Crackle Study with German Glas Glitter

this is a canvas I did...inspired from Angela Cartwright's "Mixed Emulsions" - a jewel of a book, full of all kinds of ideas. it's a picture of my oldest daughter Ashley. I used Golden Crackle Paste, colored with acrylic paint and distredd ink. Also I used tim Holtz Distress Paint - a fun little product, yet a bit limiting. oh yeah, and also a few rub ons, I think all are Bohemia.

Sally Jean Alexander is right when she says German Glas Glitter has magical properties. It turned out to be just the right thing to finish the piece.

One World One Heart Winner

I was amazed and overwhelmed at the response to my art giveaway! I can't believe over 80 people have visited my little corner of cyberspace!

The winner of my collage is Susan Burgess!! Congratulations Sanna!!

Happy Valentine's Day

I put together this Valentine using a few things I am in love with - namely the Lynn Perella papers. I got her whole set from Stampington about a year or two ago, and I save every last scrap of the stuff - it has been such a great element in so many of my pieces. Also I used some mica - which I have been having a love affair for some time now. Also a piece of my favorite Basic Grey (well, one of my favorites) paper - to me it looks like old west stripes. Like on a pillow case.

Anyways, the card came out so nice I couldn't part with it, so I decided to give a valentine to all the wonderful bloggers who happen across my humble blog.

I am blown away that 80 people have visited this blog through the One World One Heart event!! That's 80 little pieces of paper I get to make today so I can do my drawing. What a great project though!! I have added a few blogs to my favorites list, and have left comments on countless other blogs as well. I realize how huge the art blogging community really is - HUGE!! So amazing, that all these artists throughout the world can connect with one another. I've always been a "low-tech" person, but I must say, hooray for the internet.

Tune in later today for my OWOH winner...

Wednesday Stamper: Valentine

I decided to use unconventional Valentine colors this year for my cards. i chose blue and brown - a recent favorite of mine. The stamping is very simple - just some flourishes atop the collaged elements - I used Tim Holtz Distredd Embossing Powder - very cool - it leaves a nice texture and lends a rustic feel to the card.

Wednesday Stamper: Asia

It took me a while to find something Asian in my art supplies. That is not a style that really does much for me - but then I found this collection of papers in my stuff that I've been hoarding for like 3 years now! I think there are 4 pieces in this beautiful gold embossed set of patterned paper. I collaged this Valentine postcard and used some flourish stamps and a newspaper text stamp to accent. TFL!

Gothic Arches: Valentines

I made two Valentine themed arches this week. The first one, "Lovers", I had a lot of fun with my embossing powders. Thank you to Angela Cartwright and her books, Mixed Emulsions and In This House...I've totally revisited my embossing stuff, which has been sitting idle upon my shelf for a year or more! Her techniques are amazing! The second one, "Together" is using a collage sheet image which I have been wanting to use for a long time. I think they are supposed to be sisters, but in my opinion they make better lovers. I saw once the heart paper clips used as a border like this, but my don't they fit well in the gothic arch!!

ONE world ONE heart

There's a place called ONE world ONE heart, and I'm joining in on this amazing art giveaway...the way it works is if anyone is interested in winning this little collage of mine, just post a comment here, and on FEB. 14, Valentine's Day, I'll draw from all (if any) the names and pick a lucky recipient to own an original Mary Franzenburg piece of art. This ought to be interesting...

The piece is a little 4"x4" canvas, with a bird and egg theme, and I used gel medium, gesso, transparency images, crackle paste, rusty chicken wire, and some aging technique. Actually it's a cute little thing...nothing eart-shatteringly profound or anything...just pleasant to look at.

Charmed, I'm Sure

Here are me pieces for this week's Wednesday Stamper: Charms. i had fun - did them in mica, and ended up with a nice verdigris effect by using aqua, butterscotch, latte, and copper alcohol inks. Then I edged it with copper Brilliance Ink.

Dawg

Here is mine for this week's Gothic Arches challenge: dogs. I got this stamp in the dollar bin at Michael's. He looks just like my dog, Maximus. The alcohol inks do the design justice I think!