• Amazing Casting Products,  Beads,  Fiona Accessories,  Halloween,  Home Decor,  Jewelry,  Mixed Media,  Paint,  Recycling,  Resin

    An Artistic Halloween Haunting Recap!

    ArtResurrected-Artistic-Halloween-Haunting-Tracy-Alden-1

    Welcome to my Artistic Halloween Haunting Recap! The month of October and all of the Halloween goodness flew by so fast, but I wanted to share some of my ghoulish crafting fun before Halloween is just a faint promise of next year.
    ArtResurrected-Artistic-Halloween-Haunting-Tracy-Alden-2

    Using some wonderful chains, crystals and beads from Fiona Accessories I created this jewelry assemble for my spellbinding costume of a Gothic witch. The sterling silver snake pendant was hand crafted in Nepal and really played well with the raven skull I had bought recently.

    ArtResurrected-Artistic-Halloween-Haunting-Tracy-Alden-3

    I transformed this plastic Italian Carnival mask into a Plague Doctor mask using paper mache, paint and Liquitex Matte Varnish. However I wasn’t finished there and created the rest of the look:

    ArtResurrected-Artistic-Halloween-Haunting-Tracy-Alden-4

    With the addition of a black heavy weight line robe, hood, gloves, hat and walking stick it made a perfectly frightening Plague Doctor costume for my husband.

    ArtResurrected-Artistic-Halloween-Haunting-Tracy-Alden-5

    I created a replica mummy head using a plastic Halloween skull and the help of Amazing Casting Products. Clicj HERE for this Upcycled Mummy’s Curse!

    ArtResurrected-Artistic-Halloween-Haunting-Tracy-Alden-6

    Taking inspiration from one of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Macbeth, I created a Eye of Newt Apothecary Jar, spooky enough to keep any monster happy!

    ArtResurrected-Artistic-Halloween-Haunting-Tracy-Alden-7

    Last but not least my husband and I finally took the time to refinish a old cabinet that had been in the family longer than me. After patching, sanding, staining and varnish it was ready to become a Halloween curio cabinet!

    ArtResurrected-Artistic-Halloween-Haunting-Tracy-Alden-8
    Not bad for our first attempt at giving new life to an old piece. Once filled with fun holiday decor it made a perfectly frightening Halloween decoration.  With Halloween gone and past now I can fill it with with antiques and little curios befitting of Fall.

    Now to start on art projects for Fall and the coming Winter!

    Until Next Time, Safe Travels!

  • Acrylic,  Amazing Crafting Products,  Mixed Media,  Nine Live Products,  Paint,  Paper Crafts,  Resin

    Temple Rain, a Mixed Media Canvas

    ArtResurrected-Mixed-Media-Resin-Canvas-Tracy-Alden-1

    In April I had the great opportunity to receive a Frog Dog Studio kit by being part of the Amazing Crafting Products Design Team. I was so excited when I received the kit; it had so many wonderful goodies, from ink pads, pigment ink, mica, chipboard pieces, tissue paper and more! There was enough supplies to make several projects and still have things left over.

    April 14 MM Kit

    Many of the supplies in the April kit seemed to have a East Asian flair to it. It got me thinking about my trip through Asia and I was inspired to create a Mixed Media hidden story book.

    Amazing-Crafting-Products-Mixed-Media-Book-Tracy-Alden-1

    The tutorial for this project can be found here: Mixed Media Book Box

    ArtResurrected-Mixed-Media-Resin-Canvas-Tracy-Alden-2

    With more of the supplies left over, I created a Mixed Media Canvas piece with wild tropical colors. It was so much fun that I wanted to try making another canvas piece but with a completely different feel, and I still had supplies left over from the Frog Dog Studio kit. Sadly, I got busy with home improvement projects and had to wait until the end of May to start my new canvas.

    ArtResurrected-Mixed-Media-Resin-Canvas-Tracy-Alden-3With a portion of the extras from the kit, miscellaneous supplies from my collection and canvas,  I started to lay out the project, figuring out which direction to go. I wanted to use the chipboard from the Stampendous Mini Clipboard Canvas pack, the Tim Holtz Clear Fragments and Pearlized Stampendous Mica Fragments. I placed them this way and that on the canvas and suddenly I got an idea. What if I were to try making a abstract ruins in the rain?

    Just like with my previous canvas piece, I pulled out what I call my resin “save for later” bin. This bin is populated with all kinds of resin pieces, some finished, uneven pourings or even pieces I just didn’t know what to do with. I picked out resin cabs that had the look of abstract water droplets.

