Saturday, March 2, 2019

Friends of Unity March Blog Hop

Welcome to March’s Friends of Unity Blog Hop with the very intriguing and challenging theme of Creativity! (I can’t wait to see how the other hop participants addressed it!) I took the opportunity this month to dive head on into the mixed media world. I hope my fledgling foray into this wonderful craft venue inspires you to try, if not mixed media, something new to you. I’ll let you judge my novice attempts, but I have to say, I had fun doing it!


This blog hop, as usual, offers giveaway goodies. I will be doing a giveaway this month as well. To be eligible, please leave a comment on each blog in the hop. Winners are randomly selected and posted on or by the next month’s blog hop. 

I started off by using 3 small Ranger canvas mixed media boards I picked up discounted at Tuesday Morning. They are sized 3”x3”, 4”x6” and 5”x7”. I also picked up a Gesso Canvas 6”x6” at Hobby Lobby. In all cases, I started by laying down a cream acrylic paint, adding paper (magazine paper or patterned paper) and “gessoing” that, and then adding more paint and/or sprays. What I found out with mixed media was that, if you didn’t like something...just go over it again with other colors as many times as you want. That being said, I also found that it can be time consuming as you continue to “create” your art work day after day, especially when still learning. With all, I added different combinations of Unity stamps (I think from 11 kits). I used stencils, embellishments, pastes, inks, sprays, glitter, ... I also used pens, a lot! and took liberties in using the images. (See product images below).





So, on to the first set of 3. I started by preparing all the canvases the same way, with the only difference being the color scheme. I then started layering on colors and designs, completing each one before moving on to the next (smallest to largest). You may not even see the layered paper pieces except for the colors. I used primarily a small flower/butterfly kit for the littlest canvas.




I used a vintage era background stamp kit for the focus of the second, but added a different butterfly over it.


For the largest of the 3, I actually started by using an Art Anthology stencil to start the flower branch, but penned my own flower heads, which I added chunky Vicki Boutin glitter to. Again, Unity stamps clutter the background of this one.



For the last canvas, I started the same way, except I also included the sides (painting, stamping and stenciling).



Hope you enjoyed seeing these unusual, strange and unique art works of a novice. At a minimum, I hope they demo the versatility of the wonderful collection of stamps offered by Unity Stamp Co. Be sure to leave comments on each hop for your chance to win a giveaway.

Just to remind everyone, we are not sponsored by Unity Stamp Co., but they do approve of this hop. I and my fellow crafters on this hop are keen users of their products and enjoy focusing our attention on monthly themes where we can showcase their products. We use our own stash as giveaways to share our inspiration and ideas with others. Hope you enjoy these efforts as much as we enjoy doing them! If you are interested in my art journey, I invite you to follow me by clicking the follow button, or adding your email!

Now on to the hop:

Crystal Minkler
Joyce Verdon => You are here
Eileen Mathys

92 comments:

  1. Wow!!! These are amazing!! Joyce, you are so unnecessarily hard on yourself... these works of art are absolutely amazing!! Wow! I'm blown away!! I love the mix of colors, the butterflies, the textures, the sentiments... I could go on and on! I think my favorite is the last one... it speaks to me! I love the colors and the texture... Seriously! Ahh-mazing!! Thank you for inspiring me with your amazing talent every month!

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    1. Crystal, thank you so much for all the kind words! So glad you liked these! Its not always easy to tell what’s looks good versus what’s a hot mess! I must admit I like the texture in these. And I learned a lot focusing a chunk of time on just mixed media. Thank you again for your support!

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  2. I am blown away by your creative talent! You are not an amateur my friend! Such a novice! What amazing creations. My absolute favorite is the last one using Soul Joy. Gorgeous!!

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    1. Thank you Bobbie Sue! I so enjoy being a part of this creative group!

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  3. Oh, my goodness! These are amazing! I'm just getting into mixed media, so thank you so much for sharing your art! The first and the last ones are my favorites. Keep sharing your mixed media pieces... I love them!

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    1. Great Wilma! I can’t wait to see your creations! Thank you!

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  4. Wow, wow, wow! These are all unique masterpieces!! Who wouldn't love one (or all!) of these hanging with pride in their home?! I am so impressed and I am in love with each one. Stunning.

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    1. Becca, thank you so much! These are so fun to work on!

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  5. These are all amazing!!! Love them all, so creative!! No way you are a novice in mixed media!!

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  6. Your canvas experiments are fantastic! Well done!

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  7. These are simply amazing! The beauty and detail you have put into each one of those just blows my mind. The colors, the details, all I can say is WOW!!!

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    1. Eileen, thank you very much! Nice change this month!

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  8. Beautiful creations! :Love the butterflies and flowers! Great textures and colors!

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  9. Joyce you are our Unity Queen of Mixed Media! We all look up to your amazing talent and creative eye! Love your projects.

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    1. Vannessa, thank you very much! I still have a lot to learn, but, luckily, I have more canvasses! Thanks for the support!

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  10. I agree...you are a Mixed Media Queen! These are stunning, Joyce! I love how you created little pieces of art on canvas with all these products and Unity stamps too! I love all the colors and texture. Just beautiful, my friend. Thanks for the inspiration!

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    1. Oh, Kim. Thank you very much! Funny, I got so immersed in this world, I forgot how to do cards!

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  11. These are all so amazing! Love the colors and all that wonderful texture!

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    1. Thank you, Dawn! It’s great to be part of this crafty group!

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  12. WOW, absolutely amazing! I don't think you can call yourself a novice, these are incredible.

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    1. Dana, thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed checking these out!

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  13. Wow, your canvas art is fabulous! Thanks for the inspiration to play and create!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by and commenting! Hope you post some of your creations!

