Oxide Dragonflies

Sorry I haven't been around much over the past couple of weeks. I've been busy with demos, classes, commissions and DT work. I did however find time to finally have a play with the Distress Oxides I purchased from Artist Trading Post. These are the results of my first playtime.

Both of these projects are mixed media card fixed to an 8"x 8" (20 cm x 20 cm) canvas board. The Distress Oxide backgrounds were created by dipping and lifting the mixed media card in puddles of Oxide ink and water on my craft mat. I dipped each colour separately and dried in between.

I used Worn Lipstick, Broken China, Vintage Photo and Cracked Pistachio to colour this background, die-cut doily and cheesecloth.

The dragonfly was die-cut using the Tim Holtz Sizzix die in pearlescent card. It was dipped in Cracked Pistachio, Worn Lipstick and Vintage Photo Oxide inks.  There is a beautiful sheen to it in real life. 

Once the ink layers were dry I stamped some text, added texture paste through a Prima stencil and some bamboo sticks. The added textures were coloured using Oxides mixed with water and painted on like a watercolour. I then added some white micro beads.

For this background and dragonfly I used Vintage Photo, Spiced Marmalade and Cracked Pistachio DOs.

This dragonfly was die cut from plain white card and dipped in watered Oxides. Prima Artstones and cheese cloth were coloured with the Oxides as a watercolour.

The panels were finished with glass pebbles from my stash.

Both canvas boards were painted with dark brown acrylic and then a layer of DecoArt's Weathered Wood. Once dry I added the top coat of acrylic paint and watched them crackle. The card panels were then glued onto the canvases with soft matt gel.

I love the way the Oxides react with each other and on different surfaces. The soft, chalky look on plain card is my favourite. It's so tactile. Have you got any Oxides? What do you think of them? I still have a couple of colours I haven't tried yet, I'll have to make time for another play....