Unmasking Catrina with Milagros

Hi Bloom Fans, Milagros here as your host today!

There's still a few more months for the day of the death so I decided to reveal the beauty of the lady behind the mask.  The roses in her hair are divine.  I recall when seeing her for the first time noticing she was wearing a headdress we know as "mantilla", a custom we inherited from Spain. I also remembered my Grandma, she used to go to mass with a "mantilla" on her head every time.  She even looks like a bride, you'll see it in my process.  It was what I wore on my head the day I got married. So many memories Ms. Catrina brings to me!

So you don't lose perspective here's the original stamp

 

As you can see she's all there! Those beautiful roses get me every time!

Here's some of my process, I stamped her omitting the mask, her beautiful face is there, the only thing missing are the eyebrows, that you can easily draw as one big comma.  I had fun drawing her with sun glasses using her mask around the eyes.  Will share later!

 I wanted to place her in an old room, something forgotten by time, using the floral texture , from Prima's Floral Bouquet stencil as a peeled wallpaper, I also needed some white crackle for that old world feeling

 I used a very heavy coat trying to be careful around her gorgeous features

Although I will use my fave Prima watercolors for her features I couldn't resist mixing it up a bit and using acrylic paint on her.  You will see I used it on her roses, lips and her hair

Then I used the Prima watercolor pencils for her skin tones, (soft neutrals and spring and fall tins) are the ones I used

Inspired by a paper napkin I went with some turquoise to match her pink roses

and voila after some metal and hammer she's done!

I am hoping you feel inspired to transform some of your stamps

Have you used them in a different way, do share it with us on our Face Book page or leave me a note here for me to visit you! 

Until my next transformation!

 

Milagros

 

Supplies used

 

Catrina Bloom Girl Stamp

Wood Canvas

Prima's Floral Bouquet Stencil

Finnabair Modeling Paste and Crackle Medium

Faber Castell Pen

Liquitex Acrylics

Prima Watercolors

Metal, Hammer, Nails

Die Cut machine and dies

Sirena Jewelry Box with Milagros

Hi Bloom Girls! Milagros here with some brand new inspiration for you.  As part of our traditions here in the island we get from Spain "turrón" a spectacular almond nougat done only on Christmas.  They come in beautiful wooden boxes that I treasure. When we are done eating, to me they are
not trash, not an empty box but a box of possibilities....and that's the,way I see it!
I thought creating a jewelry box that you could hide in your wall disguised as art, was a clever idea, function and aesthetics in one cute little package! It already has hinges and closure!

 

now let's see how I did it!

 

 

 Now you are ready for your Bloom Girl, I chose to bring Sirena out of the water into a garden

Love that her name is in Spanish ;) it means mermaid!

I used modeling paste to give a raised effect with my stencil.  Believe it or not I'm using the new lace stencil, made to look like some hanging vines!!!

Here she is after some watercolor painting, I chose Prima's The Primary collection for their purple and acqua. 

 

I used some twinkling watercolors to give a wash to my vines

yeah she's taking a breath out of the water and she is liking it! And I love the effect of the SII, they make her hair flow

hardware

hinges

line with felt, another recycled item

hide some treasures

and hang your piece!

the closure is safely hidden from view by my metal embellishments

I hope to inspire you on this upcoming Earth Day to upcycle a project and add some beauty with your favorite Bloom Girl

 

Milagros

www.milagroscrivera.blogspot.com

 

Materials used

 

Sirena Bloom Girl Stamp

Prima Lace stencil

Art Basics Heavy Gesso

Art Basics 3D Gloss Gel

Art Basics Modeling Paste

Prima Watercolor Pencils (The Basics, Soft Neutrals)

Prima Say it in Crystals

wood, metal, nails, hammer, pearls (in the same sentence, really!)

Spellbinders Die