Monday, March 24, 2014

Dios De Los Muertos Garden Flags with Lost Coast Design Stamps & Stencil Girl

Greetings!  I'm so thrilled to be working with both Stencil Girl and Lost Coast Designs products for today's blog hop!  I am a "naturalized" Texan, having moved to San Antonio from the midwest in 1997.  I knew nothing about the culture surrounding Dios de los Muertos and I was/am fascinated by it.
In my adopted city, these two days are a VERY big deal.  Being the "Bower Bird" that I am I was most definitely attracted to all the colorful, shiny stuff associated with the holiday.  Also, I love skeletons and bones of all sorts.  I enjoy the rather comical-looking papier mache versions that pop up around here.  Anyone who knows me is not surprised by any of this, but I thought I should explain why I was so thrilled to find these sugar skull stamps in the Lost Coast collection.  I couldn't wait to play with them!

I will be using the Black Nose and White Nose Sugar Skull stamps along with the Stitch A Doily Stencil.
White Nose Sugar Skull


Black Nose Sugar Skull


To get warmed up I started with some brown and white sheets of mixed media paper.  To be honest, I wasn't quite sure where I was going at first.  I know myself well-enough to realize that I need to "play" with everything first and it will eventually start falling into place.  
So, I began with my gelli arts mono printing plates.  For this project I wanted to try using the plate with both a brayer and spray paint.  I recently acquired some Liquitex spray paint.  I hadn't used it on the plate and wondered how it would behave.





 Next, I used the brayer to apply white opaque paint to the skull stamps.




 And also to the round Gelli plate...

the plate after wiggling the skull stamps into the paint layer

In addition, I made some squiggly lines with the handle of my foam brush.

Here is the print on brown paper.  I like!

Next I overlaid the doily stencil here and there to soften the edges of the paper.

Love!
I got a bunch of markers and Sakura pens and began to "fill" the designs in parts of the skulls.



I could see the possibilities with this combination of tools.

I started thinking about some scraps of painted canvas that I had been wanting to work with.  Suddenly, the project came into focus!
First, I stamped my 3 pieces of painted canvas (sized 6 inches W x 10 inches L)

Next, I stamped strips of dark gray fabric.

Using the Liquitex spray paint (in a well-ventilated, protected environment) I placed the doily stencil and lightly sprayed over the sugar skull. 


I decided that I needed to bump the contrast up so I painted in the skull stamp with the opaque
white paint.  I will come back over it with the stamp using black paint.

I pulled out some trim and a piece of this fun Alexander Henry fabric that has 
Lotteria cards printed on it.



Now, I choose areas to add color using pens and markers.


I added grommets to each corner at the base.

I machine-stitched the fabric strips in the lower central part of each flag, and 
used a piece of trim as an accent. 

Using the remainder of my colorful trim I stitched the top of the flags to it at equal intervals.

I added some sari silk ribbon by pulling it through the grommets and tying.


Remember those experimental papers?  
Well, I cut them up and sewed them onto the back of each canvas!
Here is the back of the flag set….

And here is a detail.

I think these will be a lot of fun to hang in a tree in my garden.  
I'm not sure I'll be able to wait until fall to use them!

Thank you so much for dropping by to see my project.  


I hope you will enjoy all the stops along the way.  Remember:
By commenting on this and any/all of the other blog stops you become eligible for the prizes:
Two 9" x 12" stencils from StencilGirl and a $25 credit in the Lost Coast Designs store to ONE lucky winner!
Look at the giveaway goodies!


Blog Hop Order:

96 comments:

  1. interesting use of stamps. I would like to win some new pretty stamps. Smile,s Ruth

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  2. I don't care for skulls(not just yours, but at all), but your use of color, and the doily stencil - very nice!

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  3. As much as I love Stencil Girl Stencils; I love Lost Coast Designs stamps just as much! The detail and variety of their stamps are just incredible! I own several but I'd certainly love to have more!!!

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  4. stamps and stencils work great together

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  5. Would never have put the doilies and skulls together, but love how it worked out. Love the chance to see so many different ideas....thanks for the inspiration!

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  6. Amazing giveaway. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  7. Just beautiful projects Leslie! Thank you for using my doily in such a beautiful way!

