On The Prairie with Hero Arts

Thank you SO much for stopping by and I hope you can join us at a2z Scrapbooking! This month's theme is anything goes and I am SURE you have something whipped up that you can enter!

Ever since I made the Angel Ornaments, my muse has been begging to play with some more decor and answering the call is what prompted me to make this cow skull shadow box.  This die was in a goodie box that was sold by a well known paper artist {the proceeds were donated} and at first I was stumped as to how I was going to use it.  I've always been attracted by Southwestern style art and I used to have a huge cow skull with feathers and whatnot.  I no longer have that cow skull so I decided to make myself another one.  

What I Used to Make my Art:
Blick Canvas Panel, 5" x 7"
Blick Artists' White Gesso
Shadow Box Frame {bought on eBay years ago}
Hero Arts On the Prairie Fancy Die, #DI511
Light Green, Green, Pink, Red, Yellow and Blue Card
Distress Oxide Inks in Wild Honey, Vintage Photo, Fossilized Amber and Gathered Twigs
Distress Sprayer
White Card
White Craft Foam {I use Creatology™ from Michael's, 6mm, 9" x 12"}

Before                                After

Years ago I bought a bunch of shadow boxes through eBay.  I bought different sizes and frame colors and I've been saving them {for what I don't know} but it was time I started to use these supplies that I've kept packed away.  The frame I envisioned for this piece was weathered so the first thing I did was sand down the frame slightly, cover it with gesso and sand it a bit more once it was dry.  Originally, the frame was a medium brown and, as you can see by the picture, I did a fair amount of work to make it look like it had been out in the harsh sun, rain, and other elements for years. 

In between working on the frame, I started to make the panel.  Using Distress Oxide inks I colored the panel, giving what I think is a more Southwestern feel.  I used some ink blending brushes and, to get the depth of color I wanted, I inked, spritzed, inked again, and spritzed again quite a few times, drying each layer of ink before applying the next.  I just kept on reworking the colors until I was happy with the outcome.  Once I was satisfied, I put the panel aside to dry completely overnight.

I ended up making two different skulls; on the first one I used foam core to get

Not in the Frame Yet

the dimension I wanted.  But when I cut the foam core board, the board got crushed too much and I didn't want to use a smooshed focal point.  I used craft foam for the second skull and it came out much better.  The craft foam held up to the die cutting machine much better than the foam core board {you can see all about the craft foam I use HERE}.  I did end up using the first skull on a matching card so it didn't go to waste.  Once the shape was cut, I layered two pieces of cut white card on the top and, while that was fully drying, I cut out the flowers and

Some Dimension

the leaves.  As usual, I cut out more than I needed so I also made a wreath out of the leftovers but I haven't used it yet.  I still think it's better to have too many embellishments than not enough!  I added the flowers and leaves to the cow skull and glued it to the panel.  Lastly, the panel was put in it's new home and it is ready to display proudly.  What do you think? Are you planning on any home decor or 3D projects in the near future? I'd love to hear about it! {and yes, that is a pop top on the back of the hanging - they are free and work just fine to hang something!}

I hope I get to see your NEW creations and that you join up at a2z Scrapbooking! Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate your support! ~ Fondly, Christi

I am Entering my On the Prairie Project in the following challenges:
Scrapy Land - M, Anything Goes w/ a Brand of Die they sell
TTCRD - Anything Goes
Crafty Friends - Animals/Birds
Cardz TV - Anything Goes {entry 2}
A Blog Named Hero - M, Crafter's Choice
Bleeding Art Challenge - Anything Goes
More Mixed Media - Anything Goes {I did not use the option of Blue}
Happy Little Stampers - Dies - Anything Goes with Dies {badge below}
Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media - Layers - the skull is layered {badge below}