    ArtResurrected-Mixed-Media-Resin-Canvas-Tracy-Alden-4I applied water and acrylic paint to the canvas and tilted it so all the paint and water ran down to the bottom. Once dry, I painted a base dark layer for my ruins. I glued the chipboard pieces to the canvas using Nine Lives Products Glu6 Paste and let dry.

    ArtResurrected-Mixed-Media-Resin-Canvas-Tracy-Alden-5

    I applied a second layer of water and paint to give a look of rain falling. On went the crackle medium to the dark paint layer and once dry I added a gray-blue paint top layer that then crackled giving it the look of ancient stone. I wasn’t completely happy with the look so using a black permanent marker I drew in small bricks and shading to give detail to the ruins.

    ArtResurrected-Mixed-Media-Resin-Canvas-Tracy-Alden-6

    Using Nine Lives Products Glu6 Nonporous glue I glued the mica flakes to the back of the resin cabs and while the glue was still wet pressed them onto the canvas. The glue has to dry overnight but it is well worth the wait for a great bond on the resin cabs. I applied little paper leaves to look like plant overgrowth and Liquitex Gloss Varnish to seal the paper leaves and paint in place. I added some acrylic paint in blue and purple as highlights on the ruins and brown on the paper plants to give an earthy hue. A second layer of varnish in drops and dribbles gave the illusion of water to the finished canvas.

    ArtResurrected-Mixed-Media-Resin-Canvas-Tracy-Alden-1

     I added some acrylic paint in blue and purple as highlights on the ruins and brown on the paper plants to give an earthy hue. A second layer of varnish in drops and dribbles gave the illusion of water to the finished canvas.

    Frog Dog Studio’s available kits change every month but the great variety offered in each kit is a great inspiration. What might you make with their next kit?Until next time, safe travels!

  • 3D Enamel Gel,  Embossing Powders,  Globecraft Memories,  Jewelry,  Paint

    Globecraft & Piccolo Design Team and 3D Enamel Gels!

    As you all know I have been a proud member of product design and development for Globecraft Memories for over a year now. I love the work and always look forward to testing new products. So I was pleasantly surprised when they graciously invited me to join their Globecraft & Piccolo online design team! There’s an amazing amount of talented ladies in this team and many diverse styles. I can’t wait to see what everyone makes! Please make sure to check out their blog often!

    One of the new products we are getting to showcase and use in the design team is Piccolo 3D Enamel Gels. They are non-toxic, have no odor, are easy to clean up and have wonderful pigment-rich colors. They can be applied to chipboard, paper, plastic and fabrics with ease (I’m willing to bet there are even more applications that I have yet to try).

    A new product they carry, blank Bookboard Bezels, are just perfect to coat with the 3D Enamel and turn into jewelry. A single coat on a bezel gives you a lovely transparency, two coats give a opaque glass like finish. When you apply a single coat on top of Globecraft’s Enamel Powders it has a wonderful stained glass effect, but you can also put a layer of 3D Enamel down first, let dry and then sprinkle a layer of Enamel Powders on top.


    The 3D Enameling Gel does not boil when you pass the heat gun over to set the Enameling powders if the gel is fully cured. On this Skinny Tag bezel I used Mars Black 3D Enamel Gel and a overlay of Girls Night Out Enamel Powder.


    If you layer the Enamel Gel between layers of Glastique Gloss Finishing Glaze you can get an amazing level of depth. Mars Black, Ultramarine Blue, Purple Mist 3D Enamel Gels, Pure Sparkle Silver Glitter and Mica for this celestial sky set.


    You can get the illusion of glass when you add Glastique Gloss Finishing Glaze and Art Glitter Ultrafine Angel Dust glitter on top of the 3D Enamel. I used a Flower drop bezel , Dark Green, Metallic Gold, Purple Mist 3D Enameling Gels, and sticker gems for this piece.


    The 3D Enamel Gel has a natural gloss finished if applied straight from the bottle but if you use a cosmetic sponge to stipple it on you can get a satin finish. For this Graffiti Art necklace I used a Square Tag bezel, Glastique Gloss Finishing Glaze and 3D Enameling Gel (Titanium White, Orange, Cobalt Turquoise, Bright Yellow, Napthol Red, Metallic Silver, Metallic Copper, Mars Black).


    The new Enamel Gel is perfect for when you want just a touch of color. The tiny applicator tip on all of the Gel bottles makes it easy to apply it to any Piccolo element. With this Steampunk Gear Bezel, the Bright Yellow, Metallic Silver and Metallic Copper 3D Enameling Gels give it that perfect touch of color.

    Until Next Time, Safe Travels!

  • Embossing Powders,  Globecraft Memories,  Jewelry,  Paint,  Uncategorized

    Globecraft Memories New Piccolo Charm line!

