Art of Green Reflections

A gift bag for any ocassion

2010-06-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone can you believe the year is half over? Summer vacations 4th of July, graduations, weddings, father's day they all seemed to come all at once.

We have a couple of graduations to attend this year I needed gift bags and instead of going out to the store to buy more specialty gift bags of decided to create my own. I wanted to use a theme that expressed excitement so I went for subtle explosions in fireworks.

I am starting with three ordinary gift bags blue, yellow and green.

The technique is simple you will need some type of tiny spray bottle, generation green decoupage and colorant for this project that used violet and rainforest.I filled the spray bottle 3/4 way full with tap water, added the colorant and about two drops of decoupage and a pinch of ESF powders gold in the rainforest spray bottle and silver in the violet bottle be sure to shake mixture to incorporate color and powders.

To get the look of fireworks or explosions,spray in several spots close to the bag then used an ordinary straw blowing into the middle the puddle of color this gave the look of an explosion.

When the first color was dry go to the second color, this project I only use two colors but I'm sure you could use as many as should like and get a wonderful effect.

I'm thinking for the 4th of July white bags with red and blue coloring to go with the big red bow.

Remember earth safe finishes did it again.

See you next time here in the reflections.

Simple Pillar Candle

2010-05-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

While grocery shopping the other day I came across the simple pillar candles. I had been looking for something like this for my family room something that I can decorate myself to match my decor.

So I began by using a package of Makin's air dry polymer clay the vineyard colors. Rolling the clay out to 1/4 inch thick then texturing the clay after that I use a small triangle clutter and cut out several triangles from each color. Using alternate colored triangles I slightly overlapped them around the top and bottom of the candle holder, and with the last of the triangles I decoration the front of the holder with the remaining clay triangles and scattered them around the candle holder itself. Using Earth Safe Finishes gel glaze and colorants I used brown and black to get the antiquing effect I wanted. By using a tiny amount of colorant and mixing and into the glaze when you brush it over the clay it does two things it really brings up the detail of the clay and it gives it a nice antique look and I don't need to use a varnish over the clay.

Idid it do one more thing to highlight everything and bring it all together, ever so lightly brush on Earth Safe Finishes Red Russet.

The photo for below shows a brush for application I just used my finger to apply the powder I found I could control the powder and place it exactly where I needed it. You never have to worry about Earth Safe Finishes being toxic to you or to the environment soap and water cleanup.

Below you can see the finished product, I hope you'll give it a try it always remember earthsafefinishes can help you with any project whether it be paper, fabric, found objects, walls or clay. If you need to painted or finished anything ESF has the answer.

From Cosmopolitan to an Asian influence

2010-03-28T09:41:00.000-07:00

I found this box of coasters in a second hand store and have been waiting for an inspiration.

I lightly sanded the box cover and the coasters with 220 grit sandpaper. Using black perfect paint I painted on two coats and let them dry. This paint covers so well I probably could have gotten away with one coat of paint.

For the butterflies and mixed red colorant into generation green smooth texture.

Using a stencil I place three butterflies on the box than one butterfly on each coaster.

When the textured butterflies were dry I mixed shimmer translucent glaze and a tiny drop of sage colorant added a couple of drops of extender into that I place this on to the stamp pad and used it to stamp the images on the box and coasters.

I use a bronze translucent shimmer for the dots on all the pieces.

When I thought the project was done I realized that the butterflies were much too bright so I decided to antique them by using black colorants with gel glaze.

When everything was completely dry I put on two coats of polyurethane varnish matte finish over both the box and the coasters this will allow for easy cleanup.

Earth safe finishes did it again.

Cute little green box

2010-03-08T00:06:00.000-08:00

Looking around in my studio the other day I found this cute little box I got from Walnut Hollow.

There's nothing like starting with a blank canvas so I started with some perfect white paint and then added rain forest, yellow oxide and moss colorant. I did not mix the colorant completely into the white paint.

When everything was dry they decided to take it one step further in use some earth safe finishes gel glaze and mixed a small amount with the moss colorant and brushed on a light coat with a with a fan brush this made everything look more antique. After that decorate the box with a rubber stamp using moss colorant on a stamp pad.

I knew I needed just a little something more so I mixed shimmer opaque gel medium gold in all ultra thick powder and a used only a tiny amount of powder into the liquid this made a dimensional paint that it put into a small bottle that he had a writing tip and place the dots on the box. If you have a minute and a plain empty container see which you can do.