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  8. Very interesting! The day of the dead isn't my thing but using other images in the same way opens my eyes to greater things.

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  9. Amazing banners!! I did not think they would end up as these cute hangings as I scrolled down through the photos!! LOL. I really like how you stamped the skull with the white paint. Spray paint on the Gelli Plate sounds really interesting!!

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  10. I'm in love with those skulls WOW!!!

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  11. What a beautiful banner! TFS!

    I lived in SAT for a few years. I loved it there! Such a warm, friendly city!

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  12. Wow! So prolific and AMAZING, Leslie!
    Never thought to try the Liquitex spray paint on the Gelli plate either...
    Your Day of the Dead Flags are FABULOUS!!

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  13. I love this project! it's beautiful and awesome. :)

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  14. You get in there and play! - how fun. And spray inks on the gelli plate; I hadn't even thought of that. Thanks for so many ideas.

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  15. Oh so very cool. I'm curious.. how did the spray wipe off the gelli?

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    1. Judy, I didn't have any problem with it. As with any acrylic paint it will adhere to the surface if it dries a bit. This can be easily removed with a bit of soapy water and gently rolling it with your fingers.

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  16. Wonderful col ours and so much beautiful work I love it

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  17. thank you for sharing.In the past couple days there has been some gelli plate examples on utube .But i have seen the spray paint.nicely done!

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  18. wow...Leslie your banner is outstanding. I love all the attention to detail. Everything is perfect! Wonderful stencil and stamp work!

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  19. WOW, really!! I need a nap. OMG

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  20. wonderful project,I love the day of the dead!! I am a fan!
    I am so glad to be participating along your side in this Blog Hop! Hugs
    Bibiana (DTM Lost Coast Designs)

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  21. Your banner turned out really cool, but I especially love the piece on the brown paper with the markers. Want to try that!

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  22. I love the banner project! I need to get me a gelli plate, so many ways to use it!

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  23. The end result of your project is really very pretty. When I first started scrolling down through though I did not think I was going to like it, but I do very much so.
    Jackie

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  24. I am nit a fan of using skuls,but you made it so colorful and absolute amazing. Thanks for sharing all the details.

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  25. very creative project.
    stamping sue
    http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/

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  26. is stunning how you use the stamps, you're amazing!

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  27. Wow! Love how your project came together! Beautifully done!

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  28. Love your banner
    The colors are great
    Well Done

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  29. Absolutely love your Day of the Dead flags and they will look amazing in your garden!

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  30. Eileen L. said....
    Not a fan of skulls but I have to admit what you added to the project truly did add a lot of interest. Thanks for a chance to win the giveaway.

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  31. Love the day of the dead flags remind me a Tibetan prayer flags

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  32. Great banner. Skulls aren't my thing, but it's a great idea for many other objects. Thanks for sharing.

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  33. Skulls are definitely not my thing, however, I have seen work done like this and all of them, also, have been very intricate. You did a lot of work and I enjoyed learning from it.

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  34. Very striking color combinations! Thanks for showing so many photos every step of the way thru your process!

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  35. appreciated you showing so many steps to such different results. i loved the plain white skulls on the brown paper best. thanks for the inspiration and chance to win. love stencil girls for long time now and think that lost coast designs will be quite a great addition. will be very hard to pick out stamps if i win, so many awesome designs. xox

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  36. Absolutely perfect for the Day of the Dead!! :)

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  37. Wow, some great colours. It is good to see you enjoying your project so much and showing the steps and process.

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  38. Great project, would not have thought to do these. Thanks.

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  39. OMG - what awesome talent you have! Absolutely gorgeous! So glad I re-visited this evening! Hugs,
    Leslie, DT
    Love To Scrap!
    Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog

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  40. I can see this technique being used for all sorts of celebrations.

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  41. Fantastic projects using my fave SG stencils and LCD stamps. Thanks for the tutorial as well. Hope I can win these great prizes. Thanks.

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  42. I am glad to see the lace stencil-I want it even more now!
    Beautiful project

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  43. I absolutely love the skull stamp. I like how you used it. Nice. :)

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  44. Those skull stamps are so much fun! I love what you did with them. I wouldn't have thought to use the Liquitex spray paint with the Gelli plate. Thanks for the idea.

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  45. Very interesting use of products!

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  46. I love your creation. How fun this is!

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  47. VERY Colorful and Interesting!
    Jan

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  48. Very colorful, interesting combination of materials. Thanks for the idea to use the Liquitex spray paints on the Gelli plate.

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  49. I want those sugar skull stamps! I love how you used them!

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  50. Leslie, this is "Dia De Los Awesomeness". Love the Sugar Skull stamps!!! Thanks fr the blog hop and for the chance to win this amazing prize!!!

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  51. Sugar Skulls are some of my favorite art inspirations they are so colorful and beautiful yet so morbid at the same time such fabulous contrasts

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  52. Wow Leslie! great finished banner! Thanks for sharing your tut!

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  53. I love how you used the stamps and the stencil. The flag are wonderful.

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  54. Love the banner! The mix of colours, patterns and materials are really cool. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  55. I Am enjoying all the stops on this blog hop! :) I Love the sugar skulls stamps, and I will definitely be adding them to my stamp collection at some point. Your flags and banner is just beautiful!

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  56. Loved the black stamping on the white painted skull. It really works on the highly colored background.

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  57. Beautiful banner! Love all the colors!
    Paulette Roy-Serre

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  58. Oh my stars I'm in love! Those skull stamps are groovy! Loving it! TFS absolutely awesome!

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  59. Such a perfect banner for the occasion. Love your choices of colour, stamp, and stencil.

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  60. Fabulous!
    I love the combination of skulls and doileys!

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  61. This is awesome! It's one of the most mixed mixed-media projects I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing!

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  62. Wow! You really know how to combine different supplies. I never thought I would like a skull stamp but you made me a believer. And I love the doily as well. Thanks for sharing.

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  63. Absolutely stunning work!! Love your project very much!

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  64. Wonderful project and so colorful. Thanks for the excellent instructions. This hop is great! I've seen the work of such talented artists. Thanks for sharing.

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  65. So colourful. Effective use of the doily stencil with the stamp.

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  66. WOW A banner with great colour and style. Love what you did there...I learned new things about the day of the dead .. Thanks for making me think about how and why you did this.

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  67. Skulls! So you! I want to try the spray paint on the gel plate too.

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  68. Love all the combinations, (I NEED the Skull stamps) great blog hop!!

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  69. So many ideas floating around in your head...makes me dizzy!
    Didn't think skulls could be beautiful.

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  70. Very cool....love the colors, the stamps and everything. Thank you for joining the blog hop.

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  71. Yup, I'm gonna get me (or probably make) a gelli pad! Too much fun I'm missing out on!

    Rolling...

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  72. Hi Leslie I just recently read up on the sugar skulls and the related holiday and found this fascinating too. I love the intricate designs people come up with for the faces - the stamps look really cool! Your project turned out fantastic!

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  73. Great detail in your tutorial! Very festive design.

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  74. love you day of the dead ideas (love halloween too!!) will be a new follower! cant wait to see what else you have in your blog :)

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  75. Love this project and the incredible detail that went into it. Thank you for the hop!

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  76. Fascinated by how you wound your way to the wonderful end result! Love these hops for finding new items (like the stamps you used). Thanks for sharing!

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  77. I am not sure how to leave a comment with just my name and unpublished e-mail. Thanks for sharing your creations.

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  78. Wonderful! It's clear you had a blast doing this!

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  79. Very cool techniques. I will have to give them a try!

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  80. Cool projects! Very colorful and fun!

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  81. I really like how you have brought almost a cultural aspect into your work. I love it. Quite unique. Great blog hop giveaway~

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  82. i can't believe what u made, so full of talent! aloha, angi in hana

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  83. Wow...great giveaway! Thanks! God bless.

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  84. I love these! Such a wonderful process of creativity to use new materials in great ways! I would dearly love to own a set and experiment with wild abandon!

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  85. Omg! This is awesome!! They look so pretty and original. Love them!

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  86. Fantastic, I love what you've done!

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  87. LOVE IT ! I think I bought that stamp at art and soul!

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  88. Neat! Really like the designs and colors.

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  89. Looking for the best Discount Decorative Flags to make your home and garden pretty? If yes, look no further than Garden House Flags.

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