    I have been working on so many art projects that I am lucky I had the time to take photos of them before they were sent off! I once again had the wonderful opportunity to work with Globecraft Memories as a designer/product design and development on of their new line of Piccolo charms. By now you know about the Piccolo Card Toppers and the Piccolo embellishments. They have added a new Piccolo Charm line! Steampunk gears, hearts, kitties, sea life, angels, butterflies, horses, keys and silhouettes are just a few of the new kit themes in the charm line. With each kit you can make anything from a necklaces, earrings, lapel pins, wineglass charms, curtain tiebacks, rear view mirror dangles and much more!

    Like all of the Piccolo Card Toppers and the Piccolo embellishments, the Piccolo Charm line is made from a high quality chipboard. To make the charms more durable and able to handle daily wear and tear I use Glastique Flexible Finishing Glaze (Gloss) on all of the pieces to give it flexibility, strength and a enamel-like finish. The Piccolo Charm sets will be available soon at Globecraft Memories, so watch their website for product updates. I have been merrily making up product samples of this new line to be displayed at upcoming shows for Globecraft Memories, and here is a few:

    This set I turned into Butterfly shoulder duster earrings. Sticker gems, stamp-pad ink and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.

    This lovely Heart lock and key set I felt would be perfect for a faux vintage necklace. Sticker gems and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.

    I love Steampunk gears and I wanted to something different with a Emerald City themed necklace and earring set. Sticker gems and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.

    The Sea-life set is perfect for Summer and I put a textured heavy coat of Glastique on this piece to mimic the look of water. Acrylic paint and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.

    Another lovely Steampunk gears kit that I turned into a lapel pin. Acrylic paint, sticker gems, stamp-pad ink and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.

    The Silhouette set I made into a hostess gift set, with a wine bottle tag, matching hostess necklace and wine glass charms. Barbie meets Girls Night! Sticker gems and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.

    One of the many lovely Flourish sets, I wanted to try a faux vintage look with copper highlighting the amazing detail in the flourishes. Acrylic paint and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.

    They have so many butterfly sets, though this set is one of my favorites since it lends so well to faux enamel. Sticker gems and Globecraft Memories’s Piccolo Enamel Powders.

    Untill next time, Safe Travels!

  • CHA,  Embossing Powders,  Globecraft Memories,  Home Decor,  Paint

    CHA Winter show 2012 part 1

    This year’s winter Craft and Hobby Association show was awesome! While this show was a touch smaller than past Winter CHA shows I can honestly say it was still a great and positive show to attend. There were so many new products, designs, workshops and wonderful contacts; this show sure was a busy one! It was a bit different for me because this was my first time doing demos at the CHA Globecraft Memories booth.

    At the last winter CHA in 2011 I had gotten some information about a new company called Globecraft Memories. They had wonderful chipboard frame and globe sets that people could decorate with paper, fabric, paints, stamps or clay and place photos or family treasures inside. I saw one of their globes with a miniature polymer clay baby in it and I felt these would be prefect for my miniature work. I ended up finding out the baby sculpture was from their other company Secrist Dolls, which carries only the best vinyl doll kits, polymer clay doll sculpting tools and doll paints on the market. I left my business card and eagerly awaited the catalog to be sent to me. I ended up being contacted by the owner Mr. Pat Secrist because he had noticed I listed myself as a designer on my business card. They had some openings in their design team and they were looking for some new ideas. We got to talking and I ended up making a few samples for the website. Mr. Secrist then started to get in some new products to expand the line,  they sent me and their other designers some to test. I was sent frames to start making samples for the CHA winter show. I was excited to be then asked to demonstrate products at CHA in their booth! Mr. Secrist wanted to show people that the globe kits and frames could be so much more. The idea was to make these frames more than just a card making or a scrapbooking element but something that could appeal to paper crafters, home decor artists and even mixed media artists like myself. The end result was a wonderful line of products designed to make chipboard look like expensive metal wall decor, enameled art and stonework but for fraction of the cost.

    I can honestly say I love their new line of products:

    New Frame Chipboard Kits: A new line of frames and elements for all interests. Be it for scrapbooking, papercrafting, home decor or mixed media they have styles and elements you will love. They also have a line of Steampunk Airships that are just too cute, which come in Large, Medium and Mini. The chipboard elements before assembling can be put through an embossing machine like Sizzix or Cuttlebug for more texture and detail.

    Piccolo Chipboard Elements: Both as mini chipboard elements to be used on frames, paper or card these wonderful little patterns and shapes come in so many styles. From Steampunk gears, birds, cats, swirls, butterflies to delicate corner elements. They also have Toppers that are small tags and elements that would be wonderful for cards, scrapbooks and mixed media art.

