EVERYTHING HAS BEAUTY By Krisy Podolak

Hi Colour Blast Lovelies.

This is my last share as a part of the Colour Blast team. It has been an awesome 2 years however, real life is happening and I have decided to return to study to start a new career path.

This project is a little close to my heart.  As you probably know, I had adult braces that were removed last November.  The orthodontist offered to sterilise them so I could take them home.  Why not I thought.  Then I could show my kids but on the way home I had a better idea....

Here it is here:

 This project started off as a Rat trap that I altered just a little. Here are a few of the things I used.

 I have a process video so I won't go into too much detail here but here's a quick breakdown of what I did.  I pulled apart the trap.  My plan was to replace the "trap" part with my braces.  Once the trap was ready, I prepared it with a base that would provide good tooth for the colours and layers to stick too.  Using a large brush I added a layer of Colour Blast White Gesso.

Then I added some crackle paste and mulberry paper for texture.  Once the paste had dried and crackled I added some paint for a vibrant pink.  Then I knocked back the colour with some Acrylic Paint and then at the end I added some Colour Spray in Roadbase.

Once I was happy with all my layers and colour, I added some stamping and ink splatters. Then I added my final "embellishments" gluing everything into place with hot glue.

I really love how this project turned out and that I have a momento of my braces experience I can hang on the wall.

Here are a few close ups:

I hope that I have inspired you not only today but in my whole time as a Design Team Member with Colour Blast Australia. Thank you for seeing something in me and taking me on as part of the team Tenisha.

Here is the link to the process video if you are interested. Click Here.

Krisy xx

Altered Ballet Shoe by Krisy Podolak

Hi Colour Blast Lovelies,

Today I am sharing a little off the page project with you an Altered Pointe Ballet Shoe.  I am not a dancer but I love ballet.  A few years ago I had an idea to alter a ballet shoe.  I got a bit excited and bought four or five pairs.  So, I am slowly making my way through altering them.

Here is my Shoe....

And this is my process:

I started with a blank shoe and covered it in a layer of Apple of My Eye Colour Paste. I applied it using a paint brush.  Colour Paste is really sticky and you don't need to prepare your surface in anyway before adding the colour.  It just sticks beautifully.

I left it to dry naturally so that it wouldn't bubble or blister like Colour Paste tends to do when you hit it with a heat gun. This is what it looked like when it dried.

When it was completely dry, I added some stamping using a permanent ink.  This is important as I am adding more wet mediums and I don't want the ink to react.

Once I was happy with my stamping, I coloured the flower using some Colour Paste in Sunshine and Bling.  I applied the colour roughly using a thin paint brush.  I left it rough for a bit of texture and visual interest.

This is what the flowers looked like when they were dry.

To the inside of the shoe I added layers of tissue paper applied using Decoupage glue.  Once the base (inside and out) was dry, I went to town gluing on flowers.

I added a photo and some stamping on the inside and my shoe is finished.  I will be gifting this to the ballerina in the photo.

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you enjoyed this project.

Krisy xx

Steampunk Bunny by Krisy Podolak

Hi Colour Blast Lovelies.

Krisy back again today to share with you a project that I started back in November but then I put it aside and finally found time to finish it.  This project is a KMart hack.  It started as a $5 cheap looking money box and I think it ended up pretty awesome.

Here's what it looked like in the beginning:

And this is what it looks like now:

 So how did I go about altering this little bunny? 

First, I applied a base layer of colour.  I used Colour Paste in Leather and a paint brush.  I applied quite thick layer and then over the top I applied a rough layer of Bling.  Then I set it aside to dry.

Once it was dry, mark out some armour lines with a white marker and glued on some modelling clay in long "snake" rolls.  This was to become the welding of the armour.  I didn't wait for it to air dry I just glued it on and carried on with the next step which was gluing on bits and bobs. Steampunk is a style that incorporates all things mechanical.  The definition as defined by Wikipedia "Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery."  

So, I set about gluing on cogs, metal pieces, wings, clocks, letters, a bottle cap.  At this point I am not concerned at all by colour.  I will be applying more layers over the top.  At this stage this is what it looked like from all sides.  I am not concerned by the hot glue showing either.  This will add to the "welded" look.

Then I started adding more layers of colour.  

I started with Dusty Charcoal Colour Paste and began focusing mainly along the welds.  Then I applied a layer of Leather focusing mainly on highlighting and covering any raw chipboard/wood veneer pieces.  Over the top of that I added some Deep Water Colour Paste.  The idea of the Deep Water is to create an oxidised effect. The same process as when copper is exposed to air over time.  It is only light and rough.  All these layers are applied with a really stiff old brush.  I am looking for texture also and the stiff brush helps achieve this.