You could also add pictures or some type of little trinkets onto the top of the box. Remember whenever you're doing a project that involves color earth safe finishes is there.

Ash vessel headed for the fireplace

2010-02-17T08:52:00.000-08:00

As I went down to my husband's studio yesterday to put something away I looked over in the scrap wood box and found this cute little ash vessel he was getting ready to throw away. My husband happens to be a wood turner and if something is in perfect it gets pitched. So I decided

to see what I could do with it.

I started with two coats of Generation Green stain in Sealer walnut.

I used two coats and thought the color looked good I didn't want it to be too dark.

I use generation Green tackifire onto the back of my stencil using a foam brush I let it set for five minutes to dry then placed it on to the vessel.

I finish this project using Shimmer opaque copper, gold, bronze and translucent emerald.

A little vessel saved from the fireplace using Earth Safe Finishes.

Twenty Stocking Stuffers

2009-12-16T20:36:00.000-08:00

I was asked to help one of my friends do something with Aqua umbrellas. I needed something quick and easy.

I mixed 1 part Fabric Magic and 4 parts water together. Then I added a couple of drops of Colorant. I wanted to do a water color affect .
I painted each section a different color. I used Violet, Red Orange, Yellow, Blue, Rainforest,Black
and Crimson.

When everything was dry I used a hair dryer on hot for a few minutes to set.

I wasn't happy with the black dots so I repainted the dots with Shimmer opaques Black Pearl.

When everything was dry I added White Shimmer Opaque highlights.

One down and nineteen to go.

Earth Safe finishes saved me again.

Did you ever have one of those weeks?

2009-11-22T17:33:00.001-08:00

Did you ever have one of those weeks? Well last week was my week of chaos and utter frustration. Three times, I grabbed the wrong phone on the way out the door.

I always thought a nice sleek black case would be just fine. , and I never wanted a lot of bling on my phone. Well after last week, I've changed my mind.

This is where we keep the phones in our house.

I am not one to go too crazy with decorating so I started off with my plain black case, a few Earth Safe Finishes.

On the palate I put a few drops ESF white perfect paint and a half drop of colorants. ESF Colorants are very saturated so, a little goes a long way.

I started off with a few flowers and of course that's never enough. I wanted to do some stamping on my case and I didn't want it to be overpowering. So I mixed some shimmer opaques with some extender on an ink pad and did some stamping. The extender gives you time Work with the paint not have them dry on your stamps. And they will wash off with your stamps with soap and water.

Now there will be no mistaking my phone for his phone.

Earth safe finishes saves another day.

Reflections on Tiny Pieces of Art

2009-10-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

Last week, a friend of mine had asked me to do a small piece of art, something new to look at in her cubicle. She did remind me she only had a small for her personal things.

So to begin, I found a 3"x3" canvas and some small round mirrors.

To start I use several colors of ESF Generation Green Shimmers to paint the background of the canvases.

I know I didn't have to frame these pieces of art so I just extended the ESF shimmers around the sides of the canvas.
When the ESF shimmers were dry check placement of the mirrors and decided were you wanted to go from there. Looking for some movement in the piece sketch in more lines with a permanent marker.I knew this was nice, but I could do better.

I took out some black Makin's Polymer air dry clay and ultimate extruder and began extruding out several lengths of coils both thick and thin.

I glued the coils to the canvas with white glue in a small toothpick.

I took another piece of black Clay and cut out several circles making donuts and dots and glued them to the piece in the same manner.

When the clay and the glue were dry I brushed on ESF shimmers over the whole piece which made everything come together if you want to you could add Words or sayings.

Remember to make it your own with Earth Safe Finishes.

Getting down to business

2009-09-09T22:04:00.000-07:00

I was reflecting back on what my first project was using Earth Safe Finishes. I call this one getting down to business. I know they are in my studio but where are they? I have looked under here in that drawer inside the closet. Oh yes now I remember, bottom drawer lower left-hand side you're probably wondering what I'm looking for.

These are my plain business cards.

Now I need Generation green shimmer translucent gel glaze and a few supplies.

Paper punch, torn paper and a paintbrush and were ready to go.

Check out my finished product and see what you can come up with. Have fun and always remember ESF.

Introductions

2009-09-09T20:47:00.000-07:00

My name is Sue Kelsey and I'm very happy to be part of the Earth Safe Finish family. I have been experimenting with art my whole life. I've worked with polymer clay since 1982 I have done flower arranging, cake decorating, scrap booking and painting. Now it is my pleasure to show you how I have used some of the great Earth Safe Finish products.