Creative Artiste #127 July 2026

This weekend I'm attending a crafty weekend retreat where I'll be taking classes with three awesome mixed media artists. Finnabair, Olga Heldwein and Nuneka. I love to learn new techniques, work with new products and craft alongside likeminded crafters.

But, before I head off ....

 ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I found a gorgeous tea spoon at a car boot sale and couldn't wait to use it in a mixed media project. It's a gold, engraved spoon with Mother of Pearl on the handle.

The canvas board base measures 9"x 7" (23x 18cms)

I started by making the flowers.

1. I wiped a sheet of mixed media paper with Distress Oxides Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet.

2. I spritzed the paper with water so the inks blended.

3. Once dry, I cut the flowers using Spellbinder dies.

4. I assembled the flowers with PVA glue and curved them to give them some dimension.

5. I coloured the edges of the canvas with Lucky Clover Distress Oxide and water.

6. I glued some torn floral papers to the canvas with Prima Soft Matt Gel.

7. I passed DecoArt Crackle Paste through a Tim Holtz stencil and left it to dry, and crackle.

8. I spattered DecoArt Baby Pink acrylic paint over the canvas. I also used the paint to colour some bottle tops and glass beads.

I stamped a couple of tea cups with Heartfelt Creations China Fragments stamps on watercolour paper. I then die cut them with the matching Spellbinders Nested Tea Cups dies. I lightly coloured the cups with Distress Oxide Worn Lipstick.

I coloured some seam binding with Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide and made it into a bow with some cotton lace. I tied the double bow to the handle of the spoon and fixed the teaspoon to the canvas with Prima 3D Matt Gel.

I added the tea cups to the canvas with the help of some foam pads.

The flowers, fabric leaves, bottle tops and glass beads were added with Prima 3D Matt Gel.

I filled in some gaps with Prima Mini Artstones and finished by adding some pearls to a few of the flower centres.

Now I can display my pretty teaspoon instead of hiding it in the cutlery drawer.

This canvas is number 5 of a theme I have made called Tea for One.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our 

July challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

Creative Artiste #123 February 2026

 ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge in December. Your projects were all fabulous and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

Creative Artiste is back after taking it's annual break in January. My batteries are recharged and I'm looking forward to another year of creating mixed media projects to hopefully to inspire you.

February features St. Valentine's Day. My husband and I decided not long after we were married, nearly 42 years ago, not to give each other over priced Valentine's gifts. It's more fun to surprise each other randomly throughout the year with thoughtful gifts, flowers and chocolates.

And, after giving each other the same card one year for Valentine's Day, we decided not to bother with cards either. It wasn't even a romantic card, it was a jokey one!

Saying that, I have made a heart project for this month. But it's not a Valentine's one. I've called this 

"My Stone Cold Heart"

I have upcycled a cardboard box with a drawer insert. The box measures 7"x 5"x 2"  (18 x 12.5 x 5 cms).

1. I started by giving the box a coat of black gesso. Once dried, I painted it with a dark brown acrylic.

2. I gave it a coat of DecoArt Weathered Wood and let that dry. I then added a top coat of Burnt Umber acrylic. The Weathered Wood allows the top coat of acrylic to split as it dries revealing the base layer and giving an old 'peeled paint' look. I gave the inside of the drawer the same treatment.

3. I assembled a selection of metal elements and a panel of card treated with acrylics and Weathered Wood. They were all glued in place with Prima 3D Gloss Gel.

4. Once all dry, I used a stiff brush to add Pebeo Silver Gilding Wax to the elements.

5. I wanted to use a Prima plaster heart I have from an old Flaming Hearts set.

6. I gave the heart a coat of black gesso.

7. I filled the space in the heart with Prima Art Stones and Soft Matt Gel.

8. I gave the heart and stones a coat of black gesso.

 

9. I cut some squares of greyboard and painted the edges with black gesso. I then applied some DecoArt Crackle Paste and left it to dry. I added some Crackle paste to the heart also.

10. I dabbed black, and white, acrylic paint over the crackle to colour it. I used more black on the larger square.

11. I added a mix of black and white acrylic to the heart, using more white paint to make it lighter.

12. I layered the squares and fixed the heart on top. I glued the whole piece to the inside of the drawer.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our 

February challenge. 

For all of you who like to celebrate, have a lovely St. Valentine's Day!

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/muicb-81-anything-goes-optional-use.html

https://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/ltscb-177-anything-goes-ltscb-176.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/classic-design-challenge-01-2026-janfeb.html

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2026/02/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html

Creative Artiste #107 August 2024

  ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

One of my beautiful daughters loves vintage roses so I made her this hexagon canvas. It measures 11.5" (30 cms) from point to opposite point.

All the ephemera is from a very old set by Kaisercraft, apart from a die cut heart and the Cheery Lynn die cut leaf flourishes.

I started by using texture paste through a DecoArt Americana Decor text stencil randomly over the canvas.

I then tore up up some old book pages and coloured them with watered powders from Lindy's Magicals Nantucket Pearls set.

Once stuck down with Soft Matt Gel, and dried, I gave the canvas a coat of white gesso.

Next, I used the Magicals to colour areas of the canvas and gave another coat of white gesso.

I used the texture paste on the some of the sides of the canvas and extended the book pages around the sides too.

