Donna Downey's "Altered Brush Project"

Hi everyone!   I want to share my latest altered art creation with you.  I had so much fun making it - and I LOVE how it turned out! 

I altered this paint brush for Donna Downey's Altered Brush Project - you can read all about it - HERE on Donna's Blog

and find her BLOG POST with my Brush in it HERE!

 

Did you every have a project that you pictured in your mind before you started to create it - and then it turned out even better than you had originally planned?  I am happy to say that is what happened with this paint brush!

It started out as a BLANK canvas - The brush is 4" wide and @ 8" tall.

I added some Gesso, okay - I added LOTS of Gesso on the metal section -and even added some to the top part of the bristles - Then  I heated it with my heat gun to dry - I wanted to get some color on this baby!!

Now it was time to give it a spray with one of my favorite products - Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - this first layer was

with the Limited Edition Color "Blarney"

Time to add another layer - I spritzed it with some Tattered Angels Chalkboard Glimmer Mist - Color "Inchworm" (love that name!)  I even ran the bottom bristles through the over spray on my splat mat!

I decided to use a piece of Punchinella as a mask ( Do you know what Punchinella is?  It is the "waste" from when sequins are made!  Cool huh?!)  I had fun using the BEAUTIFUL NEW Dylusions Spray - in Vibrant Turquoise - LOVE IT!!

 

BUT - I really wasn't happy with the spots / mask effect -so....

I gave it another spritz with the Dylusions, and moved it around with a paint brush -and I was satisfied! I love how it filled in all the "low spots." I then ran the bristles through the over spray on the splat mat too. I added a little "Waterfall" Glimmer Glaze to the bottom of the bristles too.

Now it was time to decorate!  ( THE 2nd funnest part!)  I knew I wanted to use the peacock feathers I had in my stash -I draw lots of inspiration from them - as you can see in this project, and on many others I've made. These came from a giant fan of peacock feathers that my boss brought back for me from a trip to India -- I have used so many of them on my projects, and have used them for classes that I have taught - I will be sad when there are none left.  

I also knew I wanted to add different elements and a little BLING to the brush -so I went into my old jewelry stash, and pulled out the beautiful butterfly pin, and that round bead/sequin dark blue earring. ( These were gifts to me from my good friend, and scrapping buddy, Pattie.  They were some of the costume jewelry pieces that belonged to her mother, and she passed them along to me, as she know how much I like to add jewelry/mixed media "stuff" to my projects.  It is a pleasure to be able to add these special elements, and know that they will continue to be viewed by others, both online - and in person in Donna's studio!)

I needed some orange to pick up the details from in the butterfly, and another good friend ( my sista-from-another-mother) Stephanie ( who happens to own the cutest little scrapbook and on-line store Scrap-a-Doodle Doo!) came to the rescue with the beautiful orange spray of crystals, and the orange bling gems.  The other flowers were from my stash!

(P.S. Donna Downey is going to be teaching at THE DOO, December 14,15&16 -click on the link above for class info!)

Here are a few close ups:

I knew I wanted to use the words "DREAM BIG" and I thought the Tim Holtz Alpha Parts/Random black letters would be perfect!   I love this phrase, and draw from its strength when I am faced with disappointment, or doubt, or feel sad.  The inspiration comes from the song - "Dream Big" by Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand which is one of my favorites.  I use to have it playing on my blog -but that service no longer works ( if anyone knows how to get music on their blog -please clue me in!)  You can click on the name of the song to hear it - but be forewarned - the only video I could find has an add that you have to sit through in the beginning.

Here is the finished piece:

I will be sending it off to Donna tomorrow.  Keep watching her Blog to see all of the beautiful brushes that others have sent in - and if you are on Pintrest - you can follow along there too! I can't wait to see my brush on there soon! 

I'd love to hear from you - feel free to leave a comment!

Thanks for stopping by!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri