Today is the ninth Second Floor challenge! Are you ready to take it to the second floor with this cool mixed media technique?!
The challenge this time around is to use embossing powder. Whatever that means to you or however it inspires you. The prompt is simply meant to get you started. The level of challenge you aim for is entirely internal and up to you.
Click here to see what Nat did.
How I Started
As for me, I am not a huge embossing powder user. I like the results, but it gets everywhere. I sat and thought for a while about all the things I could do with embossing powder…and I decided to break out the Melting Pot and UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) and make some jewelry!
I used colored UTEE, stamps, and some Memory Frames to make these four pendants.
You can watch this video by Suze Weinberg for the how-to — it’s a fun and easy mixed media technique:
Once the pendants were done I started to pull out some beads and neckwires to finish making them into necklaces and I realized that there was just no way I was going to wear them. So not my style.
What to do?
Time to Take it to the Second Floor!
I decided to change direction completely and use 3 of them as embellishments on a scrapbook page!
But, I had some issues along the way. One of the pendants cracked when I tried to flatten it out a bit.
So, I tried to remake it, and only made it worse.
Finally, I ended up partially re-melting it so that it would hold together. This is the back, where you can still see a bit of the seam.
I don’t think it’s super obvious in the finished scrapbook page, or at least I don’t think it detracts from the overall layout.
It’s such a simple layout, but it took me forever to make. This is actually the third draft. With a layout this simple, the title had to be “just so” for it to work for me and I went through two other ideas that I didn’t like before coming to this one.
It’s all just trial and error.
What I Learned
Here’s a quick run down of what I learned from this project. Maybe it will help you?
- Make things you’re proud of. I could have made those necklaces with these pendants. But I knew in my heart that I wouldn’t love them. So I changed directions and I love the layout!
- Let the mistakes go. Um…do I say this every time? Because man, it is hard, but it is true. I spent a really long time trying to fix and repair and remake that stupid orange pendant. My time would have been much better spent elsewhere. In the end, I used the original cracked one.
- Simple pages take so much thought. Every element has to be “just so.” There’s very little room for anything that isn’t completely “right.” I’m not kidding when I say it took me almost half-an-hour to decide whether to put 1 strip on the left edge or 2 strips or no strips. And I went through several sheets of white cardstock trying to get the title to look the way it did in my head. Sigh.
- Start creating without expectations. I got one idea in my head: make some UTEE pendants. I had no idea where I would go from there, so I didn’t try to control the process. I used colors that were fun and grabbed stamps that were nearby. When the pendants were done, then I started to think about what they would be. I think if I had started knowing they were going on a scrapbook layout, I would have tried to match them to each other in color and pattern a bit more. But, I like the way it turned out in the end, so I’m glad I started creating without any expectations.
- Taking it to the second floor is about pushing yourself. Duh. If I hadn’t been doing this challenge I wouldn’t have made the pendants. But if I had made the pendants and hadn’t been doing this challenge, I probably would have chucked the finished pendants into a drawer. I never would have pushed myself to use them in some way. I appreciate the push.
- Something is going on with my scrapbooking style. I’m gravitating more and more towards clean and simple. I’m not sure why? Old age? A reaction to all the misting right now? Change of seasons? Whatever it is, I’m okay with it. I enjoy change. I will embrace this and see where it goes!
I hope you’ll give this mixed media technique a try! I’ve always got tons of fun techniques, like this one, for members to explore over at My Art Practice. Thanks for stopping by.
Informative post. By the way, the new blog look is fab! Loving your new pic.
LOVE these on your page!!! Great layout!!
Cool idea! I would never have thought to attach the pendants to a scrap book page. Ingenious! Hugs, Maggie
I like your scrapbook page and the simple layout. Your blog looks great too! I don’t have any UTEE, but embossing powder I’ve got, so going to take the 2nd floor challenge with you and Nathalie. Peace, Donna
I love the texture on the orange pendant/embellie.
I also like the new, simple look of your blog.
That photo of you is perfect!
I have to say that I’ve really had some serendipitous moments when trying to correct or hide a mistake, but you are right, spending too much time doing it is just not fun! I recognized I’m not a C&S girl when I make cards but neither am I the other extreme – can’t wait to see where you go next, Julie.
I own plenty of embossing powders and haven’t pulled them out in a long time. Thanks for inspiring me to use them again!
Thanks for this post. Sometimes I get so frustrated that everything takes so long when you are creating. I am glad I am not the only one who struggles with projects. Just tried to drop alcohol ink on packing tape to do a resist technique. Over did the whole thing and now I have a hot mess. What to do with it? throw it out? I spent so much time on it! Do I cut my losses? Obviously you didn’t and for that I applaud you!
I love where you ended up! Each pendant, it’s own piece of framed art! I also love the pictures of you in your scrapbook pages. I know you do a lot of self-portraits with the elevator mirror, bathroom mirror, and iPhone shots, but tell me, for this one, do you ask someone to take a photo of you looking at a painting? I love it! It is always shocking to me that the scale of many pieces in real life are ginormous, and I get a whole new perspective on the piece (literally and figuratively!) when I go to a museum.
I really like your layout. The pendants work great on the page. There’s enough commonality between them, I think: they are framed, square or rectangular in shape, have patterns in a row (or rows). And they fit the theme of modern art, too. 🙂
My Mom took that picture. Surprised me with it. 🙂
I started following your blog about a month ago and I just wanted to thank you for sharing your thought process in working through things. It has been very helpful to me. The thing that I appreciate reading the most is that you are very honest about opportunities for changing things up when your initial plan goes a bit askew. And to “let the mistakes go.” That one is such a biggie! Love the layout, also!
Love your attitude to challenges Julie…’make it work for you’. Well done.
Hi Julie, I seem to be low on brain cells today- can’t figure out the inlinkz tool. Is it me or is inlinkz being tricky?
Those pendants are great! Love the way they are little framed pieces of art <3
Your new page design is gorgeous!
I actually really like that the orangey pendant is cracked. It makes it look artsy, authentic, messy, it’s totally your style! Love it!
I fixed it. Thanks!
Very nice! I have been meaning to get one of those melting pots forever!….very cool technique!
The linky says the challenge doesn’t close for 379 days?? 😉
LOVE the pendants and I LOVE your layout even more! I so enjoy learning your process when I visit your blog!
Pingback: UTEE Heart Mosaic Tutorial - Balzer Designs Blog
Pingback: Mixed Media Technique: Heat Embossed Modeling Paste