I assembled the floral elements by layering some of them up on blocks of differing heights that I made from acetate. To do this, I cut the acetate into strips and scored it to fold it into 5 equal squares. I then folded each one into a cube and glued it into place under a flower with Heavy Body Gel.

I die cut the leaf flourishes and coloured them with green Copics. I glued several layers together for stability. I chopped the flourishes up and tucked the pieces in between the roses.

I die cut a small heart and coloured it with the Salt Water Taffy Magical. I added the frame, the birds, a little butterfly and the word Adore. I finished the canvas with some clear glass flat backed beads.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our 

August challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/07/miucb-72-anything-goes-optional-veggie.html x

https://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2024/07/ltscb-168-anything-goes-ltscb-167.html x

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2024/08/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/07/classic-design-challenge-07-2024-julaug.html x

Creative Artiste #105 June 2024

  ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all fabulous and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I've had a play with an alternative way to paint a background for a card without using a brush - or my fingers. I have created an 8"x 6" (20 x 15cm) card.

I've used a thick mixed media paper to create the front panel for this card. Using the edge of an old plastic credit card I swiped my watered down  paints lightly across the card panel. I sprayed it with more water to blend and fade. The colours are DecoArt Fluid Acrylics Quinacridone Violet and Cobalt Turquoise Hue.

I used part of stamp #143 Time Flies from Aall & Create on the main panel.

I stamped the butterfly twice so I could cut one out and add a second layer. I painted the butterflies with a brush in the same paints so the colours are more vibrant.

I created the sentiment piece and the outer border for the main panel's matting layer by applying the same colours with brushes for a darker look than the panel.

To create some definition of the layers I heat embossed the edges of the main panel, the base panel, the sentiment and the top butterfly using Versamark and a Docrafts black embossing powder.

I wrapped some black ribbon around the main panel before fixing it to the base card and mounting the sentiment.

I added spatters of White Posca Pen to the main panel and the base card before assembling it with a thin layer of Soft Matt Gel.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our 

June challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2024/06/morgans-artworld-challenge-77.html Runner Up Winner

https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2024/06/june-2024-challenge-66-anything-goes.html

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2024/06/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html

https://craftrocketchallenges.blogspot.com/2024/06/challenge-115-no-design-paper.html

Creative Artiste #104 May 2024

Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all fabulous and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I have created an ever lasting Springtime bouquet on an 8" (20cm) canvas this month. It was a birthday present for a lovely family member.

I started the canvas by covering it with black gesso. Once dry, I added a layer of DecoArt Weathered Wood followed by a coat of DecoArt Dark Chocolate Acrylic paint topped with some DA Burnt Sienna acrylic paint.  This gave me a nice wood effect background to work on.

I made an assortment of resin flowers from the collection of moulds I have. The butterflies are from Prima's Mecha Moth mould. 

I painted the flowers and butterflies with Gansai Tambi Pearl watercolours. I blended the pink and blue to create the gorgeous purple.

I die cut some leaves from card and layered them up with Soft Matt Gel so I had two rigid leaves. I painted them with the Gansai Tambi watercolours too.

I started building the bouquet by fixing the two leaves to the canvas with Heavy Body Gel and building up the flower and butterfly arrangement from there with more gel.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our 

May challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

https://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2024/05/may-challenge-166-flowers.html x

https://craftrocketchallenges.blogspot.com/2024/05/challenge-114-flowers.html x

https://beautifulblossomschallenge.blogspot.com/2024/04/beautiful-blossoms-challenge-anything.html x

https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/05/miucb-71-anything-goes-optional-inlaid.html

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2024/05/ltccb-80-anything-goes-ltccb-79-winner.html

Creative Artiste #102 March 2024

  This is my second post for today. Please scroll down for my Cards Galore Encore challenge post.

March is going to be a busy month for us with family visits, a much anticipated school trip and Easter holidays.

But before all that....

....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I was sent some gorgeous embellishments a while ago by my lovely friend Pam.  I've been waiting for the creative urge to do them justice and it finally came to me. 

I have made a 10" x 12" (25 x 31cm) canvas board that I've called Diamonds and Pearls in honour of the sparkly embellishments.  

I started by priming the canvas with white gesso.  I then lightly stamped some text in random areas.

Next,  I used Prima Soft Matt Gel to fix strips of cotton and lace to the canvas.  I twisted the fabrics to give interest,  dimension and create little pockets to tuck some of the elements into.

Once the fabrics were dry and stiff I added little blue fabric cornflowers,  some white paper roses,  pearl strands,  flower buds,  Prima Artstones and the all important diamond and pearl embellishments.

The main focal piece is a 7" (18cm) resin moth I made using the Prima Mecha Moth mould.  I painted it with DecoArt Fluid Acrylics blended with water and added it to the canvas with Prima Heavy Body Gel.

I used Distress Oxide Faded Jeans and Chipped Sapphire with water to add the blue colouring to the fabrics,  paper roses,  Prima Artstones and canvas. 

I finished by rubbing the moth and Artstones with Pebeo Silver Gilding Wax.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our 

March challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2024/03/ltccb-79-anything-goes-ltccb-78-winner.html Top Pick

https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/03/miucb-70-anything-goes-optional-fancy.html x

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/02/classic-design-challenge-02-2024-febmar.html x

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2024/03/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html x