Thrift Shop Upcycle: Craft storage for ink pads

Hello, and welcome to the Mixed Media Attic!  A few weeks ago I stopped in my local Thrift shop down the road and I came across a great find.  What someone in the 80's and early 90's would use as a cassette tape holder, I found use for it as ink storage, something I'm always needing as my crafting addiction grows. Today I would like to share with all of you, my latest upcycle. 

After getting this wooden storage unit home I wiped it off with some damp disinfecting wipes, followed by a damp towel.  I also stopped at my local Michaels Store and picked up a can of Krylon Color Master Spray Paint in "Blue Ocean Breeze for this project.  Since this is spray paint, I took this project out doors.  I set up an area and began spray painting the unit.  It took the whole can to really get into each of the compartments, and soak into the wood.     

I was very happy with the way it turned out, and it was relatively inexpensive compared to an ink storage units you see in the stores.  The ink pads fit perfectly in the slots too.  Now I just need to get more ink to fill it up with.  (wink... wink)

Thanks For stopping by and checking out my latest upcycle!  Be sure to check out your local thrift store.  You never know the hidden gems that you can find to take home and polish up!  

The Documented Life Project : Week 20

May Theme: 

Touchy Feely (Texture)

May 16

Art Challenge: Modeling Paste

Journaling Prompt: Rising to the occasion.

For this weeks challenge, I used quite a bit of my Prima stash that I've been hoarding for a while now. 

I used Julie Nutting wooden doll stamp, and embellished the corners, and sides of the page with some Prima flowers, then added some buttons in the middle of the flowers. 

 I found this quote online and thought it fit perfectly with the journaling prompt, and the wooden doll. Thickers canvas stickers were used for the letters, then sprayed with some red Dylusions spray ink.

New Prima Doll Stamp

I picked up one of the adorable Prima Marketing Mixed Media Doll Cling Stamps last month on Amazon, and finally got around to using it today, in my art journal. I love the quote I found in one of the packs of stickers I've been hoarding. 

"Stepping back from her canvas, she saw her soul."

Here is a list of the supplies used to create this art journal page:

• Paint Brush
• Water
• Gesso
• Matte Medium
• Moleskine 8.5 X 12 Sketch Journal
• Ranger Archival Ink (Black)
• Prima Doll Stamp
• Crate Paper 6 X 6 : Market
• Tim Holtz Idea-ology Journeyman Tissue Tape
• Faber Castell Gel Sticks  and gelatos
• Faber Castell Pen's 
• Stamps for texture, and Inka Gold for accents, 

Page Process:

1. Started out with layering the page with the tissue tape.  
2. Applied a coat of matte medium over the page. Let dry.
3. Applied a light watered down coat of Gesso.  Let dry.
4. Colored the pages with the gelatos and gel sticks, add water to make color more translucent.  Let dry.
5. Added texture to page by using different stamps.  After using diamond shaped stamps I colored in the circles of the tops of the diamonds with inka gold.  Let dry.  
6. Stamped Prima Doll  onto  scrapbook paper, cut out the pieces of the doll. Arranged pieces of doll together.   
7. Appied another coat of matte medium to the entire page.
8. Put doll pieces on wet page, pressing firmly down to the page.  Applied a coat of matte medium over doll. Let page dry.
9. Out line doll with Faber-Castell pens.  Colored in hair and shoes with pens.  
10. Used brown distress ink around sides of sticker quote.  Placed sticker on art journal page.  Applied matte medium over sticker.  Let dry.  
11. Out lined the sticker with Faber-Castell Big Brush Pen  in brown.  .  

Here are the finished results of my page! I hope you all like it!

First Blog Post!

Hello,

Welcome to my very first blog!  I would like to first thank you for visiting my page, and encourage you to return for lots of mixed media goodness!  Let me start by introducing myself to you. My name is Krystal, 28 years old, a woman of God, saved by grace, and living in sunny California. 

Recently I have found a passion for mixed media. For my 18th Birthday I remember asking my mom for scrapbook supplies after seeing a friend make one for our High School.  So you can guess what my first scrapbook was of.  Yes, High School.  My second one was for my mom, it was of my grandfather.  My third one was for my younger brother for his birthday. I recently did a Smash Book for a recent trip to Florida.  

Paper is something wonderful that you can create endless works of art with.  I love to alter things, from old pop-tart boxes to Tim Holtz configuration books.  My feet have just begun to get wet on this art filled journey.  

Art Journaling has been therapeutic for me.  The excitement I had after finishing my first art journal was like a little kid in a candy shop.  Now in my second art journal, I have found what mediums work best together and what doesn't work quite so well.  My greatest lesson was working with dye inks and archival inks.  Its so nice not having my beautiful designs smeared when going over it with a coat of matte medium (still growing and learning here).  I have many projects going on all at once, my desk gets crazy sometimes.  

I'm always on the hunt for supplies to stock up on. I'll admit I'm addicted to shopping, But hey I say "If its on sale why not?".   If you like mixed media, and would like to see projects, tutorials, or shopping hauls, then this is the blog for you.