A Holiday Project...

So, I have been thinking and stressing about all of the things that I need to do before Christmas...and instead of doing them, I decided to make this little project inspired by the 'Holidays Handmade' week over at Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's blog. (If you want artsy,crafty inspiration click here!)

Anyway, here is a look at the process:

I started with a tiny 4x4 canvas that I have had lying around wondering what to do with since I went to *Spark*. I started with a tiny doily and used it as a template. I applied a layer of gesso over the canvas with an old gift card.

Then I drew a heart with some oil pastels and water-colored over the whole canvas.

Then I put some watered-down mustard acrylic paint to make it more greenish.


I wanted to make it sort of rustic and weathered so i dry-brushed some brown around the edges.

Then I took this small acrylic heart...

...and stamped some script on it with red staz-on ink, put a brad through the hole and poked it through my canvas over the top of my red drawn-on heart.
(Sorry, it's a horrible pic)

I wanted a little more going on in the center so I drew some green circles with oil pastels and applied a little more watercolor over the top.

Then, I used a small brush to paint the words on with acrylic paint.

I wasn't loving the way the white looked on my 'Joy' so I water-colored it red. I added some chipboard hearts that I embossed red to fill up the space. I also thought it needed a little something more on the outside (which in hindsight, I don't really think it did) so i painted a black line and a scallop.

Even though it didn't turn out 'perfect', it was so much fun and it's growing on me. Malia told me it was beautiful so...

Have a merry day!