https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/mixed-media-butterfly • Posted by Riikka Kovasin
Using the Bigz Hedgerow Butterfly die from Sizzix, cut a butterfly out of cardboard or like I did, use sturdy coasters. As the butterfly was bigger than the coasters, I cut two pieces - one left side and one right.
Trim the butterfly so that the both pieces have the body part but nothing more extra. Cut a swirly plant and a honeycomb using two other Sizzix dies. Cut the vine out of cardboard or coaster and the hexagon using thinner material, but still sturdy enough to hold the mediums, like watercolor paper.
Layer the butterfly pieces on top of each other, adhere and let dry for a while. Paint everything black using black gesso. Let dry or use a heat tool carefully.
Start making your composition and layers. Trim any excess off from the hexagon and vine and adhere them on top of the butterfly. Use gel medium as your glue. As these shapes form the base of the whole cluster, use enough medium to really keep them put.
Add to the composition and make it fuller. Use metal embellishments, paper flowers and found items. Adhere everything with gel medium. Let the piece dry some time or preferably overnight that all the layers really adhere - this makes next steps so much easier!
Again, paint everything black using black gesso. If you are impatient crafter and your gel medium is not yet dry when you start to paint, don't let the two mediums mix as gel medium may cause a resist effect later on.
Color your butterfly using shiny Metallique paints and Mica powder. Let the colors mix and create a colorful look you desire.
Bring on the wax! To highlight the edges of the butterfly, the metals and the vine, use metallic waxes. Apply either with your finger or using a sturdy, rigid brush like a stencil brush.
Finish your butterfly with some more shimmer and shine. Add some adhesive here and there near the composition and sprinkle little glass beads on top. As the beads leave some openings here and there to the adhesive, sprinkle then some glitter on top. Let dry and blow the extra away.
There you have it - a little mixed media butterfly in nine steps! Just by changing the colors of the paints and waxes you can create a whole bunch of butterflies flurrying around with all the colors of the rainbow!