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  14. No words exist to say how BEAUTIFUL this is so just WOW🎊🎊🎊🎊❤️🧡💛💚💙

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  15. 11 stamp sets?!!! Holy cow!!!! These projects are definitely 'evidence' of some awesome creativity! I can't even pick a favorite! They are all amazing!

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  16. Love that one with the coneflower! All are nice, but that one strikes me more than the others! I've just started doing the mixed media.....

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    1. Great... post your efforts and comment me so I don’t miss them! Love checking out others work! Thank you!

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  17. These are amazing! I have been wanting to try mixed media, I think you have inspired me!

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    1. Wonderful! It’s a lot of fun! Post them if you do and add me to the comments so I can see them! Thank you!

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  18. You always wow me, Joyce! Your eye for color, texture is so awesome. I always love all your pieces

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  19. These are stunning. I love them all but the one where you did the sides is my favorite! I wish my novice attempts looked half as good! Lol

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    1. Karen, thank you very much! I’m sure your work is great! Thanks for stopping by!

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  20. Oh my!!! When I saw the first piece I thought "This will be my favorite one on this post!". Then I saw the 2nd one and thought "Oh wait! This one too!". Needless to say that comment was repeated for the 3rd and 4th pieces. All are absolutely stunning!

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    1. Meg, thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed these!

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  21. Great mixed media! They're all gorgeous ❤️

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    1. Thank you very much! Thanks for hopping with us!

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  22. All of your projects are awesome! Thanks for sharing your immense talents with us. ❤️❤️

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  23. Mixed media..a mystery to me...yours are lovely....

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    1. Thank you, Lynn! I have always found mixed media tutorials on YouTube so inspiring! And the range of styles so vast! I just had to explore it! Thank you!

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  24. Wow! These are really awesome!!! Love vintage projects!!!

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  25. Simply amazing creations Joyce! You are an inspiration to make some mixed media canvases!!

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    1. Go for it! Love that you can always add or change things! Very forgiving! Thank you for stopping by!

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  26. 👏👏👏 Joyce, you have blown my mind!
    Wow! These are so gorgeous!
    It’s like once you got started, all your creative juices poured out!
    Fabulous mixes media!!
    🤯💛🧡💛🧡💛🧡

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    1. Robyn, thank you for the support, pal! Had fun doing this!

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  27. Wow!! These are just spectacular and I love seeing the process. I have to admit that mixed media canvas projects are something I still haven't tried as I'm a paper girl, but the effect that you got from all that layering is just beautiful.

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    1. Karen, thank you very much! I need to keep at it and it is addicting!

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  28. These are just amazing and out of my comfort zone, so I applaud your efforts and how wonderfully they turned out. I would still be cleaning up after using all that, lol.

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    1. Hahaha! It did take me awhile to clean up! But I had fun doing this! Thank you!

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  29. Wow--these are all gorgeous!

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  30. So gorgeous and
    lots of work! Love
    the edge painting
    also.
    Carla from Utah

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  31. These pieces are so YUMMY!!!! I love love love your mixed media style. I also love your eye for color and texture. Amazingly talented. You inspire me. Thank you!

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    1. Thank you very much for the kind words! They inspire me to continue trying this fascinating venue! Thanks for stopping by!

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  32. Love the Vintage on your cards...

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  33. Oh my gosh! These are awesome! Novice? Wow, just wow! On your first one, what was the Unity stamps that you used?

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    1. I used the kit Only You on the first 3x3 canvas. Little stamps but very cute design! Thanks for stopping by!

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  34. Your techniques and unique way of blending so many ideas into one card amaze me! Beautiful!

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    1. Lisa, thank you! They’re canvases, so more like, desk art! But often I go overboard! Live and learn!

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  35. Beautiful cards! I always really enjoy seeing each creation that you show!

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    1. Cindy, thank you so much and thanks for stopping by! I’m loving the challenge the blog hop gives me!

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  36. Goodness- these canvas' are amazing. You have an eye for color that is not easy to learn! I loved seeing your process and I could imagine hanging these on the wall!!! Make sure you sign them!!!

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    1. Thanks for the reminder, Shelly! And thank you for your kind words!

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  37. Oh my gosh, these awesome! The canvases are so artistic and the texture is fantastic. I haven't done much mixed media so I find it intimidating but you take it to a whole new level!

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    1. Oh, thank you! I’m still learning, but it’s so fun! I get intimidated too...until I start painting up a blank canvas! Thanks for stopping by!

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  38. I could do this in my sleep...jk! This is my first hop here and I'm blown away!!! I have lots of ideas just from ur posts alone!$$

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    1. Thanks for hopping with us! Hope you get inspired! I’ve been picking up discounted supplies for awhile... Tuesday Morning is dangerous for me, but a wonderful source for brand named mixed media and card supplies. Hope to see you back again!

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  39. STUNNING! I can't believe this! You are a mixed media EXPERT!

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    1. Thank you so much! Not really, but I can fake it! ;;-) I’ll be doing more as I am enjoying playing! Thanks for hopping with us!

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  40. Such fabulous details and textures!

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  41. Each canvas is so beautiful! You continually amaze me with your art work!

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    1. Thank you so much, Dorothy! Determined to learn how to do this!

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  42. Wow .....This is amazing. It looks so hard to do. I'm going to try it tho! Thank you... Thank you!

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    1. Let me know how it works out! Thanks for the feedback!

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  43. These are works of art. I love that stamps can be used to create something to display and to decorate in your home, etc. I will have to try this, it is really a beautiful technique.

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    1. Thank you very much! Unity really has great stamps for this kind of artwork.

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