing Powders:
Aged Copper- FREG025-Leaves, branch & nest 
Aged Gold-    FREG024-leaves
Aged Green-  FREG043 -leaves
Aged Tuape-  FREG033 -male robin
Aged Rose-    FREG031 -flowers


Deep Impressions-  FREG004-to set fragments & glitters

Fragments Leaf Green- FRC13- Tree Background
Glass glitter Champagne- FRG02C
Glass glitter in either Green- FRG06C or FRG12C

PEARLustre Jade-  EP232-leaves backdrop

Seasonings-     FREG044- leaves, nest, branch & background
Shabby Blue-   FREG029- sky
Shabby White- FREG027-clouds, & sky

Spoonful of Rust-  EJS05- Nest
Spring Sparkle-     EK20- flowers on Nest

Vintage Olive-       TP118- leaves & background 

Stampendous Tools-
Clip tool- FX72 used to hold loose die cut pieces for embossing
Mini Stuftainers -STOR05- to dredge leaves in, build up layers & to work over.

Clear Handle- SSH46 or SSH34- to adhere cling stamp




Dreamweaver:


Jungle Leaf Stencil- DWLJ 825- background leaves
Leafy Branch Die- DWDD003 - leaves
Regular Embossing Paste- DWDEP-leaves
Removable tape- RMT- used to mask off stencil & Picasso tool
Palette Knife- DWDPK- to apply Paste to spreader & small details
Picasso-    DWLL332-clouds & mask for leaves
Spreader- DWLM2010 -leaf Stencil
stencil brushes 1/2"-DWNHB-12



Imagine Crafts:
Memento Tuxedo Black-ME-000-900 -all stamping
Memento Dual Tip Marker Rich Cocoa- PM-000-800-used to outline the word "Beautiful" 
Versa Mark Clear-VM-000-001- used to emboss large areas
Versa Marker clear- PV-000-001- used to add embossing powder to sky & fine areas


Misc.

12 x 12 canvas
White, Kraft & Green Cardstock
Acrylic Paints- sky blue, white, colors for your Robin's (tawny brown, black, rust, orange, & white) You can make this your own and do your own coloring of the birds. Stampendous Stamps make the birds generic enough that you can do a large number of types of birds. Try using bird field guides for added help. I love the process of painting with the Embossing Powders as it allows forgiveness for any mistakes in the painting.

Tools:
heat gun
Paint brushes
Large shallow flat plastic container 
Finger nail cleaning brush