I should note I applied colour where it was required without any concern for what I was covering. Colour Paste sticks to everything.  So I didn't need to prep anything so that it would "stick".  I just painted it on.

Next I added more layers.  I added some Steel Colour Paste because frankly Steel is a metal so the colour would be required and it is a nice contrast to all the dark colours.  Finally, I added some Bling Colour Paste.  I didn't dry between any of these colours.  It was a hot day and plus I wanted the colours to mix a little bit and blend.  As a final colour step, I added some Colour Mica Powder in Espresso randomly over the whole piece to give it a little shine and a tiny bit of Polar.  I added it with a dry brush and loosely brushed it on the tacky Colour Paste. I mainly focused on areas that needed a highlight like inside the ears and under the arms.

As a final touch, I added some more embellishments keeping them raw so they are a nice contrast to the ones covered in Colour Paste.  I added some old copper eyelets, a clock, some old watch cogs and a chain for his monocle.  And that is it.  Once it's fully dry in a few days I am going to apply a layer of Matte Spray varnish to seal it. Here is what the finished piece looks like from all angles.  The shine of the Colour Paste and the Mica Powder make it hard to photography properly but it is pretty awesome.

Thanks for looking today.  I hope I have inspired you to look at cheap finds a little differently.

Krisy xx

Galaxy Art Journal by Krisy Podolak

Hi Colour Blast Lovelies,

Krisy back again today and today I am sharing with you a page out of one of my current Art Journals.  This year one of my New Years Resolutions is to pull out and share my art journal works a little more.  This page started off as a solid idea, failed in the middle but then I manged to save it all and it finished almost as I imagined.  (I just need more practice with my lettering).

So, for this page I decided I would give Galaxy painting a go.  It is very popular in one of the Art Journal communities I belong to so I thought why not.  I watched a 20 second instagram video on how to and thought,  "I got this".  So here goes.

I started with my old book art journal.  I then applied a layer of Colour Blast Heavy White Gesso to the page.  I did this to create a base with a bit of tooth and to cover up the words of the book.  

Then I pulled out my Colour Shimmer Dusts in Lollipop, Passion, Velvet, Navy and Midnight and began applying them in a very wet state using a large round brush.  I started in the middle with the Lollipop then around that I added the Velvet and Passion then the Navy around that and finally the midnight around the very edge of the page. 

Then I tipped the pages up to allow the colour to mix and run into each other.  At this stage everything looked awesome and exactly how I wanted it to.  I walked away and left it to dry naturally.

This is what I came back too:

ARGH! The Heavy White Gesso had so much tooth that it sucked up all my colour.  It did leave a nice layer of shimmer but I needed the colour too.  So I added 3 more layers in the same fashion leaving them to dry naturally but it just kept happening.  So.... I decided to pull out my Colour Sprays and see if they would take.

I used Bubblegum, Carribean, Violet, Grape and Road Base.  I just sprayed them directly to the page.  I didn't worry if the colours mixed or overlapped.  I just held the bottle quite close to the page to prevent it from spraying large circles of colour.  Then I tipped up the pages to allow them to mix a bit and hit it with my heat gun.  

The dry result was just want I wanted so next, I pulled out some white drawing ink and a fan brush and splattered some "stars" all over the page.

Once they were dry I drew in some constellations and larger stars.  I then added in some hand lettering which is very ordinary.  It didn't stand out either so I used some Heavy White Gesso and a fine paint brush to create a base that I then went back in with some black markers to highlight it.  

And BAM!  I saved it.  I am really happy with the final result and the Colour Shimmer Dust added a nice shimmer to the page even if it didn't photograph well.

Thanks for taking the time to have a look today.

Krisy xx

Mr & Mrs Awesome & Tribe by Krisy Podolak

Hi Colour Blast Lovelies. 

Krisy back again today to share a layout that I have been sitting on for a while.  I really love this picture and the words and styling had to be just right.

Here is my Layout:

For this layout I went with a piece of patterned paper and then created a base using a thin layer of  Colour Blast Heavy White Gesso applied with an old rewards card in a messy fashion in the middle of the page.  Over the top I sprayed some Road Base Colour Spray and then using a heart stencil, I added some Colour Paste in Bling.

Once that was dry, I added strips of washi tape across the middle, a paper doily and some thread and my photo.  To finish off the layout I added some chipboard pieces.  I embossed them with some heavy black embossing powder and while they were still sticky I sprinkled some Colour  Embossing Powder in Bling over the top and then heated it again.  The Colour Embossing Powder melts into the black but doesn't mix giving a really nice gold fleck finish.  It can be subtle like in my Mr & Mrs title or you can add more and build it up like on the heart.  

