Feature Artist - Rustic Glam - Welcome Joi!

Hello Everyone!

Branka here and I am completely thrilled to introduce you to our Feature Artist for November, the lady who was the winner of my 'Friendship' challenge in September. Please welcome Joi from Joi@RR.

Joi is an incredibly talented mixed media artist and a wonderful lady! Each piece of her fantastic artwork is full of passion, love and amazingly beautiful colors! I encourage you to visit her blog to see how brilliantly she combines rich textures, yummy colors and so many fabulous techniques! Joi loves to share her techniques on her blog and she is one super inspirational lady!

I am so excited about the project she created for our current challenge Rustic Glam. This spectacular piece of art is just perfect for Niki's challenge theme and it really showcases Joi's unique and marvelous style in art! Feast your eyes on this absolutely beautiful creation!

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Howdy from Joi@RR.  

Today is a particularly happy day for me because I am a Featured Artist here on the Anything But Cute Challenge Blog.  
Can you see my silly smile right now???!! 

 Month after month, without fail, I entered the ABC challenge - hoping. Why? Because it's one of my favorite places to be. They are such a sweet group of folks, super DT artists with fun mixed media challenges.  And then, finally it happened, last month... 
I WON the challenge!!!  Yippie Aye Ohhhh!!!

Ok...YES... admitting to a happy jig. :)

I'm a mixed media artist. If you have an inkling to know more about me visit: joi-at-ranch-art.com!

This month the Anything But Cute Challenge is RUSTIC GLAM.
There's still TIME to participate in this yummy challenge here.

At our ranch, rustic is undeniable! But glam? Well... a yellow flower on a cactus is glam!  A new baby calf is glam!  A deer resting in the pasture is glam! Heheheh - it's likely my definition of glam is much different than Niki, the hostess, had in mind for this challenge! However... if you have seen my artwork, you know that I love a bit of glitter, glitz and pizzazz . . .  so, without any further ado . . . welcome to my RUSTIC GLAM creation.  

I began with a 12" x 30" rustic piece of barn wood. 

Using a stencil for the lettering; I drew in the design by hand. 

And began painting in all my little designs with DecoArt Media Black Gesso. My liner brush by Dynasty sure helped! 

Here is the RUSTIC part before the GLAM arrived on the scene.  Oh, my stars . . . those trees are crooked.  Ok, Joi - just don't think about that . . . perfection not needed . . . proceed forth to the finish!

I had drawn in a double layer of mountains and thought it would be fun to use some type of texture there - maybe even a stamped texture. I had been humming the song Silent Night and decided the project needed some music - right?! 

I found lovely music in the Victorian Romance Deco-Page paper set by DecoArt Americana.  I tore the notes and placed them using DecoArt Media Matte Medium. After they were dry, I went back around the edges with some Titan Buff Fluid Acrylic to make it look a bit more unified with the line of the mountain ridge.

The open tree needed a bit of glam, too. I stamped one of the Susan K Weckesser Unity Journal Doodles inside.

Remember, a deer resting in the pasture is glam. How could I not include one??! Out came an old stencil that has no name any more and an ARTplorations Christmas Reindeer too. 

To bring my deer to life . . . . here is a fun concoction of DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste and Carbon Black Fluid Acrylic paint - YUMMY! 

For a bit more shimmer, I used DecoArt Metallic Lustre on the trees and across parts of the background. It's very hard to see in this picture, but it definitely added some glitz to the rustic wood!  

For transforming my tipsy trees... I chose DecoArt's Snow Writer.  It's so amazing to play with this snowy wonder.

The moon just seemed to need a bit more glam so cheese cloth mesh was added with matte medium.

Last but not least... the wild splish-splash of DecoArt Glamour Dust - black ice & ice crystal - from top to bottom!

Here are the products used for this rustic winter wonderland glam.

And a few close-ups!

Wishing each of you a calm and bright Thanksgiving and Christmas season . . . with hugs. j.

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WOW, what an exquisite piece of art this is! How can you not be inspired by this stunner to join in with our Rustic Glam challenge! Thank you so much Joi for such a great inspiration! It has been an honor having you here with us today!

You have until the 4th of December to play - and you'll find all the challenge details as well as lots of inspiration from the brilliant Anything But Cute design team by clicking on the challenge link.

Happy Crafting
Branka xx

Winners - Challenge #16 - An Autumn Day

We are so thankful for each and every entry in our An Autumn Day challenge.  This is one of the most beautiful groupings of art, each worthy its own showcase.  Thank you so much for your continued support of our challenges here at Anything But Cute. Without delay, we are pleased to announce our winners and design team favorites...

WINNER - #67 Inkysplatters

Congratulations Inkysplatters!  This beautiful work of art, with its many layers, is a perfect autumnal setting.  What amazing ingenuity and creativity combined to achieve such realistic depth and color variation!  Pamellia will be in touch by email to send you a personalized winner's badge and to provide details about being our Feature Artist for the next challenge.

RUNNER-UP - #42 julD handmade

JulD created the most charming collage from gorgeous real leaves. The amazing stencil detail adds so much depth and a fall-like feeling of dew drops and time worn elegance.  What a gorgeous project! The handmade frame adds so much interest and warmth!  Thank you so much for this inspiration!

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Now let's have a look at our DT favourites:



Anne's Favourite - #24 Nicole Wright Designs

Autumn really is the most beautiful season, I love the changing colours, and of course, Halloween. Nicole created the most wonderful little Autumn/Halloween diorama, a little scary but full of autumn colour inside and out, there are beautiful trees and leaves and I love the cosy little setting she created.

Branka's Favourite - #67 - Inky Splatters

I love this weathered wood window with such an amazing stamping in the background! Those trees look so realistic and the autumnal foliage arrangement is just a perfect addition to this stunning creation!

Lisa's Favourite - #63 Joi@RR: USA

I had such a hard time choosing a favorite this month...all of the entries were amazing!! But I finally decided on Joi's stunning painting!! I was memorized reading how this beautiful work of art came together!! The colors, the design, the details...all add up to spectacular!!

Niki's Favourite -#67 Inky Splatters

I totally enjoy this little window and the way it was created! The distressed frame and the packaging window is genius and those leaves and pine cones shout Autumn! What a gorgeous creation and attention to detail. The added detail inside the window are beautiful! Awesome sauce!

Pamellia's Favourites -

1. Elli

This is the type of card I want to reach right into my computer and touch!! The texture here is just amazing and I love the amber tones and the incredible depth in her elements! Well done!

64. Lula

This card just screams Autumn to me. Those wonderful rich tones and amazing textures feel like they're straight out of nature! The touch of metal and twine create a wonderful contrast! Love it!

Sara Emily's Favourite -#45-Alison of Words and Pictures

With so many fantastic Autumn projects entered this month, I found it almost impossible to choose a favorite! But in the end, I had to choose, and I selected Alison's lovely journal page.  There are no fonder childhood memories of An Autumn Day for me than walking through our woods on our farm.  The wood was thick with birch trees, and you could barely see that beautiful blue fall sky between the branches. This lovely page brought back that memory for me like it was yesterday. Thank you, Alison; this is beautiful!

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Honourable Mentions

4. MARYVONNE          18. Jane's Journal        19. Julia Aston       35. Torsa's E{art}h

      

36. Roshini's Crafts      49. Inky fingered Cat      51. pearshapedchris      52. Deb Riddell

      

53. My little joys               55. Suzz             65. Karen P            66. Melissa L.

      

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A huge congratulation everyone! Thank you so much to everyone who played along with us last month and don't forget to grab your badges! You earned them!!

There is still plenty of time to enter Niki's current challenge Rustic Glam! We can't wait to see what you come up with this round!

Hugs to all, from the 'Anything But Cute' Design Team

Challenge #19 - Rustic Glam

Hello Everyone!

Niki here and I am your hostess this for this month's challenge here at Anything But Cute. Thank you to everyone that was able to join us last month for Autumn's challenge. It seems that the theme was a big hit with you all and so many lovely entries! Don't forget to check back with us on November 12th, when Autumn and the team announce the winners of the "Autumn Day" challenge. Now on to this month's theme.

Can you believe that it is November already? I hope all of you had a spooktacular Halloween and got to see some amazing costumes! Now that we are into November and the weather is turning cold I find myself starting indoor projects. This challenge theme was inspired by my major overhaul of my master bedroom. I made a DIY rustic whitewashed wall and the entire room has a rustic glam vibe to it thanks to the wood accent wall and a chandelier. Isn't it fun to combine two hobbies?

RUSTIC GLAM

Think of Southern charm meeting some Bling Bling. Create a mixed media design featuring rustic elements such as whitewashed wood, chicken wire, burlap, soft subtle tones and neutrals. Don't forget to add the GLAM part with some sparkle and BLING!

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And now for some inspiration from the talented Anything But Cute design team!


Anne - Redanne

I decided to challenge myself and use everything that Niki asks for in her fabulous challenge and I had lots of fun making it!

Autumn - SewPaperPaint

I decided to create a framed mixed media home decor item for my bedroom.  I've had this awesome deep frame for ages and decided to do a little collage featuring one of my favorite Verve stamps inside.  I used neutral tones with touches of sequins, vintage glitter and pearls to complete my rustic glam framed art.

Branka - Vintage Handmade

I used my mini burlap panel (reversed side), my DecoArt white crackle paint and my Chalky finish paints, a Stampendous Shabby Blue embossing enamel, some dies and some flat back pearls to create my rustic Christmas window for this wonderful Niki's challenge theme.

Lisa - A Mermaid's Crafts

I love Niki's theme of Rustic Glam!! I upcycled an old bamboo box lamp by covering it in super-heavy gesso and then crackle medium. Once the cracks appeared, I added antiquing medium and replaced the bamboo with chicken wire mesh decorated with glitter. For added glam, I finished it off by stringing crystals that sparkle in the light :)

Niki - Pawsitively Creative Crafts

I went with a faux deer head (the only type that I would ever have in my house) and added some wood stain, acrylic paints, sanding techniques, stencils, modeling paste and of course I had to add the bling bling with some diamonds and faux snow. Yeppers, snow. Carpe Diem!

Sara Emily - sarascloset

Niki's theme is so much fun! Rustic and glam is such an interesting combination of elements! I used crackle and wood grain, burlap and chicken wire, gilding and bling to make my mixed media card. I have a brief tutorial on my blog for the easy peasy wood grain if you'd care to take a look.

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Can you believe my teamies?!? Such a talented group of ladies we have here! Please hop over to the team blogs to see more photos and get some details on how these projects were made. And don't forget to leave some bloggy love while you're there. It brings a smile to our faces. :)

I hope that we have inspired you to try something new and maybe even take it a step further and just enjoy the challenge of being challenged. I know this one was a challenge for me and I am super stoked I was able to do it!

The winner will receive the honour of being our Feature Artist for an upcoming challenge!

Here at Anything But Cute we just love to see all the seasoned and expert mixed media artists, but we also want to encourage those who are just getting their feet wet. Our design team will always be on the lookout for these exceptional projects and artists. You just never know when we might be giving out something special to a lucky mixed media newcomer. We all have to start somewhere, right?

Challenge runs until December 4th - we can't wait to see what you come up with! Happy Crafting from the entire team and thanks for visiting Anything But Cute! Carpe Diem!

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