    Glastique – Flexible Finishing Glaze: comes in Gloss and Matte. This is water based and non-toxic. It can be applied to chipboard, fabric, paper, glitter, paint, it can act as a glue and a clear glaze. In fact, when coated on pieces of chipboard that has been coated in embossing powder it makes the chipboard flexible! I have even put thick layers of the Glastique on rubbers stamps; once dried and peeled off the stamp, I have a clear flexible piece to be added to mixed media work or paper crafting.

    Halo Glitter: comes in Gold and Silver. A wonderful fine glitter with several different sized particles for a more reflective effect. Layer it with Glastique and you have gorgeous color reflection.

    Mica Powders: They carry so many colors I can’t list them all! Super fine mica powder for all you craft needs, from paper crafting, resin work to even polymer clay. They add no binders to the mica so there is no worries about odd chemical reactions like other products on the market. Layer it with Glastique to get a dichroic glass effect.

    Mica Powders with Glitter: Super fine powder and glitter in vibrant colors. Stunning selection of colors for so many uses.

    Super pigment rich acrylic paint and glazes: While this is a slightly more expensive paint than your standard craft store bottle paint it is well worth the cost. Their colors are luscious, they dry the same color they are when wet, their metallic paints only need one coat for full coverage and the glazes are just stunning on paper or wood.

    Globecraft Memories Enamel powders: These powders are specially designed to cover larger areas such as the chipboard frames Globecraft Memories is known for.  The nice thing is the powders still look wonderful on detail elements such as their Piccolos. I love these powders but then again I am a bit partial to them. I ended up making a portion of the new recipes of enamel powders for Globecraft Memories and one of my colors, Girls Night Out ended up being their 3rd best seller at the Winter CHA! These wonderful colors can mimic stone, metal, natural elements and aged surfaces. In fact these powders worked did it so well for the first two days of CHA people walked past the Globecraft Memories booth thinking they were selling real metal and wood frames, not coated chipboard! A sign had to be placed in front to tell everyone everything in the booth was chipboard. 😛

    The following is the few photos I was able to take while doing demos at CHA.

     Mr. Pat Secrist the owner of Globecraft Memories.

    Some of the wall displays in the Globecraft Memories booth, the music sheet, solar, ambers and 4 globe sayings frames are my work.

    The flower bouquet and apple basket sets are based on my illustrations and the samples shown are my completed work.

    Part of the Globecraft Memories booth at the CHA winter show.

    A close up of the sea frame set made into a mirror wall hanging.

    Some of my completed airships hanging from the booth. Some of the Piccolo chipboard element packs are on the right.

    Close up of one of the completed airships.

    The following photos are some the prototype photos I took while making the samples for the show. You will notice in some of the photos the globes are not attached because it is easier to ship without the globes in place. If you would like to see more prototype photos check out my Facebook fan page. All of the frames are from Globecraft Memories.

    My music frame that was picked as a booth sample. Classic Grand Rectangle backplate with other chipboard elements and Glastique Flexible Finishing Glaze Matte.

    Prototype photo of my version of the seascape frame that was picked as a booth sample. This was before the mirrors replaced the globes for the final sample. Frame is covered in my enamel powder recipes. Seascape Wall Decor Kit.

    A saying frame set that was picked as a booth sample. Inner frames are covered in my enamel powder recipes “Mardi Gras” and “24 K gold”. Little Fancy Rectangle, chipboard elements and Glastique Flexible Finishing Glaze.

    Vintage airship that was picked as a booth sample. I used the Large Airship and chipboard elements.

    Mini airship that was picked as a booth sample. This is a finished piece I used the Mini Airship, the pigment rich paints and Glastique Flexible Finishing Glaze.

    Vintage airship that was picked as a booth sample. This is a finished piece. Mini Airship kit, enameling powder and paint.

    Apple frame set that is based on my illustration. This version was picked as a booth sample. This is the Apples of My Eye Wall Decor Kit.

    Birdcage piccolo that was picked as a booth sample. The globe is not attached in this photo because it is easier to ship without the globe in place. Classic Fancy Oval and Piccolo chipboard elements.

    Dino amber frame that was picked as a booth sample. Frame is covered in my enamel powder recipe “Brown Stone”. I used the Classic Grand Rectangle backplate.

    Museum frame, this is the first version. I put the label inside the frame and that version was picked as a booth sample. Frame is covered in my enamel powder recipe “Vintage Copper”. I used the Classic Grand Rectangle backplate with Piccolo chipboard elements and Glastique Flexible Finishing Glaze.

    Flower frame set loosely based on a illustration of mine. This version was picked as a booth sample. Frame is covered in my enamel powder recipes. Big Bouquet Wall Decor Kit.

    Until next time safe travels!