To the heart, when it was just about dry, I used the same roller stamp I stamped on the background and pushed it in to the soft embossing powder.  This leaves a nice impression on the embossing powder and it doesn't stick or damage your stamp if you wait until it is almost cool.  It's a bit of trial and error but you can always reheat the embossing powder and it goes smooth again so you can have another go.

I hope I have inspired you today to pull out your Colour Embossing Powders and try sprinkling different colours together to create flecks or giving your stamps a work out and adding some embossing to your chipboard.

Make sure you share your creations in the Colour Blast Creative Corner so that we can all be inspired.  I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Krisy xx

Hello 5AM by Krisy Podolak

Hi Colour Blast Lovelies,

Krisy back today to share a layout that is all about progress and creating a habit.  As part of my exercise regime I had to make a decision.  Who was I doing this for and how bad did I want it?  The answer was for ME and Real Bad.  So, I had to make time to exercise.  I joined a crossfit box and my obsession began.  BUT! (There's always a BUT!) I had to make time.  Being a mum of three under three I couldn't go during the day and my husband coaches sport most afternoons and into some evenings so the only option I had was to get up at 4.30AM and be at the 5AM class.  It started off as a struggle especially going into winter but it eventually got easier.  And once the results started happening it was no longer a chore.  Right up until this morning I get up at 4.30AM for that 5AM class it is now a habit and this layout is a reminder.

Here is my layout:

This layout was made using Stayzon Ink and stamps and then a whole lot of splatter was added using Colour Blast Colour Spray in Bubblegum and Roadbase.  These are my most used colours.  I also used these to colour a Watercolour Paper number (5) and other embellishments.  This way everything is colour co-ordinated and works together.  To make the splatters very random I just unscrewed the top and used the stem to flick colour onto the page.  I also used a bit of water on a paint brush to help spread it just a bit.

Here are a few Close ups:

I hope I have inspired you to pull out your Colour Sprays and get a bit messy.

Krisy xx

I am the MACHINE by Krisy Podolak

Hi Colour Blasters, It's Krisy back for another term with Colour Blast Australia.  I am so happy to be back.  Today, I am sharing a layout that could double as an Art Journal page as the technique is pretty awesome plus easy and cost effective.

Here is my layout.

I started off being efficient and taking process photos but then I forgot.  So, I will explain the steps.

To create the base of the layout all you need to do is stick old packaging and chipboard negatives to a piece of cardstock.  (By chipboard negatives I mean those bits of chipboard that you push your shapes out of.)  To stick them on I used Helmars Glue but you can use gel medium if you like.  Add as many shapes and pieces as you like.  Be sure to over lap them to create some interesting layers.

Once that's done and dried, all you need to do is apply a layer of Colour Blast Heavy White Gesso over the whole thing.  I just used a 1 inch paint brush.  I wasn't too delicate as I wanted any brush strokes to add extra texture.  I didn't apply it too thick because I still wanted to see the packaging underneath.

Once the Gesso is dry, it's time to go to town applying layers of Colour Spray.  I used Lagoon, Carribean, Mocha, Coffee and Roadbase.  I just randomly sprayed the colours one at a time, making sure to dry them properly before add the next colour. (This stops them mixing too much, but they will still mix)

Once I was happy with my colour, I added some stamping using a permanent ink over the whole background.  My stamps are not mounted so it make it easier to stamp over the lumpy background.  If your stamps are mounted you can stamp onto white tissue paper, tear around the image and then use gel medium to stick them into place.  The tissue will become transparent.  I use this technique in the process video for my skulls stamps.  Something to note, when you use gel medium on your stamped images, apply the gel medium to the back of your tissue paper and then carefully pick it up and apply it to your layout.  If you apply gel medium directly to your layout over your colour it will react with the gel medium.  Colour Sprays are all reactivated by anything wet!

And that is my background done.  I then went ahead and embellished.  I used a lot of cog chipboard and embossed them all will Colour Embossing Powder.  I used the colours Leather, Steel, Dusty Charcoal and Deep Water.  Some I applied one layer of embossing powder and others I applied more.  This creates some interesting texture.  The more coats you add the thicker and more glossy the embossing will look.

And that's it.  This layout is all about the mixed media textured background.  You don't need to embellish too much as there is so much to look at already.

Thanks for stopping by today, make sure if you use these techniques you share your creations on our Facebook page Colour Blast Creative Corner, I'd love to see what you have been inspired to create.

Happy Making Stuff

Krisy xx